Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
The Ministry of Justice said that Wednesday is the deadline for foreign residents of Japan to replace their old alien registration certificate with the resident registration card.
The new system of residence management for foreign residents that combines the information collected via the Immigration Control Act and the Alien Registration Law respectively went into effect on July 9, 2012. All foreign residents, to whom the news system applies, were given three years to get the new card. That deadline expires at midnight Wednesday.
The ministry estimates that there may be 50,000 foreigners living in Japan who have not yet got the new cards. Failure to get the new card may result in criminal charges, the ministry said, advising anyone who is not sure of their status to visit an immigration office or their local ward office for advice.
All foreign nationals residing legally in Japan for a medium to long term are subject to the system. To apply for the new card, you are required to appear in person at the nearest regional immigration bureau.
The system also exempts the need to file an application for permission for re-entry when re-entering Japan within one year of departure.
Foreign nationals residing legally for a medium to long term with a status of residence under the Immigration Control Act, EXCLUDING the persons described below, are subject to the new system of residence management:
-- Persons granted permission to stay for not more than 3 months -- Persons granted the status of residence of “Temporary Visitor” -- Persons granted the status of residence of “Diplomat” or “Official” -- Persons whom a Ministry of Justice ordinance recognizes as equivalent to the aforementioned foreign nationals -- Special permanent residents (for example, of Korean descent) -- Persons with no status of residence
Permanent residents, meanwhile, are also required to have the new residence card.
What is the residence card?
The residence card is issued to applicable persons in addition to landing permission, permission for change of status of residence, and permission for extension of the residence period, etc. The card is equipped with an IC chip to prevent forgery and alteration, and the chip records all or part of the information included on the card. Fingerprint information will not be recorded in the chip.
The card contains a portrait photo of the individual and the following information:
-- Legal items given -- Name in full, date of birth, sex, nationality -- Place of residence in Japan -- Status of residence, period of stay, date of expiration -- Type of permission, date of permission -- Number of the residence card, date of issue, date of expiration -- Existence or absence of working permit -- Existence of permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted
The status of residence with a period of stay of 3 years under the present system, can be extended to 5 years. As for the status of residence of “College Student,” the maximum period of stay will be extended to “4 years and 3 months” from the current “2 years and 3 months.”
Conditions of Revocation of Status of Residence
Implementation of the new system of residence management includes establishment of the following provisions concerning the conditions of revocation of status of residence and deportation, and penal provisions:
-- The foreign national has received, by deceit or other wrongful means, special permission to stay
-- Failing to continue to engage in activities as a spouse while residing in Japan for more than 6 months (except for cases where the foreign national has justifiable reason for not engaging in the activities while residing in Japan
-- Failing to register the place of residence within 90 days after newly entering or leaving a former place of residence in Japan (except for cases with justifiable reason for not registering the place of residence), or registering a false place of residence
-- Forgery or alteration of a residence card
-- Being sentenced to imprisonment or a heavier punishment for submitting a false notification required of medium to long term residents, or violating the rules concerning receipt or mandatory presentation of the residence card.
For further information, visit http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/index.html or call the Immigration Information Center at 0570-013904 (weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.)
© Japan Today
44 Comments
Login to comment
wtfjapan
I know I left it late but I did mine yesterday, and surprisingly it only took 30minutes, which is fast for J immigration
sillygirl
"Engaging in activities". WTH???
cleo
Renewal of the old Alien Registration at the local yakuba was a 10-minute affair; I could drop in while walking the dog, or shopping. The new 'improved' Residence Card involves a trip to the Immigration - one hour each way on the train, plus a bus ride or a long walk, plus an hour's wait because the place is always crowded. A day off work, plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Grr.
gogogo
If they can send a post card to everyone that needs to re-new their driver license the ministry knows the address of all foreigners why don't they send the same postcards?
Wakarimasen
Thursday bound to be more satsu out and about asking for cards.....
Steve Crichton
I have a Gold License and a a new residents card. Guess I am top of the pops.
viking68
It took almost three hours today, plus the time to get there. It took over an hour once they had the documents.
There already were over 90 people there shortly after 9AM when it opens. People must have gotten in early before they opened the shutters. The ticket count was in excess of 230 by 12PM.
