Job relocation, changing school or tenancy contract expiry… sometimes you decide to move house and change your residential address while you live in Japan. When you move house, you have to deal with a number of applications and notifications in addition to packing up and sending your belongings. It is so easy to forget those applications and notifications while you are being hectic with other physical jobs. But if you really overlook them, you might end up in trouble. So, let’s revise what applications and notifications you should file when you move house in Japan.
Notifications relating to resident record
Moving-out notification when moving to other municipality
Since the Basic Resident Registration system of Japan was amended in 2012, all non-Japanese residents are required to register for the system. You must file a moving-out notification to your current municipal office when moving out of your current municipality, no matter if a new address is inside or outside of Japan. Especially, if you are leaving Japan, make sure to file this notification to correctly receive your Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment or avoid unnecessary National Health Insurance contribution charges. The form of moving-out notification slightly vary by each municipality, but most of municipal offices provide “notification of move” form at the counter. The lodgment period of moving-out notification varies by each municipality, but normally it needs to be filed within 14days before and after moving date. Keep a moving-out certificate with care, which is provided after filing a moving-out notification, as you will need it when lodging a moving-in notification at a new municipal office. A moving-out notification can be sent by post. No need to file a moving-out notification if moving within the same municipality.
Moving to other city or leaving Japan: Moving-out notification
Moving-in & Change of address notification (also updates residence card)
Same as moving-out notification, all non-Japanese residents are required to file a moving-in notification or change of address notification to your municipal office when moving in a new municipality or within the same municipality. The form of moving-out notification slightly vary by each municipality, but most of municipal offices provide “notification of move” form at the counter. It must be lodged within 14days after moving date. Don’t forget to notify the change of address, because foreign residents may be fined up to JPY200,000, or have their status of residence revoked if they fail to file this notification by due date. Unlike moving-out notification, a moving-out and change of address notification must be filed in person. Your residence card will be automatically updated if you hand in your card at a municipal office with a moving-in or change of address notification.
Notify when newly arrived in Japan or moved house: Moving-in & Change of address notification
Applications relating to the National Health Insurance
All foreign residents living in Japan are required to enroll in a public health insurance except for those exempted. Unless you are an employee and your employer will apply on behalf of you, you need to notify the change of address by yourself if you are covered by National Health Insurance. This can be done with moving-out, moving-in or change of address notification at a municipal office.
Withdrawal from National Health Insurance when moving to other municipality
Withdraw from National Health Insurance and return your insurance card at your previous municipal office within 14 days after moving out. Bring your insurance card, inkan (seal), residence card and elderly beneficiary certificate (if any).
Application for National Health Insurance when moving in new municipality
Apply for National Health Insurance at your new municipal office after withdrawing from your previous one at the former municipal office. Your application must be lodged within 14 days from the date of moving in. Bring your moving-out certificate, residence card, inkan (seal), bank book and inkan for the bank (if paying contributions by direct debit).
Notify change of address when moving within the same municipality
File a change of address notice if you are moving within the same municipality. Your notification must be lodged within 14 days from the date of moving. Bring your insurance card and residence card.
National Health Insurance: Procedures to update residential address when moving house
Update your address in National Pension System
Same as National Health Insurance, you need to update your address in National Pension System. If you are a self-employed worker, student, unemployed or other category who is covered by only Basic Pension benefits of National Pension System, you must visit a municipal office by yourself to file a change of address. But if you moved house within the same municipality, just file a change of address notification of resident register so that your address in National Pension System is automatically updated. If you moved into other municipality, you have to fill the change of address form at a municipal office of your new address and hand it in. Bring your National Pension book and inkan (personal seal). Employees who are covered by Enployee’s Pension Insurance System need notify their employer of a change of address so that the employers can update employee’s address for them. So just talk to an administrator of your company. Also, if you are an employee and have a dependent spouse, don’t forget ask your employer to file a change of address for your spouse as well.
National Pension: Procedures to update residential address when moving house
Mail redirection
One thing you should never overlook when moving house is mail redirection. You probably receive a number of mails while you live in Japan, but it is not practical to update your address with every single sender. If you apply for a mail redirection at post office, all mails sent to your previous address will be redirected to your new address (Japanese address only). You can apply for a mail redirection in person at post office or via internet by using “e-Tenkyo” service. Allow plenty of time when applying as there are a few days before a redirection is commenced. Ideally, apply several days prior to the moving date so that a mail redirection will start on the day you move in a new address.
Moving house? Don’t forget mail redirection: Change of address notice
Moving house? Don’t forget mail redirection: Online application
Reporting change of residence address on driver license
Don’t forget to update a residential address on your Japanese driver license if you have one. Your driver license is still valid even though you haven’t updated your information, however, a driver license renewal notice will go to the old address if you don’t keep it up to date. In such a case, you might have to go through extra procedures to renew your license. You can notify a change of address on your driver license at the nearest police station or driver’s license center. Make sure to file a moving-in or change of address notification before you update your driver license as you are required to provide a copy of resident record or residence card. To update an address on your driver license, bring your current driver license and a proof of current address (a copy of resident record, residence card etc). A residential address on your driver license should be updated as soon as possible after moving house even though there is no due date to do so, because your driver license is used as a proof of your residential address in many occasions.
Driver license: Procedures to update residential address when moving house
Change of address for Individual Number Notification Card or Individual Number Card
You must notify your municipal office within 14days if there is any change in the information printed on your Individual Number Notification Card or Individual Number Card, such as address change. A notification is to be submitted at a municipal office of your new address. Change of information on the card is done on the day. Hand in your Individual Number Notification Card or Individual Number Card together with a moving-in notification.
Attention registered residents, the Individual Number system has been newly introduced
New home, new beginning
There are so many little things you have to sort out when moving house. The Resident Record System, among other things, is quite uncommon system in other countries therefore very easy to overlook if you are from overseas. Including applications relating to a resident record, the procedures introduces in this column are very important when you reside in Japan and may cause a serious situation if overlooked. So, plan it and write it down on a calendar.
