在留カード Validity Renewal and Notifications: Moving, Name Changes, Loss and the 特定在留カード

The 「在留カード」 (residence card) is the basic identity document for mid- to long-term residents in Japan. Apart from being replaced with a new card when you extend your period of stay or change your status of residence, the card itself has a validity period, and moving, changing your name or losing the card each comes with an obligation to file a 届出 (notification) or an application, most of them with a deadline of "within 14 days". Based on the official pages of the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency of Japan), this article sets out these procedures and explains the 「特定在留カード」 (a residence card integrated with the マイナンバーカード (My Number Card)), in operation since June 14, 2026. It is intended for all Chinese residents of Japan who hold a residence card, especially 永住者 (Permanent Residents) and families with children.

Key points

• For mid- to long-term residents whose period of stay has an expiry date, the residence card is valid until the expiry date of the period of stay; cards for Permanent Residents and 高度専門職2号 (Highly Skilled Professional (ii)) (issued on or after June 14, 2026) are valid until the 10th birthday after the date of issue (the 5th birthday for Permanent Residents under 18 at the time of issue).
• Permanent Residents (aged 16 or over) and Highly Skilled Professional (ii) holders can file the 「在留カードの有効期間の更新申請」 (application to renew the validity period of the residence card) from 3 months before the card expires; there is no fee, and in principle the card is issued on the same day.
• After moving, you must file the 住居地の届出 (notification of place of residence) at the 市区町村 (municipal office) within 14 days of the date you move into your new residence; if you bring your residence card and complete resident registration procedures such as the moving-in notification, this notification is deemed to have been filed.
• A change of name, date of birth, sex, or nationality/region must be notified to immigration within 14 days of the change; if you lose your residence card, you must apply for reissue within 14 days of becoming aware of the loss. Both are free of charge.
• The 「特定在留カード」 has been in operation since June 14, 2026; obtaining it is optional, and you can apply for it together with a procedure that involves the issuance of a residence card, but online applications are not accepted.

Validity period of the 在留カード

According to the 出入国在留管理庁's Q&A (Q14) and its explanatory page on the 特定在留カード:

Situation	Validity period
Mid- to long-term residents whose period of stay has an expiry date	Until the expiry date of the period of stay
Permanent Residents (aged 18 or over at the time of issue), Highly Skilled Professional (ii)	Until the 10th birthday after the date of issue (for renewals, after the expiry date of the card held at the time of application)
Permanent Residents (under 18 at the time of issue)	Until the 5th birthday after the date of issue

These rules apply to cards issued on or after June 14, 2026. For cards issued on or before June 13, 2026:

• for Permanent Residents under 16, the card expires on their 16th birthday or the day before, and they must apply for renewal before then;
• for other mid- to long-term residents under 16, the card expires on whichever is earlier of "the expiry date of the period of stay" and "the 16th birthday (or the day before)"; if the 16th birthday comes first, they must apply for renewal before it.

Cards issued before the amended law took effect remain valid until their expiry date, and there is no need to replace them specifically with the new design. Please refer to what is printed on your own card and to the official explanations.

在留カードの有効期間の更新申請

Who: mid- to long-term residents with 永住者 or 高度専門職2号 status; and mid- to long-term residents whose residence card (only cards issued on or before June 13, 2026) expires on their 16th birthday or the day before.

Application period:

• Permanent Residents (aged 16 or over only) and Highly Skilled Professional (ii): from 3 months before the expiry date of the current residence card until the expiry date;
• Those whose card expires on their 16th birthday (or the day before): from 6 months before that date until the expiry date;
• If there are unavoidable reasons, such as an extended trip abroad, you may also apply before the above periods.

Documents: 在留カード有効期間更新申請書 (application form for renewal of the residence card's validity period), 1 photo (meeting the specified requirements), passport (or 在留資格証明書 (certificate of status of residence); if you cannot present it, attach a written statement of reasons), and your current residence card. If an agent or application intermediary files on your behalf, proof of relationship, a letter of authorization, etc. are also required; documents such as the 住民票 (certificate of residence) must be originals issued within the last 3 months. If you apply after the application period has passed, attach a document stating the reasons.

Fee: none.

Where: the 地方出入国在留管理官署 (regional immigration services bureau) with jurisdiction over your place of residence; reception hours are generally 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00 on weekdays.

Processing time: in principle, the card is issued on the same day.

People whose period of stay has an expiry date (for example, 技人国 (技術・人文知識・国際業務, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) or 家族滞在 (Dependent) holders) receive a new residence card when their 「在留期間更新許可申請」 (application for extension of period of stay) is approved, and generally do not file this renewal separately. The official Q&A also notes that failing to apply for renewal of the validity period within the period may result in imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 200,000 yen.

Notification of place of residence after moving

• Deadline: within 14 days of the date you move into your new residence.
• Where: the counter of the municipal office for your new residence (during the municipal office's opening hours).
• Documents: the notification form and your residence card.
• Fee: free.
• Relationship to resident registration: if you bring your residence card and file a notification under the 住民基本台帳法 (Basic Resident Registration Act) at the municipal office (such as the 転入届 (moving-in notification)), the notification of place of residence is deemed to have been filed, and you do not need to submit a separate notification form.
• Agents: if you are under 16 or cannot go because of illness, a relative aged 16 or over who lives with you files it for you; it can also be filed by a relative living with you whom you have asked to do so, or by a legal representative, with supporting documents such as a medical certificate or letter of authorization.

