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16 June 2026
Once you have a place to live in Japan, the clock starts: you must register your address at the local ward or city office (区役所 kuyakusho / 市役所 shiyakusho) within 14 days of moving in. It sounds bureaucratic, and it is — but it's also the single appointment that unlocks national health insurance, your residence certificate, your pension status, and the address printed on your residence card. This guide tells you exactly what to bring, what gets done in one visit, and the mistakes that send people back a second time.
Deadline: Within 14 days of moving into your address
Where: The ward/city office for the area you live in (not where you work)
Core task: Move-in notification (転入届 tennyū todoke) + address on residence card
Bring: Residence card, passport, moving-out certificate (if moving within Japan), My Number if you have it
Done same visit: Residence certificate (住民票), National Health Insurance, National Pension, My Number setup
Cost: Registration is free; certified copies of your jūminhyō cost ~¥300 each
Under Japan's Basic Resident Registration system, anyone who moves to a new address — including foreign residents with a mid- to long-term status — must notify the local government within 14 days. There are two forms depending on your situation:
転入届 (tennyū todoke) — "moving-in notification," when you move into a municipality from abroad or from a different city in Japan.
転居届 (tenkyo todoke) — "address-change notification," when you move within the same ward/city.
If you're moving between cities inside Japan, you'll also have filed a 転出届 (tenshutsu todoke) — a "moving-out notification" — at your old office first, and they'll give you a moving-out certificate (転出証明書) to hand in at the new one. Fresh arrivals from abroad skip that step and just do the tennyū todoke.
Residence card (在留カード) — required. Staff will print your new address on the back.
Passport — for identity.
Moving-out certificate (転出証明書) — only if you moved from another city in Japan.
My Number card or notification — if you already have one; otherwise it's set up here.
Your address details — the exact registered address of your new home (from your lease).
Hanko (印鑑) if you have one — increasingly optional, but handy. A signature is usually accepted.
Dependents' documents — if registering family members, bring everyone's residence cards/passports.
The reason this appointment matters so much is that several essential systems are handled at the same counter (or adjacent ones) the moment your address is registered:
Address on your residence card — printed on the back, making your card fully valid.
Residence certificate (住民票 jūminhyō) — proof of address you'll need for the bank, phone contract, and more. Buy a couple of certified copies while you're there.
National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) — if you're not covered by an employer's health insurance, you enrol here. Coverage is mandatory for residents.
National Pension (国民年金) — residents aged 20–59 are generally enrolled; ask about the system and any student/low-income exemptions.
My Number — your 12-digit individual number is issued/linked; you can apply for the physical My Number card.
The ward office sits in the middle of a chain, and a couple of things ideally come first.
Get a residence card (airport or, for some, at this very office).
Have a Japanese phone number ready — some counters and later steps ask for a contact number.
Register your address within 14 days — this visit.
Use your new jūminhyō to open a bank account and finalise utilities.
See the full sequence and what else belongs in your first fortnight with our Path Finder.
Go early on a weekday. Ward offices are busiest at lunchtime, month-end, and the start of April. Mornings mid-month are calmest.
Bring more copies than you think. Get 2–3 certified jūminhyō copies — banks and phone shops often keep one.
Ask for the English/multilingual desk. Many city offices in metro areas have interpreters or English forms; some offer tablet translation.
Enrol in health insurance the same day. Your coverage (and premiums) are calculated from your registration date, so don't postpone it.
Keep the receipts and forms. You'll reference your registration date later for taxes and renewals.
The 14-day window is a legal requirement, and late registration can in principle carry a small administrative fine. In practice, offices will still register you if you're late — but you should go as soon as you realise, because delayed registration pushes back your health insurance, your residence certificate, and anything that depends on them (bank, lease, phone). Treat 14 days as a firm deadline, not a suggestion.
What is the 14-day rule in Japan?
Residents must register a new address at the local ward or city office within 14 days of moving in. For new arrivals from abroad this is the move-in notification (tennyū todoke); for moves within Japan it's an address-change or move-in/move-out pair.
Which ward office do I go to?
The one covering the area where you live, not where you work or study. Search the city/ward name plus "kuyakusho" or "shiyakusho" to find the right office and its hours.
What do I need to bring to register my address?
Your residence card, passport, your exact new address (from the lease), a moving-out certificate if you came from another Japanese city, and any family members' documents if registering them too. My Number is set up here if you don't have it yet.
Is registration free?
Yes, the registration itself is free. Certified copies of your residence certificate (jūminhyō) cost roughly ¥300 each, and you'll usually want two or three.
Do I have to join National Health Insurance?
If you're not covered by an employer's health insurance, yes — National Health Insurance enrolment is mandatory for residents and is handled at the same visit. Premiums are based on your income and start from your registration date.
What is a jūminhyō and why do I need it?
It's your official residence certificate — proof of your registered address. Banks, phone carriers, and many offices ask for a recent certified copy, so pick up a few when you register.
Can I register before I find permanent housing?
You register the address where you actually live. If you're in temporary housing you can register that address; when you move to a permanent place, file an address-change notification within 14 days of that move.
What if I move to a different city later?
File a moving-out notification (tenshutsu todoke) at your current office, collect the moving-out certificate, then file a moving-in notification at the new office within 14 days — bringing that certificate with you.
The ward office is the appointment that turns "I have an apartment" into "I'm officially a resident." Hit the 14-day deadline, bring the right documents, and walk out with your address on your card, a residence certificate in hand, and health insurance and pension sorted. Next, line up the rest of your arrival with the Path Finder and budget your monthly health-insurance and pension contributions with the Budget Calculator.
Authoritative references: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (residence procedures); your local city/ward office website for hours, forms, and multilingual support.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Procedures and required documents vary by municipality and can change; confirm the current rules with your local ward/city office before your visit.