Guide to Living in Tochigi

• Foreign Resident Registration　〔GAIKOKUJIN TOROKU〕
• Immigration - Residence Status　〔ZAIRYU TETSUZUKI〕
• Family Register　〔KOSEKI TETSUZUKI〕
• Name-seal Registration　〔INKAN TOROKU〕

Foreign Resident Registration〔GAIKOKUJIN TOROKU〕

When a foreign person (including someone who has lost Japanese citizenship or who was born in Japan to foreign parents) intends to stay in Japan for a period of 90 days or more, he or she is required to register his or her residence with the local government within 90 days of arrival in Japan. For those who are under 16 years of age, the application should be completed by a family member of the same household. To complete the application, the following information must be supplied: name, date of birth, sex, nationality, passport number, passport issue date, the reason for staying in Japan, an address in Japan, etc. Once the Foreign Resident Registration Card is issued, it is necessary to carry this card at all times (unless under the age of sixteen).

• Registering for the First Time〔SHINKI TOROKU SHINSEI〕

  When to Apply	Required Items	Application Period
  When entering Japan	・Passport ・Two identical photographs　（4.5 cm in length × 3.5 cm in width) Photographs are not required for foreigners under 16 years of age）	Within 90 days of entering Japan
  When a child is born in Japan	・Birth certificate ・Passport （if already issued）	Within 60 days of the child’s birth

• Renewal〔KAKUNIN (KIRIKAE) SHINSEI〕

  Age	Application Period	Required Items
  16 years old or above	As specified on the Foreign Resident Registration Card	・Passport ・Two identical photographs ・Foreign Resident Registration Card
  Turning 16 years old	Within 30 days of the 16th birthday	・Passport ・Two identical photographs ・Foreign Resident Registration Card

• Applying for Changes in the Foreign Resident Registration Card〔HENKOU TOROKU SHINSEI〕

  When to Apply	Application Period	Required Items
  Change of address	Within 14 days	・Foreign Resident Registration Card
  Change of name, nationality, occupation, residence status, period of stay, name of employer, work address	Within 14 days	・Foreign Resident Registration Card ・Document(s) certifying the change
  After becoming a permanent resident	Within 14 days	・Foreign Resident Registration Card ・Document(s) certifying the change ・Two identical photographs

• Others

  Cases	Reasons	Application Period
  Need to exchange　 the Foreign Resident Registration Card 〔HIKIKAE KOFU SHINSEI〕	When the Foreign Resident Registration Card is damaged or dirty	As soon as possible
  Need to reissue the Foreign Resident Registration Card 〔SAI KOFU SHINSEI〕	If the Foreign Resident Registration Card is lost or stolen	Within 14 days of loss

• Certificate of Completion of Foreign Resident Registration〔GAIKOKUJIN TOROKU GENPYO KISAI JIKO SHOMEISHO〕

  　The Certificate of Completion of Foreign Resident Registration provides proof of a foreigner's registered information, such as his or her address. The registered foreigner must bring the Foreign Resident Registration Card or other proof of identity to apply for the certificate in person. For further information, please ask your local government.

Immigration - Residence Status 〔ZAIRYU TETSUZUKI〕

　Foreigners residing in Japan must obtain residence certification as stipulated under the Immigration Control and Refugee Act. For those residing in Tochigi Prefecture, this can be done at the Utsunomiya Branch Office of the Tokyo Immigration Bureau. A foreigner’s residency status and his/her length of stay is determined by the Immigration Officer when the individual arrives in Japan. This information is stamped into his/her passport.

• Applying for a Change of Residence Status〔ZAIRYU SHIKAKU HENKO〕

  If you wish to change your present activities and your current residence status does not allow your future activity, you must apply for a new status and receive permission.

  Example： A university exchange student who, after graduation, wants to work in a Japanese company

  Required items:

  • Application for Change of Residence Status
  • Required materials as designated by the Ministry of Justice, corresponding to your activities in Japan. (http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/NYUKANHO/ho14-1.html#3-1)
    * Although the Ministry of Justice designates what documents are required for each type of residency, please keep in mind that you may be required to submit additional information, or you may be allowed to omit certain documents. For more detailed information, please contact your Regional Immigration Bureau or Foreign Resident Information Center.
  • Passport, Foreign Registration Card, etc.
  • Other documents to verify identity. (Required if the applicant is a third-party proxy/agent.)

