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Moving to Japan for study or work? Residents who stay in Japan for 3month or longer are recognized as mid-to-long term residents in Japan. Unlike temporary visitors who come to Japan on holiday or business, they are required to meet many obligations such as enrollment in Japanese social security system or issue of residence cards. Most of applications related to the social system need to be completed as soon as you arrive in Japan as they have due dates. This column will revise things you need to prepare before coming to Japan for long term stay that have introduced in this web.
Learn about residence card, moving-in notification and Individual Number
The first things mid-to-long term residents need to do in Japan are getting a residence card, lodging a moving-in notification for resident registration and getting Individual Number. Remember these applications as a set of transactions as they are relevant to each other. Firstly, residents who flew in Natira, Haneda, Kansai or Chubu airport can have their residence cards at the time of immigration inspection. Secondly, they need to file a moving-in notification at a local government office once their residential address is confirmed. People who entered Japan by any port other than the previously mentioned four airports will receive their residence cards by post about 10 days after lodging moving-in notifications. Lastly, Individual Number will be issued once residence registration is filed and a notification card will be sent to the registered address a few days later.
Residency card: the Residency Management System in Japan
Notify when newly arrived in Japan or moved house: Moving-in & Change of address notification
Attention registered residents, the Individual Number system has been newly introduced
Learn about Japanese social security system
Residents who reside in Japan for 3 months or longer are required to enroll in Japanese pension system and Health Insurance system. Type of pension and health insurance system you are to enroll vary depending on your status of residence. If you are employed by a company or other entity, your employer will make all necessary applications on behalf of you. But if you are not employed by anyone, for example a student or self-employed person, you need to visit the municipal office in your area to enroll yourself to National Pension system and National Health Insurance system. In addition, special postponement of payment is available for international students depending on the period of study. It is recommended to research transactions and applications relating to Japanese social security system before going to Japan.
The National Pension System: Participation is mandatory for all registered residents
Studying in Japan for over a year? Apply for Special Payment System for Students
Attention, short term students: contribution postponement system of NPS
Praised by the WHO! The Japanese National Health Insurance
Certificate of Coverage
As a general rule, all mid-to-long term residents must enroll in Japanese social security system regardless their nationalities. However, they may be exempt from this obligation by obtaining a Certificate of Coverage if they are temporarily transferred employee or self-employed person from one of the Social Security Agreement countries, and their expected period of stay is less than 5 years. Currently, Japan has concluded the Social Security Agreement with 15 countries in order to prevent dual obligation in two countries. A Certificate of Coverage is issued by a social security authority of each country.
Lean how to transfer funds to Japan or open bank account
If you intend to stay in Japan for a long term, having a bank account of Japanese bank is a good choice as living on just your credit card and small cash may not be practical. In fact, you can easily make payments, receive your salary or transfer funds from overseas if you have Japanese bank account. Just research how to open a new bank account in Japan before going to Japan. Most importantly, you need a private seal called inkan instead of your signature in Japan. Make sure to learn how to get an inkan as well.
Guidance for foreigner to open a bank account in Japan
The Indispensable Inkan: A guide to the Japanese seal
Still paying bank fees? Learn about innovative money transfer service TransferWise
Well prepared means no worries
Compare to short term sightseeing trip, there are many more things to learn or prepare when you go to Japan to live for a long time. Furthermore, mid-to-long tem residents are required to make many applications after arriving in Japan. Applications relating to residence registry and Japanese social security system, among other things, are the most important obligations for all residents. Overlooking these applications may cause significant problems during your stay in Japan. It is important to learn about necessary procedures in prior.