If only your address changes, you do not receive a new card; instead, the new address is written on your card. The official Q&A (Q83, Q88) explains that failing to notify within 14 days may result in a fine of up to 200,000 yen, and that failing to notify your place of residence without a legitimate reason, or filing a false notification, may also make you subject to revocation of your status of residence.

Changes to details other than place of residence

• Who: mid- to long-term residents whose name, date of birth, sex, or nationality/region has changed (for example, a change of surname upon marriage).
• Deadline: within 14 days of the change.
• Where: the regional immigration services bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence (not the municipal office).
• Documents: notification form; 1 photo (not required for those under 1 year old on the date of issue; for cards issued on or after June 14, 2026, a photo is required from age 1); documents proving the change (for example, a passport showing the new name and a marriage certificate); passport (or 在留資格証明書) and your current residence card.
• Fee: free; in principle, the new card is issued on the same day. If you file late, attach a written statement of reasons.

Reissue after loss or theft

• Deadline: within 14 days of the date you became aware of the loss or other event; if you became aware of it abroad, within 14 days of the date you next enter Japan.
• Where: the regional immigration services bureau with jurisdiction over your place of residence.
• Documents: 在留カード再交付申請書 (application form for reissue of the residence card); 1 photo (same rules as above); documents proving that you no longer have the card — for loss or theft, a written statement (you must have reported it to the police and obtained a report receipt number, and you may be asked to submit a lost property report certificate, etc.), and for disasters, a disaster victim certificate (罹災証明書) or similar; passport (or 在留資格証明書); and, if you hold permission to engage in activities other than those permitted (資格外活動許可), the permission document.
• Fee: free; in principle, the card is issued on the same day.
• The official Q&A explains that, for reissue after loss, you cannot apply for or receive the card by mail, but you can ask relatives or others specified by ministerial ordinance to handle it; failing to apply within the deadline may result in imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 200,000 yen.

If the card is damaged or soiled, or if you wish to replace it, there are separate procedures, 「汚損等による在留カードの再交付申請」 (reissue due to damage, etc.) and 「交換希望による在留カードの再交付申請」 (reissue at the holder's request), with different conditions and fees; please see the relevant pages.

特定在留カード (integrated with the マイナンバーカード)

The 「特定在留カード」 is a residence card with the functions of a My Number Card, and mid- to long-term residents who are recorded in the 住民基本台帳 (Basic Resident Register) can apply for it. Key points from the official page:

• Start date: in operation from June 14, 2026; regional immigration services bureaus accept applications from June 15.
• Optional: you may continue to hold the residence card and the My Number Card as two separate cards.
• When to apply: you must apply at the same time as a procedure that involves the issuance of a residence card, such as permission for extension of period of stay, permission for change of status of residence, permanent residence permission, notification of changes to card details, renewal of the validity period, or notification of place of residence; at the municipal office, you can apply together with a notification of place of residence such as a moving-in notification. Online applications are not accepted, and you cannot apply together with procedures handled through the 在留申請オンラインシステム (online residence application system).
• Fees: for a first issuance on or after June 14, 2026, in principle no fee is required; where a fee is required, the immigration portion is 1,900 yen (paid with 収入印紙 (revenue stamps)) and the J-LIS portion is 600 yen for counter applications (800 yen if an electronic certificate is issued).
• Validity period: the My Number Card functions are valid until the original expiry date of the period of stay.
• Notes: issuance takes about 10 days longer than for a regular residence card, and same-day issuance is not possible; after you apply, the electronic certificate on your existing My Number Card becomes invalid about 1 week before the new card is issued, which may affect use of the マイナ保険証 (My Number Card as health insurance card) and similar services; information on a マイナ免許証 (My Number Card as driver's license) is not transferred automatically; if you wish to keep holding a 特定在留カード, you must apply again every time you go through a procedure that involves replacing the card; and if, for example, you move during the review, you may be issued a regular residence card instead. The obligation to carry the card at all times still applies.

Timeline

1. Moving: within 14 days of moving into your new address, bring your residence card to the municipal office and complete the moving-in and related procedures.
2. Change of name, nationality, etc.: notify immigration within 14 days of the change.
3. Loss or theft: first report it to the police, then apply to immigration for reissue within 14 days of becoming aware of it.
4. Permanent Residents and Highly Skilled Professional (ii): apply for renewal of the validity period within the 3 months before the card expires.
5. Children under 16 whose cards were issued on or before June 13, 2026: apply for renewal from 6 months before their 16th birthday.
6. If you want a 特定在留カード: apply for it together with your next procedure that replaces the card, such as an extension, a change of status or a move.

Common misconceptions

• "A Permanent Resident's residence card has no expiry date": The Permanent Resident status of residence has no time limit, but the residence card itself has a validity period, and you must apply for renewal on time.
• "After moving, I also have to report my address to immigration": The notification of place of residence is filed at the municipal office, and filing a moving-in notification with your residence card counts as completing it; changes to other details, such as your name, must be filed with immigration.
• "From June 2026, everyone must switch to the 特定在留カード": Obtaining it is optional, and existing cards remain valid until their expiry date.
• "If I have my passport, I don't need to carry my residence card": The official Q&A makes clear that carrying a passport does not exempt you from the obligation to carry your residence card at all times (except for those under 16).