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Update Your Residence Card Address in Japan - Step-by-Step Guide

Japan Residence Card Address Change Guide

Japan Residence Card Address Change Guide

Complete step-by-step instructions for updating your address

⚠️ Important Deadline

Within 14 Days

You must submit your address change notification at your new municipal office within 14 days of moving. Failure to do so can result in fines or visa status issues.

📄 What You Need
  • ✓ Your Residence Card (original)
  • ✓ Moving-out certificate (if from different municipality)

Step-by-Step Procedure

1
Prepare Required Documents
Gather all necessary items before visiting the municipal office

📋 Essential Documents

  • • Residence Card (在留カード) - Original card for person moving
  • • My Number Card or Notification Card - If you have
  • • Moving-Out Certificate (転出証明書) - Only if moving from a different municipality. Get this from your old municipal office BEFORE moving
  • • Personal Seal (Hanko/認印) - Recommended but not always required
  • • Passport - Not compulsory(for Identification)
2
Visit Your New Municipal Office
Go to the city hall or ward office in your new area

📍 At the Municipal Office

  1. Take a token number at the "Resident Registration" or "Moving-In Notification" counter
  2. Request the "Notification of Resident Change" form (住民異動届) if not available
  3. Fill out the form completely
  4. Submit the form with your documents to the counter staff
3
Update Your Residence Card
The staff will update your card with the new address

✅ What Happens Next

  1. The staff will take your Residence Card(s)
  2. They will write your new address on the back of your card in Japanese
  3. They will stamp the card with the official municipal seal
  4. Your procedure is complete! Your card is now updated

Form Fields Explained

📅 Date of Notification

What to write: The date you are submitting the form

Format: Year / Month / Day (e.g., 2025/12/23)

📍 New Address

What to write: Your complete new address in Japan(Writing address in Japanese Lanugage)

Include: Prefecture, city, ward, district, building name, apartment number

📍 Old Address

What to write: Your previous address in Japan

If moving from overseas: Write your country name instead

👤 Applicant Name

What to write: Your full name in English (according to Residence Card)

Note: Must match your Residence Card

📅 Date of Birth

What to write: Your birth date

Format: Year / Month / Day (e.g., 1990/05/15)

☎️ Phone Number

What to write: Your contact phone number

Format: Japanese format (e.g., 090-1234-5678)

👥 Names (Information of Movers)

What to write: Names of people moving

Include: Yourself and all family members moving with you（If you are staying with family)

👥 Gender & Relationship

What to write: Gender (Male/Female) and relationship to head of household

Example: Male, Self (if you are the head) or Female, Spouse

Important Things to Confirm

✓ 14-Day Deadline
Did you submit the notification within 14 days of moving? This is a legal requirement. Late submission can lead to fines or visa status issues.
✓ Residence Card Updated
Is the new address correctly written on the back of your card? The address on the back of your card is the official record of your residence. Check for the municipal office stamp.
✓ My Number Card
If you have a My Number Card, did the staff update the address on its IC chip? This is usually done at the same time. You may be asked to enter your PIN.
✓ Health Insurance
Did you complete the necessary procedures for your National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken)? If you moved from a different municipality, you must enroll in the new one.
✓ Other Procedures
Did you ask the staff if any other procedures are necessary? Moving often triggers other required notifications such as pension changes, child allowance updates, or school transfers.

Key Japanese Terms

Japanese Term English Meaning Context
在留カード Residence Card Your primary ID for mid- to long-term residents
住民異動届 Notification of Resident Change The general form used for all moving procedures
転入届 Moving-In Notification Used when moving into a new municipality
転居届 Relocation Notification Used when moving within the same municipality
転出証明書 Moving-Out Certificate Issued by the old municipality when moving out
区役所 Ward Office
認印 Personal Seal (Hanko) Used for official documents; recommended but not always required
マイナンバーカード My Number Card National ID card with social security and tax number

Ready to Update Your Address?

Gather your documents and visit your nearest municipal office within 14 days of moving.

This guide provides general information about changing your address on a Japanese Residence Card.

For official information, visit the Immigration Services Agency of Japan website.

See Also :

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