Post-Arrival

1．Required Procedures

Residence Card

The previous Alien Registration System was terminated on July 9, 2012. To replace the Alien Registration Certificate, a residence card is now issued for qualifying foreign nationals.(*1) This card will be used for residency management, and will record any change of residence during your stay.
The residence card is issued to foreign nationals who are granted permission to stay more than three months (mid- to long-term residents) at a port of entry.(*2) Those who receive a residence card are asked to visit the municipal office where they live, and to notify the office where they live within 14 days of finding a place to reside.

*1: The residence card will not be issued to foreign nationals who are granted permission to stay for three months or less.
*2: Residence cards will be issued upon arrival at Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Hiroshima and Fukuoka Airports. If you enter Japan through ports other than those above, a residence card will be mailed to your place of residence in Japan. In this case, a seal of landing verification will be stamped and "a residence card will be issued later" will be indicated in your passport. Please use your passport as your residence card until you receive the actual card.

Procedures at Municipal Office

Those who have received a residence card are asked to visit the municipal office where they live with their card within 14 days of finding a place to settle down, and to file a notification of residence and a notification of moving-in. (By showing your residence card, the notification of residence procedure can be completed as part of filing a notification of moving-in.)

【Necessary Documents】

Residence card (when issued at a port of entry)
Passport

If you move in with your family:

　Documents certifying their relationship to the head of household

(These must be accompanied by a Japanese translation, which should include the name and contact information of the translator.)

　e.g. Marriage certificate, birth certificates, etc. (photocopies acceptable)

Procedures at a Regional Immigration Office

	Required documents	Date of notification
Change of an Item (other than the address)	・Residence card ・Passport ・Photo (one) ・Notification of a Change of an Item on the Residence Card [PDF] ・Documents certifying that the change has taken place	Within 14 days after the change takes place
Re-issuance	・Resident card (if you have one) ・Passport ・Photo (one) ・Application for Re-issuance of a Residence Card (lost, stolen) [PDF] ・Application for Re-issuance of a Residence Card (defaced) [PDF] *If your residence card has been lost or stolen, please bring in a report of loss or a theft report certificate issued by the police department. If your residence card is severely damaged or defaced due to a disaster, please bring a disaster victim certificate, etc.	Within 14 days of the day you noticed that your residence card was lost or stolen *Within 14 days of the day you re-entered Japan (if you noticed that your residence card was lost or stolen while outside Japan)
Indication of Name Using Kanji Characters	・Application for Indication of Name Using Kanji Characters on the Residence Card [PDF] ・Documents certifying that the kanji characters are used in the name (Photocopy of the passport, etc.)	At the time of application or notification involving issuance of a residence card (e.g. when you apply for a change of an item on the resident card other than the address, or when you report a change or request renewal of the status of residence.) *If you apply only for the indication of kanji name, you also need to prepare the following: ・ Fee 1,300 yen (for a revenue stamp) ・ Photo (one)

2．National Health Insurance

Foreign nationals who are granted permission to stay more than three months (who are issued a residence card) are required to join the Japanese public medical insurance program, National Health Insurance system (excluding those who are enrolled in other health insurance plans). Enroll in National Health Insurance at the municipal office of your place of residence at the same time you are submitting the notification of moving-in. Once enrolled, when you go to a hospital or clinic, you only need to pay 30% of the bill.