Blog - New gaijin card

What color is this this year? I got stuck with Pink a few years ago. Why don't they have cool colors like black or platinum?

Posted by Roy on August 26, 2005 at 12:11

My previous one, 2001-issued, was pink too. Now it's all white like my health insurance card. Boring, but better than no change.

Posted by Patrick on August 26, 2005 at 12:17

ah ah the same happened with my card, we had to redo the signature 10 times maybe :)

Posted by Antonin on August 26, 2005 at 12:48

No way! That sucks.
Well since we're in the same -ku maybe we got the same person. :)

Posted by Patrick on August 26, 2005 at 13:06

You had to change the card? Me, everytime I've renewed they just add something on the back, and then stamp it with a tiny hanko.

Posted by Jean on August 27, 2005 at 07:56

What you're doing is just changing information on your card, but certainly on the front there's an expiration date. Better have a look. :)

Posted by Patrick on August 27, 2005 at 08:35

ack, I had the same problem trying to cash traveller's checks in Kyoto a few years ago! When I'd signed the pile of checks here in the states, my signature had degenerated after the first five or six in a row, so here I was in a hotel in Kyoto trying to fake my own signature...

Posted by alan on August 28, 2005 at 01:41

I really don't know what they expect... But I understand that since they cannot read it (most foreign signatures being unintelligible even to foreigners): "if they don't match, they're suspicious!"
Most Japanese "sign" by writing their name with no sort of personalization.

I have always had an habit to sometimes ask for an autograph to artists I meet, and a few times I've gotten some confused looks. I'm sure they prefer a two-shot picture.

Posted by Patrick on August 28, 2005 at 12:57

Hello!

I am searching and searching the internet for a rather simple piece of information!

That is -- how long does it take between applying for a gaijin card and receiving the card?

I haven't had a gajin card in years, so I don't remember. And all my friends are telling me "oh, it's not long." What they don't realize is that my employer wants me to start on October 1st, and being that they're a big company, they're unwilling to let me sign the contract without a gaijin card. They otehrwise supplied all the documents to immigration so that I could get a visa. I applied for the visa on August 24th, received a certificate of eligibility just last Thursday, and took it to immigration. They said they'll send me a postcard that tells me to come in and get the visa stamped on my passport, and after THAT I need to apply for the gaijin card.

If the visa postcard comes tomorrow and I apply for the gaijin card immediately afterward, . . . how many days will it take? Do they issue some kind of temporary card? This is really bothering me; if I can't start this job before October 1st, I'm afraid they're going to just hire someone else.

GAHHHH

Posted by tim on September 26, 2005 at 20:29

Tim, what you need in order to work legally is not the gaijin card, but the visa only. If your company requests for you to have the gaijin card before you can work, they are wrong. It's not a necessity for you to work legally.
So as soon as you obtain your visa, your company should allow you to work (according to your contract).

The gaijin card is really only to declare yourself to your local city/ward and so that you don't have to carry your passport all the time.

The remaining problem may be _when_ the "ready to stamp your visa" postcard will arrive. Personally I've never applied with a certificate of eligibility within the country (back when I got my first visa, it was required to leave Japan to get the visa, and the process only took me one business day I think).

Good luck!

Posted by Patrick on September 26, 2005 at 20:48

Aha!

Well, I'll see about telling them this information.

I was told when I got the certificate of eligibility that the "quickest way" to get the visa was to leave the country and apply at a Japanese embassy. Which is mysterious! I would have probably done that, had I not just been to Korea a few weeks ago.

Funny thing is, I didn't know they changed the law, that I no longer have to leave the country to get a visa. Though I do wonder what they're doing with the certificate -- did they send it to Korea, or to Los Angeles, or something?

It's been a week now . . . I sat out at the mailbox from nine till noon this morning fearing the postcard would show up when I was asleep. Well, a postcard DID show up -- from the local flower shop. Hell!!

So yeah, while I'm at it, I really want a cellular phone. The au shop people said I absolutely need a gaijin card, though I'm not sure I believe them. If I get the visa tomorrow, and apply for the gaijin card, will they give me some kind of receipt, or otherwise something I could possibly use to get a cellular phone?

This is all so frustrating. Kind of.

Posted by tim on September 26, 2005 at 21:06

When I went to South Korea to get my visa (in 2001), it indeed only took about one business day to get it.

As for the mobile phone, I think it's normal that they require a gaijin card.

I hope everything will work out fine!

Posted by Patrick on September 26, 2005 at 21:19

hey! I want to go to Japan but for recriational purpose only. Can I still get a Gaijin card? Why was the reason you got yours? Please e-mail me back!! Oh and can you work with a gaijin card?

Posted by vanessa on December 28, 2005 at 23:58

A gaijin card is only for those who stay over 3 months. If you're coming on recreational purposes only then you'd usually simply get a regular 3 month visitor permit (varies depending on your country).

If you need more info, check with your country's Japanese embassy.

Posted by Patrick on December 29, 2005 at 00:02

absolute fucking anal retards...

I'm **the dude in the photo** but their rectal sphyncter take on the "signature"...

DUH!

not just anal...
totally retarded

Posted by papa on February 3, 2009 at 19:42