“Resident Registration”- The Procedure For Foreigners Living In Japan

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Hi, I’m MAHARI.

I introduce “Resident Registration” which must be done when you’d like to live in Japan.

I cite and refer to the notification of resident registration on the following government’s website and explain it in an easy-to-understand.

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What Is “Resident Registration”

Resident Registration is officially registered at the government office.

We call is “住民登録 – じゅうみん とうろく”, “Jyumin Toroku.”

After registering as a resident, the local government will be able to provide you with welfare services.

 The followings are applied in your lives
  • Finding Jobs
  • Opening Japanese bank accounts
  • Health insurance (30% of treatment costs)
  • Attending schools for children
Quote: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “Basic Resident Registration System for Foreign Residents

What Happens If You Don’t Register As A Resident?

There were penalties in “Q&A – Residency Management System frequently asked questions” at the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

To tell the truth;

  • When you first come to Japan, should decide on a house and register as a resident within 90 days.
    • If you can’t, your status of residence may be revoked.
  • Register as a resident at the government office within 14 days from the day you should decide to live
    • If not, maybe a fine of 200,000 yen or less.

If you have reasons you cannot decide on a house to live in or register as a resident, please make sure to consult with the government office.

The Procedure Of Resident Registration

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Decide A House

Before registering as a resident, first you should decide on a house to live in.

Online sites are the most common way to find a home in Japan.

If you are looking for a house now, please refer to the real estate information site that supports foreign languages below;

Visit The Government Office

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After you decide on a house to live in, you will go to the government office (city office, ward office, town office, village office) of your house address within 14 days and complete the procedure for resident registration.

For example, if your home is in Edogawa Ward in Tokyo, you need to go to the Edogawa Ward Office.

If you don’t know which office to go to…?
  • Look up your home address on Google Maps
  • Ask the real estate company with the rental contract for the location of the government office

Who Can Complete The Procedure For Resident Registration?

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The following people can complete the procedure at the counter;

  1. The person who wants to complete the procedure (16 years old or older)
  2. Agent (person who can perform the procedure on behalf of the person)
    • Relatives 16 years or older who live with the person
      • The person or the person requested by the agent
      • The person’s legal agent

* In the case of “illness”, the agent must bring certifiable materials such as a medical certificate to the counter.
* In the case of “request”, The power of attorney must be brought to the counter by the agent.

Please note that if the person who is going to complete the procedure is not yet 16 years old, they will not be able to complete the procedure even if he/she goes directly to the counter.

To Those Who Live With Their Family In Japan

The procedure for foreigners to live with their families was written on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

If a foreigner would like to live with his/her family, he/she needs a householder and a family certificate.

A head of the household(せたいぬし、Setai nushi) is a family representative.

If you live alone, you are the head of the household.

On the other hand, your father or mother is the head of the household if you live with your family.

For example, it requires a “marriage certificate” for a married couple, and a “birth certificate” for children.

If the certificate is not written in Japanese, you will prepare a Japanese translation as well.

What Should You Bring To The Government Office?

When registering as a resident, please bring your residence card.

If you have not received your residence card yet, a passport with proof to issue a residence card”.

Receive A Letter From The Government Office

About a week after completing the resident registration, you will receive a letter from the government office as “You were able to be registered as a resident “.

This letter also has the purpose of the government’s check.

If you don’t receive the letter, please consult the government office.

Cautions For Resident Registration

<a href="https://pixabay.com/ja/users/jarmoluk-143740/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1080592">Michal Jarmoluk</a>による<a href="https://pixabay.com/ja//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1080592">Pixabay</a>からの画像

Unable to procedure it with a short-term stay visa

Unfortunately, you cannot register as a resident with a short-term stay visa of fewer than 3 months.

Unable to register as a resident of the house before you live

You can do it after you live at home.

Please note that you cannot register as the only resident by contracting a house.

Resident Registration is not possible depending on the building

The following buildings cannot be registered as resident registration addresses.

  • Company office
  • Plant/Factory
  • Hotel
  • Weekly apartment

As an exception, residence hotels may be able to register as residents.

If you live in a hotel, please confirm that you can register as a resident at the hotel.

Required to go to the government office

Please note that online and branch offices are not available.

Finally

When you come to Japan, there are a lot of procedures.

However, please complete the necessary procedures ASAP.

People at the government office are kind, so please ask a lot of questions if you have any questions.