For new mid- to long-term residents in Japan, address registration is due within 14 days of establishing the place of residence. It is a municipal procedure, separate from university enrolment.
The key points
- Who this covers
- New mid- to long-term residents, including students with the applicable residence status; not a blanket rule for short-term visitors.
- Deadline
- Within 14 days after establishing your place of residence—not automatically 14 days after every flight arrival.
- Where
- The city, ward, town or village office responsible for your address.
- Core document
- Residence card; if your passport says the card will be issued later, bring that passport. Confirm the local office’s full checklist.
- Next step
- Ask your university’s international office and municipality about the correct counter, opening hours, forms and language support.
Keep the documents and offices separate
The Immigration Services Agency explains the notification deadline and directs residents to their municipality for details. The Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) describes residence-card issuance at designated airports and the later-issuance process at others. Follow the document actually issued to you, rather than assuming every airport uses the same procedure.
A practical preparation checklist
- Confirm the full address and which municipality administers it. Ask the accommodation office if the address format is unclear.
- Read that municipality’s current moving-in instructions. Check whether additional forms, booking or supporting information are required.
- Take the residence card or relevant passport, and any other documents the municipality specifies. Keep copies privately for your records.
- After the procedure, check the recorded address and ask the office how any later move should be reported.
If you are still in temporary accommodation or cannot determine how the deadline applies, contact the municipality and your university promptly. Do not guess that a hotel address is always acceptable, or that a university can automatically complete the procedure for you.
This article explains the official general process; it is not individual immigration advice. Registration does not itself extend your permitted stay or replace other residence, enrolment or notification requirements.