🏠 Moving-In Notification & Address Registration Guide for Foreign Residents

Resident registration (jumin toroku / 住民登録) is one of the first administrative procedures you need to complete when moving to Japan or changing your address within the country. Your registered address connects you to your local municipality for taxes, health insurance, pension, and other public services. In practical terms, almost nothing else works until this step is done — you cannot enroll in health insurance, sign up for a mobile phone plan, or open a bank account without a registered address.

Why Registration Matters

Your registered address determines which municipality handles your public services. This affects several critical areas of daily life:

• Health Insurance — your NHI enrollment and premiums are managed by the municipality where you are registered
• Local Taxes — your resident tax (jumin-zei) is paid to the municipality of your registered address as of January 1st each year
• Pension — your National Pension enrollment is processed at the pension counter of your registered municipality
• Childcare & Benefits — eligibility for child allowance, nursery enrollment, and local subsidies depends on your registration

In short, your registered address is the foundation of your administrative life in Japan. Without it, you cannot access any municipal services.

Types of Notifications

There are three types of address notifications in Japan, and it is important to know which one applies to your situation:

• Moving-in notification (tennyuu todoke / 転入届) — used when moving from overseas or from another municipality within Japan. This is the most common form for new arrivals.
• Moving-out notification (tenshutsu todoke / 転出届) — used when leaving your current municipality for another one in Japan, or when leaving Japan entirely. You must submit this before you leave.
• Change of address notification (tenkyo todoke / 転居届) — used when moving to a new address within the same city or ward. This is a simpler process since you only visit one city hall.

You submit your moving-in notification at the resident registration counter (shimin-ka or jumin-ka) at your local city hall or ward office. Most city halls are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and some offer Saturday morning hours. The entire process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes at the counter, and there is no fee.

Step-by-Step Process

First, gather all your documents before heading to city hall. You will need your residence card, passport, My Number card (or the notification letter), and a moving-out certificate if you are transferring from another municipality in Japan.

When you arrive at city hall, go to the resident registration counter. Look for signs saying "shimin-ka" (市民課) or "jumin-ka" (住民課), or ask at the information desk. A staff member will provide the moving-in notification form. Fill in your name, nationality, date of birth, previous address, and new address. Many city halls have multilingual forms or translation tablets available.

After submitting the form along with your documents, staff will process your notification. This usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Once complete, they will print a new address sticker on the back of your residence card. Before leaving the counter, double-check that the address printed is correct — mistakes are easier to fix on the spot than later.

Required Documents

Bring the following documents when you go to submit your notification:

• Residence Card (zairyu card) — your primary form of ID in Japan
• Passport — for additional identity verification
• My Number Card (or the My Number notification letter you received) — this will also be updated with your new address
• Moving-out Certificate (tenshutsu shoumeisho) — only needed if you are moving from another municipality within Japan, not for new arrivals from overseas

Important — the 14-day rule: You are expected to submit the notification within 14 days of your actual move-in date. For new arrivals to Japan, this means within 14 days of entering the country. Late submission can technically result in a fine of up to 50,000 yen, though this is rarely enforced for minor delays. Still, do not procrastinate — many other essential procedures (health insurance, bank account, phone) depend on having a registered address.

When you move to a new address within the same city or ward, the process is simpler than a cross-municipality move because you only need to visit one city hall. There is no need for a moving-out certificate, and you do not need to re-enroll in health insurance or pension — your existing enrollment transfers automatically.

How to Do It

Visit the resident registration counter at your city hall with your residence card and My Number card. Submit a change of address notification (tenkyo todoke / 転居届). Staff will update both your residence card and My Number card with the new address on the spot. The whole process usually takes about 15 minutes.

You must submit this notification within 14 days of moving to your new address, just like a moving-in notification. Even though it feels like a minor change, the deadline applies equally.

Important: While your NHI and pension enrollment carry over automatically for same-municipality moves, you should still check whether any details need updating. For example, if your NHI premium payment slips were being mailed to your old address, you may need to update your mailing information. Also notify your bank, phone company, and employer of your new address separately, as these are not updated automatically through city hall.

