Registration

Foreign Resident Registration

Foreign citizens who arrive in and plan to stay in Japan for 90 days or longer or who are born in Japan are required to register with the government. A foreign resident’s registration card will be issued. For more information, call the General Information Counter, 2nd Floor of the city office. Tel: 3264-2111 ext. 2362

Initial Registration

Period of Application: Within 90 days of your arrival in Japan
Applicants: Applicants themselves (however, registration for those who are younger than 16 years of age can be done by a relative who resides at the same location).
Necessary Documents: Passport, two photos (Japanese passport type/size) showing upper half of your torso, with no hat. The two photos must be made from the same negative or positive film and taken within the past six months. Photos are not needed for those who are younger than 16 years old.
Issuance: Processing for the plastic-coated card takes about two weeks, after which time it can be picked up at the General Information Counter, 2nd Floor of the Chiyoda City Office.

Registration Procedures for New-Born Babies

(1) Notification of Birth: Every resident in Japan must obtain a birth certificate from a doctor after a baby is born. The doctor who delivered the baby will issue this card. Submit this card together with the birth certification within 14 days to the Family Registration Division of your local municipal office. Anyone can do this for you as long as they have the appropriate forms. Chiyoda residents should go to the General Information Counter, 2nd floor of the Chiyoda City Office. Tel: 3264-2111 ext. 2353. If necessary, the office will issue the birth certificate or the Certificate of Proof for Recorded Matters.
(2) Foreign Resident Registration: Within 60 days of birth, parents must apply for a foreign resident’s registration card for their baby. Bring the birth certificate or the Certificate of Proof for Recorded Matters with you to your local municipal office. Chiyoda residents should go to the General Information Counter, 2nd Floor of the Chiyoda City Office. If the procedures for the Notification of Birth are being completed at the same time as registering as a foreign resident, neither the birth certificate nor the Certificate of Proof for Recorded Matters is needed.
(3) Application for Passport: Apply for the child’s passport at your embassy.
(4) Status of Residence: Apply for permission to obtain a period of stay at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau within 30 days of birth.
(5) Notification of Residence Status and Period of Stay: Within 14 days of obtaining the Status of Residence and Period of Stay, bring the child’s passport and foreign resident’s registration card to the foreign registration desk of your local municipal office. Chiyoda residents should go to the General Information Counter, 2nd Floor of the Chiyoda City Office.

Application Procedures for Registering Changes

Change of Residence

Period of Application: Within 14 days of changing your residence, report your new address to the local municipal office of your new residence.
Applicants: Those who have changed their residence must come in person. A relative of the applicant who is 16 years of age or older and lives at the same residence may also report the change.
Necessary Documents: Foreign resident’s registration card

Change in Other Matters

Period of Application: Within 14 days of the change to your local municipal office.
Applicants: Those to whom the change applies. For people under 16 years of age, his/her relative who lives at the same address may report the change.
Necessary Documents: When your name or nationality changes, your passport, foreign residents’ registration card and two photos (not needed for those who are younger than 16 years of age) are necessary. For changes in status of residence, period of stay, occupation, the name or address of your employer (application for change in the name or address of one’s employer is not necessary for those who are permanent or special permanent residents), your foreign residents’ registration card and corresponding documents which prove the change are necessary. For any change not mentioned above, notify the local municipal office when the change occurs. Bring your foreign residents’ registration card and a corresponding document which verifies the change.

Applications for Renewal of Foreign Residents’ Registration

For Those Aged 16 and Older

Period of Application: Within the period specified in your foreign residents’ registration card
Applicants: Themselves
Necessary Documents: Passport, two photos and foreign residents’ registration card

For Those Reaching 16 Years of Age

Period of Application: Within 30 days of becoming 16 years old
Applicants: Themselves
Necessary Documents: Passport, two photos and foreign residents’ registration card

Reissue

Period of Application: Within 14 days of learning that you have lost your foreign residents’ registration card
Applicants: Themselves
Necessary Documents: Passport and two photos

Returning of Your Foreign Residents’ Registration Card

When you are leaving Japan without a re-entry permit, you must give your foreign residents’ registration card to the immigration officer at the port of departure. When a death occurs, a family member or proxy is required to return the foreign residents’ registration card of the deceased to the local municipal office of his/her residence or the place where he/she died within 14 days of the death.

Certificate of Registered Items in the Foreign Resident Registry

This document certifies the matters registered in the foreign residents’ registration card. As a general rule, an applicant him/herself is required to apply with his/her foreign residents’ registration card. A power of attorney is not necessary when a relative living at the same residence applies on behalf, however, it is required for other proxies. As of January 22, 2001 the certificate is issued at branch offices as well. A relative living at the same residence must bring his/her foreign residents’ registration card, driver’s license, passport or public health insurance certificate. Cost is ¥300 per copy.

Procedures for Registering Your Inkan (Stamp)

An inkan is a stamp which prints your first name and/or family name and is used in Japan in the same sense as signatures are in other countries. When you are dealing with important documents related particularly to your legal rights, an inkan that is officially registered at the local municipal office will be necessary. The Stamp Registration Certificate is used to confirm whether the mark stamped on the document represents that of the registered stamp. If you are a foreign resident registered in Chiyoda City and 15 years old or older, you can register your stamp at the city office. To apply, bring the stamp you want to register and your foreign residents’ registration card with you. Application must be made by applicants themselves.
As there are specifications concerning the character size and materials the inkan can be made of, contact the City Office before coming to register. As of January 22, 2001 the Stamp Registration Certificate is issued at branch offices as well. When applying for issuance of the certificate, please bring your Stamp Registration Card. For information, call the General Information Counter, 2nd Floor of the Chiyoda City Office. Tel: 3264-2111 ext. 2361

Procedures for Pet Registration

You must register your dog when it becomes 91 days old. It must be vaccinated against rabies once a year. Please have your dog vaccinated at the local veterinarian (pet clinic) and register the vaccination at the local public health center or branch offices. For more information, call the Health and Hygiene Desk, Health and Hygiene Division, Chiyoda Public Health Center. Tel: 3291-3641