Your first steps in japan: from immigration to your health insurance
Arriving in Japan for the first time is an experience on its own. In fact, before I headed towards immigration at the airport, I had to dive into the nearest toilet for a proper cry. Truthfully, I am a little bit dramatic when it comes to travelling. Apart from the almost magical entrance into Japan, there are some important administrative steps you need to take to ensure a smooth start. From obtaining your residence card at immigration in the airport to registering your address and setting up health insurance, this guide is based on all the information I wish I knew when I arrived.
Step 1: Receiving Your Residence Card at Immigration
Upon arriving in Japan, one of the first things you’ll encounter is the overwhelming mess that is immigration, where clearly overworked airport staff vocally shoves you into one of the lines that leads to an angry-looking immigration officer. However, no need to stress, as they’re usually very kind if you’ just follow their instructions.
At the counter, you hand in your passport and required documents for entry, such as a Certificate of Eligibility or proof of admission if you’re a student. Here, you will also receive your residence card (or 居住者カード, zairyū kādo). This card serves as your official ID during your stay in Japan.
What is a Residence Card?
The residence card contains vital information such as:
Your full name
Date of birth
Address in Japan (which gets printed on your card at your local city hall)
Visa type and expiration date
You must carry this card with you at all times. It will be required for various administrative tasks, such as opening a bank account or signing a lease, and you can proudly wave it at people to ensure them that you’re not just another annoying tourist.
When Do You Receive It?
If you’re entering Japan through a major airport (e.g., Narita, Haneda, Kansai), your card will be issued on arrival.
If you enter through a smaller airport, you may receive a temporary stamp and will need to collect your card later.
Step 2: Registering Your Address
Once you have your residence card, the next step is to register your address. This must be done within 14 days of moving into your new apartment or share house.
How to Register
Go to the city hall or ward office (shiyakusho or kuyakusho) in your area.
Bring the following:
Your residence card
Passport
Your address (your landlord or housing agency may provide a document with this information).
Fill out the registration form provided by the city hall staff.
After registration, your address will be printed on the back of your residence card. Keep this updated whenever you move. Keep in mind that some city halls — especially outside of the more touristy areas — may have limited availability when it comes to English-speaking staff. This might feel VERY uncomfortable upon arrival, but don’t let it scare you off. Google Translate is your best intermediary friend at the city hall.
Step 3: Setting Up Health Insurance
Japan’s healthcare system requires all residents to be insured. If you have a long-term visa (such as the Working Holiday visa or a work or student visa) you can enroll in the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which is usually done when you register your address at the city hall. However, you can also choose to do it at a later time, but don’t wait too long.
How to Enroll in NHI
Visit your local city hall’s health insurance department after registering your address. If you’re not sure where to go, ask for directions at the information counter.
Bring your residence card and passport.
Complete the enrollment forms.
Costs and Benefits
Monthly premiums are income-based and generally low for people on a Working Holiday visa, students or those with no income. As a low-income resident, you’ll pay about ¥2000 per month, which comes down to approximately $12 USD.
With NHI, you’ll pay only 30% of medical costs, while the rest is covered by the government.
Step 4: Understanding the Pension System
As a resident, you’re automatically enrolled in Japan’s National Pension System (国民年金, kokumin nenkin). While participation is mandatory, there are exemptions available for certain groups, such as students or people with low income. Are you on a working holiday visa? Then you can either ask for exemption, or you get your pension expenditures back at the end of your stay when you deregister at the city hall.
How to Apply for an Exemption
Visit the pension office or your city hall.
Bring your residence card and health insurance card.
Complete the exemption application form or let the staff do it for you.
Most students and low-income earners qualify for a full or partial exemption. Keep in mind that applying for an exemption does not affect your future eligibility for pension benefits. You might still receive pension slips in your mailbox after requesting exemption. However, you don’t have to pay those. I recommend storing them somewhere safe, just in case. This applies to all the documents, contracts and pay slips you receive during your time in Japan. A lot of documents get signed and handed over on paper without a digital copy available. These documents may be requested at any time, so make sure to keep them safe.
Step 5: Other Essential Tasks
Setting Up a Bank Account
To manage your finances in Japan, you’ll need a local bank account. Popular banks for foreigners include Shinsei Bank and JP (Japan Post) Bank. Trust me, this is going to be a hassle. It took me three rejections before I finally managed to open a bank account, which I still don’t use. Most banks require you have resided in Japan for at least 6 month already.
If you are on a student visa or Working Holiday visa and you are not planning to work or stay for more than a year, I advise you to not open a bank account. You can usually pay your rent and other bills at the convenience store, which saves you the immense headache of opening a bank account.
Getting a Phone Number
Although an e-sim is great for Wi-Fi in terms of flexibility, it doesn’t provide you with a phone number. A Japanese phone number is essential for daily life, especially if you want to order things online, make use of services like Uber, register for events or simply stay in touch with locals through messaging apps like Line. I can strongly recommend Mobal as a sim-card provider. They provide all services in English and their connection is stable. You pay about $20 per month for 5GB and can cancel at any time. You can either get it delivered to your house, or pick it up in person at one of their retailers.
Learning to Sort Trash
Japan’s strict garbage disposal rules can be confusing at first. Check with your local ward office for a guide on sorting recyclables, burnable, and non-burnable waste. Usually, you can also find the overview of your ward’s trash calendar online. It takes some time to understand the different types of trash, but this is a summary of the essentials:
Burnable trash (燃えるゴミ, Moeru Gomi): Includes food scraps, paper waste, and small wooden items.
Non-Burnable trash (燃えないゴミ, Moenai Gomi): Includes metal items, ceramics, and glass.
Recyclables (資源ゴミ, Shigen Gomi): Includes plastics, PET bottles, aluminum cans, and paper/cardboard.
Oversized Garbage (粗大ゴミ, Sodai Gomi): Includes large items like furniture or appliances (requires a special pickup).
In short
Taking care of these administrative tasks might seem overwhelming at first, especially because most of it is in a language you likely haven’t mastered (yet). However they’re crucial for starting your life in Japan on the right track. By completing the steps above, you’ll prevent yourself some sleepless nights later on. Trust me, there is not much more frustrating than worryingly staring at your ceiling at night because you haven’t paid your health insurance in 8 months.