Visa Q&A February 5, 2002

VISA Q and A on FM COCOLO 76.5 MHz
Alien Registration
On Aired Data: February 5, 2002

Summary of the
Aired Program

Case:
While staying under the Tourist visa, he succeeded in obtaining the Eligibility to change to a working visa.
With the Eligibility, he changed from a temporary visa to a working visa. The immigrations told him to visit the city hall for Alien Registration.
He would like to know what he has to do.

According to Article 1 of the Alien Registration Law, all foreigners must register, except for those under the official and diplomat status. Those involved in the U.S. military do not have to register either. This procedure is necessary for the municipal office to keep track of the individuals going in and out of the country, as well as other administrative work, such as labor, education, and welfare concerning the foreigner.

Under Article 3 of the Alien Registration Law, those staying under the 90-day tourist visa must register as well. But those who are planning to leave within 90 days don't have to register. Although, those who wish to, can.

Newborns of foreign nationality who were born in Japan and those who obtain a foreign nationality in Japan must register within 60 days (Article 3).

You can register at your local municipal office, which would be the city hall, or the Ward Office for those living in Tokyo, Osaka-city, Kyoto-city, or Kobe. The registration form is available at the municipal office. For those of you in Osaka city, you will need a 4.5cm x 3.5cm photograph. The information you will need to fill in are; the registration number, date of registration, name, birth date, sex, nationality, your home address in your country, country of birth, occupation, passport number, issuing date of the passport, the date of approval of landing, status of residence, period of stay, residence in Japan, the head of the household of stay, relationship to the head of the household, name of your employer and the address of the company (Article 4).

If you decide to move, or you application for a change of status is approved, you must register also. For those who have moved, you can register at the local municipal office near your new address. (Article 8)

Should you chose to change jobs or work for a different company which concerns changing your status, or period of stay you must also report to the municipal office within 14 days after the change has occurred. (Article 9)

In any of these cases, when you visit the municipal office for a change in your registration, don' t forget to bring your passport with you.

The applicant must appear in person for the register, receipt, and signatures necessary. In cases where the applicant is under the age of 16, or cannot report to the office for illness or any other kind of physical conditions, the spouse, or a child that is 16 years or older, the father or mother or any other relative may register for the applicant, as long as the representative is living with the applicant (second paragraph of Article 15).

A relative 16 years or older who is living with the applicant may receive the registration card as a representative of the applicant, only when it is an application for change in the registration.

After the registration you will receive an Alien Registration Card. This card is used for identification, and one who possesses it is obliged to have it with him/her at all times (Article 13). While you are in the city, a policeman may come up to you and ask for your card. If you do not have it, you will be violating the law and may be fined for 200,000yen at the most (Number 4, Paragraph 2 of Article 18. Those under the special permanent residency will be fined for 100,000yen or less).

On the other hand, those who do not possess an Alien Registration Card must have their passport with them at all times.

The conditions may sound strict, compared to the Japanese nationals, but it is the same in most countries around the world. Some countries issue identification cards for foreigners. In countries where they don't, they have the foreigners carry their passport with them at all times.