The residence card (zairyū card) is your primary ID in Japan. You must register your address within 14 days of moving in, carry the card at all times, and report changes — most other procedures (bank, phone, insurance) depend on it.
Key facts
- Issued
- At major airports on arrival
- Address registration
- Within 14 days at city office
- Carry obligation
- At all times (16+)
- Change of address
- Report within 14 days
- Lost card
- Reapply within 14 days
The ward-office one-stop list (2026)
| Step | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Move-in notification | Within 14 days of arrival at your ward office; bring residence card + passport, and the counter prints your address on the card back on the spot | Official |
| 2. My Number | About 2–3 weeks after registration the number notice arrives by mail; the physical card is a separate application — banks, remittance and taxes all ask for the number | Official |
| 3. National health insurance | Anyone without employer insurance (students etc.) joins at the NHI counter on the same trip; year-one premiums track last year Japan income, so nearly the minimum | Official |
| 4. National pension | Age 20+ enrolls in the same building; students file the student payment special deferral on the spot — skipping it means arrears, not exemption | Official |
| 5. With children | Child allowance application and public school enrollment usually complete in the same building | P2J estimate |
| 6. Seal registration (optional) | Needed for property, loans and cars; ordinary renting life can skip it for now | P2J estimate |
Why this card matters more than your passport (day to day)
In daily life, the residence card — not your passport — is the document Japan runs on. Renting an apartment, opening a bank account, signing a phone contract, joining health insurance: every procedure starts with presenting it. Treat the first 14 days after moving in as an administrative sprint with the card at the center.
What is on the card
Name, photo, nationality, status of residence, period of stay, work permission status, and your registered address (handwritten/printed by the municipal office). Employers will check the work-permission line when hiring — including for part-time student jobs.
The three 14-day rules
Japanese residency administration repeatedly uses one number — 14 days:
- Moving in / moving between cities → notify the municipal office within 14 days.
- Losing the card → apply for reissue within 14 days.
- Changing employer (for work-visa holders) → notify immigration within 14 days.
Setting these as a personal rule (“any change → report within two weeks”) keeps you compliant in nearly all situations.
One ward-office trip, five things done
The table above is the complete checklist for that first-week ward office trip — follow the numbers in order, because every later step depends on the address registration before it. You carry only three things: residence card, passport, and (with family) everyone’s cards and passports. No appointment needed; weekday afternoons are quietest, and one to two hours clears the whole list. Two traps: the 14-day clock starts on the day you land and overruns surface later in visa screening; and at the pension counter doing nothing is not exemption — students must say they want the student payment special deferral, low earners the exemption application. It only exists once filed.
Japanese you will use on this page (tap ▶)
| 転入届を出したいです。 Tennyū todoke o dashitai desu. I would like to file a move-in notification. | |
| 国民健康保険に加入したいです。 Kokumin kenkō hoken ni kanyū shitai desu. I would like to join national health insurance. | |
| 住民票が一通ほしいです。 Jūminhyō ga ittsū hoshii desu. I need one copy of my residence record. | |
| 在留カードの住所変更に来ました。 Zairyū kādo no jūsho henkō ni kimashita. I came to change the address on my residence card. | |
| 外国人相談窓口はありますか。 Gaikokujin sōdan madoguchi wa arimasu ka. Is there a consultation desk for foreigners? | |
| 日本語があまり話せません。ゆっくりお願いします。 Nihongo ga amari hanasemasen. Yukkuri onegai shimasu. I do not speak much Japanese. Slowly, please. |
Audio synthesized with VOICEVOX:Meimei Himari at standard pace for shadowing; real conversations run faster and carry accents.
Step by step
- Receive the card at the airport
At Narita, Haneda, Kansai and other major airports, mid- to long-term residents receive the card at immigration on arrival. The address field is blank at this point.
- Register your address within 14 days
Once you have a place to live, take the card to the municipal (city/ward) office of your area and complete the move-in notification. Your address is written onto the card.
- Open the doors that depend on it
Bank account, phone contract, health insurance and My Number all flow from your registered residence card. Do these in the first weeks.
- Keep it updated
Report any change of address to the new municipality within 14 days. Changes of name, nationality or visa status are handled at immigration offices.
Common mistakes & warnings
- Not carrying your residence card is an offense; police can ask to see it. Carry the physical card, not a photo.
- Missing the 14-day address registration deadline can affect visa renewals and is a legal violation.
- If your card is lost or stolen, file a police report and apply for reissue at an immigration office within 14 days.
Frequently asked questions
Who gets a residence card?
Mid- to long-term residents — basically anyone staying over 3 months with a proper status of residence. Tourists and short-term visitors do not receive one.
Is the residence card the same as My Number?
No. The residence card proves your immigration status; My Number is a tax/social-security number issued after address registration. You will use both, for different purposes.
What happens to the card when I renew my visa?
A new card with the new period of stay is issued at the immigration office when your extension is approved.
Official sources
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules change; always confirm details with the official sources listed above before making decisions.