WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU FOR
Address registration at your local ward office
Passport and residence card
If you would like to register your family members as well, you will need to provide a marriage/birth certificate. If you haven’t got one in Japanese, we can translate your English certificates into Japanese for you – please send them over to us a few days prior to the planned visitation date.
Please note that, if you would like to register your family members as well, you will need to provide a marriage certificate with your partner’s name on it.
Opening a bank account
Let me know if you have a preferred bank in your mind. We’ll call ahead and confirm what you’ll need to bring with you. The list below is what most banks will ask for. We advise choosing a bank branch located near your residence or place of work.
(Side note – these days, online bank accounts are becoming increasingly popular, due to relatively cheaper fees and fewer requirements for supporting documentation – the easiest online banking system for foreigners, which also offers an English language online banking interface and email helpdesk system is Sony Bank – you can check the requirements and sign up for an account here – https://moneykit.net/en/account/)
If opening an account at a physical bank branch: passport, residence card, certificate of residence (“jumihyou”), which can be obtained from the local ward office upon registration of your address, personal seal (“inkan”/”hanko”)* – not required at SMBC Prestia, YUCHO Bank, or Shinsei bank – tax identification number, if issued in your country of origin, certificate of employment or business card if you have one or the other, local Japanese contact phone number & a utility bill mailed to your registered address.
For a supplementary card, you will need a marriage certificate or residence certificate (“jumihyou”) with your partner’s name on it, in case your partner has a different last name.
*(You can purchase a personal seal at a store or online – all seals are unique & individually identifiable. Please let us know if you would like us to accompany you to a seal store, or assist you with an online personal seal purchase).
Please note –
- March is corporate recruitment & relocation season in Japan, as well as the end of the school year – therefore from the end of March and until the first week of April is the busiest time of the year at the ward office.
- You must register your residence within 14 days of arrival to Japan – additionally, you will only be able to open a bank account AFTER you complete your address registration.
- Please let us know when you’d like to go to the ward office – opening times are 8:45~17:30. On March 27 (Sunday), and April 3 (Sunday), additional special opening times are 10:00~14:00.
