Alien Registration

Initial Alien Registration

If you are going to stay in Japan for more than 90 days, you must register yourself as a foreign resident with your passport and two photographs*1 (Photographs are not required for anyone under the age of 16.) within 90 days of entry into Japan. When you give birth to a child, you must register your child within 60 days of the date of birth. In addition, when you expatriate from Japan, you must register yourself as a foreign resident within 60 days.

*1

Your photographs must be ; (1)full face, without a hat, (2)plain background, (3)taken within the past six months, (4)printed from the same negative and (5)4.5cm long x 3.5cm wide (Please see the illustration below).

Changing Registered Information

You must register any changes in name, address, nationality, career, visa status, period of stay and name or place of employment within 14 days of the change. When you move out from Wako city, you must register yourself in the city where you move in.

Reissue  

If your alien registration card is stolen or lost, be sure to report the loss and file a lost item report at your local police station. (Someone may turn your lost card in the police.) If the police don’t inform you that the lost card has been found, you would have to apply for reissue within 14 days of realizing the loss. Two photographs*1, your passport and a lost item report certificate (The police station where you filed a lost item report will issue this certificate) are needed to reissue your alien registration card.

Certificate of Registered Items in the Foreign Resident Registry

This certificate verifies the items of your registration. To apply for this certificate, you must show your alien registration card to the Registration and Residents Div.

Returning Your Alien Registration Card

Alien registration card must be returned to the Registration and Residents Div. within 14 days of acquiring Japanese nationality or the date of death.

When you leave Japan…

There is no procedure at the Registration and Residents Div. Please make inquiries regarding National Health Insurance (Inquiries: Health Promotion Div.), Child Allowance (Inquiries: Children’s Welfare Div.) and tax (Inquiries: Tax Collection Div.).