Japanese Chinese Korean English Portuguese Tagalog Vietnamese
1 Residence management system
Living Guide Top
English Top
1 Residence management system
2 The Family registry system
3 Seal Registrations
4 Housing
5 Water, Gas, Electricity & Telephone Services
6 Disposal of Garbage
7 Post Office and Delivery Company Services
8 Banks
9 Traffic
10 Taxation
11 Employment
12 National Health Insurance
13 National Pension Plan
14 Neighborhood Association
15 Disaster Prevention, Fire & Medical Emergencies
16 Traffic Accidents
17 Childcare
18 Welfare
19 Health checkups for adults
20 Educations
21 Medical Information
22 Counseling and support services
Information of facilities
23 City/Town Halls and related facilities
24 School & Educational Institutions
25 Other public facilities
26 Refuge (Shelter)
27 Medical Institutions


To all foreign nationals residing in Japan, new residency management system started on Monday, July 9, 2012. A Residence "Zairyuu" Card is issued to mid- to a long-term residents by Immigration Bureau of Japan Alien registration certificates (foreign resident registration card) issued by a municipal office. Special permanent resident certificate "Tokubetsu Eijyuusya Shomeisho" is issued to special permanent residents. Foreign residents is listed on the Basic Residents Registration and it became as feasible to issue Residence Certificate "Juuminhyou" duplicates, etc., to foreign nationals as it is to Japanese nationals.


Japanese Chinese Korean English Portuguese Tagalog Vietnamese

1-1 A residence "zairyuu" card or special permanent residence certificate"Tokubetsu eijyuusha shoumeisho"

(1) Residence card (issued at the Immigration Service Agency or at the port of entry or departure)
  • The period of validity of the resident card for permanent residents who are 16 years of age or older or Highly Skilled Professional II will be granted 7 years from the date of issuance, and permanent residents who are under 16 years of age will be granted until the day before their 16th birthday (16th birthday for resident cards issued before November 1, 2023).
  • The expiration date of resident cards other than Permanent Residents and Highly Skilled Professional II is the expiration date of the period of stay. The expiration date of resident cards for those under 16 is the expiration date of the period of stay or the day before the 16th birthday (the 16th birthday for resident cards issued before November 1, 2023), whichever comes first.
  • Mid-to a long-term residents are foreigners with status of residing for more than 3 months in Japan excluding persons granted status to stay for no more than 3 months or person granted the status of "temporary visitor" (tourist), "diplomat", "officials" or equivalent to the three statuses abovementioned.
(2) The special permanent resident certificate (being issued by municipal office)
  • The special permanent resident certificate is issued to 「special permanent residents 」to replace Alien registration certificates.
  • The "Residence Card" of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Immigration Act") will not be issued.
  • The valid period of the special permanent resident certificate is 7 years as a rule.
(3) The Alien Registration Certificate held by those who have short-term status of residence or those who do not have a status of residence became invalid on July 9, 2012. If you still have it, please return it to the Immigration Services Agency immediately.

Japanese Chinese Korean English Portuguese Tagalog Vietnamese

1-2 Foreign residents is listed on the Basic Residents Registration

It became feasible to issue Residence Certificate "Juuminhyou" duplicates, etc., to foreign nationals as it is to Japanese nationals.

(1) Eligible registrants for Basic Resident Registration are med- to long-term residents (with resident card), the special permanent residents and some specified persons.

(2) In addition to the name, date of birth, gender, and address, the resident card includes information specific to foreign nationals, such as "nationality and area of residence," "status of residence" and "period of stay" as indicated on the resident card.

(3) Mid- to long-term residents will be issued with a resident card when granted permission for extension of the period of stay or Change of status of residence Ministry of Justice will notice such changes to the municipality and the municipality will update their records. If necessary, the Director of Immigration Services Agency will notify to the municipal mayor.

(4) We can issue a certificate (a copy of the resident’s card) that describes all the households, consisting of Japanese and foreigners.

(5) You can apply issuance of the Individual Number Card. For more details, please refer to homepage of MIC or Municipality.
What you can do with a My Number Card equipped with an electronic certificate.
  • Obtaining official certificates such as a copy of resident registration certificate at convenience stores.
  • Use as a health insurance card.
  • Filing of income tax returns and residence procedures.
  • Online application for moving, childcare, etc.
  • Use of the "MyNa Portal," a website dedicated to you that allows you to search for administrative procedures and online application.
Japanese Chinese Korean English Portuguese Tagalog Vietnamese

1-3 Procedure at a municipal office

(1) Notification (change) of place of residence
◯ Those who arrived in Japan newly
At the port of entry and departure are asked to visit the municipal office where they live with their resident card,passport and notify the Ministry of Justice where they live within 14 days of finding a place to settle down. Please report your place of residence to the Director of Immigration Services Agency.

◯ Those who have moved into a new residence
When a mid- to long-term resident (special permanent resident) changes his/her place of residence, be sure to submit a move-out notification to the municipality where he/she lived and receive a move-out certificate. In addition, please notify the Immigration Bureau of Japan of the residence at the window of the new municipality within 14 days from the date of relocation to the new residence. Bring a move-out certificate, residence card (special permanent resident certificate), and a valid My Number (individual number) card (if you have one).

(2) Notification of moving-in and change of address of a resident card (Special Permanent Resident certification) can be done at once.
Under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, in case of moving in notification, you should bring a change of address certification, a resident card (Special Permanent Resident certification) and a notification card (or individual numbercard) to make moving in notification (or change of address notification) to the basic resident register.

