Your first 14 days in Japan: city hall checklist

After you find a home in Japan, your first stop is the city or ward office (市役所・区役所, shiyakusho / kuyakusho). This guide shows what to do there.

Quick answer

• Register your address within 14 days after you move in.
• Bring your residence card (在留カード, zairyū card) and your passport.
• After this, you get a My Number notice. You also sort out health insurance and pension.

Step 1: Register your address (転入届, tennyū todoke)

1. Move into your home.
2. Count 14 days from the day you move in. Go before the 14th day.
3. Go to the city or ward office of your new home.
4. Give your residence card and passport.
5. Fill in the form. Staff will write your new address on the back of your residence card.

Bring

• Residence card (在留カード)
• Passport

Watch out

• Registering your address at the city office also counts as reporting your address to immigration. You do not need to go to immigration for this.

Step 2: My Number (マイナンバー)

• My Number is a 12-digit number. Residents get it after address registration.
• You will receive a notice with your number.
• The My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) is a separate application. It is optional.
• Your employer or bank may ask for your number. Keep the notice in a safe place.

Step 3: Health insurance

Everyone living in Japan must join public health insurance.

Your situation	What you join	Where
Your employer enrols you (社会保険 / 健康保険)	Employee insurance	Through your work
Not covered at work	National Health Insurance (国民健康保険)	City office

Ask your employer first if you work. See our guide on health insurance and pension for more.

Step 4: Pension

• Residents aged 20 to 59 join the pension system.
• Employees join employee pension (厚生年金) through work.
• Others join National Pension (国民年金).

What you will receive

• Your residence card with the new address on the back.
• A My Number notice.
• Health insurance papers or card, if you join at the city office.

One-page checklist

Task	Where	When
Register address (転入届)	City / ward office	Within 14 days of moving in
Check address on back of residence card	City / ward office	At the same visit
Get My Number notice	Arrives after registration	After address registration
Join health insurance	Work, or city office (国民健康保険)	As soon as possible
Join pension	Work, or city office (国民年金)	If aged 20 to 59

Help in your language

Many cities have multilingual consultation desks. Ask at the office.

This guide is general information. Rules can change and your city may differ; check with your city or ward office and the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.