Q&A

Alien Registration
   Q&A

| Flowchart(Under construction) | Alien Registration (Under construction) |
| Issuance of Registration Certificate<Exchange issuance ><Reissuance><Registration of changes><Renewal issuance> |
| Return of Registration Certificate (Under construction) | Q&A |

Q1.     I am visiting Japan for sightseeing purpose, but I will stay in Japan for a week. Do I need to register myself as an alien?

A.
   If a foreign national enters Japan, he/she must apply for new alien registration within 90 days since landing Japan. As this 90-days period is a grace period for filing an application, a foreign national may seek for alien registration during this grace period. However, if a foreign national stays in Japan for 90 days or shorter, the foreign national does not need alien registration.

Q2.    What kind of person may apply for alien registration or receive the registration certificate on behalf of a foreign national? If a person is entrusted by an applicant foreign national to do so, does such person qualify for an agent for the applicant foreign national?

A.
   A foreign national may stay in Japan for one year or longer since the first date of his/her period of stay if the foreign national applies for initial registration, exchange issuance or reissuance of the registration certificate, confirmation of his/her status (renewal issuance), or if the foreign national originally intended to stay in Japan for shorter than a year but has changed their status of residence. If such foreign national intends to register his/her new status, his or her agent may apply for such registration on behalf of the applicant foreign national. However, in this case, either of the following requirements must be met: the applicant foreign national is 16 years old or younger; or illness or any other physical disability prevents the applicant foreign national from visiting the municipal office to file an application. If either of these two conditions is met, the applicant's agent may file the aforementioned application on behalf of the applicant. However, even in this case, the agent must be a person who lives with the applicant.

   According to the official interpretation, the applicant agent must live in the same residence with the applicant and live his/her daily life under the same livelihood (in other words, the agent must belong to the same household as the applicant). For this reason, a parent or any other relative may not file an application on behalf of the applicant if such parent does not live with the applicant. A person with a letter of proxy may file an application if the person does not live with the applicant.

  As for applying for other procedures than stated above, or receiving the applicant's alien registration certificate, a person who lives with the applicant and is age 16 or older qualifies for the agent of the foreign national applicant.

Q3.     How should I obtain a copy of the alien registration card or the certificate of the registered facts?

A.
   As for alien registration, foreign resident's address and status are registered in the official registry called alien registration card (hereinafter, referred to as the "registration card") kept by the mayor of the foreign national's domicile. Because the registration card includes some personal privacy information, the registration card is a nondisclosure data in principle.

   However, an foreign national himself, an agent of foreign national, or a relative who live with the foreign national (including common-law spouse) may request a copy of the registration card, or the certificate of the facts stated in the registration card ("Certificate of Registered Matters"). The term "agent" in this context means a person the foreign national has authorized to do so, or legal representative (or, a parent or guardian, in other words). As the immigration control office needs to confirm that such person really qualifies for a foreign national's agent, he/she (except for legal representative) needs to have a letter of proxy or any other document that would prove his/her status as the authorized agent.

    In addition, the term "a relative having the same domicile"means a spouse, a blood relative in the sixth degree or closer, or a relative by affinity in the third degree or closer. who spends his/her daily life under the same livelihood as the applicant. Even a relative also includes so-called "common-law spouse"for the immigration control purpose.

Q4.     I have the status of residence "Pre-college Student" and the period of stay "six months" and have registered myself as a foreign national. As I have extended my period of stay, I am able to stay in Japan for additional six months. In this case, how should I go through the alien registration process?

A.
   Some foreign nationals may stay in Japan for shorter than a year in accordance with the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, but some of them may stay in Japan for a year or longer since the first date of his/her period of stay by extending his/her period of stay or changing the status of residence if the period of stay has not still expired (hereinafter, these foreign nationals are referred to as"Shorter-than-one-year foreign national"). In this case, a foreign national must apply to the mayor of his/her domicile to seek for registering new resident status, stay period or family affairs within 14 days since such new fact occurs.

   For this reason, if a registered foreign national with the status of residence "six months" has successfully extended his/her period of stay for additional six months, the foreign national may stay in Japan for the total one year. In this case, such foreign national must apply to the mayor of his/her domicile to seek for registering new stay period and family affairs within 14 days since the date of extending the period of stay. In this case, if the applicant foreign national is age 16 or older, he/she shall affix his/her signature on the registration card when submitting applicable application form.

