Quick Answer: If you start medium- or long-term residence in Japan, submit a moving-in notification at your municipal office within 14 days of fixing your address. Bring your residence card, passport, and proof of address; if moving within Japan, also bring a moving-out certificate. After registration, health insurance, pension, My Number, bank, and mobile procedures become easier. Check your municipality’s website for hours and required documents before visiting.
What do you need for resident registration?
Resident registration records your address in the municipal resident register. It applies to new arrivals and those moving between municipalities in Japan.
Requirements vary by municipality and situation; prepare at minimum the following.
- When needed
- To record address on the back
- When needed
- Identity and entry date
- When needed
- Confirm kanji address and room number
- When needed
- At counter or from municipal site
- When needed
- When moving from another municipality in Japan
- When needed
- If you already have one, for address update
| Item | When needed |
|---|---|
| Residence card | To record address on the back |
| Passport | Identity and entry date |
| Lease or proof of address | Confirm kanji address and room number |
| Moving-in notification form | At counter or from municipal site |
| Moving-out certificate | When moving from another municipality in Japan |
| My Number card | If you already have one, for address update |
First-time arrivals in Japan do not have a moving-out certificate. Domestic moves require moving-out procedures at the previous municipality before moving-in at the new one.
When and where do you file?
Generally within 14 days of fixing your address, visit the city hall, ward office, or town/village office of your new address. In Tokyo’s 23 wards and designated cities, the ward office of your ward handles registration.
To avoid crowds, weekdays in the morning often work better; avoid early/late month and March–April moving season when possible. Reception hours, reservations, and language support differ—check the official site before going.
Useful short phrases at the counter include the following.
- Reading
- ten'nyu todoke o dashitai desu
- Meaning
- I want to submit a moving-in notification.
- Reading
- jusho toroku o shitai desu
- Meaning
- I want to register my address.
- Reading
- hajimete Nihon ni sumimasu
- Meaning
- This is my first time living in Japan.
- Reading
- Nihongo ga amari wakarimasen
- Meaning
- I do not understand much Japanese.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 転入届を出したいです | ten'nyu todoke o dashitai desu | I want to submit a moving-in notification. |
| 住所登録をしたいです | jusho toroku o shitai desu | I want to register my address. |
| 初めて日本に住みます | hajimete Nihon ni sumimasu | This is my first time living in Japan. |
| 日本語があまりわかりません | Nihongo ga amari wakarimasen | I do not understand much Japanese. |
What is the step-by-step process at city hall?
A typical flow looks like this.
- Ask at information — Say “moving-in notification” or “resident registration”; larger offices often use numbered tickets
- Complete the moving-in form — Name, birth date, nationality, residence card number, new address, relationship to head of household; match lease spelling
- Submit residence card and ID — Staff verify and print the new address on the back of the residence card
- Confirm related procedures — Request a certificate of residence if needed for bank, mobile, or license conversion
Processing may take about 30 minutes when quiet, or over an hour when busy. Basic moving-in registration is free; certificate copies may have fees.
What else should you handle the same day?
After registration, confirm procedures that apply to you, such as the following.
- National Health Insurance — If not on employee insurance, enroll at the municipality
- National Pension — Residents aged 20–59 may receive enrollment or exemption guidance
- My Number — Notification arrives after registration; see the My Number card guide for application steps
- Certificate of residence — Often needed for bank, mobile, or license conversion
- Garbage and local info — Collection days, sorting rules, disaster info, multilingual materials
For license conversion after address registration, see foreign license conversion. If still house hunting, see the apartment hunting guide. New arrivals may also find the visa and residence status map helpful for understanding entry requirements.
How do you avoid common mistakes?
Keep address spelling consistent across lease, residence card, bank, and mobile contracts to reduce later verification.
If you have housemates, be ready to explain relationship to head of household—friend, spouse, partner, company dormitory, etc.
If Japanese is difficult, use multilingual counters, phone interpretation, translation apps, or employer or school support; major cities may have foreign resident consultation desks.
If the 14-day deadline is near, contact the municipal office promptly rather than waiting; additional documents depend on municipality and residence status.
What is the cultural context?
Municipal offices use your registered address to manage health insurance, pension, tax, schools, disaster response, and garbage collection. Registration is the entry point to local public services, not just an address change.
Formal counter interactions focus on matching documents to prevent errors in later procedures. Ask at the counter rather than leaving fields blank.
FAQ
Can I register while still in a hotel?
Register where you have fixed your medium- or long-term base. Short hotel stays may be treated differently—confirm contract type and stay plan with the municipality.
Do children need registration?
Family members with qualifying residence status need registration regardless of age; bring all family residence cards and passports.
Can a representative file for me?
In-person filing is standard; some municipalities allow agents with a power of attorney—confirm required documents in advance.
How many certificate copies should I get?
One or two copies help if you will submit to bank, license, or employer soon; each copy has a fee and validity rules vary by recipient.
Next Steps
- Check your municipality’s site for counter location, hours, and reservation requirements
- Gather residence card, passport, lease, and moving-out certificate if applicable
- At the counter, confirm health insurance, pension, My Number, and garbage rules
- After registration, update bank, mobile, employer, school, and license-related addresses
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency — Address notification (verified June 26, 2026)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs — Resident register for foreign residents (verified June 26, 2026)
- Digital Agency — My Number system (verified June 26, 2026)