Register Your Address at City Hall

Residence registration is required within 14 days of moving in. This guide explains what to bring and what happens next.

Residence registration at city hall is one of the first official steps in starting life in Japan. Legally, you must do it within 14 days of moving in. Without it, many other things cannot move forward.

Bring these items

• Passport
• Residence card
• Your new address written in Japanese if possible

How the process works

You go to city hall, fill out a moving-in form, and submit it at the counter. Staff often help if you get stuck, and larger cities may have some English support. After registration, your address is printed on the back of your residence card.

Why it matters

• You may need a resident record for bank procedures
• Your My Number notice is sent to this address
• National Health Insurance starts from here
• Your address becomes officially tied to your residence card

Finding the right office

Search Google Maps for your city or ward office. In Tokyo's 23 wards, this is usually the ward office rather than a general city hall.

If language is a concern, phone or video interpreting services can help during the visit.