Q5.    I have lost my certificate of alien registration. What should I do?

A.
   Within 14 days after knowing the fact of having lost the certificate of alien registration, you must apply for reissuing the certificate by submitting Application for Issuance of Registration Certificate (after filling in the form available at the municipal office), his/her passport, two photos complying with certain requirements (the photos are unnecessary if the applicant is younger than 16 years old), and any other document that the mayor deems necessary (a written statement that describes how the applicant has lost the certificate, or an lost article report submitted to the police department). If the office accepts the application form, the applicant will receive a new certificate. However, if an applicant is age 16 or older, the immigration office will prepare a new certificate and also issue "Notification of Designated Period for Delivery of Alien Registration Certificate " to the applicant. In this case, the applicant will visit the said office again to receive a new certificate. (An agent of the applicant may also receive the certificate if the agent is the applicant's relative who lives with the applicant.)

Q6.    I changed my job, so I am now working for a different employer from the registered employers on the alien registration. In this case, do I have to file an application?

A.
   As this is the case for changing "Name and location of place where the alien is employed or his office ," you must apply to the mayor of your domicile for changing your registered fact within 14 days after such fact occurred by submitting the application form for changing the registered fact, your alien registration certificate, and the document that proves the said fact. If you have also changed your job or any other registered fact, you will also need to file an application to change the fact. As a document proving the change in "Name and location of place where the alien is employed or his office," or "Occupation," applicants usually submit their ID, operating license, certified copy of commercial registration, or equivalent document. On the other hand, permanent resident or special permanent residents are not necessary to register their "Occupation" or "Name and location of place where the alien is employed or his office," even if one of these facts actually changes.

Q7.    I need to apply for confirmation one month later, but I will be out of the country with the re-entry permit. May I apply for confirmation before leaving Japan?

A.
   You may not apply for confirmation before the due date. In this case, you need to immediately file an application after coming back to Japan.

| Flowchart(Under construction) | Alien Registration (Under construction) |
| Issuance of Registration Certificate<Exchange issuance ><Reissuance><Registration of changes><Renewal issuance> |
| Return of Registration Certificate (Under construction) | Q&A |

Alien Registration Q&A
\| Flowchart(Under construction) \| Alien Registration (Under construction) \| \| Issuance of Registration Certificate<Exchange issuance ><Reissuance><Registration of changes><Renewal issuance> \| \| Return of Registration Certificate (Under construction) \| Q&A \|