(3) If you do not bring your move-out certificate (in case of a move-in notification), you will need to complete the move-out notification procedure at the municipality where you lived. If you do not bring your residence card (Special Permanent Resident Certificate) you will need to report your place of residence at a later date.
These notifications should be basically completed by the applicant him/herself. However, it necessary, the applicant can ask an agent to file such a notification for him/herself with a written letter of proxy.

(4) Procedures for changing My Number Card due to extension of period of stay, etc.
Since updated information on the resident card is not automatically reflected on the My Number Card, it is necessary to change the information on the card when you extend the period of stay or change your name.
If you have a My Number Card, you are required to change the information on the face of the card when you extend your period of stay or change your name on the resident card.

Please note that your My Number Card will expire if you do not go through the extension procedure at the municipal office before the expiration date of your My Number Card.

Japanese Chinese Korean English Portuguese Tagalog Vietnamese

1-4 Procedures at Regional Immigration Services Agency

(1) (Change) notification other than the residence

When submitting the following notification/application at the Regional Immigration Services Agency please bring your passport, photo, residence card, and other documents that show the facts of the change.
A new resident card will basically be issued on the day of notification or application.

(2) Notification of change of name, date of birth, gender, nationality/region

When you change your name, date of birth, gender, nationality or region, such as when your marriage changes your surname, nationality, or region, notify the Director Immigration Services Agency at the Regional Immigration Services Agency within 14 days.

∗ Although names written in the Latin Alphabet will basically be used, a name written in Chinese character notation (orthographic) can be added. Please make note that, in this case, any change in Chinese character notation needs to be reported.

(3)Application for renewal of validity period of residence card

Permanent residents, Highly Skilled Professional II, and those under 16 years of age whose resident card expires on the day before their 16th birthday (16th birthday for resident cards issued before November 1, 2023) should apply for renewal of their resident card at a Regional Immigration Control Office before the expiration date.

(4) Application for re-issuance of a resident card

◯ In case your residence card is lost or stolen, Please apply for reissuance within 14 days of the day when you noticed this (or the day when you re-enter Japan in case you noticed it outside Japan)

* To apply for reissue, please bring with you a report of loss or a that report certificate issued by the Police Department or a disaster victim certificate issued by the Fire Department in place of your resident card.

◯ In case your resident card is severely damaged or defaced, be sure to apply for reissuance as soon as possible.

◯ You can apply for a replacement resident card even if it is not severely damaged or defaced. In such a case, you are required to pay a reissuance fee.

(5) Notification about affiliated institution and spouse

Bring your residence card when you submit the following notification at the Regional Immigration Services Agency.
In case you file a notification via mail, please enclose a copy of your resident card. Please note that a new resident will not be issued when a notification is filed in this way.

◯ Notification of an affiliated organization
In case a mid- to long-term resident with Qualification for employment, or "Student" or another learning status, leaves an organization (employer or educational institution) he/she belongs to (due to termination of contract) or moves into another organization (on a new contract), or such an organization changes its name, location, or breaks up, the resident has to notify the incident to the Ministry of Justice by visiting a Regional Immigration Office or sending a notification to the Tokyo report to the Director of Immigration Services Agency within 14 days by appearing at the Regional Immigration Services Agency or mailing to Tokyo Immigration Services Agency.

◯ Notification about spouse
If you have divorced from your spouse or your spouse died, please notify the Director of Immigration Services Agency within 14 days by appearing at the Regional Immigration Services Agency or mailing to Tokyo Immigration Services Agency.

Japanese Chinese Korean English Portuguese Tagalog Vietnamese

1-5 For information or inquiry on new residency management system and procedures

(1) Request for information disclosure of alien registration original form

When it becomes necessary to prove the past contents, such as the history of residence, name, nationality, etc., recorded on the registration original form after July 9, 2012, you have to make request directly to the Immigration Services Agency.

[Disclosure request]
Immigration Services Agency, General Affairs Division, Information system Management Office, Immigration Information Disclosure Section
  • Address: 〒160-0004 Yotsuya tower13F,1-6-1,Yotsuya, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo-to
  • tel. 03-5363-3005
  • Reception hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (except Saturday, Sunday, National holidays and year-ends and New year days ( Dec. 29th ~ Jan.3rd )

(2) On residency management system and procedure

The Immigration Bureau of Japan

(3) Change to the Basic Resident Registration Law

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications :
(English page)

[Inquiry]
Immigration Services Agency, Information Center for Foreign Residents.
  • Address: 〒108-8255,5-30, Kounan 5-choume, Minatoku, Tokyo
  • tel. 0570-013904 ( IP,Overseas 03-5796-7112 )
  • Reception hours: 8:30~17:15 (Except Saturday, Sunday and Holidays)
  • Language: English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish
  • Access: From JR Shinagawa Station Konan Exit (East Exit), take the Tokyo Metro Bus "Shinagawa Futo Junkan" and get off at "Tokyo Shutsu Nyukoku Zairyu Kanri kyoku-mae", or 15-minute walk from Tokyo Monorail "Tennozu Isle" (South Exit) or Rinkai Line "Tennozu Isle".
Saitama Branch, Tokyo Immigration Services Agency.
  • Address: 〒338-0022 1st floor, No.2 Complex Buil. of Saitama regional legal affairs bureau, 5-12-1, Shimo-Ochiai, Chuou-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama
  • tel. 048-851-9671
  • Reception hours: 9:00~16:00 (Except Saturday, Sunday and Holidays)
  • Language: Japanese
  • Access: get off at Yono-honmachi of JR Saikyo line