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What is alien registration? All foreign nationals residing in Japan are required to register at the municipal office of the city, town or village in which they are living. When an application has been made, details, including name, date of birth, sex, nationality, occupation, passport number, status of residence, period of stay, address, name and location of office where engaged (hereafter referred to as "registered matters") will be registered at the municipal office of the city, town or village. When the registration has been carried out, a Certificate of Alien Registration containing the registered matters will be issued to the registrant by the mayor or headman of the city, town or village. The registration certificate for an alien under the age of 16 years is a two-folded sheet of paper, which will usually be issued on the day of application. On the other hand, the registration certificate for an alien of the age of 16 years or over is a laminated card, which will be issued approximately two weeks from the date of application. All foreign nationals of 16 years of age or over are required to carry the registration certificate with them at all times and to present it to Immigration Inspectors, Immigration Control Officers, Police Officials, etc., if such an official requests it in the performance of his duties. As a rule, the application which is provided for in the Alien Registration Law should be made by a foreign national by appearing in person at the municipal office of the city, town or village. However, if the foreign national is under the age of 16 years or cannot appear in person for reasons of illness or other physical disability, a person living with such foreign national shall make the application on his/her behalf. Must every foreign national register? All foreign nationals (persons who do not have Japanese nationality) residing in Japan are required to apply for alien registration. However, the following persons are excepted or exempted from alien registration and need not apply. (1) Persons who have been granted permission for provisional landing provided for in Article 13 of the Immigration Control Act. (They are excepted from alien registration by the provisions of Article 2 of the Alien Registration Law). (2) Persons who have been granted permission for port of call landing, landing in transit, landing for members of a crew, emergency landing or landing due to disaster provided for in Articles 14 to 18 inclusive of the Immigration Control Act. (They are exempted from alien registration by the provisions of Article 2 of the Alien Registration Law.) (3) Holders of status of residence "diplomats" or "government officials." (They are exempted from alien registration according to treaties or international courtesies.) (4) Members and civilian employees of the armed forces of the United States of America or United Nations Forces and their dependents residing in Japan. (They are exempted from alien registration according to treaties.) With the exception of those persons who are exempted from alien registration, all foreign residents (illegal entrants included) are required to register. However, those who depart from Japan within 90 days from the date of landing in Japan or those who depart from Japan within 60 days from the date of renunciation of Japanese nationality, etc., need not apply for alien registration. How do I register for the first time, and how do I register births? A foreign national staying in Japan is required to apply for registration (initial registration) within 90 days from the date of landing in Japan (excepting cases where (s)he has re-entered Japan with re-entry permission). A child born in Japan to such a foreign national must be registered within 60 days from the date of birth. Those who renounce Japanese nationality must register within 60 days from the date of renunciation. Registration must be undertaken at the municipal office of the city, town or village in which his/her residence is located. The application for initial registration should be made by submitting the applicant's passport together with an "APPLICATION FOR ALIEN REGISTRATION" provided at the city, town or village office where the application is made. If the applicant is 16 years old or over, two photographs which fulfill the conditions listed below must also be submitted.. The applicant alone appears in the photograph.
What do I do when registered matters have changed? When a registrant has changed his/her place of residence or when any change has taken place in "Name," "Nationality," "Occupation," "Status of residence," "Period of stay" or "Name and location of office where engaged," (s)he is required to apply for registration of such a change within 14 days of the day on which the change has taken place at the municipal office of the city, town or village in which (s)he lives. If the change involves a moving of residence to another city, town or village, an application must be made at the municipal office at the new place of residence. However, it is unnecessary to report changes in other registered matters within 14 days, namely, "Address in home state," "Passport number," "Date of issue of passport," "Name of householder" or "Personal relationship to householder." Changes related to those items may be reported at the first available opportunity, for example, when applying for exchange issuance, reissuance or renewal of the registration certificate, registration of a change in name or nationality. An application for registration of change in registered matters should be made by submitting an "APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF ALTERATION OF REGISTERED ITEMS" provided at the office of application, together with the applicant's registration certificate. When necessary, presentation of a passport or other documents proving the change may also be required. When registering a change in name or nationality, the person concerned is also requested to apply for exchange issuance of the registration certificate mentioned here by submitting the registration certificate possessed and two photographs (See here). What do I do when I have lost, damaged or spoiled my registration certificate? If a foreign national no longer possesses his/her registration certificate due to loss, theft or destruction, the reissuance of the registration certificate must be applied for at the nearest municipal office within 14 days of the day on which (s)he has become aware of such fact, at the municipal office of the city. town or village. Application should be made by submitting an "APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF ALIEN REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE" provided at the office of application, together with the applicant's passport, two copies of a photograph of the applicant (if the applicant is 16 years old or over) and any other documents (e. g. certificate of fire, certificate of receipt of theft report, etc.,) which the mayor or head of the city, town or village deems necessary. A foreign national whose registration certificate has been damaged or spoiled may apply for the issuance of a new registration certificate in exchange for such damaged or spoiled certificate, by submitting an "APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF ALIEN REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE" available at the office of application, his/her passport and twocopies of a photograph (if 16 years old or over) accompanied by such registration certificate. In cases where registration of change in name or nationality is applied for, the change issuance of the registration certificate is also to be applied for. When an application for reissuance or exchange issuance of the registration certificate has been made, the mayor or headman of the city, town or village shall confirm whether the entry on the registration card is in accord with the actual facts. (See here) Do I have nothing to do after my initial registration? All registrants 16 years of age or over are required to confirm whether the entries on the registration card are still in accord with the actual facts by submitting an "APPLICATION FOR CONFIRMATION OF REGISTERED ITEMS," (available at the office of application), together with the applicant's passport and two copies of a photograph, within 30 days after a period of 5 years has elapsed from the day of initial registration or previous confirmation (shown in the registration certificate). This should be done at the municipal office of the city, town or village in which (s)he resides. However, in the case of persons who have been granted a period of stay of less than one year, the date for confirmation will be different (shown in the registration certificate). A foreign national under the age of 16 years is not required to apply for confirmation of registered matters. However, (s)he must make a confirmation within 30 days of the day of his/her having become 16 years. Applicants are advised that the laminated-card type registration certificate is to be issued to aliens aged 16 years or over at a later date. (See here) What do I do with my registration certificate when I return to my country? A registrant is required to return his/her registration certificate to an Immigration Inspector at the port of departure when (s)he leaves Japan without a re-entry permit or a Refugee Travel Document issued by the Ministry of Justice. When a registrant has acquired Japanese nationality or in the event of death, his/her registration certificate should be returned to the office of the city, town or village within 14 days of acquisition of Japanese nationality or death. |
Copyright( c) Fukushima International Association 2005
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Alien
Registration