Administration

Essential administrative procedures in Japan

Use this guide when you need to work out which Japanese public office handles a procedure. It is especially useful for address registration, My Number, certificates, insurance, pension, tax, moving, and life-event paperwork.

Updated 2026-09-01

Choose your situation

I moved or arrived in Japan

Start with your city, ward, town, or village office for address registration and local resident procedures. Then check whether health insurance, pension, tax, or immigration steps are also affected.

I need a certificate or official record

Resident records, seal certificates, and many local certificates are usually handled by the municipality where your address is registered.

I need My Number or identity procedures

Use Digital Agency or My Number official information for the system itself, then check your local office or MyNaPortal for applications and updates.

My job, family, or status changed

A job change, marriage, divorce, birth, death, or relocation may affect more than one system. Check local procedures first, then pension, tax, health insurance, or immigration if relevant.

I do not know which office handles it

Start with your municipality's foreign-resident or citizen-services guide. It will usually point you to the right counter or national agency.

Official source map

City / ward / town office

Address registration, moving notices, resident certificates, seal registration, local tax notices, National Health Insurance, childcare, waste rules, and many local welfare procedures.

Digital Agency / MyNaPortal

My Number system information, My Number card functions, online administrative services, and digital procedures.

Immigration Services Agency

Status of residence, period of stay, residence card, re-entry, renewal, change of status, and immigration consultation.

Japan Pension Service

National Pension, Employees' Pension Insurance, contribution notices, exemptions, pension records, and international pension information.

National Tax Agency / local tax office

Income tax, final tax returns, tax filing guides, withholding, and national tax consultation.

What to prepare

Before contacting an office, gather your address, identification, residence card if applicable, My Number information if you have it, employer documents, previous notices, household details, and any reference numbers. For local procedures, confirm the exact ward, city, town, or village where you are registered.

Official sources

Showing 8 of 134 matching documents
EnglishNational

Administrative Guide for Foreign Residents - English

National Tax Agency (NTA)

National Tax Agency (NTA) official source tagged for administrative tasks, business, tax. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document
National

Digital Agency My Number information

Digital Agency

Digital Agency official source tagged for administrative tasks, foreign resident, new resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document
EnglishWardsMeguro, Tokyo

Meguro City Administrative Guide for Foreign Residents - English

Meguro City

Meguro City official source tagged for administrative tasks, foreign resident, new resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document
EnglishWardsKatsushika, Tokyo

Katsushika City Administrative Guide for Foreign Residents - English

Katsushika City

Katsushika City official source tagged for administrative tasks, foreign resident, new resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document
EnglishWardsChiyoda, Tokyo

Chiyoda City Administrative Guide for Foreign Residents - English

Chiyoda City

Chiyoda City official source tagged for administrative tasks, foreign resident, new resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document
EnglishWardsArakawa, Tokyo

Arakawa City Administrative Guide for Foreign Residents - English

Arakawa City

Arakawa City official source tagged for administrative tasks, foreign resident, new resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document
WardsShinagawa, Tokyo

Shinagawa City Administrative Guide for Foreign Residents

Shinagawa City

Shinagawa City official source tagged for administrative tasks, foreign resident, new resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document
WardsSuginami, Tokyo

Suginami City Administrative Guide for Foreign Residents

Suginami City

Suginami City official source tagged for administrative tasks, foreign resident, new resident. Check the original page for its scope and current details.

Open official document

Common questions

Where should I start if I just moved?

Start with your local municipal office. Address registration often connects to health insurance, pension, tax, childcare, and other local services.

Is My Number handled by my ward office or nationally?

The My Number system is national, but many card applications, updates, and local procedures are handled through municipal offices or MyNaPortal.

Why do several offices appear for one problem?

One life event can affect several systems. Leaving a job, for example, can affect employment insurance, health insurance, pension, tax, and possibly residence status.

Can Sollo tell me exactly which form to submit?

Sollo can help you find the right official starting point, but final forms and requirements should be confirmed with the linked official page or office.

Important note

Sollo helps you find and organize official public information. It does not decide eligibility, submit applications, or replace advice from a government office or qualified adviser. Official rules can change and may depend on your location, household, income, residence status, employment, and application timing. Always confirm details with the linked official source or the relevant office before acting.

How Sollo can help

Sollo helps you separate local procedures from national systems, so you can move from a confusing task to the most relevant official source without opening dozens of unrelated pages.

Find official administrative sources

Find official administrative sources

Find official administrative sources