For Foreign Residents
Ward office visits, health insurance, pension, immigration, and My Number — decoded.
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Your residence status comes with an expiry date, and renewing it before that date is not optional. This guide covers when to apply, what to bring to the immigration bureau, and what to do once your new card is in…
Read the guide →Your residence status comes with an expiry date, and renewing it before that date is not optional. This guide covers when to apply, what to bring to the immigration bureau, and what to do once your new card is in hand.
Registering your address at the ward office is the first thing you need to do after arriving in Japan, and almost everything else depends on it. Here is exactly how it works, what to bring, and what you get when you leave.
Japan assigns every registered resident a 12-digit My Number. The physical card that carries it — the My Number card — is now essential for hospital visits, online government services, and banking. Here is how to apply, what to expect, and what to bring when you collect it.
Everyone living in Japan is required to have health insurance. Which system covers you depends on how you work. This guide explains both options, how to enroll, what is covered, how to use your card at a clinic, and what to do when your situation changes.
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Real answers for foreign residents living in Japan. Built from years of experience as a long-term resident and parent.
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