2025-05-13

Foreign nationals who stay in Japan for a certain period of time are issued a “Residence Card. This card has an expiration date, so those who wish to continue their stay in Japan need to renew it. The following is an explanation of the “tax payment certificate” that is required for renewal.

What is a resident card?

A resident card is issued to foreign nationals who will stay in Japan for a mid- to long-term period (3 months or longer). It is issued as proof of permission after an examination of an application for new landing permission, permission for change of status of residence, permission for extension of period of stay, etc. The resident card is also used to prove that the foreigner has been granted permission to stay in Japan.

The resident card also serves as a “certificate” issued by the Minister of Justice to certify the legality of the status of residence and period of stay in Japan. The resident card contains the foreigner’s name, date of birth, gender, nationality/region, place of residence, status of residence, period of stay, whether or not the foreigner can work, etc. It is important information that the Japanese government and the Minister of Justice have access to.

Renewal Procedures

The expiration date of the resident card is generally the same as the expiration date of the period of stay. However, the expiration date for permanent residents and those who turn 16 years old are excluded. If the expiration date is expired, it means not only that the resident card has expired, but also that the status of residence has expired.

Therefore, it is necessary to renew your status of residence before the expiration date of your residence card. In addition
Renewal can be made 3 months prior to the expiration of the period of stay, so it is advisable to do so as soon as possible.

All that is required for renewal is an application form and supporting documents. The examination period will take from two weeks to one month. Once you receive notification of permission, you will receive a new residence card. The issuance fee is 4,000 yen, payable by revenue stamps. In principle, only the applicant himself/herself can apply for the card, but in the case of a minor or a guardian of a young person, a legal representative can act on his/her behalf. An application agent such as an administrative scrivener can also act on behalf of a minor or a guardian of a young person.

Renewal of a resident card is carried out at the immigration office or bureau that has jurisdiction over the cardholder’s address.
When applying for renewal, the necessary documents for renewal or change of status of residence should be attached.

For example, for the status of residence “Engineer/Humanities/International Services,” an application form, a photo, a passport, a residence card, a copy of the total legal record, and a certificate of taxation/proof of tax payment for resident tax (for one year) are required.

What is a taxation certificate?

The “taxation certificate” explained above is a certificate of taxation that shows the amount of income, support status, and taxable amount, etc., as stated on the taxation certificate. For example, the taxation certificate for the tax year 2025 shows income from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Therefore, the certification year and the subject income year are one year apart.

In addition, the “taxation certificate” is a certificate that shows the amount of inhabitant tax levied, the amount due, the amount paid, and the amount unpaid, etc. The taxation certificate is a certificate that shows the amount of tax due, the amount paid, and the amount unpaid, etc. In other words, the taxation certificate proves the amount of income and income, while the tax payment certificate proves the amount of tax already paid or to be paid.

If you pay your taxes and immediately request a “tax payment certificate,” you may need to provide documents and receipts that prove that you paid your taxes, since there is a time lag before the certificate is issued.

Summary

Taxation certificate and tax payment certificate are among the documents required for residence card renewal. Although the names are similar, they are completely different documents. These certificates are issued by the municipal office where the applicant lives.