1Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Residence Card
A residence card is an ID for foreign residents in Japan. It shows your identification information,
the period you can stay in Japan (period of stay) and the activities that you can conduct in Japan
(your status of residence), and so on.
• A person who is 16 years and over need to carry
his / her residence card at all times.
• It can be used as an ID when you carry out an
official procedure at local government or enter into
a contract.
A Person to Whom Residence Card Is Issued
A residence card is issued to a person who stay in Japan over three months. (Such person is
is called "mid-to-long-term resident".)
Six cases where residence card is not issued
i. A person granted permission to stay for three months or less
ii. A person granted "Temporary Visitor" status of residence
iii. A person granted "Diplomat" or "Official" status of residence
iv. A staff members of the Japanese office of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (Taipei
Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, etc.), or Permanent General Mission of
Palestine in Japan who has "Designated Activities" status of residence, and his / her families
v. A special permanent resident
vi. A person with no statuses of residence
1-1 Issuance of Residence Card
A residence card is mainly issued at the following time
i When a new landing permit is given at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu Airport,
Kansai Airport, New Chitose Airport, Hiroshima Airport, and Fukuoka Airport
➡ A residence card is issued at the airport.1 Chapter 1 Procedures for
Entry/Residence12
Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12ii When a new landing permit is given at an airport or a port not mentioned above
➡ Please submit a moving-in notification to the municipal office where you live. After
that your Residence Card will be delivered to your house by mail.
iii When you receive permission for extension of the period of stay.
➡ Please apply for extension of period of stay (cf. 2-1) at the Regional Immigration
Services Bureau (including district offices and branch offices of the regional immigration
services bureau; the same shall apply hereinafter) before your period of stay expires. A
new residence card will be issued if your application is permitted.
iv When you receive permission for change of the status of residence
➡ If you need to change your status of residence, please apply for change of status of
residence at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau (cf. 2-2). A new residence card
will be issued if your application is permitted.
v When you receive permission for acquisition of status of residence
➡ If a child is born in Japan without Japanese nationality and wishes to continue his/
her stay in Japan beyond 60 days after he or she is born, it is necessary to apply for
acquisition of his/her status of residence at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
within 30 days from the date of birth (cf. 2-4). A new residence card will be issued if his/
her application is permitted.
1-2 Moving in Notification
A person who has had been issued his/her Residence Card need to register his/her address /
place of residence (file moving-in notification) within 14 days after his/her residence has been
determined.
As his/her Residence Card (in the case of 1-1 i) or passport (in the case of 1-1 ii) is required
to file the said notification, please make sure to bring either of them.
See: Chapter 2-1, 1-1 Notification of Address
1-3 Loss of Residence Card
You need to apply for reissuance of your residence card at the Regional Immigration Services
Bureau within 14 days of the day when the loss is found.
Necessary Documents
• Passport
• A photograph (4 cm long ×ばつ 3 cm wide, taken within the last three months. You don’t need
to submit a photograph if you are under 16.)
• Documentation that proves reasons for loss of the Residence Card (Certificate of Lost
Property Report, Report of Theft, Disaster Victim Notification, etc.)
• An application for reissuance of a Residence Card
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00010.html13
Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter121-4 Return of Residence Card
You need to return your residence card to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau in the
following circumstances:
Leaving Japan Re-entry Nonreserving
• Please return your residence card to an Immigration officer at an airport or seaport when
you leave Japan.
• When a family member or someone you live with died
• If you left Japan with re-entry permission and special re-entry
permission but did not return to Japan within the validity period
of the re-entry permission and special re-entry permission
• When you were naturalized as a Japanese citizen
In the cases above, please return your residence card
within 14 days by either of the following methods.
• Bring the residence card to the nearest Regional
Immigration Services Bureau.
• Send the residence card by mail
To: Odaiba Branch Office, the Tokyo Regional
Immigration Services Bureau
Tokyo Port Joint Government Building 9F, 2-7-11 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064
(Please write "Return of the Residence Card" on the front of the envelope)
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00020.html
(leaving Japan after finishing your activities)14
Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Procedures relating to status of
residence
2-1 Extension of period of stay (renewal of period of stay)
If you wish to continue your stay in Japan beyond your currently
authorized period of stay, you need to apply for an extension of period of
stay at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
Necessary Documents
• Passport
• Residence Card (if you have already been issued one)
• A photograph (4 cm long ×ばつ 3 cm wide, taken within three months, not required for persons
under the age of 16.)
