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ALIEN REGISTRATION (gaikoku jin toroku 外国人登録）

WHO MUST REGISTER AND WHEN Foreign nationals holding visas that allow them to stay in　Japan over 90 days are required to register. Exceptions　are.
1. members, dependents and civilian employees of the　armed forces of the United States of America or　United Nations Forces
2. diplomats and other foreign government officials
3.. those granted a provisional landing permit
4. those granted a port of call landing permit, landing　in transit, crew member landing, emergency landing, landing due to disaster or landing for temporary refuge permit.
Foreign nationals must register within 90 days after entry into Japan. Children born to foreign nationals residing here must be registered within 60 days after birth (unless they leave Japan within 60 days) and those who lose or give up their Japanese citizenship must register within 60 days after loss of citizenship (unless they leave Japan within 60 days).

INITIAL REGISTRATION PROCEDURE (shinki toroku 新規登録　）
Registration takes place at your local municipal office, i e. city hall, town or village office. You must bring the following required items With you:
1 a valid passport with a valid visa Stamp inside
2 two recent photos (4.5 x 3.5cm, taken within the last six months and showing your face and upper torso in a frontal view)
First fill out the application form. Hand in the form to the clerk at the counter, along with the required items. Be prepared to be finger printed. [Note: use the same permanent address you used in your passport] After verifying your lnformation, the clerk will give you a notice which specifies when you can come back to pick up your official alien registration card.
Processing usually takes about two weeks. Your alien registration card is valid for five years. All those sixteen years of age and older are expected to carry their card at all times.

CHANGES IN INFORMATION ON YOUR CARD (toroku jiko no henko 登録事項の変更)
Address change (kyojuuchi no henko 居住地の変更). If you move to a new residence, you must register this change within fourteen days after you move. Register the change at your new municipal office. You must register an address change even if you move within the same municipality.
Other Changes : Any other changes, ie name, nationality, occupation, place of employment, status of residence, length of visa, etc" must also be registered within 14 days. As changes in either name or nationality require the issuance of a new card, you should bring two new Photographs when registering: such. Inquire at your municipal office to find out what items are required to make changes..

APPLYING FOR CONFIRMATION (kakunin shinsei 確認申請)
This is for those foreign nationals who were under sixteen years of age when initially registered. Such persons must apply for a confirmation of their alien registration Within 30 days of their sixteenth birthday. The procedure is the same as initial registration.

VISAS AND IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES

RESIDENT STATUS (zairyuu shikaku 在留資格)
Once a person is granted permission to enter Japan, a visa specifying resident status and the permitted length of stay is stamped into his/her passport. The Japanese government issues a variety of visas, each with different lengths of stay. Below is a list of the main categories of resident status.
l. Diplomat
2. Official
3. Professor
4. Artist
5. Religious Activist
6. Journalist
7. Investor/Business Manager
8. Legal/Accounting Services
9. Medical Services
10. Researcher
11. Instructor
12. Engineer
13. Specialist in Humanities/International Services
14. Intra-Company Transferee
15. Entertainer
16. Skilled Laborer
17. Cultural Activities
18. Temporary Visitor
19. College Student
20. Pre-College Student
21. Trainee
22. Dependent
23. Designated Activities
24. Permanent Resident
25. Spouse/Child of Japanese National
26. Spouse/Child of Permanent Resident
27. Child of Resident under Law no. 126 of 1952
28. Long Term Resident

APPLICATION FOR A CHANGE IN RESIDENT STATUS

(zairyuu shikaku no henko no kyoka 在留資格の変更の許可)
　A change in resident status must be applied for at an immigration office well in advance of the expiration date of the current visa. (This is hard to get approval for and temporary visitors will rarely be granted a change in status) The following items are required:
1. application form (in duplicate)
2. statement of your reasons for applying for the change (no set format; be as specific as possible)
3. materials indicating in concrete terms the nature of the new activity in which you will be engaged, i. e. admission letter, invitation letter, employment contract, etc.
4. letter of guarantee (guaranteeing the expenses of the applicant's stay and return travel)
5. materials certifying the guarantor's financial ability to guarantee, ie. certificate of employment, certificate of tax payment, etc.
6. passport or status of residence certificate
7. alien registration card
8. ￥4,000 fee