  • Fee (4000 yen)

• Permission to Engage in Activities Beyond Those Which You are Qualified for
  〔SHIKAKUGAI KATSUDO KYOKA〕

  If you wish to conduct an income-earning activity that is not included under your current residence status, you must receive permission.

  Example：An exchange student/newly enrolled student who wants to work, while studying, in order to pay his or her school expenses

  Required items

  • Application for change of status of activities
  • Documents that clearly state the activities in which the individual is requesting permission to engage
  • Passport, Foreign Registration Card, etc.

• Applying for a Renewal of One's Period of Stay〔ZAIRYU KIKAN KOUSHIN〕

  　　If a foreigner wishes to remain in Japan for longer than his or her permitted period of stay, he or she must get permission to extend the period of stay before the expiration date.
  　　With every type of residence permit the various requisite materials differ, so be sure to check what you need in advance.

  　　Required items:

  • Application for Residency Renewal
  • Required materials as designated by the Ministry of Justice, corresponding to your activities in Japan (http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/NYUKANHO/ho14-1.html#3-1)
    * Although the Ministry of Justice designates what documents are required for each type of residency, please keep in mind that you may be required to submit additional information, or you may be allowed to omit certain documents. For more detailed information, please contact your Regional Immigration Bureau or Foreign Resident Information Center.
  • Passport, Foreign Registration Card, etc.
  • Other documents to verify identity. (required if the applicant is a third-party proxy/agent)

  • Fee (4000 yen)

• Applying for Residence Status〔ZAIRYU SHIKAKU SHUTOKU〕

  　When a baby is born in Japan to foreign parents, within 30 days his or her family must apply for residence status for their new family member. However, if the family is planning to leave Japan permanently within 60 days, it is not necessary to apply.

  Required items

  • Application for residence status
  • Certain application materials are required for special circumstances:
    A) Individuals who have renounced their Japanese citizenship must provide proof of their new citizenship.
    B) Mothers of newborn children must provide a birth certificate or similar document.
    C) Other individuals must provide a reason for their request to obtain residency in Japan.
  • *Although the Ministry of Justice designates what documents are required for each type of residency, please keep in mind that you may be required to submit additional information, or you may be allowed to omit certain documents. For more detailed information, please contact your Regional Immigration Bureau or Foreign Resident Information Center.
  • Other documents to verify identity
    (Required if the applicant is a third-party proxy/agent.)

• Applying for a Re-entry Permit〔SAINYUKOKU KYOKA〕

  If a foreigner residing in Japan wishes to leave the country and then return at a later date, he/she must receive re-entry permission before he/she leaves. There are two types of re-entry permit, one for a single re-entry and one for multiple re-entries. If you leave the country with a re-entry permit and return while it is still valid, there will be no need to go through foreigner registration again. You will remain registered as a resident under your prior status.

  Required items

  • Application for a Re-entry Permit
  • Passport, Foreign Registration Card, etc.
  • Other documents to verify identity.
    (Required if the applicant is a third-party proxy/agent.)

  • Fee: 3000 yen for a one time re-entry permit, 6000 yen for a multiple re-entry permit

• Applying for a Certificate of Authorized Employment 〔SHURO SHIKAKU SHOMEISHO〕

  If a foreigner needs to prove that he or she has a work permit, he or she should apply for a Certificate of Authorized Employment.

  Required items:

  • Application for a Certificate of Authorized Employment
  • Two identical photographs　（3.0 cm. in length × 3.0 cm. in width)
  • Application For Permission to Engage in Activities Outside Residency Certification (if applying for this at the same time)
  • Passport, Foreign Registration Card, etc.
  • Other documents to verify identity
    (Required if the applicant is a third-party proxy/agent.)

  • Fee: 680 yen

• Other: You may also apply for Permanent Residency and the Certificate of Eligibility to reside in Japan.

