The paperwork you have to do after landing in Japan is not difficult. What catches people out is that each step wants a document produced by an earlier step — and if you do them in the wrong order, you get sent away and have to come back.

Here is the order that works.

Day 1 — At the airport

You receive your residence card (在留カード, zairyū kādo) at immigration, provided you arrive at one of the major airports. Keep it on you at all times; you are legally required to carry it.

If you arrive at a smaller airport, the card is issued later at your ward office instead. Ask at immigration which applies to you.

Within 14 days — Ward office (区役所)

Go to the ward office for the address you are living at. This is a legal deadline, not a suggestion.

You are doing three things in one visit:

  1. Moving-in notification (転入届) — this registers your address. Your residence card gets your address printed on the back.
  2. National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) — if you are staying more than three months and not covered by an employer.
  3. Pension enrolment (国民年金) — usually processed at the same counter. Students can apply for a payment deferral.

Bring: passport, residence card, and your address. Some wards also want your lease.

Ask for a residence certificate (住民票, jūminhyō) before you leave — two copies. You will need it for the bank and the phone.

Then — Bank account

Most banks want:

  • Residence card with your address already printed on it
  • Residence certificate
  • A Japanese phone number
  • Personal seal (印鑑) — some banks accept a signature, many still do not

⚠️ This is where the ordering problem bites. Many banks will not open an account until you have been resident for six months. Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ) and some online banks are usually the most accommodating for new arrivals.

Then — Phone

Carriers want a bank account or a Japanese credit card for the direct debit. Which is why the bank comes first.

If you are stuck in the loop — no bank without a phone, no phone without a bank — get a prepaid SIM or an MVNO plan that accepts payment by international credit card to break the circle. Then switch later if you want.

Personal seal (印鑑)

A carved stamp used instead of a signature. You can have one made in a day at most shopping centres for ¥1,000–3,000.

Not always required any more, but still requested often enough that it is worth getting one early rather than being turned away at a counter.

The realistic sequence

Airport (residence card)
   ↓
Ward office (address + insurance + certificate)  ← within 14 days
   ↓
Phone (prepaid, if you have no bank yet)
   ↓
Bank account
   ↓
Switch to a regular phone contract, if you want

What normally goes wrong

  • Going to the ward office before you have an address. You need somewhere to register. Sort housing first.
  • Not asking for the residence certificate. Then having to go back for it.
  • Assuming the bank will just open an account. Ask about their residency requirement before you queue.
  • Missing the 14 days. It is a legal obligation and it affects your insurance start date.

If you rent through us, we tell you which documents to bring and when — and we can go with you to the ward office if you would rather not do it alone on your first week.