Things to do after arriving in Japan ①: 2 things to do after getting off the airplane｜Recruitment of Resident Card + Part-time Job Permit (Procedure and Notes)

Highlights of this article

• 5 Things to Do Immediately After Arriving in Japan
• How to Obtain a Resident Card and Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence (Part-time Job) at the Airport
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Guided Reading and Reading Suggestions

This article is suitable for international students or exchange students who have just arrived in Japan. The goal of this article is to allow you to complete the most important administrative and living matters in the "first 1-14 days after arriving in Japan", so as to avoid unnecessary administrative troubles in the future.

It is recommended that you follow the Quick List first, then go back and read the details and FAQ.

5 Things to Do Upon Arrival (Quick Checklist)

After a three and a half hour flight, I finally arrived in my dream country of Japan, ready to start my life as an exchange student. As an exchange student, there were five things I had to do immediately after arriving in Japan:

1. Obtain a Residence Card and check if the venue has a "Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Qualification" registration.(Especially important for those who need part-time jobs)
2. Addressing communication needs at the airport first: Buy a short-term SIM or rent a mobile Wi-Fi (keep in touch first), and ask a junior teacher in the RL to take you along.
3. Determination and registration of domicile(Go to the city office within 14 days to register as a resident or declare your address.)
4. Prepare the bank account opening documents and open the account as soon as possible.(Many day-to-day transactions require a bank account).
5. Purchase an official cell phone number or contract SIM(Resident card and proof of address are required).

• Suggested orderAt the airport, you will need to process your resident card and short-term internet connection → Arrive at your residence and confirm your address information → Register your address at the city office within 14 days → Bank and cell phone number (you will need your resident card and proof of your address).

In this post, I'm going to share every step of the process that I've personally experienced in the hope that it will help those who are going to Japan to complete these important procedures smoothly.

How to Obtain a Resident Card and Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Airport (Part-Time Job)

When you get off the airplane, you will walk through the long passageway and see the crowded customs. Instead of rushing through the customs, you are advised to fill out an "Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence" at a table near the queue, and at the same time, you will be able to obtain a part-time job when you pick up your Resident Card. The following is a brief introduction to the "Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other than that Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted" and the "Resident Card".

What is an "Extra-qualified Activity Permit"?

The Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Outside the Scope of Eligibility is a Japanese application that allows foreigners with certain visas to engage in other activities outside the scope of their visa. This is usually applicable to foreign students wishing to engage in part-time work or work visa holders wishing to engage in other activities. The application requires detailed information about the activities, their timing and how they will affect the main visa activity to ensure that they do not violate Japanese immigration regulations (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19, Section 2). Detailed information is provided below:

• Definition: The Immigration Bureau permits holders of certain status of residence to engage in part-time work in Japan that is not part of the activity for which the visa was issued (e.g., part-time jobs for international students).
• Common rules: General maximum of 28 hours per week; longer school vacations (summer vacation, etc.) can be applied for (usually up to 8 hours per day, depending on the admission notice).

What is a "Resident Card"?

A resident card is a card of stay in Japan that is issued to mid- to long-term residents after they have obtained permission to enter Japan, permission to change their status of residence, and permission to renew their period of stay, all of which are related to their stay in Japan. The resident card has a chip embedded in it that prevents counterfeiting, and all or part of the information on the face of the card is recorded in the chip.

Introduced in the previous postUse the COE to exchange for a long-term visa to Japan, which is used to exchange for a resident card when entering the country.The immigration officer will stamp the passport of the holder of the medium- or long-term visa with the entry permit. Therefore, upon arrival at the airport, customs officers will stamp the passports of mid- to long-term visa holders with an entry authorization stamp, and at the same time issue a Japanese resident card to those who are eligible.