Moving between municipalities — for example, from Shinjuku ward in Tokyo to Yokohama — requires actions at both your old and new city halls. This is a two-step process, and the order matters.

Step 1: At Your Old City Hall (Before You Move)

Visit the resident registration counter at your current city hall and submit a moving-out notification (tenshutsu todoke / 転出届). You will receive a moving-out certificate (tenshutsu shoumeisho / 転出証明書) — keep this document safe, as you will need it at your new city hall. If you are enrolled in NHI, return your health insurance card at the insurance counter at the same time. You can submit the moving-out notification up to 14 days before your planned move.

Step 2: At Your New City Hall (After You Move)

Within 14 days of moving in, visit the resident registration counter at your new city hall. Submit a moving-in notification (tennyuu todoke) along with your moving-out certificate, residence card, passport, and My Number card. Staff will update your residence card with the new address. While you are there, enroll in NHI at the insurance counter (if applicable) and update your pension information at the pension counter.

Tip: Some municipalities now support online moving-out notifications through the My Number portal (Mynaportal), which can save you a trip to your old city hall. However, the moving-in notification at your new city hall still requires an in-person visit. Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours at the new city hall, as you will likely need to visit multiple counters (registration, insurance, pension).

My Number (maina-nba- / マイナンバー) is Japan\'s individual identification number system. Every registered resident — including foreign nationals — receives a unique 12-digit number. This number is used for tax reporting, social insurance, and an increasing number of government services. You will need it for opening bank accounts, setting up international money transfers, and various administrative procedures.

My Number Card vs. Notification Letter

When you first register your address, you receive a notification letter — a paper notice that tells you your 12-digit number. This letter is free and arrives by mail, but it cannot be used as photo ID.

You can also apply for a My Number Card — a plastic IC card with your photo, name, and number. The card is free to obtain and serves as an official photo ID in Japan. It also gives you access to online government services through the Mynaportal website, where you can check your tax records, pension status, and more. Applying for the card takes 1 to 2 months, but it is increasingly useful as Japan moves more services online.

Updating Your My Number Card When Moving

When you submit your moving-in notification at city hall, bring your My Number card (or notification letter). Staff will update the address stored on the card. If you have the physical My Number card, the digital certificate on its chip may be reset during the address change. This means you will need to set a new PIN at the counter — the staff will walk you through this.

If you have set up the Mynaportal online system, some pre-move notifications can be submitted digitally, which can save you a trip to your old city hall. However, the in-person visit at your new municipality is still required to complete the moving-in process.

Once your address registration is complete, there are several follow-up procedures you should handle. The good news is that many of them can be done at the same city hall on the same day — plan to spend a couple of hours there and knock out as much as possible in one visit.

Immediate Next Steps (Same Day at City Hall)

While you are still at city hall, head to these counters before leaving:

• Enroll in National Health Insurance (NHI) — if you are not covered by employer insurance, go to the NHI counter and sign up. You will receive a temporary insurance certificate the same day.
• Enroll in the National Pension — if you are aged 20-59 and not enrolled in an employer pension, visit the pension counter to sign up. Monthly premiums are approximately 16,980 yen.
• Childcare services — if you have children, ask about child allowance (jido teate), nursery enrollment, and vaccination schedules at the childcare counter.
• Garbage disposal guide — pick up the local garbage sorting guide (often available in multiple languages) so you know which day to put out each type of garbage. Getting this wrong early on can cause problems with your neighbors.

Within the First Month

Once you have settled into your new home, tackle these additional tasks within your first few weeks:

• Open a bank account — your updated residence card with the registered address is required. Japan Post Bank is often the easiest option for new arrivals.
• Get a SIM card or mobile phone — you will need your residence card with address, and often a Japanese bank account or credit card. Budget MVNOs like GTN Mobile or LINEMO are affordable starting options.
• Set up mail forwarding — if you moved within Japan, visit the post office to redirect mail from your old address. This service is free and lasts one year.
• Learn about disaster prevention — download the Safety Tips app for multilingual emergency alerts, check your local hazard map at city hall or online, and locate your nearest evacuation shelter. Japan experiences frequent earthquakes and typhoons, so being prepared from day one is important.