When entering Japan as an international student for graduate studies for more than three months, you will receive a Residence Card (Zairyu Card) at major entry airports or via local mail after arrival. This card serves as your official legal identification in Japan and must be carried with you at all times. To keep your stay legal, you must register your residential address at your local municipal office within 14 days of deciding where you live.
What is a Zairyu Card and who needs one in Japan?
According to Study in Japan, foreign nationals who reside in Japan for a period exceeding three months are issued a residence card, commonly known as a Zairyu Card. If you are entering Japan for graduate studies, research programs, or degree courses at a university, your status of residence is designated as "Student." The Minister of Justice determines the specific period of stay for each applicant, which cannot exceed 4 years and 3 months.
Carrying your Zairyu Card at all times is mandatory under Japanese law. The card contains essential personal details and serves as your primary proof of legal residence while living in Japan.
How do you obtain your Zairyu Card upon entering Japan?
The process for receiving your Zairyu Card depends on the airport through which you enter Japan:
- Major entry airports: If you land at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose, Kobe, Hiroshima, or Fukuoka Airport, immigration officials will affix a Landing Permission stamp in your passport and issue your physical Zairyu Card directly during immigration processing.
- Other entry airports: If you arrive via an airport other than those listed above, immigration officers will affix a Landing Permission stamp to your passport alongside a seal indicating that your residence card will be issued at a later date.
When entering Japan at airport immigration, you must present your passport, your visa issued by a Japanese embassy or consulate, and your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (a copy is accepted). Travelers can also utilize the online service Visit Japan Web to complete quarantine, immigration, and customs declaration procedures smoothly before landing.
If you travel to Japan earlier specifically to take a university entrance examination, you must obtain a Temporary Visitor visa by presenting your exam voucher. Depending on your situation, a Temporary Visitor visa permits stays of 15, 30, or 90 days. If you come from a country with visa exemption arrangements, you do not need a visa to take the exam. However, as a general rule, visa-exempt nationals who pass the entrance exam must return to their home country to obtain a Student visa before relocating to Japan.
What steps are required at the local municipal office within 14 days?
Once you decide where you will live in Japan, you must visit the municipal office administering your address within 14 days to register as a resident. You need to bring your Zairyu Card or your passport stamped with "Resident Card to be issued at a later date."
Completing your resident registration triggers the issuance of your Individual Number, widely known as "My Number." This 12-digit social security and tax number is assigned to all residents in Japan and is entirely distinct from the 12-digit card number printed on your Zairyu Card.
After resident registration, a notification card detailing your My Number will be mailed to your registered address. You can also apply for a physical My Number card by mail or online using a smartphone or computer. Keep your notification card or My Number card in a safe place. You may be required to present your My Number when completing official municipal procedures, securing a part-time job, or transferring and receiving funds from overseas through a bank.
What documents are required before getting your Student visa and card?
Before receiving a Zairyu Card, international students must secure a Student visa based on a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). An applicant or their designated proxy—typically the accepting educational institution in Japan—applies for an authorized COE at a regional immigration services bureau in Japan.
When applying for a COE or visa, you must submit proof demonstrating your ability to cover all living and academic expenses during your stay. Required financial evidence includes:
- A bank savings balance certificate belonging to the financial sponsor (either the student or their guarantor).
- An income certificate covering the past year.
- Official documentation identifying the specific sources of funds.
Once the regional immigration services bureau issues the COE, you can submit your visa application to a Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country or region of residence. The required documents for the visa application comprise:
- Passport
- Visa application form
- Photographs
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (a copy is accepted)
- Additional supporting documents as requested
Because individual situations may vary, applicants should always confirm specific visa requirements directly with official government sources.
Finding a place to stay
Securing your Tokyo accommodation should ideally be arranged after your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Student visa is issued and before traveling to Japan. Having a fixed address ready prior to arrival ensures you can complete your mandatory 14-day resident registration at the local municipal office without delay. OHAYO Stay offers furnished monthly apartments and rooms in Tokyo. Booking is online with a passport or ID and a credit card. No guarantor, no key money and no agency fee are required, which simplifies your transition when moving to Japan for graduate studies or research programs.
FAQ
How quickly must I register my address after settling into my residence?
You must bring your Zairyu Card or stamped passport to the municipal office administering your address within 14 days after determining where you live in Japan.
What is the difference between my Zairyu Card number and My Number?
Your Zairyu Card number identifies your legal status of residence, whereas My Number is a separate 12-digit social security and tax number assigned to all residents after completing municipal registration.
Can I get my Zairyu Card directly at any Japanese airport?
No. Zairyu Cards are issued directly upon arrival only at designated major airports: Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, New Chitose, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. Other airports issue a passport seal indicating the card will be issued later by mail after address registration.
Sources
- Study in Japan(JASSO)「Immigration and Students Visas｜Study in Japan Official Website」(checked 2026-10-30)
This article was created by OHAYO Stay based on the sources above (edited, reorganized and translated). It is not an official publication.
Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.