Juminhyo for Foreigners: How to Get It, What It Means | MyKyoten

As of January 2026, the juminhyo system got messier. Why? Because the Residence Card (在留カード) now includes your My Number, residence status, and health insurance info all in one card. So you'd think you'd need the juminhyo less often, right?

Wrong. Employers, banks, and immigration still ask for it constantly because the juminhyo is the official city hall-certified proof that you live where you say you live. Your Residence Card (在留カード) proves your identity, but the juminhyo proves your current address and household composition. They're different things.

The catch is: Most places don't tell you which version of the juminhyo they need until you show up with the wrong one and they send you back to city hall.

✅ My Number included (for tax withholding and social insurance enrollment)

✅ Nationality and visa status included (to verify you're legally allowed to work)

❌ Previous address - not needed unless you're claiming a housing allowance that depends on your old commute distance (rare)

The vibe: HR will email you something like "Please submit a juminhyo with My Number." They assume you know to include nationality/visa status too, but they often don't say it explicitly. If you show up with just My Number and they reject it, you're making a second trip to city hall.

Basically, always include both for employers. It costs the same ¥300 either way.

✅ Nationality and visa status included (they need to verify you're a legal resident, not a tourist)

❌ My Number - banks used to require this pre-2026, but now most just verify your My Number through your Residence Card (在留カード) instead

The catch is: Some older bank branches (especially regional banks like Chiba Kōgyō or Yokohama Bank) still ask for the My Number version out of habit, even though they don't legally need it anymore. If the teller says "We need My Number on the juminhyo," just hand them your Residence Card (在留カード) and say "My Number wa kādo ni arimasu" (My Number is on the card). Most will accept it.

Real estate agencies are stricter-they always want nationality/visa status included because landlords are paranoid about renting to people whose visas might expire mid-lease.

[WARNING BOX] If you request a juminhyo with My Number included and then lose it or leave it lying around, you've just exposed your government ID number to the world. My Number-included juminhyo should be handed directly to HR or stored in a locked drawer. Don't email it. Don't upload it to Dropbox. Treat it like your passport.

✅ Full household members listed (they need to see who lives with the child/student)

✅ Nationality included (for visa verification)

❌ My Number - schools rarely need this unless they're processing scholarship applications

If you're applying for subsidized school lunch or reduced tuition, they might ask for My Number to verify household income. But that's uncommon. Start with the basic household version.

Reality check: "The juminhyo system is designed to make you guess which checkboxes you need, fail, and then come back-thereby justifying the existence of two city hall clerks instead of one."

City halls charge ¥300 per juminhyo copy. Some people panic and order 3-5 copies with different checkbox combinations "to be safe." Don't.

Here's the hack: Ask the requester exactly what they need before you go to city hall. Email HR, the bank, or the school and say: "Do you need My Number included? Do you need nationality/visa status included?" Most will reply with specifics.

This version works for 80% of requests and saves you from ordering the wrong thing.

Also: Some city halls now have self-service kiosks where you can print juminhyo using your Residence Card (在留カード). These cost ¥200 instead of ¥300 and are open 6 AM–11 PM (vs. 8:30 AM–5 PM for the clerk counter). If your ward has one, use it.

What If the Clerk Refuses to Include My Number?

This happens occasionally. Some clerks get nervous about printing My Number-included juminhyo because of privacy laws. They'll ask you to fill out a separate form explaining why you need it.

The magic phrase: "Shūshoku no tame" (就職のため) - "For employment." This is the legally approved reason that never gets questioned. Write it in the "reason for request" field and the clerk will process it immediately.

If they still hesitate, point to the form field and say "Koko ni kaite mo ii desu ka?" (Can I write it here?). That usually unsticks things.

If you're renewing your visa or changing your residence status, immigration sometimes asks for a juminhyo as proof you've been living at your registered address. They need:

✅ Nationality and visa status included

✅ Previous address included (to show your address history)

✅ Residence Card (在留カード) (required for ID verification)

✅ ¥300-600 cash (most city halls don't take cards)

✅ The requester's exact instructions (screenshot the email on your phone)

✅ A pen (forms are still paper)

2026 Reality Check: What Changed With the Residence Card (在留カード)

The Checkbox Form at City Hall (The Human Version)

When you request a juminhyo at city hall, the clerk hands you a paper form with these checkboxes (exact wording varies by ward, but the concepts are the same):

Reason for request (使用目的) - this is a fill-in-the-blank

If you're submitting a juminhyo for a new job, your HR department needs:

For opening a bank account or renting an apartment:

For enrolling kids in public school or applying to university:

The juminhyo system is designed to make you guess which checkboxes you need, fail, and then come back-thereby justifying the existence of two city hall clerks instead of one.

Do you need My Number included? Do you need nationality/visa status included?

If they don't know (which happens), default to this safe all-purpose version:

Edge Case: What If I Need One for Immigration?

❌ My Number - immigration already has your My Number in their system

Request a copy that covers the past 3-6 months if possible (some wards can show your residential history). If your ward doesn't offer this, a current-address-only version is fine-just bring old utility bills as backup proof.

Your Action Checklist (Before Going to City Hall)

Juminhyo request form with highlighted checkboxes

Form annotation - Juminhyo request form with highlighted checkboxes

A juminhyo is your official resident record issued by your local city or ward office. It certifies your current registered address and household composition. It is commonly required by employers, banks, landlords, and immigration.

What checkboxes should I select when requesting a juminhyo?

For employment, select My Number and nationality and visa status. For bank accounts and apartment applications, select nationality and visa status. For immigration purposes, select nationality and visa status plus previous address. The basic version without extras is rarely sufficient for official purposes.

A juminhyo costs 300 yen at the city hall counter. Some city halls have self-service kiosks where you can print one using your residence card for 200 yen. Additional checkbox selections do not cost extra.

Do I need a juminhyo with My Number included?

For new employment, yes. Your employer needs My Number for tax withholding and social insurance enrollment. For most other purposes including bank accounts, you can use your residence card to verify your My Number instead.

There is no official expiry date on a juminhyo but most institutions require one issued within the past 3 months. Always check with the requesting party how recent the document must be before going to city hall.