After you enter Japan with COE, you will receive RESIDENCE CARD / 在留カード at the airport immigration counter.

RESIDENCE CARD is an identification card issued to foreign nationals, certifying you are allowed to live/work in Japan under a specific VISA STATUS. On this card, you will see your personal information as well as type of VISA STATUS, the period of stay, date of expiry etc. Each Residence Card holder has to carry the card with himself/herself during his/her stay in Japan.

You will need to process necessary application or notification when the information written on the card has been changed. For some VISA STATUS such as Designated Activities etc., a slip titled DESIGNATION / 指定書 will be stapled on your passport. This DESIGNATION is a part of RESIDENCE CARD to confirm detailed information of your activity granted under the visa status. You must keep it while you have RESIDENCE CARD corresponding to.

Even though you are obtaining PERMANENT RESIDENT visa status, you need to carry it with you and have to renew the card in Japan every 7 years.

After you enter Japan with the COE and obtain RESIDENCE CARD, you need to register your residence address at the city/ward office. You can register your own personal seal called “Inkan (印鑑)” (Japanese people often use Inkan instead of signing) as well. Then, you finally become a resident in Japan. You can receive CERTIFICATE of RESIDENCE (住民票写し) and CERTIFICATE of SEAL/INKAN (印鑑証明書) as the same as Japanese people do. RESIDENCE CARD and these certificates are often required for administrative procedures in Japan and other services such as opening bank account.

Contents
  1. WHO TO BE ISSUED
  2. INFORMATION STATED ON THE CARD
  3. PERIOD of VALIDITY
  4. NECESSARY PROCEDURES
  5. IF YOU LOST RESIDENCE CARD...
  6. IN CASE YOU QUIT VISA STATUS; RETURN of RESIDENCE CARD
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WHO TO BE ISSUED

RESIDENCE CARD is issued to mid to long-term residents in Japan who are NOT come under any of 1 – 6 below:

  • Person granted permission to stay for three months or less.
  • Person granted “Temporary Visitor” status.
  • Person granted “Diplomat” or “Official” status.
  • Person recognized by Ministry of Justice ordinance as equivalent to foreign nationals coming under any of (1) to (3) above.
  • Special permanent residents.
  • Person with no resident status.
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INFORMATION STATED ON THE CARD

Information written on the Residence Card is the following;

FRONT

  • Photo
  • Name and Sex
  • Date of Birth
  • Nationality and Region
  • Registered Residence Address in Japan
  • Name of Visa Status and Period of Stay
  • Date of Approval of Visa Status
  • Date of Issuance of Residence Card
  • Date of Expiry of Period of Stay (except Permanent Resident)
  • Date of Expiry of Residence Card (in case of Permanent Resident)
  • Working Restrictions (if any)

BACK

  • History of Residence Address registered at the city/ward office.
  • Details of permission to engage in activities other than that permitted under current visa status (if any)
  • Name of Application in Progress (if any)

DESIGNATION / 指定書

For some VISA STATUS such as HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL (HSP), DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES etc., a slip titled as DESIGNATION / 指定書 will be stapled on your passport, stating specific activity and details allowed under the visa status. This DESIGNATION is a part of RESIDENCE CARD, you must keep it while you have RESIDENCE CARD corresponding to.

WHAT IS a RESIDENCE CARD? (Immigration Office Website) >> https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/whatzairyu_00001.html?hl=en

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PERIOD of VALIDITY

Residence Card is valid for certain periods as the following:

Residence Card issued on/from November 1st, 2023

AgeNon-Permanent ResidentPermanent Resident
HSP2
16 or older　　　　Date of Expiry of visa status　　　　　7 years from Date of Issue of the card　　　　　
Under 16　　　　　Earlier of Expiration Date of visa status or the day before 16th BirthdayUntil the day before 16th Birthday

Residence Card issued on/by October 31st, 2023

AgeNon-Permanent ResidentPermanent Resident
HPS2
16 or older　　　　Date of Expiry of visa status　　　　　7 years from Date of Issue of the card　　　　　
Under 16　　　　　Earlier of Date of Expiration of visa status or 16th BirthdayUntil 16th Birthday

Before your Residence Card expires, you must apply for Extension of Period of Stay (Visa Renewal) or Renewal of Residence Card:

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NECESSARY PROCEDURES

You need to notify to the authorities properly in the event of any change regarding information stated on the card.

