Procedures › Foreign residents
My wardsSwitching foreign registration certificates to the new cards
Overview
Explains how foreign residents who still hold a foreign registration certificate switch to a residence card or a special permanent resident certificate. The certificates of mid- to long-term residents expired in 2015. Mid- to long-term residents should apply for a residence card at the nearest regional immigration bureau or one of its branches, as soon as possible. Special permanent residents apply at one of the ten reception counters in the ward. If the deadline has passed, act as soon as possible. Details are given by the Residents Register and Family Register Section.
Why you need to act
Since the law change of 9 July 2012, the foreign registration certificate has been replaced by the residence card and the special permanent resident certificate. The deadline for switching depends on your residence status and on when you last renewed or switched. Many people had a deadline three years after the change, in 2015.
If the switching deadline has passed, complete the procedure as soon as possible.
Mid- to long-term residents, including permanent residents
All foreign registration certificates held by mid- to long-term residents, including permanent residents, expired in 2015. If you do not yet have a residence card, go as soon as possible to the nearest regional immigration bureau, branch or branch office and apply for one. Details are on the immigration bureau website.
The airport branch and the airport office are not included.
Special permanent residents
A foreign registration certificate has expired if the start of its next switching period was on or before the expiry day in 2015, or if the holder turned 16 on or before that day. If you do not have a special permanent resident certificate and your certificate has expired in this way, apply at one of the ten reception counters in the ward as soon as possible. The procedures for special permanent residents are described in a separate guide.
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Other guides in this topic
Foreign residentsHow foreign residents are registeredGuide Foreign residentsResidence card proceduresGuide Foreign residentsSpecial permanent resident proceduresGuideHow to apply
- Mid- to long-term residents: go as soon as possible to the nearest regional immigration bureau, branch or branch office, except the airport branch and airport office, and apply for a residence card.
- Special permanent residents: go as soon as possible to one of the ten reception counters in the ward and apply for a special permanent resident certificate.
Where
Regional immigration bureau for mid- to long-term residents; one of the ten reception counters in the ward for special permanent residents
Contact
Residents Register and Family Register Section, 03-5432-2236; Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, 0570-034259 (from IP phones and overseas, 03-5796-7234)
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