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.
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 something like 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 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.
WHO TO BE ISSUED
RESIDENCE CARD is issued to mid to long-term residents 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.
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 care 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)
DESIGNATE / 指定書
For some VISA STATUS such as HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL (HSP), DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES etc., a slip titled DESIGNATION / 指定書 will be stapled on your passport, stating specific activity, workplace etc. allowed under the visa status. This DESIGNATION is something like a part of RESIDENCE CARD, you must keep it while you have RESIDENCE CARD corresponding to.
For the details of information written on the card, jump to the page of the Immigration Office below;
>> https://www.isa.go.jp/en/publications/materials/newimmiact_4_point.html
PERIOD of VALIDITY
Residence Card is valid for certain periods as the following:
| Age | Non-Permanent Resident | Permanent Resident |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Birthday | Until 16th Birthday |
NECESSARY PROCEDUDURES
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 -> 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 14 days after moving in/moving out.
You cannot process it at the Immigration Office.
You should ask the city/ward office directly for further details.
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 at Immigration Office.
Necessary Documents
- Notification Form (you can get the form at Immigration Office).
- Portrait Photo (Hight 4cm x Width 3cm)
- Passport and Residence Card
- Documents which certifies the change:
- Change of Name due to marriage: passport after change of name and marriage certificate (Koseki Tohon, in case of marriage with Japanese).
- Change of Name due to other reasons than marriage: passport after change of name, Birth Certificate and written judgement regarding the change of name.
- Change of Nationality/Region: passport issued by new nationality.
For further details, please check the website of the Immigration Office below；
>> https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00009.html
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. Generally, new card will be issued on the same day after the notification at the Immigration Office.
Re-Issuance of Residence Card
Necessary Documents
You can get Application Form and Indication Form at the Immigration Office counter.
- Application Form
- Portrait Photo (Hight 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 circumstances surrounding the loss.
- (in case you obtain PEMISSION to ENGAGE in OTHER ACTIVITY / 資格外活動許可) Certificate of the permit
- (in case you prefer to state Kanji name together with Alphabetical name on the card) Indication Form
For further details, please check the website of the Immigration Office below；
>> https://www.isa.go.jp/en/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00010.html
IN CASE YOU QUIT VISA STATUS; RETURN of RESIDENCE CARD
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