If I move house, do I also have to notify the 出入国在留管理庁?

Foreigners Employment Support Organization (FESO)　／　Published 20 January 2026　／　Last updated 21 August 2026

This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）

Answer

If you complete the procedure at the city or ward office counter for your new address, you do not, as a rule, need to notify the 出入国在留管理庁 directly. Within 14 days of moving, take your 在留カード (Residence Card) to the office for your new address and complete the moving-in procedure. Note, however, that there is a separate procedure called the 「所属機関に関する届出」, so please do not confuse the two.

What is this enquiry about?

An enquiry about where to file a notification, from someone who moved house while preparing an application to change to 「特定技能1号」.

Subject: 特定技能 and 在留資格「特定活動」 (Designated Activities)
Application type: 居住地変更の届出 (notification of a change of place of residence), that is, moving house
Situation: The enquirer is a Vietnamese national. They obtained 「特定活動」 as a preparation period before moving to 「特定技能1号」, and are now preparing the application to change to 「特定技能1号」. They moved house at this point
Question: Is the procedure complete once I take my 在留カード to the ward office for my new address and file the 「居住地変更届出」 (moving my residence record)? