Any person who is going to stay in Japan for more than 90 days must register in person at their local city hall within 90 days of arriving. When you register, you will be given a receipt and told to return at a certain time (usually around two weeks) to pick up your certificate of alien registration, which is commonly called an alien registration card or a gaijin card.

You are required by law to carry your alien registration card with you at all times (it is about the size of a credit card).

You must take note of the expiry date on your card (which is different to that of your visa), and renew it at your local city hall before it expires. You will also need to update your registration if:

• you have renewed your visa or changed your status of residence,
• you get a new passport,
• you change your name, address, type of job, employer, or nationality,
• the card is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, or
• you cease to be an alien (by becoming a Japanese national or dying).

Alien registration cards are valid for approximately five years. If you lose yours, report it to the police and then take a copy of the police report to the City Hall and get a new one.