Changes to Alien Registration Cards

Sometime between January and July next year, new immigration procedures will come into effect.  In many ways, these changes are beneficial, but be warned as there are some strict penalties if you should fail to comply.

Under current law, you must register as an alien with your local ward office, or — if you live in a city without wards, such as Ashiya or Nishinomiya — at your local city hall, within 90 days of setting foot in Japan.

Immigration controls are being centralized, and Alien Registration Cards will soon be replaced by a new “Residence Card” issued by the Immigration Bureau.  Residence Cards will be issued to foreign nationals who are staying in Japan for more than three months and not on Diplomatic or Official visas.

As is currently the case, your name, date of birth, sex, status of residence, and the existence or absence of a working permit will be included on the Residence Card, along with a photograph.  Moulded into card will be an IC chip containing all your important information (e.g., place of birth, passport number, etc.), as well as data about family and dependents, if any.

No longer will you have a visa stamp in your passport.  Better yet – no more trips to the Immigration office in Kobe for re-entry visas!

With the new card and a valid passport, you will be basically free to leave and re-enter the country as many times as you like until your Residence Card expires (increased to five years, rather than three). The exception is if you will leave Japan and plan to re-enter after more than one year, in which case you will need to obtain re-entry visa.  However, the maximum validity for that re-entry permit is extended from three to five years.

Although you don’t have to replace a valid Alien Registration Card until it expires, there is a huge advantage to replacing it once the new procedures come into effect. (charge applies)

You’ll still need to visit your local Ward office within 90 days of arrival or within 14 days of any change in address, but any other changes will need to be reported to the Immigration Bureau.  Lost cards need to be reported to the Immigration Bureau within the same time period.

Another change coming is that visa renewal applications can be filed up to three months in advance of expiration, and if you apply in timely fashion, you can stay beyond expiration until the sooner of two months or the date of approval, and can even leave and return to Japan once during that time.

Failure to do so within the time limits will automatically attract a 200,000 yen fine.  In some cases, visas may be revoked. In other words, no excuses. Do not forget.

For those fluent in legalese, here’s the detailed FAQ in English: www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/newimmiact/koumoku1_english.html

Finally, a reminder.  One of the most awkward and inconvenient problems we face is being asked by the police for your Alien Registration Card and not having it with you. The requirement to have this ID on you at all times will not change with the new Residence Card. There is a real chance that you may be spending the next several hours at the police station while someone fetches your Alien Registration Card from home.

Don’t attempt to argue your way out of this one. Humility goes a long way in resolving such problems. The law is clear, and arguing or getting mad will definitely create further problems for you, such as being forced to appear at that particular police station (no matter how far from home) at a certain time on a certain day, for several weeks.