Tips
Practical guides for foreign residents in Japan: visas, family, koseki and everyday procedures.
17 articles
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How to Get Your Documents Notarized and Apostilled in Japan for Use Abroad: A Guide for Foreign Residents
How foreign residents in Japan can get a passport, Residence Card, or proof of address notarized and apostilled for use abroad, such as buying property overseas.
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How to Get a Japanese Koseki (Family Register) from Overseas: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2026
Need a koseki for a Japanese spouse visa or Nikkei Long-Term Resident visa? Learn who can request one, how to apply by mail, fees, and payment options.
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What to Do If You Lose Your Residence Card While Abroad?
Lost your residence card abroad? Get a police report, avoid being denied boarding with a Certificate for the Re-entry Permit Deadline, and reissue in Japan.
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How can you prove that you are in the visa application process (including during the special period) when applying online?
Applied online for an extension or change of status? Your residence card is not stamped, so carry the Application Acceptance Number Notification e-mail.
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What to do if your visa application is denied in Japan?
If your visa application is denied while your visa (residence card) is still valid, go to the Immigration Bureau to ask for the reason for the denial.
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A Foreign Football Player Taxed, Not a “Non-Resident” but a “Resident”
A J-League player was ordered to pay about ¥580 million in additional tax after being treated as a tax resident, not a non-resident. Why tax residence matters.
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You can check online your turn to pick up a new Residence Card at the Tokyo Immigration Bureau’s A counter.
The Tokyo Immigration Bureau provides an online system for checking your turn to pick up a new Residence Card at its A counter.
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