Q1.	I am visiting Japan for sightseeing purpose, but I will stay in Japan for a week. Do I need to register myself as an alien?
A.	If a foreign national enters Japan, he/she must apply for new alien registration within 90 days since landing Japan. As this 90-days period is a grace period for filing an application, a foreign national may seek for alien registration during this grace period. However, if a foreign national stays in Japan for 90 days or shorter, the foreign national does not need alien registration.
Q2.	What kind of person may apply for alien registration or receive the registration certificate on behalf of a foreign national? If a person is entrusted by an applicant foreign national to do so, does such person qualify for an agent for the applicant foreign national?
A.	A foreign national may stay in Japan for one year or longer since the first date of his/her period of stay if the foreign national applies for initial registration, exchange issuance or reissuance of the registration certificate, confirmation of his/her status (renewal issuance), or if the foreign national originally intended to stay in Japan for shorter than a year but has changed their status of residence. If such foreign national intends to register his/her new status, his or her agent may apply for such registration on behalf of the applicant foreign national. However, in this case, either of the following requirements must be met: the applicant foreign national is 16 years old or younger; or illness or any other physical disability prevents the applicant foreign national from visiting the municipal office to file an application. If either of these two conditions is met, the applicant's agent may file the aforementioned application on behalf of the applicant. However, even in this case, the agent must be a person who lives with the applicant. According to the official interpretation, the applicant agent must live in the same residence with the applicant and live his/her daily life under the same livelihood (in other words, the agent must belong to the same household as the applicant). For this reason, a parent or any other relative may not file an application on behalf of the applicant if such parent does not live with the applicant. A person with a letter of proxy may file an application if the person does not live with the applicant. As for applying for other procedures than stated above, or receiving the applicant's alien registration certificate, a person who lives with the applicant and is age 16 or older qualifies for the agent of the foreign national applicant.
Q3.	How should I obtain a copy of the alien registration card or the certificate of the registered facts?
A.	As for alien registration, foreign resident's address and status are registered in the official registry called alien registration card (hereinafter, referred to as the "registration card") kept by the mayor of the foreign national's domicile. Because the registration card includes some personal privacy information, the registration card is a nondisclosure data in principle. However, an foreign national himself, an agent of foreign national, or a relative who live with the foreign national (including common-law spouse) may request a copy of the registration card, or the certificate of the facts stated in the registration card ("Certificate of Registered Matters"). The term "agent" in this context means a person the foreign national has authorized to do so, or legal representative (or, a parent or guardian, in other words). As the immigration control office needs to confirm that such person really qualifies for a foreign national's agent, he/she (except for legal representative) needs to have a letter of proxy or any other document that would prove his/her status as the authorized agent. In addition, the term "a relative having the same domicile"means a spouse, a blood relative in the sixth degree or closer, or a relative by affinity in the third degree or closer. who spends his/her daily life under the same livelihood as the applicant. Even a relative also includes so-called "common-law spouse"for the immigration control purpose.
Q4.	I have the status of residence "Pre-college Student" and the period of stay "six months" and have registered myself as a foreign national. As I have extended my period of stay, I am able to stay in Japan for additional six months. In this case, how should I go through the alien registration process?
A.	Some foreign nationals may stay in Japan for shorter than a year in accordance with the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, but some of them may stay in Japan for a year or longer since the first date of his/her period of stay by extending his/her period of stay or changing the status of residence if the period of stay has not still expired (hereinafter, these foreign nationals are referred to as"Shorter-than-one-year foreign national"). In this case, a foreign national must apply to the mayor of his/her domicile to seek for registering new resident status, stay period or family affairs within 14 days since such new fact occurs. For this reason, if a registered foreign national with the status of residence "six months" has successfully extended his/her period of stay for additional six months, the foreign national may stay in Japan for the total one year. In this case, such foreign national must apply to the mayor of his/her domicile to seek for registering new stay period and family affairs within 14 days since the date of extending the period of stay. In this case, if the applicant foreign national is age 16 or older, he/she shall affix his/her signature on the registration card when submitting applicable application form.
Q5.	I have lost my certificate of alien registration. What should I do?
A.	Within 14 days after knowing the fact of having lost the certificate of alien registration, you must apply for reissuing the certificate by submitting Application for Issuance of Registration Certificate (after filling in the form available at the municipal office), his/her passport, two photos complying with certain requirements (the photos are unnecessary if the applicant is younger than 16 years old), and any other document that the mayor deems necessary (a written statement that describes how the applicant has lost the certificate, or an lost article report submitted to the police department). If the office accepts the application form, the applicant will receive a new certificate. However, if an applicant is age 16 or older, the immigration office will prepare a new certificate and also issue "Notification of Designated Period for Delivery of Alien Registration Certificate " to the applicant. In this case, the applicant will visit the said office again to receive a new certificate. (An agent of the applicant may also receive the certificate if the agent is the applicant's relative who lives with the applicant.)
Q6.	I changed my job, so I am now working for a different employer from the registered employers on the alien registration. In this case, do I have to file an application?
A.	As this is the case for changing "Name and location of place where the alien is employed or his office ," you must apply to the mayor of your domicile for changing your registered fact within 14 days after such fact occurred by submitting the application form for changing the registered fact, your alien registration certificate, and the document that proves the said fact. If you have also changed your job or any other registered fact, you will also need to file an application to change the fact. As a document proving the change in "Name and location of place where the alien is employed or his office," or "Occupation," applicants usually submit their ID, operating license, certified copy of commercial registration, or equivalent document. On the other hand, permanent resident or special permanent residents are not necessary to register their "Occupation" or "Name and location of place where the alien is employed or his office," even if one of these facts actually changes.
Q7.	I need to apply for confirmation one month later, but I will be out of the country with the re-entry permit. May I apply for confirmation before leaving Japan?
A.	You may not apply for confirmation before the due date. In this case, you need to immediately file an application after coming back to Japan.