Residence card (zairyu card)

The card is issued to mid- to long-term residents: foreign nationals granted a period of stay of more than three months under a residence status such as Engineer/Specialist, Student, Spouse of a Japanese National, Working Holiday or Permanent Resident. Temporary visitors, those with stays of three months or less, diplomats and holders of the digital nomad status do not receive one. Special permanent residents, mainly long-established Korean and Taiwanese families, hold a separate certificate.

At the major international airports, including Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, the card is handed over at immigration, together with the landing stamp. Those arriving elsewhere receive a stamp in the passport, and the card is sent by post after they register their address.

Within 14 days of moving into a home, the holder must register the address at the city, ward, town or village office. Registration enrols the holder in the resident register, which in turn leads to enrolment in National Health Insurance and the National Pension where applicable, and to the issue of an individual My Number.

Holders aged 16 and over must carry the card at all times and show it when asked by police or immigration officers; failure to carry it is an offence. Changes of address are reported to the municipal office, and changes of name, nationality, sex or date of birth to the immigration authorities, each within 14 days. Students and workers must also report changes of school or employer to immigration.

The card must be renewed together with the period of stay. Permanent residents aged 16 and over renew the card itself at regular intervals, even though their status has no expiry.

Residents who leave Japan temporarily and return within one year, and within their period of stay, can use the special re-entry permit by ticking the box on the departure card and showing the residence card. For longer absences, a re-entry permit must be obtained from immigration before departure. Those leaving Japan permanently hand in the card at the airport.

Since 14 June 2026, residents registered in a municipality can choose a Specified Residence Card, which combines the residence card and the My Number card in one IC card. Most personal data are stored in the chip rather than printed on the face, and the individual number appears on the back. The combined card is optional; holders may keep two separate cards. Employers and others check the combined card with the Immigration Services Agency's card-reading application.