Japan to begin Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) on Nov 1, 2016
Feb 5, 2019, 6:36 pm
#241
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Not directly, but I watched someone waiting in the line behind me at NRT try to use one of the vacant Japanese stations and he returned to the line to wait for me to finish.
Feb 9, 2019, 7:22 pm
#242
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 278
Feb 17, 2019, 2:08 pm
#244
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 278
The revenue stamps are for an application fee, so you cannot complete the procedure without them. Either obtain them ahead of time from a friend in Japan so you can finish the application airside or enter Japan normally, buy the revenue stamps, and then finish the application landside. Check earlier posts in this thread for more details.
Feb 21, 2019, 2:54 pm
#245
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
So far my experience has been good in terms of entry and exit. No real technical problems. Mostly "soft" problems, like the airport people who direct you to different lines refusing to let me use the automated gate when they see my US passport and don't see a zaiyu card… like I am walking to the gate and they'll come and stop me like I don't know where I am going. If I show them the card that says automated gates then they'll try to get me to go the re-entry line... sigh.
I kind of give up on tax free shopping. Basically nobody can tell that I am a non-resident. I have already tried passport plus "stamped" card, and had problems. Fortunately this means I am saving money by not buying those expensive Sony cameras for some reason is more expensive to buy in Japan vs in the US.
Hopefully they resolve the gate issue that allows us to use all the TTP gates. Right now they seem to have only one for foreigners whereas like 2-3 empty ones for Japanese passport holders. I really don't understand why they bother with this arrangement since a Japanese passport holder would just use the regular automated gates.
I was able to use just my TTP card for hotels, identification in general, domestic flights to obtain my boarding pass at the counter, etc. pretty convenient. I did have problem with rental car because they insisted on seeing my passport which had the stamp. I have not try renting with just with card with entry printout on the back, honestly I think we'll have problems. I think the card is too confusing for the regular Japanese to understand. It looks too much like the zaiyu card yet it doesn't say anything that the user is a non-resident.
I'm not worried about the police checking me; I don't think they care about us Oriental looking people.
So far it has worked every single time for me. I have used the gates at Haneda and Narita. The only problem I had was I tried to input "Visiting friends" as reason for entry that caused an error. I had to choose on the multichoice options "Tourism" "Business" "Visiting Relatives" for it work for me.
I figured that much, but I just wasn't sure why they used the US format Month Day Year instead of the customary Japanese format of Year Month Day.
I kind of give up on tax free shopping. Basically nobody can tell that I am a non-resident. I have already tried passport plus "stamped" card, and had problems. Fortunately this means I am saving money by not buying those expensive Sony cameras for some reason is more expensive to buy in Japan vs in the US.
Hopefully they resolve the gate issue that allows us to use all the TTP gates. Right now they seem to have only one for foreigners whereas like 2-3 empty ones for Japanese passport holders. I really don't understand why they bother with this arrangement since a Japanese passport holder would just use the regular automated gates.
The way I read the information on the MOJ website, you do not need to have used the TTP card for entry in order to carry it while in Japan in lieu of your passport. Here is the relevant text:
The plain reading of the above seems to say that once you're issued a TTP card, you must carry it on your person whether or not you used it to enter Japan, and that as long as you do so, it waives the requirement to carry your passport. I see no reason this wouldn't apply to someone that used their passport to enter (whether through the APEC lane or otherwise).
Now, since if you use your passport to enter, your landing permission will be on a sticker in your passport and not endorsed on the back of the TTP card, you're still going to need your passport for certain purposes, such as making duty-free purchases or getting a visitors-only train pass. Plus, you'd probably still need it to check into a hotel (if you're just visiting, it's highly likely that you'll have all of your "stuff" including your passport when you check into a hotel anyway). But as far as the general requirement to carry your passport on your person, the TTP card replaces that, just as an Alien Registration Card does for someone with residency. Presumably, a police officer can easily determine your landing status by "calling it in," which they'd presumably do anyway if the situation came up, in order to see if your status had been revoked or if you were wanted.
Q: Do I have to carry my registered user card on my person all the time I am in Japan? If I am carrying my registered user card, do I still have to carry my passport on my person?
A: Foreign nationals who have been issued with a registered user card are required to carry their registered user card on their person while they are staying in Japan, and if they are carrying the registered user card on their person, they will not be required to have their passport on their person.