Points to note when declaring your resident card and address (must read)

• Name PerformanceBasically, the name of the passport is the same as the romanization on the Resident Card, but if you need to add Chinese characters, you need to go to the Immigration Bureau to apply for a new card. If you want to change the name of your passport, you need to go to the Immigration Bureau to apply again. If you want to change the name of your passport, you need to pay 1,600 yen to change the name of your card. For more information, please seeImmigration BureauThe
• Always carry it with you: Once you have obtained your Resident Card, it will be your proof of identity in Japan, and is an important document that is indispensable for opening an account, applying for a cell phone, and so on. Please make sure to carry it with you, otherwise you may be sentenced to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 200,000 yen. For more information, please seeQ&A on the Immigration Bureau's websiteThe
• Reporting to the city officeIf you do not decide on your place of residence at the beginning of your stay, it will appear as "undecided" on your resident card. Therefore, you should decide on your place of residence as soon as possible after your arrival and report to the city office within 14 days of your decision. Failure to report to the city office within 14 days of your decision may result in a fine or revocation of your status of residence (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Article 19, Section 9, Paragraph 1). For example, if you do not report to the city office within 14 days of your decision to reside there, you may be fined up to 200,000 yen, and if you do not report your place of residence after 90 days of your arrival, your status of residence may be revoked. Please seeQ&A on the Immigration Bureau's websiteThe
• Note on Temporary Re-entryHowever, if you need to return to Taiwan, you should fill out the "Re-entry Permit" form and check the "Re-entry Permit" box before going through the customs before leaving Japan.If you are going abroad for a short period of time, you are expected to re-enter the country."In order to maintain your status of residence, you will be considered as not coming to Japan anymore, and your resident card will be punched out and your status of residence will be revoked.

Airport Application Steps (Practical Process)

1. Upon arrival at Immigration, look for the Immigration Control or service counters near the Immigration Department to obtain and fill in the following information Application for Permission to Engage in Extra-qualified Activities(Many major airports have paper copies).
   • Apply before crossing the Customs: The application form at the airport is simple and gives you instant results, just fill in the information below:
     • Nationality
     • Given Name
     • birthdays
     • gender
   • ifApply after crossing the customs: It is necessary to go to the local immigration office of your place of residence, and more information is needed.Immigration Bureau(Supplementary: Online application is now open. (Addendum: Online application is now open, please refer toImmigration Bureau)
2. Submit the completed application form, passport and the entry stamp on the visa to the immigration/customs officer.
3. If the authorization is granted on the spot, the Immigration Bureau will write down the permission to engage in an activity other than that permitted by the qualification on the Resident Card or related documents you receive; if the authorization is not granted, you will be instructed to apply for a replacement at the Regional Immigration Bureau in your place of residence.
4. If you arrive at a smaller airport, the immigration office may not issue your resident card on the spot, but will stamp your passport with an entry stamp and note "resident card will be issued later". In this case, you will need to register your address when you arrive at your place of residence, and the immigration office or municipality will mail your resident card to the address you have provided.

Which airports issue stay cards on the spot?

Below are the airports where you can issue a Reservation Card:

• Hokkaido: New Chitose Airport
• Kanto: Narita Airport, Haneda Airport
• Central: Central Airport
• Kansai: Kansai Airport
• China: Hiroshima Airport
• Kyushu: Fukuoka Airport

At other airports, an entry permit is stamped on the passport, and a note is placed near it stating that "the resident card will be issued at a later date". In this case, mid- to long-term residents are required to report their address at the municipal office before receiving their resident card (as a rule, it is mailed to their address by the local immigration office).

Personal Experience

If you present your passport with a mid- to long-term visa affixed to it together with the application for permission to engage in unauthorized activities, you will receive a resident card with an unauthorized activity permit stamped on the back.

After obtaining my resident card, I finally walked to the airport lobby with a sense of relief, ready to take on the next challenge.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Readers

Related Resources

• Application for Permission to Engage in Extra-qualified Activities
• "On Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted by the Status of Residence of "College Student
• Is the "Stay Card" a child's card?

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