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Resident Registration & My Number

City hall procedures step by step

How to register at your local city hall, obtain your My Number card, and manage address changes.

⏱️Time Required: 1–2 hours

💴Cost: Free

📍Location: Local City Hall (市役所/区役所)

🔗Official Website

⚠️Warning

•Failure to register within 14 days may result in fines.
•You must register at your actual residential address, not a business address.

📋Step-by-Step Guide

Register at your local City Hall within 14 days of arrival

Bring your passport and residence card. You must register at the city hall (市役所), ward office (区役所), or town office (町・村役場) of your address.

Receive your Juminhyo (住民票) — Resident Registration Certificate

After registering, you receive a resident registration card. This is your official proof of address in Japan.

Apply for My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)

A My Number notification letter will be mailed to your address. Use it to apply for a My Number Card online or at city hall. The card takes about 2–3 weeks to issue.

💡 Tip: The My Number Card serves as a government-issued ID and is required for many procedures.

Report address changes within 14 days

Every time you move within Japan, you must report your new address at the local city hall within 14 days.

Update your Residence Card

When you change address, update your Residence Card at the city hall. They will stamp the new address on the back.

💡Helpful Tips

✓Many city halls offer multilingual support or have multilingual staff on certain days.
✓The My Number Card can be used to file taxes online (e-Tax), reducing paperwork significantly.

📄Required Documents

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Valid passport

Required

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Residence card (在留カード)

Required

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My Number notification letter

For My Number card application

Optional

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Previous address deregistration certificate

If moving from another city