After entry into Japan
Procedures required immediately after entering Japan：
1. Procedures at your local city hall (or ward office)
3. Procedures for receiving utility services (electricity, gas, and water)
1. Procedures at your local city hall (or ward office)
Complete the following steps (1) to (3) at the city hall (or ward office) in your residence.
Make sure to bring the following to the city hall (or ward office):
- Passport
- Residence Card
- Student ID card
- Document showing your residential address
(1) Registering yourself as a resident
Make sure to register yourself as a resident at your local city hall (or ward office) in your residence within 14 days after entering Japan and arriving at your place of residence.
After registration as a resident, your address will be written on the back of your Residence Card.
My Number Card（Individual Number Card）:
My Number (Individual Number) is a 12-digit number assigned to everyone who has a certificate of residence (jumin-hyo) in Japan.
*This is different from your Residence Card Number.
My Number Card is a plastic card with a face photo on it. It can be used as identification, and if you have a My Number Card, you can obtain various certificates, such as a certificate of residence (jumin-hyo), at a convenience store without having to go to the counter of your local city hall.
After completing registration as a resident, you will receive an Individual Number Notice (kojin-bango-tsuchisho) sent to your residential address. If you wish to have a My Number Card issued, fill in the necessary information on the enclosed Individual Number Card Application Form and submit it by mail.
You can also file an application online or at a photo booth in town.
(2) Enrolling in National Health Insurance System (kokumin-kenko-hoken)
The National Health Insurance System is a nationwide system administered by local governments with the aim of reducing the burden of medical expenses based on mutual assistance in which premiums co-paid by subscribers are used to cover medical costs.
All international students staying in Japan for three months or more are required to subscribe to National Health Insurance, including their family members living with them. If you are eligible, apply for National Health Insurance after registration as a resident.
Regarding insurance premiums, there is a system in place that reduces premiums if your income for the previous year is below a certain amount. For detailed information, consult at the counter of your local city hall (or ward office).
If you join National Health Insurance, you will have to pay only 30% of the medical and hospital fees incurred.
♦ Receiving "Eligibility Confirmation Letter" (shikaku-kakunin-sho)
A copy of your insurance enrollment will be issued on the day you have completed the application procedure. Eligibility Confirmation Letter (shikaku-kakunin-sho) will be sent to your residential address by mail (simplified registered mail) at a later date.
You must receive the Letter in person. If a delivery is made when you are not at home and there is a “delivery notice” in your mailbox, make sure to contact the post office to arrange for redelivery so that you can directly receive your Letter.
♦ Using My Number Card as a health insurance card（My Number Insurance Card）
If you have a My Number Card, you can use it as your health insurance card（My Number Health Insurance Card）.
If you wish to obtain a My Number Insurance Card, review the application procedure on the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and complete the application process.
♦ Paying insurance premiums
You will pay an annual insurance premium in 10 installments from June to March of the following year. Once the payment slips have arrived at the place of your residence, make the payments at such a place as a bank, post office, or convenience store.
If you have a bank account, you can also pay the premiums by direct debit. Check the website of your local city hall for details.
◆ Visiting a medical institution
When seeing a doctor at a medical institution, be sure to bring your My Number Card (if you have registered your My Number Card as your health insurance card) or your Eligibility Confirmation Letter (shikaku-kakunin-sho) for National Health Insurance.
If medical expenses become high for reasons such as hospitalization, there is a system in place to receive reimbursement from National Health Insurance as a “High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit” (kogaku-ryoyo-hi). Consult at the counter of the city hall (or ward office) in the area of your residence.
By using medical institution search sites, you can find nearby hospitals that have the medical department you wish to visit.
- Osaka Medical Net for Foreigners (external site)
https://www.mfis.pref.osaka.jp/omfo/fo_toppage.aspx?lang=ja
- Osaka Prefecture Medical Information Net (external site)
https://www.iryou.teikyouseido.mhlw.go.jp/znk-web/juminkanja/S2310/initialize?pref=27
In addition, our university has Healthcare Centers (nurse’s offices) that provide health consultations and first-aid treatment for sudden injuries and illnesses.
https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/campus-life/safety/
(3) Enrolling in National Pension System (kokumin nenkin)
International students aged 20 to 59 who are residing in Japan must enroll in the National Pension System. If you are eligible, apply for the National Pension after completing registration as a resident.
Regarding pension contributions, there is a system in place in which you can have the payment of your contributions deferred or exempted by filing an application if your income for the previous year is below a certain amount. (You must complete this application process every year.) For more information, consult at the counter of your local city hall (or ward office).
A “Basic Pension Number Notice” (kiso-nenkin-bango-tsuchisho) will be sent to the place of your residence at a later date. Be sure to keep it in a safe place.
Japan Pension Service: “Pension Q&A (to non-Japanese people)” (external site)
https://www.nenkin.go.jp/faq/kokunen/nonjapanesepeople/index.html
When you have completed the above procedures at your local city hall (or ward office), register information regarding your address and Residence Card on the student portal (UNIPA).
How to Register Your Residence Card (university website)
2. Opening a bank account (if necessary)
In Japan, banks and other financial institutions provide services such as automatic payment of electricity, gas, and other utility bills and credit card payments, in addition to handling deposits, loans, foreign exchange, and other business operations. To use these services, you must first open a savings account (futsu-yokin-koza).
The terms and conditions, types of accounts that can be opened, and procedures vary depending on the bank. Basically, if you have an address in Japan, you can open an account by filling out a form designated by a bank or other financial institutions. However, there may be cases where services are limited if six months or more have not passed since you entered the country. Contact each bank for details.
3. Procedures for receiving utility services (electricity, gas, and water)
If you need to sign up for utility services by yourself for the room you will occupy, you will need to apply for each service separately.
Generally, you can freely choose companies for your electricity and gas contracts, but depending on the property, the suppliers may be predetermined. First, check with your real estate agency about the suppliers.
Since water is supplied by each city, town, or village, contact the waterworks bureau in the area of your residence.
Charges for public services (utility bills) can be paid at banks and convenience stores, as well as by direct debit or credit cards.