Q: Does it matter if I use a different method for entry than for departure? (For example, if I use my registered user card at the time of entry and go through the automated gates, but use the regular face-to-face examination booth at the time of departure?
A: No it does not matter.
A: Foreign nationals who have been issued with a registered user card are required to carry their registered user card on their person while they are staying in Japan, and if they are carrying the registered user card on their person, they will not be required to have their passport on their person.
Q: Does it matter if I use a different method for entry than for departure? (For example, if I use my registered user card at the time of entry and go through the automated gates, but use the regular face-to-face examination booth at the time of departure?
A: No it does not matter.
Now, since if you use your passport to enter, your landing permission will be on a sticker in your passport and not endorsed on the back of the TTP card, you're still going to need your passport for certain purposes, such as making duty-free purchases or getting a visitors-only train pass. Plus, you'd probably still need it to check into a hotel (if you're just visiting, it's highly likely that you'll have all of your "stuff" including your passport when you check into a hotel anyway). But as far as the general requirement to carry your passport on your person, the TTP card replaces that, just as an Alien Registration Card does for someone with residency. Presumably, a police officer can easily determine your landing status by "calling it in," which they'd presumably do anyway if the situation came up, in order to see if your status had been revoked or if you were wanted.
I'm not worried about the police checking me; I don't think they care about us Oriental looking people.
Made my second visit to Japan since obtaining TTP and I am now 4/4 on needing manual intervention from staff to get my passport read by the readers. It always eventually works, but never works the first time, and always requires multiple round trips between the support desk and the reader machine while the bewildered staff learn how TTP is supposed to work.
My passport is getting full and also old so maybe it will work better for me with a new passport. We'll see!
My passport is getting full and also old so maybe it will work better for me with a new passport. We'll see!
I figured that much, but I just wasn't sure why they used the US format Month Day Year instead of the customary Japanese format of Year Month Day.
Feb 22, 2019, 2:43 pm
#246
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SBA
Programs: UA & AA 1 million miler
Posts: 1,134
I am asking for my friend.
My friend became a registered user of the Japanese TTP through Global Entry two years ago.
He has 1 more year until it expires.
He didn't renew his GE last year and is wondering if he can still use the auto-gate even he doesn't have his GE membership anymore or not.
He just thought his Japanese TTP membership was cancelled automatically when he didn't renew his GE last year.
Is that true or false?
My friend became a registered user of the Japanese TTP through Global Entry two years ago.
He has 1 more year until it expires.
He didn't renew his GE last year and is wondering if he can still use the auto-gate even he doesn't have his GE membership anymore or not.
He just thought his Japanese TTP membership was cancelled automatically when he didn't renew his GE last year.
Is that true or false?
Mar 16, 2019, 11:29 am
#247
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
I am asking for my friend.
My friend became a registered user of the Japanese TTP through Global Entry two years ago.
He has 1 more year until it expires.
He didn't renew his GE last year and is wondering if he can still use the auto-gate even he doesn't have his GE membership anymore or not.
He just thought his Japanese TTP membership was cancelled automatically when he didn't renew his GE last year.
Is that true or false?
My friend became a registered user of the Japanese TTP through Global Entry two years ago.
He has 1 more year until it expires.
He didn't renew his GE last year and is wondering if he can still use the auto-gate even he doesn't have his GE membership anymore or not.
He just thought his Japanese TTP membership was cancelled automatically when he didn't renew his GE last year.
Is that true or false?
Mar 24, 2019, 12:39 am
#248
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
Went through the entry gates at KIX for the first time after getting my card.
Passport wouldn't read. Just like all the times at NRT that it wouldn't read at the manned counter... Why Japan? (It's only Japan - 26 countries on this passport so far, nowhere else presents a problem.)
Escorted over to the crew desk and slightly admonished by the immigration agent who walked me over for not having a written landing card filled out.
I asked about getting a QR code sticker for the passport, he said he didn't think TTP users could get one, but I could try at the enrollment office upstairs. They were able to get me one, and it scanned easily on my way out. I wish this would have been offered at enrollment - I didn't know about it.
If you have an even slightly hard to scan data/photo passport page, ask for the QR code sticker when you sign up and save some headache!
Passport wouldn't read. Just like all the times at NRT that it wouldn't read at the manned counter... Why Japan? (It's only Japan - 26 countries on this passport so far, nowhere else presents a problem.)
