After You Land

Your First Days in Japan

A short plan for your first day, first 3 days and first 2 weeks in Japan. Get your residence card (the ID card for foreigners living in Japan). Tell the city or ward office your address (the local city office; in big cities it is called the ward office). Join health insurance.

Japan Arrival Timeline

Get your residence card: At big airports you get it at passport control. Check your name, your permission to live in Japan (status of residence) and how long you may stay.
Clear customs: Customs officers check what you bring into Japan.
Get to your home: Travel to where you will live.

Priority
First 24 Hours

Land, get your residence card and reach your home.

Essential Tasks

Passport control: Show your passport with the visa. At big airports you get your residence card here.
Ask for permission to work (optional): At airports that issue cards, you can apply right after landing. Not for MEXT scholarship students.
Customs: Customs check: do not bring meat products, vegetables or fruits into Japan.
Reach your home: Go to where you will live.

Quick Tips

Emergency contacts to save

Police: 110
Ambulance and fire: 119

First day

Keep your passport and residence card with you.
Keep your admission letter and home address handy.
Install the Safety tips app for disaster alerts in English.

First 3 Days: Find Your Way

Get to know your area and your university.

Campus & Administration

International office: Tell them you have arrived and ask what to do next.
Department office: Ask about enrollment and your class timetable.

Local Orientation

Find the city or ward office: You will go there to register your address and join health insurance.
Find a clinic and a pharmacy: Bring your health insurance card once you have it.

First Two Weeks: Get Set Up

You have 14 days by law to register your address. Do the other tasks in the same two weeks.

Official Registration

Moving-in notification: Tell the city or ward office your new address within 14 days of moving into your home. This is called the moving-in notification.
National Health Insurance (NHI): Students staying 3 months or more must join. After that, you pay only 30% of most medical bills.
National Pension: National Pension is Japan's state pension. People aged 20 to 59 who live in Japan join. Students with low income can ask to pay later, each year.

Social & Practical

Orientation: Go to your university's welcome sessions for new students.
Tell your department office your address: Your university asks for your residence card details and address.