Alient Registration Card
Foreign nationals residing in Japan more than 90 days are required to register for a Certificate of Alien Registration, known in Japanese as a gaikokujin touroku shoumeisho. Residents of Kameoka should do this at City Hall within 60 days of arrival or 30 days of birth. Applicants must submit a passport and two 3X4 cm photographs taken within the last 6 months. Applicants will be required to fill out and submit a form in order to obtain a card. For more information, contact the Foreigners' Registration window at Kameoka City Hall, Citizens Affairs Department Census Reigstration Section at 25-5022.

In the case of any of the following changes, bring your Foreigner Registration Card and fill out the appropriate form:

-Change of residence
-Expiration of registration card
-Change of status in registration

Foreigners are mandated by law to carry their Alien Registration Cards with them at all times. In the case of a birth, the applicant (child's guardian) must arrive and present his or her name stamp (hanko), the child's birth certificate, the maternity passbook (boshi techou) and his or her National Health Insurance card.

In the case of a death, please present the death certificate and kindly return the registration card.

Expiration

The Alien Registration Card expires in 5 years, while permanent resident cards expire in 7 years. To renew your card, apply within 30 days of the expiration date. Those under 16 years of age are exempt.

Lost Card

Should you lose your card or have it stolen, (or should you lose your wallet with your Foreigner Registration Card in it), report it to the police immediately and then report the loss and apply for a new card at City Hall.

Leaving the country permanently

When leaving the country permanently, you will be required to return your Alien Registration Card to the immigration office at the point of your departure.

Travelling Abroad

When leaving Japan temporarily (i.e. to go on vacation, etc), be sure to have your re-entry permit. This permit can be obtained at your Regional Immigration Bureau (see below). These can be issued in a day, but may take longer, so it is recommended to do this at least two weeks before departure.

A single re-entry permit (good for only one re-entry) is 3,000 yen, while a multiple one is 6,000 yen. Permits are valid for the duration of your current Period of Stay as indicated on your passport.

The closest Regional Immigration Bureau to Kameoka is located in Kyoto City. The address is:

Kyoto Branch Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau
Kyoto Dai-ni Chiho Godo-Chosho Building, 4F
34-12 Higashi-Marutamachi, Kawabata Hairu,
Higashiiru, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
TEL 075-752-5997
FAX 075-762-2121

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am-12:00 pm, 1:00-4:00 pm (closed on weekends) In order to get to the Regional Immigration Bureau, take the JR from any station in Kameoka to Nijo Station. At Nijo Station switch to the subway (chikatetsu) and buy a 200 yen ticket. Take either subway car and get off at Sanjo-keihan. Within Sanjo Station, change to the Keihan Line headed towards Marutamachi (one stop away). Exit at Marutamachi Station (Exit 4), turn left, and walk straight for a few blocks. The Immigration Bureau will be on your left.
Upon your return to Japan with your Re-entry Permit, you can use the Japanese lines at immigration at the airport. You'll find that the Japanese lines are much quicker than the Foreigner lines.

In case you lose your passport abroad
In order to faciliate the process of of getting permission to re-enter Japan in the case that you lose your passport while travelling abroad, make sure to take copies of each of the following with you on your trip:
-Passport
-Status of Residence (zairyuu shikaku)
-Period of Stay (zairyuu kikan)
-Re-entry Permit (sainyuukoku kyoka) NOTE: Please be sure to put these photocopies away in a different place than your passport!

When leaving the country permanently, you will be required to return your Alien Registration Card to the immigration office at the point of your departure.

Visas

Your visa determines how long you can legally stay in Japan and what kind of activities you are allowed to do. If you wish to extend your period of stay, you must apply for an extension at the immigration bureau at least 10 days or as early as two months before your current visa epires. If you entered Japan on a tourist visa or visa exemption, working in Japan is prohibited. You must change your visa status or apply for special permission in order to carry out activities that are not permitted under your present visa. The fee for either a visa extension or change of status is 4,000 yen.