City Office & Procedures

Your First Weeks in Japan: Residence Card and City Office Procedures

Almost everything in Japan, from health insurance to school enrollment, starts with registering your address. This guide walks through the first steps after you arrive, in order.

Step 1: Your residence card

If you are staying in Japan for the mid to long term, you receive a residence card (zairyū kādo, 在留カード).

If you land at Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Hiroshima, or Fukuoka Airport, the card is issued at the airport.
If you arrive anywhere else, the card is mailed to you after you register your address at the city office.

Step 2: Register your address within 14 days

Within 14 days after you settle into your new home, file a moving-in notification (tennyū todoke, 転入届) at your city, ward, town, or village office.

Bring your residence card, or your passport if you have not received the card yet.
If family members live with you, bring documents that show your family relationship.

Registering your address is the first step toward health insurance, child allowance, and school enrollment, which are also handled at the city office.

Step 3: Your certificate of residence

Once you register, the city creates a resident record for you, just as it does for Japanese residents. You can request a copy, called a certificate of residence (jūminhyō, 住民票), when you need to prove your address, for example for a contract or an application.

Step 4: My Number

After you register your address, the city office notifies you of your Individual Number (mai nanbā, マイナンバー). You use this number for taxes, social insurance, and other procedures.

You can apply for a My Number card (mai nanbā kādo, マイナンバーカード) by smartphone, computer, mail, an ID photo booth, or at the city office. About one month later, the city office sends you a postcard to let you know the card is ready. The card can also be used as your health insurance card.

Carry your residence card

Anyone aged 16 or older must carry their residence card at all times.

Reporting changes

Moving: when you move to a new address, file the moving-in notification at your new city office within 14 days. When you move to another city, file a moving-out notification (tenshutsu todoke, 転出届) at your old city office first.
Employer or school: depending on your status of residence, you must notify the Immigration Services Agency within 14 days when you leave or join a company or school.
Leaving Japan: file a moving-out notification before you leave, and hand your residence card to an immigration officer at the airport or seaport.

Japanese words you'll see

Japanese	Reading	Meaning
市役所・区役所	shiyakusho / kuyakusho	City office / ward office.
住民票	jūminhyō	Certificate of residence.
転入届	tennyū todoke	Moving-in notification.
転出届	tenshutsu todoke	Moving-out notification.
在留カード	zairyū kādo	Residence card.
マイナンバー	mai nanbā	Individual Number (My Number).
届出	todokede	Notification, report.

Questions families ask

When do I get my residence card?

If you land at Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Hiroshima, or Fukuoka Airport, it is issued at the airport. Elsewhere, it is mailed to you after you register your address.

How soon must I register my address?

Within 14 days after you settle into your new address. Bring your residence card or passport.

Do I need to carry my residence card?

Yes. Anyone aged 16 or older must carry it at all times.

How do I get a My Number card?

After you register your address, the city office notifies you of your Individual Number. You can then apply for the card by smartphone, computer, mail, an ID photo booth, or at the city office.

Sources

This guide is based on information published by Japan's Immigration Services Agency and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Counters and forms differ by city, so check your city office's website before you go.

Practice the Japanese you need at the city office in Japanese Talk: City Hall.