Move in / Move out

With the enactment of the Law for Partial Amendment to the Basic Resident Registration Act (Law No. 77 of 2009), as of July 9, 2012 (the enactment date), foreign residents (note) are also covered by the Basic Resident Registration system. This means that foreign residents can also get a Resident Records created at the municipality where they live.

(Note)"Foreign residents" means "medium-to-long term residents" residing in Japan for the medium-to-long term with a status of residence covered in the revised Immigration Control Act (The people who are to be granted residence cards. People who stay in Japan with a status of residence of "temporary visitor" and people who have permission to stay for "3 months" or less are exempted), "special permanent residents", etc., whom have their own addresses within a specific municipality.

To newly arriving foreign nationals

To foreign nationals who newly enter Japan with a legal status of residence and who will stay in Japan for the medium to long term are called “medium to long-term residents” and will be issued Residence Cards. (This does not apply to those whose status of residence is “Temporary Visitor” or whose period of stay is three months or less.) These “medium to long-term residents” must take their Residence Card (or passport for those who were not issued a Residence Card at the airport, etc.) and submit a move in notification to the municipality of their residence within fourteen days of taking up their new residence.

Please take note of the following! To those who live with their family in Japan

Suppose that your householder is also a foreign resident. If your householder notifies his/her move in to the relevant municipality, you need documents which certify your relationship to the householder (documents issued by public agencies in your home country, including your birth certificate and marriage certificate, etc.).

Furthermore, documents which certify your relationship to the householder must be submitted with Japanese translations.

To foreign nationals residing in Japan

The Basic Resident Registration System requires that foreign residents also submit a move out notification to the municipality of their former residence and a move in notification to the municipality of their new residence when moving to a new municipality.

Please take note of the following!

  • When you report your move out to your municipality, the office is to issue you a "Move out Certificate". If you move to a different municipality (city/ward/town/village), you are to bring the "Move out Certificate" to your municipal office and report your move in within fourteen (14) days after you have settled in a residence at a new address in the municipality.
  • If you change addresses within the same municipality, you must notify your municipality of the change of address.
  • If you leave Japan and live abroad, you must, in principle, report your move out to your municipality.
  • When you report your move in or move out, please bring either your residence card or special permanent resident certificate (or alien registration certificate).

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