Overall, the whole idea of getting a residence card issued by immigration is pretty stupid when previously I only needed to visit the local town hall. I thought I was through with the Regional Immigration Bureau, but now I need to go back again when it is time to renew this new version of the same card (7 years from now, but there is nothing to enjoy about a trip there).
jcapan
Me too last year, meaning I don't need to go near either cesspool of despair until 2019. And I thought they were issuing new residence cards to anyone when they left/re-entered Japan. That many gaijin haven't left Japan during the last 3 years. Shudder to think.
HongoTAFEinmate
Would advise those who are uncertain to check the immigration website for their closest immigration bureau office. Who knows, you might find a hidden branch office close by where you live rather than having to go down town to Shinagawa, a huge hassle at the best of times.
nakanoguy01
hate riding the bus of shame to shinagawa to get anything done. and what's the deal with the nedd for the picture to haev been taken within the past six months? people don't age that quickly!
Jimizo
'hate riding the bus of shame to shinagawa'
Why is it a bus of shame? I had a very pleasant conversation with a lovely young lady from India last time I was on that bus on the way there and one on the way back with a very polite young Chinese man who saw I was studying Mandarin. Try to be a little less snobbish. It's nice to be friendly.
Elizabeth Heath
They did do that. All Alien Card holders received loads of stuff through the post when the change happened three years ago, and those who haven't yet got the new card have received postcards telling them of the deadline. TBH, I'm surprised so many needed reminding.
nath
Doesn't this interest anyone other than me?
GW
I don't travel in/out a whole lot but was in/out 6times last year & there was never an offer to upgrade my gaijin card.
Got the new one a little over a month ago, nice to have it for 7yrs, period of stay is all asterisks LOL!!
And once you have this card I believe you no longer have to get all those damned visa & re entry stamps in the ole passport anymore as well so that's great especially as I got that renewed shortly after wards so didn't have to go to immigration again & finally I can get a 10yr passport so from here on in many less trips to the embassy or immigration so that's good!
keika1628
I trust the deadline will clear out the maggots in Roppongi
cwhite
You didn't need re-entry stamps from 3 years ago unless leaving Japan for more than 1 year at a time. The new cards look fine, but the underlying system was to gather more individual data on all foreigners into one system. Their first version of the my number system for aliens. Not my cup of tea.
sighclops
@HongoTAFEinmate
All foreigners have to go to Shinagawa, as unbearable as that place is. It gets me down for weeks prior to making the journey down there. Depressing.
gogogo
The immigration office is also a jail for over-stayers and on an island in tokyo bay, talk about welcoming foreigners :(
Richmond Wood
I am lucky, I live in Nara Prefecture and we have a small branch office in Nara City. I honestly don't think most people even know it exists, because I have never had to wait in line, and am usually out in less than 10 minutes. Had to renew my visa and update my Resident Card, in and out of the office dropping the paperwork off and picking every thing up in 15 minutes total for both visits.
Of course it takes almost 2 hours by train and bus to get there from the backwoods where I live, but it would take even longer to get to the main office in Osaka, and then I would have to line up forever.
nath
Got mine done a few months back in Tachikawa, before that always visited Otemachi, never Shinagawa or Shibuya.
The card is quickly issued olso received the reminder postcard in the !mail.
jpntdytmrow
Got the reminding postcard on Saturday. Went to Tachikawa today. Crowded but finished within 3 hours! The place to go for Yamanashi and Sagamihara-shi residence as well as Tokyo. Had a nice nap. Staff was kind. Most were there for this purpose by the looks of it. Met a woman from Hong Kong and we went to a cake shop afterward at the station! Don't have to renew it again for 7 years. A pair of 3 year-olds made a strong friendship there, too.
Serrano
"I like the new card too - the words "alien" are gone and show "resident card"
Yeah, since I got the new residence card, I can'thave any more fun showing my old alien card to the cops with a picture of the alien from the Alien movies over my photo, ha ha
browny1
Did mine a couple of weeks ago.
Quick drive - 8 mins - free parking in front - total 15 mins and I'm home again in just over half an hour.
Ah - the joys of regional city living - wouldn't trade for nuffin.
YongYang
Did mine in 2013, great place, in and out within 20 and a 3 minute walk from the station. See you in July 2020 immigration!
misunderstood
Wow I wonder why the US can't do such a thing. Trying going to immigration in the US and you might as well go on vacation there!! Too many people. They ask you to take a number and come back next year LOL!!
