Residency Certificate (Zairyu Shomei)

Who can apply for a Residency Certificate?

Those who have Japanese citizenship, reside within our jurisdiction, and do not have a Resident Record (Juminhyo) in Japan.
 

Required Documents (Must be original documents)

• Format 1　Provides proof of applicant’s current residence.

Application form	Sample
Application form (Japanese Pension Service)	Sample (Japanese Pension Service)
Application form (Tax Free)	Sample (Tax Free)

 

• Format 2 - Provides proof of applicant’s past residence(s) within the U.S. up until their current residence. Can also provide proof that a Japanese household member resides with the applicant.

    **Application Form for Format 2 is only available at our office.

2. A valid Japanese Passport

3. Proof of domicile address
    ◦ For tax-free shopping, etc., if the requesting institution requires the Registered Domicile (Honseki-chi) on our certificate to include city/ward/county and thereafter, a family registry will be required to verify its accuracy. If you are applying to receive pension benefits, the Registered Domicile is not required.
    ◦ Green card, visa, etc.
    ◦ U.S. Passport or Birth Certificate for dual citizens born in the U.S.
    ◦ Dual citizens born outside of the U.S. are required to bring their birth certificate known as the Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

4.  Proof of legal status in the U.S.
    ◦ Green card, visa, etc.
    ◦ U.S. Passport or Birth Certificate for dual citizens born in the U.S.
    ◦ Dual citizens born outside of the U.S. are required to bring their birth certificate known as the Consular Report of Birth Abroad.

5. Proof of length of residency
    ◦ Utility bills or receipts, lease agreements, grant deeds, hotel or rental confirmation receipts, etc.
    ◦ If the residency certificate is for the purpose of tax-free shopping, documentation proving at least 2 years of residency is required.
 The ‘Date of Residence’ on the Residency Certificate will be filled in by our staff based on the date of the documentation provided.
（E.g.,   
           If the lease agreement states the term starts from Nov. 1, 2020: Residence will be from Nov 2020.
           If the statement on the utility bill is Dec. 20, 2021: Residence will be from Dec 2021.
           If using a driver license: Residence will be from the issue date.)

6. Proof of residence
    ◦ Driver license, utility bills or receipts, tax documents, etc. that include applicant’s name and address. 
    ◦ Name on the document must match the name on your passport.
    ◦ Household members, including minors, will also need documents that prove their address.

7. To apply to receive pension benefits from the Japan Pension Service or Onkyu, please bring proof that you are a pension recipient, such as Benefits Application (Saitei Seikyusho), Benefits Notice (Saitei Tsuchisho), or a Pension Certificate (Nenkin Shosho or Onkyu Shosho).

8. If the name on the document does not match your passport, you must provide additional proof such as a Marriage Certificate, Family Registry (Koseki Tohon or Koseki Shohon), etc. 
       ※If you do not have documents for (5) and (6), please consult our office.

Additional Documents (For Format 2 only, must be original documents)

To apply for Format 2, additional required documents are as follows:
1. If you need proof of your past residences, you will need additional documents that prove your past addresses and length of stay for each location.
　（E.g., If you lived in Los Angeles from Jan 2000,
　　　  　in San Francisco from May 2010,
　　　  　in New York from Jun 2012,
　　　  　and in San Diego from Dec 2015,
                  you will need original documents with your name, address, and issue date for each address listed.)

2. If you need proof that Japanese household members reside with you, they will also need to come in-person to apply. If they cannot, the applicant will need to provide a Request Form signed by each person, and bring each family member’s Japanese Passport, Proof of Legal Status in the U.S., and Proof of Residence (copies not acceptable).
 

For fees, click here.

If you are applying to receive pension benefits from the Japan Pension Service or Onkyu, there is no fee. 
 

Processing Times

The certificate will be issued and given to you immediately. (Please take into consideration that there may be wait times at the window.)

※If required documents are missing, we cannot accept your application.
 

Additional Information (Must read)

1. You must fill out the Reason and Destination where the certificate will be submitted in Japanese. Please check with the requestor regarding the reason, destination, and number of copies needed for each destination before applying. If you do not know the reason and destination, we cannot issue a certificate.
 (E.g., For asset distribution, 1 copy to XX Bank, 1 copy to XX Securities/Holdings, and for real estate registrations, 2 copies to the Legal Affairs Bureau.)

2. In general, the applicant must apply in person. However, if the applicant is a minor, a parent or guardian (with legal custody) may apply if the reason required is deemed favorable to the applicant. The proxy must bring their passport and proof of legal status with all required documents for the minor. If there is an unavoidable circumstance where the applicant cannot apply in person (e.g. hospitalized or bedridden), please consult our office by phone.
 Effective April 1, 2022, the legal age of an adult has changed from 20 to 18 years of age.

3. P.O. Boxes cannot be used as proof of residence.

4. We cannot certify your past residences only. If you have plans to use the Residency Certificate for pension, school examinations, etc., you will need to apply for the Residency Certificate while you still live in our jurisdiction before you return to Japan.

5. There are no expiration dates for our Residency Certificate. However, the institution to which the certificate will be submitted to may have their own rules on validity from the issue date, so please check with the institution concerned. (E.g., Must be issued within X months.)

6. For Non-Japanese citizens, please get a certificate from a Notary Public near you.

7. If you have not submitted the Overseas Residential Registration (Zairyu Todoke) please submit beforehand.