How do you get a residence card in Japan in 2026?

Japan issues residence cards to mid-to-long-term residents. The Immigration Services Agency guidance checked for July 2026 says the card is not issued to short-term visitors, people staying for three months or less, diplomats, officials, special permanent residents, and certain other excluded categories. If you are arriving to work, study, join family, or use another longer-stay status, you are the typical person this page is about.

Many new arrivals receive the card right at the airport when they land with the correct status. The official list includes Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, New Chitose, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka airports. If you receive a new landing permit at one of those airports, the card is usually issued there.

If you enter through another airport or port, the process can split. Immigration grants the landing permission first, then you file your moving-in notification with the municipality where you live. After that, the residence card is delivered by mail. Either way, the card is tied to lawful mid-to-long-term residence, not to a tourist entry.

Your first check is accuracy. Make sure your name, status, and period of stay match the landing permission you expected. Fix mistakes early. A later bank application or employer onboarding can fail because the romanized name on the card does not match the passport or payroll record.

Your second step is local address registration. The residence card by itself does not finish the process of settling in Japan. After you decide where you live, you must go to the city or ward office and file the municipal address registration described in Register address. That is how the address is entered into your record. This distinction matters because newcomers often think airport issuance means all resident paperwork is done.

You also need to carry the card if you are age 16 or older. Japan treats it as a primary identity document for many procedures, including some bank accounts, mobile contracts, and city office filings. Still, it does not replace every other document. A landlord, bank, or carrier may still ask for a juminhyo (resident record certificate), passport, My Number document, or proof of employment.

Changes to your immigration status are not handled by the city office. If you extend your period of stay, change status of residence, or apply for status acquisition after a qualifying event, the Regional Immigration Services Office or bureau handles that process. If the application is approved, a new residence card is issued.

Some updates are also ongoing compliance duties. The exact reporting rule depends on what changed, but employer or school changes can require notification to immigration for statuses such as work or study. Keep the card current and read the condition attached to your status rather than assuming one general rule covers everyone.

This is where the card differs from your visa in the practical sense. The visa got you to the border. Your landing permission and residence card now control your actual stay inside Japan. That is also why housing choices from Where to live in Japan and setup tasks like Open bank account follow the card, not the original visa label in your passport.