APPLICATION FOR AN EXTENSION

(zairyuu kikan no koshin no kyoka 在留期間の更新の許可)
You must apply for an extension at most one month prior to and at least by the expiration date of your current visa.
Required items:
1. application form (in duplicate)
2. statement of your reasons for applying for an extension (no fixed form, be as specific as possible)
3. documents certifying the reasons for the necessity of an extension (new employment contract, enrollment certificate, etc. )
4. letter of guarantee (from employer, sponsoring institution, etc. )
5. materials certifying the guarantor's financial ability to guarantee
6. valid passport with valid visa
7. alien registration card
8. if applicable: permission to engage in activity not specified by your previous visa
9. \4,000 fee

PERMISSION TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES NOT SPECIFIED BY YOUR VISA

(shikaku gai katsudo no kyoka 資格外活動の許可)
You must apply for this when you wish to engage in a secondary or temporary remunerative activity that is not covered by your present resident status but does not require a formal change of status. Necessary items :
1. application form (in duplicate)
2. materials explaining the nature of the activity in which you will be engaged, ie. employment contract, etc.
3. materials explaining the nature of your current activities, ie. enrollment, certificate
4. alien registration card

REENTRY PERMITS

(sainyuukoku kyoka no shinsei 再入国許可の申請)
You will need a reentry permit if you plan to travel abroad during your stay in Japan. You can choose between a Single or multiple reentry permit. Either permit remains valid for one year or until your current visa expires, whichever comes first. Necessary items :
1. application form (in duplicate)
2. (certain destinations only) : presentation of materials supporting your reason for travel there, ie. travel orders, a letter of invitation, a contract with a travel agency, etc.
3. (for multiple reentry permits) : applicants are sometimes required to explain why they desire multiple re-entry permission
4. valid passport with valid visa stamped within
5. alien registration card
6. processing fee: \3,000 for single / \6, 000 for multiple

RESIDENT STATUS BY BIRTH

(zairyuu shikaku shutoku no kyoka shinsei 在留資格取得の許可申請)
If a child is born to foreign nationals and will stay in Japan for longer than sixty days, the birth must be reported to local immigration authorities within 30 days and resident status (a visa) must be applied for. [Don't forget that alien registration for the infant must also take place. This　must be done within sixty days after birth at your local municipal office. Necessary items:
1. visa application form (in duplicate)
2. proof of birth (an affidavit signed by the doctor or midwife who delivered the baby or a copy of the birth certificate or your Mother and Child Health Handbook)
3. valid passport, alien registration card or alien registration verification of either parent.

Naha Immigration Office
1-15-15 Higawa
dai ichi chiho godochosha
Naha 900
Te1 (098)832-4185

Okinawa City Office
on Gate 2 Street near
Kadena Air Base gate 2
Tel (098)938-1177
939-3298

Ishikawa Office: (098) 964-2858
Miyako Office: (09807) 2-3440
Yaeyama Office: (09808) 2-2333

The Naha office is located on Route 221. Coming from the bus terminal, turn right at the traffic light at the Naha High School intersection and continue straight along this road (Rte. 221). Immigration will be in the yellowish building on your left through the main gate and next to the justice building. Take the elevator to the seventh floor. (The guard might stop you and ask where you are going. ) Be aware that the fees required for the above applications are not paid directly to the immigration officials behind the counter at the Naha office. In order to pay, you must obtain an official payment stamp (shuunyuu inshi 収入印紙) and affix it to the payment form that goes with your application form and other required items. To obtain an official payment stamp at the Naha office, leave Immigration, go back down to the main floor, exit the building and take the stairway on your right up to the second floor. Go through the doors and walk straight back to the windowed counters on your right. Go up to the　left hand window, hand over the required fee and ask for the payment stamp by saying " shuunyuu inshi wo kudasai. " Affix this stamp to the payment form and go back up to the immigration office on the seventh floor to complete the application process.