  For all other immigration related questions, please ask at the following addresses:

  • Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau Utsunomiya Branch office 　 (320-0033) Utsunomiya NI Bldg.1st fl.,4-15 Honcho, Utsunomiya-shi tel. #０２８-６００-７７５０
  • General Information Center for Foreigners Living in Japan
    tel.# 03-5796-7112
    fax.# 03-5796-7100

  Links:

  • Ministry of Justice Homepage (Japanese)
    
  • Ministry of Justice Homepage (English)
  • Immigration Bureau Homepage (Japanese)
  • Immigration Bureau Homepage-Re. the Law for Partial Amendment of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Law #73 of June 2, 2004)
    (Japanese)-http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/nyukan21.html
    (English)-http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/IB/ib-78.html
    (Chinese)-http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/nyukan23.html

Family Register〔KOSEKI TETSUZUKI〕

• Marriage Registration〔KON-IN TODOKE〕

  When a foreigner wishes to marry in Japan, it is necessary to follow the laws of both Japan and his or her country of origin. 

  Required items

  • Marriage Registration Form (along with the signatures and name-seals of two witnesses)
  • Passport
  • Certificate of Completion of Foreign Resident Registration Card
  • Proof of marriage eligibility, issued by the applicant’s embassy or consulate in Japan (with a Japanese translation attached)
    *Please note that other references or materials may be required.

  For more information please contact your local government.
  Once the Marriage Registration application has been approved, please update all your documents accordingly, including any change of residence, changes to your Foreign Resident Registration Card, etc.

• Divorce Registration〔RIKON TODOKE〕

   If both the individuals in the divorcing couple are foreigners from the same country, they should follow the laws of that country and ask for information at their consulate or embassy. If one of the persons is Japanese, it is necessary to follow Japanese law. To begin, the individuals must submit a Notification of Divorce to their local city/town hall.

  Required items

  • Divorce Registration Form (along with the signatures and name-seals of two witnesses)
  • Passport
  • Certificate of Completion of Foreign Resident Registration Card
    ※If the divorce is settled in court, more information may be necessary.
    For further information, please ask your local government.

• Birth Registration〔SHUSSHO TODOKE〕

  Within 14 days of a child’s birth, the child’s Birth Registration should be submitted to the local government. The nationality of the child may depend upon the laws of the parents’ country of origin, so foreigners should ask for information at their consulate or embassy.

  Required items

  • Birth Registration Form
  • Birth Certificate (ask the attending physician or midwife)

  ※Once the Birth Registration Form has been submitted to your local government, please update all your documents accordingly (applying for residence status for your newborn baby, etc.).

• Notification of Death〔SHIBO TODOKE〕

  The Death Notification Form, filled out by a family member or undertaker, should be submitted to the local government no less than 7 days after confirmation of death.

  Required items

  • Death Notification Form
  • Death Certificate (ask the supervising physician to complete the certification)

• Notice

  The revised Family Registration Law (effective on May 1, 2008) requires you to show proper identification, such as a Japanese driver's license, passport, or a foreign resident registration card when you submit documents of adoption, dissolution of adoption, marriage, divorce, or recognition of paternity. For more information, please contact your local government.

Name-seal Registration〔INKAN TOROKU〕

In Japan, people quite often use the inkan (name-seal) for official agreements, in the same way that western cultures use the signature.　 There are two types of inkan (name-seals). One is called a “jitsuin” and is registered at the local government as the person’s official name-seal. The other is called a “mitomein” and is intended to be employed as an everyday-use seal, for example, when receiving packages. It is not necessary to register a “mitomein”. 　Once you have completed a “jitsuin” name-seal registration,　 you will receive a seal registration certificate (inkan touroku shoumeisho), which proves the authenticity of your name seal. This certificate is very important and necessary, for example, when buying a house or buying a car.

Who can register?

• Anyone of 15 years of age or over who has completed foreign resident registration

Restrictions:

• Only one seal per person can be registered
• Size: minimum 8mm X 8mm, maximum 25mm X 25mm
• The seal must bear the same surname or first name as appears on the Foreign Resident Registration Card
• The seal must be designed with clear strokes
• The seal must be made from stone, wood, horn, or another material which is not easily deformed

Required items

• The name-seal you have chosen
• Foreign Resident Registration Card

For further information, please ask your local government.