• An application form for extension of period of stay
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-3-1.html
• Documentation that specifies your planned activities in Japan etc.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-3.html2-2Change of status of residence (Change of purpose of
residence)
If you wish to stay in Japan and change your present purpose of residence, you need to apply
for change of status of residence at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
Necessary Documents
• Passport
• Residence Card (If you have already been issued one)
• A photograph (4 cm long ×ばつ 3 cm wide, taken within three months, not
required for persons under the age of 16)
• An application form for change of status of residence
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-2-1.html
• Documentation that specifies your planned activities in Japan etc.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-2.html
○しろまるSearch by status of residence○しろまる
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/index.html215Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter122-3 Permission for permanent residence
Those who wish to reside permanently in Japan need to apply for permanent residence. If
permanent residence is granted, you can engage in any activity in Japan and stay in Japan as long
as you like. Furthermore, you do not have to carry out procedures to extend your period of stay or
change your status of residence.
Necessary Documents
• Passport
• Residence Card
• A photograph (4 cm long ×ばつ 3 cm wide, taken within three months, not required for those
under 16 years old)
• An application form for Permanent Residence
• Other necessary documents
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-4.html2-4Permission to acquire status of residence (If you
gave birth to a child in Japan)
If a child is born in Japan without Japanese nationality and wishes to continue his/her stay in
Japan beyond 60 days from his/her birth, it is necessary to apply for acquisition of his/her status
of residence at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau within 30 days from the date of birth.
* As a birth certificate (Shussei todoke kisai jikou shoumeisho, or "Certificate of Entry items in Birth Notification") and
other documents (see the following for details) are required, please register a birth at an office of municipality before
applying for acquisition of a status of residence at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
See: Chapter 4 2-1 Notification of a birth.
Necessary Documents
• Passport (if one has already been issued)
• An application form for permission to acquire status of residence
• Certificate of entry items in birth notification (It is available at office of municipality) or
other documents that proof birth
• Documentation that specifies the child’s planned activity in Japan
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-10.html
• A copy of your Certificate of Residence or Certificate of entry items in
Resident Register (You can get it at office of municipality)16
Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter122-5
Permission to engage in activities other than those
permitted under the status of residence previously granted
If you wish to work with a status of residence that does not permit you to work (status
of residence of "Student", "Dependent" and so on), or to engage in activities other than those
permitted under the status of residence previously granted, you need to apply for permission to
engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted
at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau. (See Chapter 3-1 1-1 to confirm which activities are
permitted under your status of residence.)
Necessary Documents
• Passport
• Residence Card
• An application form for permission to engage in
activities other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted
• Documents to certify the activity by which you intend to earn income or receive remuneration
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-8.html
2-6 Notification to Regional Immigration Services Bureau
If you have one of the statuses of residence below, and if something changes regarding the
organization you are affiliated with, you need to notify the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
of that change.
(1) Notification of the accepting organization
Status of Residence
requiring
notifications
Professor, Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c), Highly Skilled
Professional(ii) (limited to cases of engaging in the activities listed
in (ii) (c)), Business Manager, Legal/ Accounting Services, Medical
Services, Instructor, Intra-company Transferee, Technical Intern
Training, Student or Trainee
Matters to be
notified
• Change of the name of the accepting organization
• Change of the location of the accepting organization
• Extinguishment of the accepting organization
• Left from the accepting organization
• Transfer from the accepting organization
Notification period You are required to notify within 14 days.
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00014.html17
Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12(2) Notification of the organization of affiliation
Status of residence
requiring
notifications
Highly Skilled Professional (i)(a), Highly Skilled Professional (i)(b),
Highly Skilled Professional (ii) (limited to cases of engaging in the
activities listed in (ii)(a) or (b)), Researcher, Engineer/Specialist in
Humanities/International Services, Nursing Care, Entertainer (limited
to cases of engaging in activities based on a contract with a public or
private organization in Japan), Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker
Matters to be
notified
• Change of the name of the organization of affiliation
• Change of the location of the organization of affiliation
• Extinguishment of the organization of affiliation
• Termination of the contract with the organization of affiliation
• Conclusion of a contract with a new organization of affiliation
Notification Period You are required to notify within 14 days.
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00015.html
(3) Notification of relationship with spouse
Status of residence
requiring
notifications
Dependent, Spouse of Japanese National or Spouse of Permanent
Resident who has a status of a spouse
Matters to be
notified
• Divorce your spouse
• Bereavement of your spouse
Notification Period You are required to notify within 14 days.
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00016.html
Electronic notification by internet is possible for these notifications, other than bringing to the
service counter and mailing.
See the following URL for details of electronic notification:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/materials/i-ens_index.html18
Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Points-based preferential treatment for highly-skilled foreign professionals
Foreign nationals who are expected to contribute to the economic growth of Japan with their advanced
capabilities and qualities are preferentially treated with regard to their activities and period of stay.
