When a person of foreign nationality enters Japan, they are given a status of residence and a period of stay is decided. This status and period are then indicated on the individual’s passport.
An application is required when an individual is involved in activities beyond those of their status or stays in the country longer than the permitted period of stay.
If these conditions are not obeyed, the individual may be punished or forcedly deported.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Gaimu-sho)– Homepage (Website)
(A Guide to Japanese Visas– in English)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/index.html

If you are a foreigner living in Japan, you are obliged to register as a foreigner (register your identity, your address and your personal status) at the counter of City Office within 90 days of your arrival in Japan (excluding those who hold dual citizenship of Japan and another country). The procedure must be instigated by the foreign national themselves, but in cases where the individual is under l6 years of age, or is sick, a representative who resides with the person (his or her spouse, child, father or mother) can instigate the procedure for them. Those who have been issued with an alien registration certificate (excluding those under l6 years of age) must always carry it with them.
The main procedures are as follows,

When		Return day	Necessary Items
(l) When you enter Japan		Within 90 days after disembarkation	・Passport ・2 passport-size photos* (not applicable to those under l6 years of age)
(2) When you give birth to a child		Within 60 days of the birth	・A document that shows proof of the birth (for example, birth certificate)
(3) When there is a change in your place of residence		Within 14 days of moving	・Alien registration card
When there is a change in registered items, excluding place of residence, on the right	（4） ･ Name; Nationality ･ Occupation ･ Visa status ･ Period of stay ･ Change in workplace or change in the name or location of office	Within l4 days of the change	・Alien registration card ・Document that proves a change has occurred
	(5） ･ Passport number ･ Date of issue of passport ･ Address in your home country ･ Name of household head ･ Relationship with the household head	Until you apply for other processes that bear relation to alien registration [(2), (3), (4),(6), (7)]
(6) If you misplace your alien registration card		Within l4 days of misplacement	･ Passport ･ 2 photos* (not applicable to those under l6 years of age) ･ Document that verifies the loss (for example, a certificate from the police)
(7) When a person who bears an alien registration card have to switch their card (excluding those under 16 years of age)		Within 30 days of designated date (for example their fifth birthday)	･ Passport ･ 2 photos* ･ Alien registration card

This is a document which proves one is registered as an alien. It is similar to the former Proof of Completion of Alien Registration (gaikokijin toroku sumi shomei sho).
This document is required when entering a school, applying for a job or registering a marriage, etc.

• Applicant
  Person oneself, relative who lives together, proxy submitting the letter of attorney
• Charge
  200yen per a document

(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

If your spouse is foreign nationality, the name isn’t registered to Resident Certificate.
When foreign spouse’s name needs to be shown, only in the case of the same household and the same address, the actual name can be registered to ‘note of Resident Certificate’, if you want.
(Only Citizen’s Affairs Division of City Office can issue.)
(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

In Japan, there is a family register system in which births, deaths, marriages and other personal related information are registered as official records.
Foreign nationals living in Japan should register births, deaths and marriages that occur in Japan in accordance with the Family Register Law (koseki ho). Certificates of registration and any copies should be kept in a safe place as they provide proof of personal identification.
Births, deaths, and marriages should also be reported to the government of the individual’s nationality. For information on procedures, enquire at your country’s embassy or consulate.

Within 14 days from the date of birth, you should notify at the municipal office of the parents’ address or of the place of birth.

• Applicant
  Father or mother of the child (Joint signature is possible). Only in the case that parents can’t register, person who live together, and doctor or midwife who attended at childbirth are possible.(in this order)
• Necessary Documents
  Birth certificate documents and Birth certificate (You can receive the document with birth certificate at the hospital where you gave birth.), Maternity passbook, National Health Insurance
• Lump sum payment for delivery
  Those who are member of the National Health Insurance will receive a lump sum payment for delivery. You should apply to ‘National Health Insurance and Pension Division’.
  Links to 【Various Insurance/ National Health Insurance－Lump sum payment for delivery】
• N.B.
  The names of child and parents should be written in Katakana if you don’t use Kanji.
  (Applicant can sign in its native language.) If you usually use common-name, you should register your actual name.
  When both of parents are foreigners, child needs Foreigner Registration.
  About procedure, such as birth registration to your native country, please inquire Embassy,Consulate, etc.

