2025-04-23

A “Resident Card” is issued to foreign nationals who will stay in Japan for a medium to long term. This card is an important document that certifies that the foreigner can stay in Japan. You are also obliged to carry this card at all times and present it to the Minister of Justice when requested.

What is a resident card?

A resident card is issued to foreign nationals who will stay in Japan for a medium- to long-term period (three months or more). It is issued to a foreign national by the Immigration Bureau upon receiving an application for status of residence, such as new landing permission, permission for change of status of residence, permission for extension of period of stay, etc., as proof of permission.

The “resident card” is also a “certificate” issued by the Minister of Justice to certify that the status of residence and period of stay in Japan for the mid- to long-term are legitimate. Therefore, the “Residence Card” contains important information that the Minister of Justice is aware of, such as the name, date of birth, gender, nationality/region, place of residence, status of residence, period of stay, and employment status of the foreign national to whom the card is issued.

If there is any change in the information on the “Residence Card,” the applicant is required to promptly notify the Minister of Justice of the change. Therefore, the “Residence Card” must always contain the latest information.

Carrying a Residence Card is Obligatory

Foreigners who possess a “Residence Card” are obliged to carry it with them at all times.

For example, if you are stopped by a police officer while walking on the street and asked to present your “Residence Card,” you must do so immediately. If you do not carry your resident card, you may be fined up to 200,000 yen, and if you refuse or refuse to present it, you may be imprisoned for up to one year or fined up to 200,000 yen.

Therefore, just as you always carry your driver’s license when driving, you must carry your “residence card” with you when you go out, and you must immediately comply with any request to present it to a police officer.

Cases in which you are exempted from carrying the card

As explained above, foreigners residing in Japan for a medium- to long-term period are required to carry their resident card, but there are some exceptions.

These are persons under 16 years of age and special permanent residents. Special permanent residents are issued a special permanent resident certificate after the abolition of the alien registration system.

In addition, when a foreigner who owns a “resident card” requests an administrative scrivener to act on his/her behalf when applying for renewal of status of residence, etc., he/she is required to leave his/her “resident card” with the scrivener. If this is the case, the “resident card” will not be in his/her possession until the procedure is completed.

However, even in this case, the Gyoseishoshi Lawyer will make a copy of your “Residence Card” and give it to you, stating that you are “currently in the process of renewal”. If you are asked to show your “residence card” during that period, you can simply show them the copy.

Conclusion

The “Residence Card” is a very important identification card for foreigners living in Japan. If you are asked to present it by a police officer, you must do so immediately. If you do not have it or refuse to present it, you will be punished.