This is a points-based system where foreign nationals are evaluated based on their "academic
background," "professional career", "annual income" and so on. Foreign nationals who apply for this system
at Regional Immigration Services Bureaus, and if they get 70 points or more in total, they are admitted as
"Highly- Skilled Foreign Professionals" and are given the following preferential treatment.
• Permission to engage in activities covering multiple statuses of residence
• Grant of period of stay for 5 years
• Relaxation of requirements for permanent residence concerning the period of stay in Japan and so on
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/materials/newimmiact_3_index.html
Re-entry Permission (re-enter Japan with
currently admitted status of residence)
If a foreign national in Japan wishes to temporarily leave and return to Japan within authorized
period, he/she can re-enter Japan with his/her currently authorized status of residence and period
of stay unchanged by using a re-entry permit.
(1) Special re-entry permission (returning to Japan within 1 year)
If the foreign nationals return to Japan within 1 year (or until the date of expiration of period
of stay when the date of expiration comes earlier than 1 year from the date of departure), re-entry
permission procedure at Regional Immigration Services Bureau will be exempted as long as they
have Residence Card and valid Passport.
(2) Re-entry permission (returning to Japan after more than 1 year )
If the foreign nationals apply for re-entry permit at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau
nearby, they can re-enter into Japan with their currently admitted status of residence and period
of stay (up to 5 years at the maximum. Or up to the date of expiration when the date of expiration
of the period of stay comes earlier than 5 years).
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-5.html319Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Procedures for Recognition of Refugee
Status
As Japan is a member of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Protocol
Relating to the Status of Refugees, we recognize refugee status and take various protective
measures for refugees defined by the Convention, etc.
4-1 Definition of Refuge
The term "Refugee" is those to whom Article 1 of the Convention relating to the Status of
Refugees and the Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees applies and defined as follows:
• A person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of
his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection
of that country etc.
4-2 Application for Recognition of Refugee Status
• Application for recognition of refugee status is a system for those who have fled their home
countries (See: 4-1) and seek protection from Japan. A foreign national residing in Japan can
apply for this status. A foreign national, when he / she is recognized as a refugee, is issued a
Certificate of Refugee Status, and is granted a residence status of "Long Term Resident" etc.
• A foreign national who has been recognized as a refugee, based on his/her application, will
receive a refugee travel document in place of a passport.
• A foreign national recognized as a refugee and his/ her family can benefit from the Settlement
Support Program, which includes Japanese language education, guidance for living in Japan
and job placement.
4-3 Request for Administrative Review
A foreign national who has an objection to a disposition denying recognition of refugee status
may submit a request to the Minister of Justice for an administrative review.
When the Minister of Justice makes a determination on the request, the Minister must hear
the opinions of the refugee examination counselors who have an academic background in law or
international affairs.
See the following URL for details:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/guide/nanmin_tetuduki.html4110Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Deportation Order etc.
5-1 Major Grounds for Deportation
• Remaining in Japan after the period of stay (Please note that even a stay for just one day
beyond your authorized period will constitute overstaying and subject you to deportation.)
• Engaging activity that is not permitted under your status of residence, and receiving
remuneration without permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted under
the status of residence previously granted
• Receiving a certain criminal punishment
5-2 If You Are Deported
If you are deported, in principle, you will not be allowed to enter Japan for five or 10 years. If
you are deported due to receiving a certain criminal punishment or some other particular grounds,
you will not be allowed to enter Japan anymore.
5-3 Departure Order System
If all of the following requirements are met, an overstayer will be allowed to leave Japan
through simple procedures without being detained.
When you leave Japan due to the departure order system, in principle, you will not be allowed
to enter Japan for one year.
Requirements for the Departure Order System
Those subject to the departure order system need to fulfill the following requirements.
• He/she must voluntarily appear at the Immigration Office with intention to leave Japan.
• He/she is not subject to deportation for any cause other than overstaying his or her
authorized period of stay.
• He/she has not been punished by imprisonment with or without work for certain crimes
such as theft in Japan.
• He/she has never been deported in the past.
• He/she has never left Japan due to a departure order in the past.
• It is expected with certainty that he/she will leave Japan promptly.