(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

Within 7 days from the date of death, you should notify at the municipal office of the place of death, or applicant’s residence.

• Applicant
  Relative who live together, the other relative, (Only in case that relatives can not notify,)
  Person who lives together, Landlord, Landowner, house janitor, Land janitor (in this order)
• Necessary Documents
  Death Registration Certificate, Death Diagnosis Certificate or Certificate of Autopsy (Usually, Registration Certificate with Diagnosis Certificate and Certificate of Autopsy is written by the hospital which diagnoses.), National pension passbook (member only), Seal registration certificate (registrant only), Insurance certificate for the aged or Certificate for recipient of medical expenses assistance (recipient only)
• Cremation permit document
  When you report Death Registration, Cremation permission document is issued.
• Funeral expenses
  Those who are enrolled in National Health Insurance will receive an allowance for their funeral expenses.
• N.B.
  The names of dead person should be written in Katakana if you don’t use Kanji.
  (Applicant can sign in its native language.)
  If you usually use common-name, you should register your actual name.
  About procedure, such as Death Registration to your native country, please inquire Embassy, Consulate, etc.

(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

In order to arrange an effective marriage of foreigner, requirements of marriage determined by the law of its native country are necessary. (Ages enough to marry, unmarried, etc.)
To certify the requirements, Japanese should submit Copy of Family Registration with Marriage Registration, and foreigner should submit Nationality Certificate and, Certificate of competency to marry with Marriage Registration.
In the case of foreigners’ marriage, they should apply to the municipal office of their address.
In the case of marriage with Japanese, they can apply to the municipal office of their address or of the legal domicile of Japanese.

• Applicant
  Husband and Wife
• Necessary Documents
• Marriage registration form
  Fill in the form with signatures of husband and wife, and two adult witnesses. If they usually use a seal, sealing is also required.
• Nationality Certificate
  Nationality Certificate with Japanese translation is issued by native country.
  It is possible to bring their passport to certify their nationality at the municipal office when notifying.
• Certificate of competency to marry
  By native country, ‘Certificate of competency to marry’ certifies that the foreigner who is going to marry has requirements of marriage.
  If the native country cannot issue it, documents that replace this will be submitted. For example, written oath with consul’s signature, etc.
  Documents that replace ‘Certificate competency to marry’ are different from each country.
  If it cannot be issued, ask to the Municipal Office.
• Japanese translation of Certification of competency to marry
  Documents written in foreign language should have Japanese translation with signature of translator. Applicants can translate it by themselves.
• Certificate of Confirmation of Registration
  Foreigners who live in Japan should submit Certificate of Confirmation of Registration issued by Municipal Office in your address.
• N.B.
  When address and household members change with marriage, you should notify the changes of Foreigner Registration Card at municipal office in your address.
  About procedure, such as ‘marriage registration’ or ‘change of passport’ to your native country, please inquire Embassy, Consulate, etc.
  When foreigner and Japanese already married overseas, and just report to Japan, the way to notify is different. Please inquire to each municipal office.
  The notification of adoption or child recognition may be impossible owing to nationality or ages. And necessary documents are different each. Please inquire to your municipal office.

(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

The person who has a Resident Card or Foreigner Registration Card being 15 years of age or older can register just one seal. Adult who has guardian can’t register. Certificate of Seal Registration certifies the registered seal. When you inherit or register real estates or car, it is necessary.
Certificate of Seal Registration certifies a person’s right or duty and a private document’s credibility.
It has a possibility to be used for evil purposes conversely. In order to prevent abuses, registered seal should not be a ready-made seal. Registered seal and Seal Registration Card should be kept separately.
(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

• Applicant Seal holder or proxy. Proxy must have a letter of attorney.
• Necessary Documents
• In case of seal holder: A seal to be registered (A seal made of rubber or any other material being changed easily cannot be registered. A seal that is damaged and worn out can not be registered.)
• In case of proxy: A seal to be registered (Same as the case of seal holder), A seal of proxy, A letter of attorney.

(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

• Applicant Same as the case of Seal Registration
• Necessary Documents
• In case of seal holder: Registered seal, Seal Registration Card
• In case of proxy: Seal Registration Card, A seal of proxy, A letter of attorney

(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division

Seal Registration Card is required.
Without Seal Registration card, the Certificate cannot be issued.

• Charge: 200 yen per a document

(Inquiries) Citizen's Affairs Division