Residence Card (在留カード) in Japan: A Complete Guide for Expats
A complete guide to Japan's Residence Card (在留カード) for foreign residents: how to get it for the first time, how to read the information on it, updating your address when you move, renewing before expiry, replacing a lost card, and how it differs from the My Number Card.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Residence Card?
- Who Needs a Residence Card?
- Reading Your Residence Card
- Front of the Card
- Work Permission Field Explained
- Getting Your Residence Card for the First Time
- Major Airports (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, etc.)
- Smaller Airports
- Updating Your Address When You Move
- When Must You Update?
- Update Process
- Renewing Your Residence Period (Visa Renewal)
- When Is Renewal Required?
- Renewal Application Process
- Residence Card vs. My Number Card: When to Use Each
- Replacing a Lost Residence Card
- Immediate Steps
- Documents for Reissue
- Substitute ID During Processing
The Residence Card (在留カード) is the most important identity document for foreign nationals living in Japan. It's required for virtually every major procedure — opening a bank account, renting an apartment, starting a job. This guide covers everything from getting your card for the first time, to reading what's on it, to renewing it before it expires and replacing it if it's lost.
What Is the Residence Card?
The Residence Card (在留カード) is an official identity document issued by the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) to foreign nationals residing in Japan. It records the holder's basic personal information and immigration status.
Who Needs a Residence Card?
The following foreign nationals must hold a Residence Card:
- Mid- to long-term residents staying for more than 3 months
- Includes: work visa holders, student visa holders, working holiday participants, family stay (家族滞在), permanent residents (永住者), and others
The following do not need a Residence Card:
- Short-term stay (tourism, business — typically 90 days or less)
- Diplomatic and official status
Reading Your Residence Card
Front of the Card
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Name as shown in passport (romanized) + kanji (if applicable) |
| Date of Birth | Your birth date |
| Sex | Gender |
| Nationality / Region | Your nationality or region as recognized by Japanese immigration (e.g., USA/米国, UK/英国, Taiwan/台湾, South Korea/韓国, China/中国, etc.) |
| Address | Your registered residential address |
| Status of Residence | Your visa category (e.g., Engineer/Humanities/International (技術・人文知識・国際業務), Specified Activity (特定活動)) |
| Period of Stay | Length of your permitted stay (e.g., 3 years, 5 years, 1 year) |
| Date of Expiration | The most critical field — the date your residence period ends |
| Work Permission | Your employment restrictions |
| Card Number | The unique ID number of your Residence Card |
Work Permission Field Explained
| Display | Meaning | Applicable to |
|---|---|---|
| Work not permitted (就労不可) | Work not permitted | Short-term stay (tourism) |
| Work permitted within visa scope (在留資格の範囲内で就労可) | Work permitted only within visa scope | Most work visas |
| No work restrictions (就労制限なし) | No work restrictions | Working holiday (特定活動), permanent residents (永住者), long-term residents (定住者), etc. |
| Work at designated locations (指定書に記載の場所で就労) | Work at designated locations per attached document | Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) and others |
Getting Your Residence Card for the First Time
Major Airports (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, etc.)
At these airports, your Residence Card is issued on the spot:
- Present your passport and visa at the immigration counter
- The officer confirms your status and stamps your passport
- Your Residence Card is issued immediately after clearing immigration (wait briefly at a designated area)
- Check that all information is correct — especially name, visa type, and expiry date
Smaller Airports
If arriving at a smaller airport (e.g., Kagoshima, Okinawa):
- Your passport receives a sticker reading "Residence Card to be issued later" (在留カード後日交付)
- You must complete your resident registration (転入届) at the ward office within 14 days of arrival
- The ward office will either issue your card or direct you to the Immigration Services Bureau to collect it
Updating Your Address When You Move
When Must You Update?
- Within 14 days of moving into a new address, you must file a move-in registration (転入届) at the new ward office
- The office will stamp your new address on the back of your Residence Card
- If moving within the same municipality, file an intra-city move notice (転居届) instead
Update Process
- Go to the ward office at your new address
- Bring: Residence Card + Passport
- Fill in the move-in notification (転入届) form
- Staff record your new address on the back of your Residence Card
- Your resident registration and card are updated in one step
Consequences of not updating: Failure to update within 14 days may be treated as a violation of the Immigration Control Act. Repeat or serious violations may affect your residence status renewal.
Renewing Your Residence Period (Visa Renewal)
When Is Renewal Required?
If you want to continue living in Japan after your residence period expires, you must apply for a residence period renewal application (在留期間更新許可申請).
Recommended timing: Start preparing documents 2–3 months before expiry; the application window opens 3 months before the expiry date.
Renewal Application Process
Step 1: Confirm Required Documents (Varies by Visa Type)
Common documents for work visa (技術・人文知識・国際業務) renewal:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Residence Period Renewal Application Form | Download from the Immigration Services Agency website or obtain at the counter |
| Passport (valid) | Original |
| Current Residence Card | Original |
| Photo (4×3 cm) | Taken within the last 3 months |
| Jūminhyō (resident certificate) | Obtain at ward office (~¥300) |
| Employment certificate or contract | Provided by employer |
| Withholding certificate or tax certificate | Proof of income |
| Company profile and corporate registration certificate | Employer's documents |
Step 2: Visit the Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Bureau locations by region:
- Tokyo: Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau (Shinagawa)
- Osaka: Osaka Regional Immigration Services Bureau
- Nagoya: Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau
- Fukuoka: Fukuoka Regional Immigration Services Bureau
Step 3: Submit Application and Wait for Review
- When you submit, staff will add a sticker to the back of your Residence Card indicating your application is under review
- Review period: typically 2 weeks to 3 months
- When approved, you'll receive a notice to collect your renewed card and pay the processing fee
Residence Card vs. My Number Card: When to Use Each
Both are different cards serving different purposes — foreign nationals can and should hold both:
| Use Case | Residence Card | My Number Card |
|---|---|---|
| Confirming visa/residence status | ✅ | ❌ |
| Everyday ID (bank, apartment rental) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tax filing | ❌ | ✅ (includes My Number) |
| Health insurance procedures | ❌ | ✅ (integrated from 2024) |
| e-Tax online filing | ❌ | ✅ |
| Airport immigration | ✅ | ❌ |
| Convenience store document printing (マイナポータル) | ❌ | ✅ |
After completing your resident registration, apply for your My Number Card at the ward office as a complement to your Residence Card.
Replacing a Lost Residence Card
Immediate Steps
- File a police report: Go to the nearest police box (交番) or police station and file a lost property report (紛失届)
- Get your report number: The police will give you a report acceptance number (受理番号) — you'll need this for the reissue application
- Notify the immigration bureau: Within 14 days of losing your card, visit the nearest Regional Immigration Services Bureau to apply for a card reissue (在留カード再交付)
Documents for Reissue
- Passport (valid)
- Police report acceptance number
- Passport-size photo (4×3 cm)
- Fee: ¥1,600
Substitute ID During Processing
While waiting for your new card (approximately 1–2 weeks), your passport can be used for identity verification. If you need to pass through immigration for urgent travel, your passport is sufficient.