5-4 Special Permission to Stay in Japan
Even when deportation procedures are taken, special permission to stay in Japan may be
granted by the Minister of Justice in consideration of the situation for which the foreign national
has settled down in Japan, his/her family situation, etc.5111Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Contact for information about Procedures
for Immigration and Residence
Regional offices of Immigration and Residence Control
Sapporo Regional
Immigration Services Bureau
12-chome Odori-nishi Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi Hokkaido
060-0042
0570-003259
(IP/ from overseas)
TEL 011-261-7502
Sendai Regional Immigration
Services Bureau
1-3-20 Gorin Miyagino-ku Sendai-shi Miyagi 983-0842 TEL 022-256-6076
Tokyo Regional Immigration
Services Bureau
5-5-30 Konan Minato-ku Tokyo 108-8255 TEL 0570-034259
IP/from overseas
03-5796-7234
Tokyo Regional Immigration
Services Bureau
Yotsuya Branch Office
Yotsuya Tower 14F, 1-6-1, Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
160-0004
TEL 0570-011000
(select number 8)
(IP/from overseas:
03-5363-3013
Status of
Residence
Registration
Office
Notices related to overseeing agency,notices
by the overseeing agency
TEL 03-5363-3032
(main number)
Status of Residence Online Application
Procedures
TEL 03-5363-3030
Registration
Office
Examination Record Management TEL 03-5363-3039
Narita Airport Branch 1-1 Narita International Airport Second Terminal bldg.6th
floor Aza-Furugome, Furugome Narita-shi Chiba 282-0004
(Management and Inspection Division)
TEL 0476-34-2222
(main number)
0476-34-2211
Haneda Airport Branch 2-6-4 CIQ bldg. Haneda Airport Ota-ku Tokyo 144-0041 TEL 03-5708-3202
Yokohama Branch 10-7 Torihama-cho, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi Kanagawa
236-0002
TEL0570-045259
(IP/from overseas:
045-769-1729)
Nagoya Regional
Immigration Services Bureau
5-18 Shoho-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 455-8601 0570-052259
(IP/ from overseas)
TEL 052-217-8944
Chubu Airport Branch 1-1 CIQ bldg.3rd floor CENTRAIR Tokoname-shi, Aichi
479 - 0881
TEL 0569-38-7410
(main number)
Osaka Regional Immigration
Services Bureau
1-29-53 Minami-kohoku, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
559-0034
0570-064259
(IP/ from overseas)
TEL 06-4703-2050
Kansai Airport Branch Senshukukonaka 1, Tajiri-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 549-0011 TEL 072-455-1453
(main number)
Kobe Branch 29 Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo 650-0024 TEL 078-391-6377
(main number)
Hiroshima Regional
Immigration Services Bureau
2-31 Kamihatchobori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima
730-0012
TEL 082-221-4411
(main number)
Takamatsu Reginal
Immigration Services Bureau
1-1 Marunouchi, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa 760-0033 TEL 087-822-5852
(main number)
Fukuoka Regional
Immigration Services Bureau
3-5-25 Maizuru, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 810-0073 TEL 092-717-5420
(main number)
Naha Branch 1-15-15 Higawa, Naha-shi, Okinawa 900-0022 TEL 098-832-4185
(main number)
Higashi-Nihon Immigration
Center
1766-1 Kuno-cho, Ushiku-shi, Ibaraki 300-1288 TEL 029-875-1291
(main number)
Omura Immigration Center 644-3 Kogashima-machi, Omura-shi, Nagasaki 856-0817 TEL 0957-52-2121
(main number)
Foreign Residents Support Center
Foreign Residents Support
Center
Yotsuya Tower 13F, 1-6-1, Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004TEL 0570-011000
(IP/from overseas:
03-5363-30136112Procedures for Entry/Residence
Chapter1Chapter3Chapter2Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Information Center
Foreign Resident General
Information Center
Established in the Regional Immigration Services Bureaus
in Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama (branch), Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe
(branch), Hiroshima, and Fukuoka
TEL 0570-013904
(IP, PHS, from
overseas:
03-5796-7112)
Counselors are in: Deployed in Sapporo, Takamatsu, and Naha (branch)
Information Transmission from
Immigration Services Agency
7-1 Immigration Services Agency Website
The Immigration Services Agency website provides guidance on the procedures for
immigration and residence, etc. The information is given in 14 languages in addition to Japanese.
Immigration Services Agency website:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/index.html
7-2 Immigration Services Agency SNS, etc.
The Immigrations Services Agency opened various types of SNS, etc. to provide guidance on
new systems and transmit information that would be useful for everyday life of foreign residents.
Twitter account of Immigration Services Agency:
https://twitter.com/MOJ_IMMI
Facebook account of Immigration Services Agency:
https://www.facebook.com/ImmigrationServicesAgency.MOJ/
Email distribution service:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/about/pr/mail-service.html
Regional Immigration Services Bureaus also provide information on their
congestion status through their twitter accounts.
List of Twitter accounts of Regional Immigration Services Bureaus:
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/about/pr/index.html7