Resident Registration System

“Mid to long term residency” persons residing in Japan for over 3 months, must apply for resident registration at the City Hall.

In the event of moving and change of address or change of name, please inform the City Hall and Immigration Office.

New registration (in the case of coming to Japan for the first time, or the birth of a child)

Once persons of “mid to long term residency” have decided upon their place of residence, please complete the resident registration 住民登録 at the city hall.

ersons who received a Residence Card at the airport, should take the card with them when registering at the city hall.

Persons who did not receive a Residence Card at the airport, please bring your passport.

In the case of a child being born in Japan, please register the birth and resident registration within 14 days of the birth of the child.

For persons under the age of 16years of age, or persons who are unable to go to the city hall, due to illness or injury, a family member or acquaintance can carry out the resident registration in lieu of that person.

Residence (zairyu) Card

Persons of “mid to long term residency” will receive a Residence Card. You can receive the Residence Card at the airport in Japan.

Persons who did not receive a Residence Card at the airport will have the Residence Card delivered to their home by post, once they have completed the resident registration at the city hall.

Whilst in Japan, you must carry your Residence Card with you at all times. (This is determined by law)

Various Procedures

Situation	Place of procedure
Change of name, date of birth, sex,nationality	Immigration Bureau (within 14 days)
In the case of wishing to change the period of stay, or resident status	Immigration Bureau (within 14 days)
In the case of loosing or damaging one's Residence Card	Immigration Bureau (within 14 days)
Change in place of employment, school, marital spouse	Immigration Bureau (within 14 days)
Change of address	City Hall (within 14 days)
Birth of a child	City Hall (within 14 days), Immigration Bureau, Embassy and Consulate
In the case where a child has been born in Japan and will reside in Japan for over 61 days	Immigration Bureau
In the case of marriage or divorce	City Hall, Immigration Bureau, Embassy and Consulate
In the case of a death	City Hall, Immigration Bureau, Embassy and Consulate

Special Re-entry Permit (minashi sainyuukoku kyoka)

Persons who have a passport and residence card, do not have to apply for a re-entry permit when re-entering Japan, if they fall into the following categories 1 or 2. This is called minashi sainyuukoku kyoka – special re-entry permit.

1. Re-entering Japan, within one year of the date of departure from Japan.
2. Re-entering Japan by the last date that you are permitted to stay in Japan (as written in your passport).

When leaving Japan, you must make sure to show your residence card to the airport authorities at departure.

Also make sure to tick the box marked re-entry departure record on your re-entry ED card.

Persons who fail to do so, must reapply for a visa at the Japanese consulate, when they return to Japan.

Persons who have left Japan under the special re-entry permit system, will lose their visa if they have exceeded the dates mentioned in 1 and 2.

Returning ones Residence Card

In the following circumstances, please return your residence card by taking it to your local immigration bureau or by posting it to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau.

• When your period of stay has changed from “mid to long term residency”.
• When you have exceeded the period of validity on your residence card.
• When you receive a new residence card.
• When you leave Japan without applying for a re-entry permit(i.e. have no intention of returning to Japan within the special re-entry permit dates).
• When you have exceeded the date by which you can return to Japan under the special re-entry permit system.
• When you have lost your residence card, have been reissued a new residence card, but find your old residence card (please return the old card).
• When the holder of the card has passed away.

Resident Card (jyuuminhyou)

A resident card(jyuuminhyo), is a document that contains the following information

1. Your address
2. Your name
3. Your date of birth
4. Your type of visa
5. The date until which you are permitted to stay in Japan.

You will need your resident card, for example, when applying for a drivers license or entering a company in Japan.

It will cost about 300yen to obtain a copy of your resident card.

Please take your residence card with you to the city hall, when applying for a copy of your resident card.

People who are eligible for a resident card/jyuuminhyo

• Persons who have a mid to long term residency visa. (Persons who are staying in Japan for up to 3 months, or who have a short stay visa, are not eligible for a resident card.)
• Persons who have a special permanent residency visa.
• Persons who are up to 60 days of age, or people who are within 60 days of losing their Japanese nationality.

My Number

My Number, is a number that can be used for identifying who you are.Firstly, you will receive a notification card, through the post.

This notification card will have your “my number” written on it (12 figure number).

Please keepthe notification card (通知カード) in a safe place.

There are criminals who will try to use your “my number”, so do not tell your “my number” to anyone else.

Persons who have received a notification card can receivea personal number card (個人番号カード) from the city hall.

This will have your “my number” written on it.

You can use this personal number card as an I.D. card.

市Depending on the city, you may use this card to obtain your resident card from a convenience store, so it's very useful.

Please apply at the city hall in order to obtain your personal number card.