  • Change of residence address -> at the City/Ward Office.
  • Other changes than above (e.g. name, sex and nationality/region) -> at the Immigration Office or the branch.

Change of Residence Address

You need to process NOTIFICATION of CHANGE of ADDRESS (転居届) or NOTIFICATION of MOVING-IN/MOVING-OUT (転出届/転入届) to register your residence address within the specific period.

  • NOTIFICATION of CHANGE of ADDRESS / 転居届 (moving within the same jurisdiction of the city/ward) : should be processed at the city/ward office within 14 days after the date of move.
  • NOTIFICATION of MOVING-OUT /転出届（In case you move out to other jurisdiction of the city/ward) : should be processed at the city/ward office of moving out within 14 days before the date of move.
  • NOTIFICATION of MOVING-IN / 転入届（In case you move in to other jurisdiction of the city/ward) : should be processed at the city/ward office of moving in within 14 days after the date of move.

You cannot process it at the Immigration Office.
For further detail, please contact the city/ward office before moving out.

Change of items other than residence address

In case of changes of name, sex and nationality/region, you need to notify it to the Immigration Office or the branch where you reside. Generally, new card will be issued on the same day after the notification.

Notification of change in residence card information / 住居地以外の在留カード記載事項の変更届出 (Immigration Office Website) >> https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00009.html?hl=en

Necessary Documents

  • Notification Form (you can receive it at the Immigration Office counter).
  • Portrait Photo (Height 4cm x Width 3cm)
  • Passport and Residence Card
  • Documents to certify the change:
    • In case of Change of Name due to marriage: passport after change of name and marriage certificate (Koseki Tohon, in case of marriage with Japanese).
    • In case of Change of Name due to other reasons than marriage: passport after change of name, Birth Certificate and written judgement regarding the change of name.
    • In case of Change of Nationality/Region: passport issued by new nationality.
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IF YOU LOST RESIDENCE CARD…

If you lost or were robbed your RESIDENCE CARD, you have to notify it at the Police Station as soon as possible at first. Police will issue the Certificate of Lost/Robbery Report, then you have to go to the Immigration Office with the certificate and apply for Re-Issuance of Residence Card / 紛失等による在留カードの再交付申請. Generally, new card will be issued on the same day after the notification at the Immigration Office.

Application for reissuance of residence card due to loss (Immigration Office Website) >> https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00010.html?hl=en

Application for Re-Issuance of Residence Card

Necessary Documents

  • Application Form (You can get it at the Immigration Office)
  • Portrait Photo (Height 4cm x Width 3cm)
  • Passport
  • Documents which certifies the loss of possession, for example;
    • Certificate of Lost Report issued by the Police
    • Certificate of Robbery Report issued by the Police
    • In case it is difficult to provide the documents above; a statement explaining the reason why you cannot receive the Police Certificate for the loss and the details of circumstances surrounding the loss.
  • (in case you obtain PERMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY / 資格外活動許可) Permit sealed on your passport.
  • (in case you prefer to state Kanji name together with Alphabetical name on the card) Indication Form for Kanji
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IN CASE YOU QUIT VISA STATUS; RETURN of RESIDENCE CARD

In case you quit living in Japan and you don’t need your Residence Card any more, you have to return the card back to the Immigration Office within 14 days after the date of leaving out of Japan.

You may return your Residence Card at the airport departure counter. If you tell the Immigration Officer that you don’t need the card any more, the officer makes it punched and gives the invalid card back to you.

In case you couldn’t return your Residence Card at the airport when you leave Japan or you don’t need to reenter Japan again with the Residence Card any more in spite of obtaining Re-enter Permit (or Special Re-enter Permit), you have to return the card back to the Immigration Office by trackable mail. In that case, you cannot receive the punched/invalid card.

Address to Send
Tokyo Immigration Bureau Odaiba Branch Office
Tokyo Port Joint Government Building 9F, 2-7-11 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 1350064 JAPAN
(〒135-0064　東京都江東区青海２－７－１１　東京港湾合同庁舎９階　東京出入国在留管理局おだいば分室)

Return of residence card / 在留カードの返納手続 （出入国管理庁ウェブサイト）>> https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00020.html?hl=en

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