Your first 90 days in Japan: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The chain starts at the city office: no move-in notification means no jūminhyō, My Number, insurance, bank, or phone — and an address left unregistered past 90 days is legal grounds for residence-status revocation.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Jūminhyō: register your address (move-in notification) at the municipal or ward office
Within 14 days of settling at an address
Walk-in with the residence card issued at the airport; the same visit commonly bundles National Health Insurance and pension enrollment; the My Number notice follows by mail.
Get your My Number (Individual Number)
Required by banks, brokers, remittance services, and payroll; ties tax and social insurance together.
Assigned automatically after the move-in registration; the notification letter mails to the registered address in roughly 2-4 weeks.
Open a bank account
Residence card, registered address, and a local phone are the baseline; many banks screen out the first 6 months (foreign-exchange rules), so newcomers start with Japan Post Bank or online banks and bridge with Wise.
Enrol in healthcare
Enrollment in National Health Insurance (kokumin kenkō hoken) is mandatory at the municipal office for anyone not on an employer scheme — handled in the same move-in visit; it covers 70% of costs.
Sort your driver's license
An IDP covers the first year after landing; conversion (gaimen kirikae) follows — most US states face a knowledge check plus a strict practical test (multiple attempts are normal); a few states swap test-free.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Japan: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Japan?
Jūminhyō: register your address (move-in notification) at the municipal or ward office — Within 14 days of settling at an address. Walk-in with the residence card issued at the airport; the same visit commonly bundles National Health Insurance and pension enrollment; the My Number notice follows by mail. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the My Number and do I need one?
My Number (Individual Number) is Japan's personal tax/ID number. Required by banks, brokers, remittance services, and payroll; ties tax and social insurance together. Assigned automatically after the move-in registration; the notification letter mails to the registered address in roughly 2-4 weeks.
Can I drive in Japan on a US license?
An IDP covers the first year after landing; conversion (gaimen kirikae) follows — most US states face a knowledge check plus a strict practical test (multiple attempts are normal); a few states swap test-free. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Japan?
Enrollment in National Health Insurance (kokumin kenkō hoken) is mandatory at the municipal office for anyone not on an employer scheme — handled in the same move-in visit; it covers 70% of costs. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Japan's system treats foreign residents.