Skip to main content

Address Change on the Residence Card

Within 14 days of moving, bring the residence card to the new municipality and file the address notification.12 The clerk prints the new address on the back of the card on the spot and relays the update to Immigration behind the scenes.12

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the Immigration Services Agency site. This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice; for your specific case, consult a licensed gyoseishoshi or immigration lawyer.

Overview​

This article covers the card mechanics of a move: the 14-day duty, which counter takes the filing, what physically happens to the card, and what a missed window costs.12 It applies to every mid- to long-term resident who fixes or changes a Japan address.1

The ward-office forms procedure (the tenshutsu and tennyu paperwork itself) belongs to a separate moving-procedures treatment. Here the forms appear only where they touch the card.3

The rule: 14 days, new municipality, card in hand​

Article 19-9(1) of the Immigration Control Act requires residents who change address to notify the Minister of Justice through the new municipality within 14 days of the move date.24 The related provisions cover new landings (Article 19-7) and status-change addresses (Article 19-8); the everyday moving case runs on 19-9.4

Bring the residence card to the filing.13 Holders whose card is still marked "to be issued later" bring the marked passport instead.3 The filing cannot be made at a regional immigration bureau: ISA's own Q&A states that address changes are municipal-only.2

Reception counters, hours, and whether the move paperwork and the card update happen at one stop vary by ward or city office (as of 2026-09).1 The 14-day duty itself is identical nationwide.2

Within-ward moves vs cross-ward moves​

A move inside the same municipality takes a single change-of-address filing at that office within 14 days of moving.1 A move across municipal boundaries takes two filings: a moving-out notification (転出届, tenshutsu todoke, "move-out notification") at the old office before leaving, then a moving-in notification (転入届, tennyū todoke, "move-in notification") at the new office within 14 days.13 The card update rides inside that flow either way.1

What happens to the physical card​

The clerk writes the new address on the back of the card at filing time.12 No new card is issued for an address change, and the card number stays the same.2 Contrast this with non-address changes (name, status, period of stay), which do trigger a newly issued card.2

Behind the counter, the municipality relays the update into ISA's records.12 The holder's only job is showing up with the card inside the window; the back-channel is automatic.1

File the card update in the same visit

Since the back-side printing happens on the spot, bringing the card to the moving-in visit finishes the card duty in the same trip (as of 2026-09).1 A second visit means a second queue for a thirty-second stamp.1

Missing the 14-day window​

Failure to notify within 14 days can draw a fine of up to 200,000 yen.2 That ceiling is statute. In practice, short first-time delays commonly draw warnings, while serious or repeated delay may be flagged when the next renewal is examined (as of 2026-09).2

A missed window is repaired by filing, not by waiting. File late with the true move date rather than letting the gap grow toward the next renewal.2

Backdating the move date compounds the breach

Writing a false recent date to hide a missed window adds a false-notification problem on top of the late-notification one. File with the true facts and dates.2

Good to know​

The immigration bureau counter cannot take this filing​

This surprises residents who associate every card matter with Immigration. Address changes go to the municipal office exclusively; a trip to the regional bureau for this filing ends in redirection.2

Long stays abroad with no Japan address need no card filing​

Where no Japan dwelling exists (for example, a long overseas stay with the address cleared), no ISA address notification is owed.2 The municipal move-out filing is still required, so the ward office visit stands even when the ISA duty falls away.2

Bring the card to every municipal visit during a move​

Any municipal procedure during moving season can turn into the card-update moment.1 Carrying the card to the moving-out visit, the moving-in visit, and any related counter errand keeps each filing one trip instead of two.13

See also​

References​

Footnotes​

  1. Immigration Services Agency. "Necessary Notifications" handbook (English PDF). https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001453455.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16

  2. Immigration Services Agency. "Answers (Q80-Q149)" new residency management Q&A (English). https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/faq/newimmiact_4_q-and-a_page3.html?lang=en ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17

  3. Ministry of Justice. "Notice to mid- and long-term residents and organizations" (English PDF). https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930001396.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. Immigration Services Agency. "Notification of the Address" reference form (Articles 19-7/19-8/19-9). https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/930004178.pdf ↩ ↩2