Vernie Jefferies
Yes Tachikawa Immigration is a great place to go do business. There is also another very small branch in Shin Yurigaoka (Odakyu Line near Machida) with low waiting time, BUT I am not sure if it's still open at this time. I haven't been there since 2010 when I was living in that neighborhood.
danalawton1@yahoo.com
I think it is the duty of all Japanese citizens to remind foreigners that Wednesday is the deadline.
nath
Vernie! Keep that Odakyu Line one a secret! It is super fast.
I had to replace my new card within a year. One of the numbers wore off real fast for some reason.
Alita Schratwieser
If anyone waited til now to do it, you are an idiot. We have had 3 years to get these very convenient cards that no longer require reentry visas or having your visa in your passport. Everything is on the card. Most of us had common sense and got them changed over as soon as they were initiated.
I pity those of you that HAVE to use Shinagawa as anyone in another prefectural jurisdiction can go to ones that are much less crowded and have staff that are only patient if you have the correct paperwork (which is a positive thing as it means lines aren't held up by the staff helping you do the documents.) Move outside of the Tokyo district. I recommend Kanagawa as Kawasaki Shinyurigaoka office is awesome and it took 20 minutes when I renewed visa 3 years ago just as it was initiated and was getting me and my husband our new cards . Same when he went to switch over to dependent visa after graduating college.
Badge213
Yes, but the next time you have to extend your status of residency (often incorrectly referred to as Visa Renewal) you only need to go to immigration. Under the old Alien Registration Card system, you first go to immigration, update your residency status, then you had to go to the city office to get an updated alien registration card, under the new system you only have to go to one place.
Any case, I'm surprised there are still some left-overs 3 years after the change over, the post office stopped accepting the old cards.
For those living in Tokyo, avoid Shinagawa, go to alternate places like Tachikawa if you are in western Tokyo. You do not exclusively have to use the Shinagawa office, that place is a mess. Thankfully my parts of Tokyo I can use the two other immigration offices.
cleo
I had to go to Immigration to get a re-entry permit less than a month before the new cards came in. The man behind the counter was very nice about it, but No, I could not apply in advance; I had to come in again (taking a day off work to do so) to get my new card once the system was up and running. I found lots of better things to do with my time (and money) in the years in between, which is why this idiot didn't get around to changing her card till a couple of months ago. The whole thing has been a pain in the posterior.
Badge213
Yeah, but you never have to go get another re-entry permit or pay for re-entry permits again unless you plan to be out of Japan for longer than one year. You do not have to go to the city office after you update your visa again either.
Old system: Need re-entry permit- go to immigration and pay 3000-6000yen Updated "visa" - go to immigration AND THEN go to your local city office to update alien registration card The old card included, school, work information, work location etc on it, the new card does not At the local level, separate residency records at the local city office for foreigners and Japanese.
Current system: No need to get a re-entry permit (or pay for one) for trips under one year Update "visa" - to go immigration only, no need to stop at city office, since new cards are issued at immigration At the local level, one residency record (both Japanese and foreigners combined into one record), under the old system, was a pain, especially if you were married
There was like a 2 year notice before the change in 2012, plus 3 years after, almost 5 years
If there are only about 50,000 foreign residents who have not transitioned or do not have a new card, out of roughly 2million foreign residents of Japan, so this news story only affects only 2.4% of foreign residents.
cleo
It's not like I do that much travelling outside Japan. The re-entry permit was never that big a deal.
Permanent resident status - no updating of no visas here.
If it's a residency card, not an alien registration card, I don't see why it can't be handled at the yakuba. Much, much more convenient.
Badge213
It is really a "status of residency" card. Status of Residency what we all have, often incorrectly referred to as a "visa". No more stamps in passport either.
Immigration didn't want local city guys issuing foreign residents cards, local government vs national government. There have been trade offs, ofcourse all of this discussed 3 years ago....
sillygirl
@yelnats, no, not only you. I got it too being on a spouse visa and all.
Disillusioned
One of my friends enquires about replacing his card and he was told he didn't have to replace it until it expired.
sighclops
@Educator60
Apologies, I should've been a little clearer in my explanation. I was referring those of us in the Greater Tokyo area. I live in Chiba yet am forced to go to prisoner island (Tennozu) :/
GW
Sighclops,
Incorrect there is a regional immigration office not far from Chiba stn I know because I drove there & got mine there, seemed to be TONS of students there so took about 3hrs, once I got my paperwork in I got re-called in maybe 10minutes