Flowchart procedure for non-residents with “undecided” residence card residence in Japan, from address to opening a bank account to working
Travel
2025.01.11
Working holiday to Japan, etc. Work visa → Non-resident residence card (3 months or more)
① Room rental contract (address registration) → Bank account required ② Opening a bank account → Room rental contract (address registration) required
How do foreigners working in Japan avoid the infinite loop of ① and ② that they tend to fall into?
Many foreigners fall into this trap and are in trouble.
And
Even if you have a residence card for more than 3 months, if your “place of residence is undecided,” you will likely not be able to open a bank account.
①Create a Wise card to prepare for overseas remittances and open a multi-currency account
Create a WISE card (no annual fee/no account maintenance fee) to exchange foreign currency between your home country and Japan at the lowest possible fees. Then, use the included multi-currency account function to simply open a Japanese yen account.
It’s convenient because you can exchange currencies within the app at a lower price than at a money exchange store.
You can always convert the exchanged currency back to your home currency using the smartphone app.
You can withdraw the actual currency of the country you are currently in from convenience store ATMs or airport ATMs in the country you are moving to.
・Share house (e.g. Jimoty search Osaka area) ※Avoid places that require you to live for 3 months or more https://jmty.jp/osaka/est-sha
Japanese friend/spouse’s house
The quickest way is to register your address at the house of a Japanese friend/spouse.
However, you need to be living together, not at a temporary address.
③Make your own personal seal (order online, etc.)
You can make one after you come to Japan, but it won’t be delivered to your house without an address, so it’s convenient to make one before coming to Japan.
The size of the seal is round and 10mm to 15mm.
It is common for Japanese people to make a seal with “family name only”. Full name is also fine.
・For foreigners who use kanji
Full name and nickname Only name and nickname
・For foreigners who use English
Full name, nickname, and katakana Only name, nickname, and katakana
You can also order it from Amazon. It costs about 350 yen.
Get a residence card at the airport (your place of residence is undecided at this point)
② “Register as a resident” → City hall
Go to the city hall (city hall) near the address of your short-term accommodation and register as a resident using the address of your monthly apartment or share house. Write your address on your residence card.
Receive a “resident’s card.”
②-1 Apply for a National Health Insurance Card at the city hall (only for those who have been here for 3 months or more)
②-2 Apply for a My Number Card at the city hall (only for those who have been here for 3 months or more) 2025 onwards
③ Open a Japan Post Bank account
Japan Post Bank is the only bank in Japan that has low barriers to entry for foreigners to open an account with a residence card.
Basically, the largest Japan Post Bank in the prefecture or town where you live will be more likely to help you.
Small branches in towns and villages may be suspicious and not allow you to open an account.
You can connect to the Internet at the fastest speed in Japan.
Monthly fee is about 970 yen per month for up to 3GB. About 2070 yen per month for 20GB or less, about 3300 yen per month for more than that, and no fees will be charged above the upper limit.
Required documents: ① Residence card, ② Address, ③ Bank account, etc.
⑤ Decide on a workplace
Decide on a workplace close to the address you live in. Make sure it is within commuting distance by foot, bicycle, or train.
Required documents: ① Residence card for at least 3 months, ② Address, ③ Bank account, ④ Japanese mobile phone number, resume, seal, etc.
⑥ Sign a rental contract
Sign a rental contract for an apartment or condominium to move away from your temporary address (monthly apartment, shared house, friend’s house).
Required documents: ① Residence card for at least 3 months, ② Address, ③ Bank account, ④ Japanese mobile phone number, ⑤ Work address and income proof, seal, etc.
◎ Chapter 5: Sample contracts in various languages
“Guidebook for finding an apartment” (for foreigners looking for an apartment in Japan)
Cheap housing available for foreigners under the “Home Safety Net System”
・Housing Safety Net System This is a system that allows foreigners and others who often have trouble finding a room to use vacant rooms and vacant houses.
They are offered at a lower price than regular properties.
For foreigners working for a Japanese company, the company may provide company-rented housing in Japan. Generally, only large companies have company housing, but it’s best to ask the company.
Reference
Introducing the “TODO” for foreigners to sign a rental contract in Japan! https://gloens.com/archives/202004/16-386
To-do list for hiring foreigners living overseas in Japan =After coming to Japan=
