Moving to Japan: Residence Card, Address Registration and the First Visit to City Hall

Understand where the residence card is issued, why the 14-day address registration matters, and what to do for health insurance and My Number.

Published October 19, 2026 at 10:50 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: New long-term residents in Japan receive a residence card (zairyu card) from immigration, sometimes at the airport, and must register their address at the local city or ward office within 14 days of settling in. The same visit usually covers National Health Insurance, if no workplace coverage applies, and the mailing of a My Number notification letter.

What the residence card is

The residence card, called zairyu card in Japanese, is the main identity document for foreign nationals who live in Japan for the medium or long term. It shows your name, status of residence, period of stay and permitted activities, and the address registered with your municipality is written on the back. Immigration issues the card, and it is used in daily life for contracts, banking, phone plans and many official procedures.

Residents are expected to carry the card, so keep it in a wallet or card holder and treat it as you would a passport. It is not issued to short-term visitors. If your status or period of stay changes later, a new card is issued. Staying aware of the expiry date matters, because renewals and extensions are applied for with immigration before the date arrives.

Where you receive it

According to the Immigration Services Agency, a residence card is issued on the spot if you receive a new landing permit at one of seven airports: Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Hiroshima or Fukuoka. If you enter through another airport or a seaport, the card is not issued at the border. Instead, you file a notification of your place of residence with your municipality after you settle in, and the card is then mailed to your home.

Because of this, it is helpful to know before you fly which airport you will use. If you arrive at one of the seven airports, you leave with the card in hand, which makes the first city hall visit simpler. If not, bring your passport instead, and the municipal office will record your address and start the mailing process.

The 14-day address registration

The key deadline is 14 days. Immigration guidance explains that mid-to-long-term residents have fourteen days from the date their place of residence is decided to notify the municipal office covering that address. In practice this means a visit to the city, ward or town office soon after you secure housing. Bring the residence card if you received one at the airport, or your passport if you did not.

This notification is also called the moving-in notification (tenyu todoke). The staff register you as a resident, and if you hold a card, they write your new address on its back. Missing the deadline can cause problems with your status of residence, so aim to go within the first week. If your housing is not settled yet, many guides suggest going once you have a confirmed address, because the address is the information that the office needs.

Health insurance, pension and My Number at the same counter

City hall is usually the one stop where several enrollments begin. Foreign residents staying more than three months who are not covered by an employer plan are generally required to join National Health Insurance, and many offices let you enroll at the same counter visit as your address registration. Official guidance says you usually pay 30 percent of medical costs at the clinic, and premiums are calculated by each municipality, so details vary.

People aged 20 to 59, including foreign residents, are covered by the National Pension system. If you work for a company that enrolls you in employee insurance, the employer handles that part, so ask your workplace which plan applies. Registered residents also receive a My Number notification letter, a 12-digit personal identification number, by mail at the registered address. Keep the number private and follow the letter's instructions if you wish to apply for a My Number card.

Moving later: changing your address

Your first registration is not the last. If you move within the same city, you submit a change-of-address notification and bring your residence card. If you move to another city, you first file a moving-out notification at your current office and receive a moving-out certificate, then file a moving-in notification at the new office within 14 days, bringing the card and the certificate.

National Health Insurance enrollment follows the address, so tell the new office as part of the same visit. Some statuses also have other reporting rules, such as changes to a school or employer, which are reported to immigration within a set period. Immigration's guidance lists examples, so check the rules for your own status. When in doubt, ask the municipal office or the immigration information service before the deadline passes.

What to bring and how to prepare

Prepare a short checklist before you go. Bring your passport and residence card, a document that proves your new address if the office asks for one, and the moving-out certificate if you came from another Japanese city. If you plan to enroll in National Health Insurance or pension, ask in advance whether the office needs any other papers. A seal is sometimes requested, although a signature is often accepted.

Offices can be busy at certain times of year, so arrive early in the day and allow time. Many municipalities offer English forms or interpreter help, and some provide multilingual information on their websites. The Immigration Services Agency publishes a living and working guidebook in 20 languages that can help you prepare. Having a Japanese speaker with you is useful but not always required.

Common questions and good habits

Several habits make the process easier. Keep your residence card in a safe place, take a photo of it for your own reference, and note the expiry date in your calendar. Keep letters from immigration and from city hall, since they often contain deadlines. Update your address with your bank, employer, school and phone provider after the municipal registration is complete.

This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. Municipalities differ in forms, counters and premium calculations, so the local office's own page is the best source. If you receive a notice you do not understand, ask the office for help in simple Japanese or English, or contact the multilingual support service for foreign residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the residence card issued at the airport on arrival?

Only at certain airports. Immigration issues the card on the spot at Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Hiroshima and Fukuoka when you receive a new landing permit for a mid-to-long-term stay. At other ports, you register your address first and the card is mailed to your home afterward.

How long is the deadline for registering an address at city hall?

You have 14 days from the date your place of residence is decided. Bring your residence card if you received one at the airport, or your passport if not. The same visit commonly starts National Health Insurance enrollment and prompts the mailing of your My Number notification letter.

Is National Health Insurance mandatory for new residents?

Residents staying more than three months who are not covered by an employer plan generally need to join it, and city hall handles the enrollment. If your company enrolls you in employee health insurance, that covers you instead. Rules and premiums differ by municipality, so check your local office.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Building a Life in Japan is available on Amazon.

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