photo by akiraak2
Losing your wallet is a nightmare. It doesn’t happen very often in everyday life, but once it happens, your day will be turned upside down. At first, you just don’t want to believe your wallet has gone, and start looking in possible places. The worst moment comes after you find out that there is no trace of your wallet anywhere and you feel the blood drain from your face. There is no wonder, because your wallet is full of personal information of yourself like cash, ID, credit card, bank card and store membership card. The most important thing when losing your wallet is not to panic. This column explain what you should do immediately after losing your wallet in Japan.
Report lost/stolen property to police immediately
If you have lost your ID with your wallet, the first thing you should immediately for is reporting lost or stolen property to police to prevent misuse of your ID by the others. While you need to notify the police of lost property if you simply lose an item of yours, report of the stolen property should be filed when you lose your item by theft. Also, make sure to get a certificate of lost property or a theft report certificate. These certificates or reference number are likely to be required at the time of application for re-issue of your ID.
Inquire places you visited
If you think you have left your wallet in a taxi you had while going out, or dropped it somewhere in the railway station, shopping mall or other facilities, inquire those companies or places if they have any lost-and-found items.
Reissuance of IDs
Residence card
In case of your residence card is lost or stolen, you must apply for re-issuance of a residence card within 14 days from the day you lost it. The applicant or his/her agent are required to visit a regional immigration office or immigration information center to file an application. A certificate of lost property or a theft report certificate is required upon application. There is no fee applied. To apply for re-issuance of residence card, you need to bring:
- Application form
- Photo of applicant
- Documents certifying that your residence card is lost (certificate of lost property or a theft report certificate)
- Passport
- Permit to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence (if you have)
- ID of agent if your application is being submitted by an agent
Individual number card/Notification card
In case you have lost your individual card, firstly call Individual Number Card Call Center to notify of the loss of individual number card. After cancelling your lost card, apply for re-issuance of your individual number card at a local municipal office. If you lost your notification card, just visit a municipal office for re-issuance of the card. In both cases, you need to present either of a certificate of lost property or a theft report certificate. Application fee is charged for re-issuance of Individual number card or notification card.
Health Insurance Card
If you are an employee of a business entity, notify your employer of the loss of your health insurance card so that they will apply for re-issuance of card. You may be required to provide a certificate of loss of your card by your employer.
Members of National Health Insurance system such as self-employed workers and students need to visit a municipal office by themselves to apply for re-issuance of their health insurance cards. Applicants must fill in individual number of their own and head of household on the application form. Your health insurance card will be replaced on the same day if you are applying for re-issuance in person.
Driver license
If your driver license is lost or stolen, you need to replace it as soon as possible. As a general rule, you must bring yourself to a driver license test center or a police office to apply for replacement of your driver license, and it cannot be done by an agent. To apply for replacement of your driver license, you need to bring:
- Application form (This can be obtain at driver license test center)
- Proof of your name, residential address and DOB (E.g. health insurance card, student card, residence card, copy of residence registry)
- Photo (This can be taken at driver license test center)
- Inkan (Personal seal)
Fees apply for replacement of driver license. Your driver license will be replaced on the same day if you are applying at a driver license test center, and sent to your residential address if you are applying at a police office.
※Despite the fact that a driver license is widely accepted as a proof of your identity, there is no official procedures to lock it in case it is lost or stolen. It is important to report the loss or theft of your driver license to the police immediately, even though it is no required, as there always are possibilities of misuse of it by strangers.
Lock and replace bank card or e-money
Credit card, bank card
If your credit card or bank card is lost or stolen, you need to contact your financial institute immediately to lock it, then visit their branch office to replace it. Some banks accept applications for replacement of bank card or credit card online. You are required to provide a certificate of lost property or a theft report certificate to your financial institute to have refund for any stolen money from your lost card.
Pasmo, Suica or other e-money
If your named Pasmo or Suica or commuter pass is lost or stolen, it can be re-issued at a railway station or bus company branch office within the area. Procedures to replace your Pasmo or Suica are as follows.
- Submit the application form at a railway station or bus company office to lock your lost or stolen Pasmo/Suica
- Receive a numbered ticket for replacement of your Pasmo/Suica (Present your ID)
- Hand in the ticket at the same station or bus company office, present your ID and pay 1,010yen for deposit and replacement fee
- Receive a replacement card
※Any funds remaining in the lost or stolen card at the time of locking it will be transferred to your replacement card. Blank Pasmo or Suica cannot be replaced.
Lost wallet? Immediate action required
There is no question that your wallet is important for your everyday life as you have your ID, cash or credit card in it. If you lose it or have it stolen, that will very much affect your everyday life. You may have heard nice little episodes that someone had lost his wallet but got it back untouched or similar things. In fact, many people seem to take Japan for an extremely safe country. Such episodes are not all false rumors, but remember, you are quite lucky if you can get your lost item back even in Japan. It is important to report the police and inquire the places you visited immediately after your wallet is lost or stolen to minimize possible detriments.