Escorted over to the crew desk and slightly admonished by the immigration agent who walked me over for not having a written landing card filled out.
I asked about getting a QR code sticker for the passport, he said he didn't think TTP users could get one, but I could try at the enrollment office upstairs. They were able to get me one, and it scanned easily on my way out. I wish this would have been offered at enrollment - I didn't know about it.
If you have an even slightly hard to scan data/photo passport page, ask for the QR code sticker when you sign up and save some headache!
Apr 11, 2019, 6:48 am
#249
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,380
So far my experience has been good in terms of entry and exit. No real technical problems. Mostly "soft" problems, like the airport people who direct you to different lines refusing to let me use the automated gate when they see my US passport and don't see a zaiyu card… like I am walking to the gate and they'll come and stop me like I don't know where I am going. If I show them the card that says automated gates then they'll try to get me to go the re-entry line... sigh.
I kind of give up on tax free shopping. Basically nobody can tell that I am a non-resident. I have already tried passport plus "stamped" card, and had problems. Fortunately this means I am saving money by not buying those expensive Sony cameras for some reason is more expensive to buy in Japan vs in the US.
I kind of give up on tax free shopping. Basically nobody can tell that I am a non-resident. I have already tried passport plus "stamped" card, and had problems. Fortunately this means I am saving money by not buying those expensive Sony cameras for some reason is more expensive to buy in Japan vs in the US.
Inbound customs, airport people thought it was an apec card and kept making me go to the Apec line
i managed to get to the machine. Just one thing tricked me up: you have to insert the tpp card with photo facing down (and blank section facing up - it'll print the entry details on the blank side). Saved me about 10 min waiting in the foreign visitor line
Donki Shibuya, took a few minutes to convince the workers that my tpp card + 'temporary visitor' works for tax exempt
Jun 13, 2019, 8:20 pm
#250
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
Small data point:
Tax free shopping worked this week at Uniqlo (Kyoto Yodobashi), Mega Don Quijote (Yokohama Yamashita Koen) and Tokyu Hands (Shinjuku Times Square).
All three times required a little explanation but a minute or so of explaining how it works was sufficient - nobody had to check with a manual or a higher up.
Tax free shopping worked this week at Uniqlo (Kyoto Yodobashi), Mega Don Quijote (Yokohama Yamashita Koen) and Tokyu Hands (Shinjuku Times Square).
All three times required a little explanation but a minute or so of explaining how it works was sufficient - nobody had to check with a manual or a higher up.
Jun 15, 2019, 11:36 pm
#251
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Cinnabar Mines
Programs: UA Kayaker and LVF, OZ Carbonesque
Posts: 104
I also had no issues with tax-free shopping. I would give my passport, tell them immediately there is no stamp, and show the TTP card and tell them my entry date. I also have a feeling that once you have made a successful purchase and someone attaches a tax form to the passport, people feel more comfortable that your subsequent purchases are legitimate. I bought stationery in Tokyo and Osaka, shirts in Tokyo (Kamakura Shirts at Shinagawa station), tea in Kyoto, and even karuta (traditional playing cards) in Kyoto, without any problems.
Jun 27, 2019, 10:25 pm
#252
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO/HKG
Programs: ex-UA 1K, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 535
Any news on how renewal procedures will work? The 3 year anniversary of the TTP program is coming up which means the first batch of renewals will be slated for this coming Nov.
Jun 27, 2019, 10:31 pm
#253
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: United Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 284
Those are the words of one agent, before any renewals had taken place, so take that for what it’s worth.
Jul 14, 2019, 9:51 pm
#254
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,380
Narita t1 is under renovation (ceiling/floors a little barebones/rough)
Inbound immigration had two out of four lanes open for TTP, outbound only had 1/4. Each saved me <5 minutes compared to waiting in line
During outbound, I was waiting in line behind someone who just took it(all other machines free). The person saw me waiting with my TTP card, shooed away the first person to another machine (I guess Japanese national ) allowed me to take it... I guess good training/awareness of TTP now?
Inbound immigration had two out of four lanes open for TTP, outbound only had 1/4. Each saved me <5 minutes compared to waiting in line
During outbound, I was waiting in line behind someone who just took it(all other machines free). The person saw me waiting with my TTP card, shooed away the first person to another machine (I guess Japanese national ) allowed me to take it... I guess good training/awareness of TTP now?