Moving Between Cities Japan: 14-Day Deadline, ¥200,000 Fine | MyKyoten

Last verified: 2026. This guide is based on Immigration Bureau regulations, Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare guidelines, and standard Japanese administrative practice. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or official government sources for case-specific guidance.

What notifications do I actually need to file when moving to a different city?

Moving between cities in Japan triggers a cascade of mandatory notifications. Miss the 14-day deadline and face ¥200,000 in fines.

The catch is that these aren't just suggestions. Each notification connects to different government systems that track your legal status, tax obligations, and visa compliance.

You need to file five separate notifications: - Resident registration (jumin toroku) at your old city hall - Resident registration at your new city hall - Immigration Bureau address change notification - Tax office notification (if you're a business owner or freelancer) - Pension and health insurance updates

Here is the part nobody tells you: the order matters. File them wrong and you create gaps in your legal residence status that immigration tracks during visa renewals.

→ Use the Document Decoder to translate and understand your Japanese administrative documents.

How do I avoid missing the 14-day deadline that everyone talks about?

The 14-day countdown starts the moment you physically move your belongings to the new address. Not when you sign the lease. Not when you get the keys. When you actually move in.

Day 1-3: File the move-out notification (tenshutsu todoke) at your old city hall. You can do this up to 14 days before moving or within 14 days after. Bring your residence card, My Number card, and national health insurance card.

Day 4-7: File the move-in notification (tennyuu todoke) at your new city hall. This must be done within 14 days of moving. Same documents plus the moving certificate (tenshutsu shomeisho) from your old city hall.

Day 8-10: Submit immigration address change notification. Online through the Immigration Services Agency portal or by mail. The Immigration Risk Checker can help you understand how address reporting affects your compliance record.

Day 11-14: Update pension and health insurance. These often happen automatically when you file at city hall, but confirm the transfer completed.

A Canadian software engineer on an Engineer visa moved from Tokyo to Osaka on March 15th. He filed his Tokyo move-out on March 18th but didn't reach Osaka city hall until March 30th. That's one day past the deadline. Result: ¥20,000 fine and a compliance flag that appeared on his visa renewal application six months later.

What are the actual costs for each notification?

Most address change notifications are free, but several hidden costs add up quickly.

Free notifications: - City hall move-out and move-in registrations: ¥0 - Immigration Bureau address change: ¥0 - Health insurance transfer: ¥0

Paid services: - New residence certificate (juminhyo): ¥300 - New seal registration certificate: ¥300 - My Number card address update: ¥0 but requires in-person visit - Certified translation of foreign documents (if needed): ¥3,000-¥8,000

The hidden cost is time off work. Plan for at least three half-days to complete everything properly. Rush jobs lead to mistakes that cost more later.

Late filing penalties scale up fast: - 1-30 days late: Warning or ¥10,000-¥50,000 fine - 31-90 days late: ¥50,000-¥100,000 fine - Over 90 days late: Up to ¥200,000 fine plus immigration compliance issues

What documents do I need and what if I'm missing something?

The basic document set covers most situations, but missing paperwork creates delays that push you past deadlines.

Always required: - Residence card (original) - My Number card or notification card - National health insurance card - Inkan (registered seal) or signature

Additional for families: - Spouse's residence card and insurance card - Children's residence cards and insurance cards - Family register certificate (koseki tohon) if married to a Japanese citizen

Missing My Number card: You can still file with the paper notification card, but get a replacement fast. The plastic card makes future updates much easier.

Lost residence card: File a police report first, then apply for reissue at immigration. This adds 2-3 weeks to your timeline, so start other notifications while waiting.

Honestly, the most common problem is expired documents. Check expiration dates before moving day. An expired health insurance card blocks your registration even if everything else is perfect.

Step-by-Step Checklist: Document Preparation

1. Photograph all cards and certificates before packing 2. Confirm expiration dates on residence card and insurance cards 3. Get certified copies of important documents (¥300 each) 4. Download immigration address change form from ISA website 5. Prepare change-of-address postcards for banks, employers, schools

Do I really need to notify immigration separately from city hall?

Yes. This is where people mess up most often.

City hall and immigration run separate tracking systems. Filing at city hall updates your resident registration but doesn't automatically notify immigration about your address change.

Immigration requires notification within 14 days through their own system. You have three options: - Online through the Immigration Services Agency website - Mail using Form 19 (downloaded from immigration website) - In-person at your regional immigration bureau

The online system works 24/7 and gives immediate confirmation. Mail takes 5-7 business days and offers no delivery confirmation. In-person visits mean long wait times but allow immediate questions.

Warning: Missing this step affects visa renewals. Immigration checks address compliance history during all applications. Clean records help. Compliance gaps hurt your credibility.

For work visa holders, this connects to employment reporting requirements too. Check the address change reporting guide for the complete picture of what immigration tracks.

Comparison Table: Notification Methods

| Method | Time Required | Confirmation | Cost | Best For | |--------|---------------|--------------|------|----------| | Online | 10 minutes | Immediate | ¥0 | Tech-comfortable users | | Mail | 30 minutes prep + postal time | None | ¥84 stamp | Remote locations | | In-person | 2-4 hours including travel | Immediate | Travel costs | Complex cases |

How does this affect my next visa application or permanent residency?

Immigration reviews your compliance history during every application. Address reporting creates a paper trail they use to verify you follow Japanese law consistently.

Clean compliance record benefits: - Faster processing times - Higher approval rates for visa extensions - Stronger permanent residency applications - Reduced document requirements for renewals

Poor compliance record consequences: - Additional document requests - Extended processing times - Higher scrutiny of other aspects (employment, tax payments) - Potential visa renewal denial in extreme cases

This isn't just bureaucratic box-checking. Immigration uses address compliance as a proxy for overall rule-following behavior. A Filipino nurse on a Specified Skilled Worker visa who consistently reports address changes on time demonstrates reliability that immigration values.

The PR Risk Checker includes address compliance as one factor in permanent residency readiness because it matters that much to immigration officers.

Your next step: Download the immigration address change form from the Immigration Services Agency website and complete it within 48 hours of moving, even if you're still handling city hall paperwork.

Can I file address changes before I actually move? Move-out notifications can be filed up to 14 days early. Move-in notifications require you to already live at the new address. Immigration notifications should only be filed after you physically move.

What happens if city halls in different prefectures don't communicate properly? This happens occasionally with computer system delays. Keep your move-out certificate (tenshutsu shomeisho) as proof of proper filing. Most issues resolve within 30 days, but follow up if you don't receive updated documents.

Do I need to notify my employer separately about the address change? Yes, for payroll and tax purposes. Some work visa categories also require employers to report employee address changes to immigration. Check with HR about company-specific requirements beyond your personal notifications.

Navigate address change requirements confidently with the Document Decoder. Upload photos of your city hall forms, insurance cards, or residence certificates to get instant explanations of what each document means and what actions you need to take next.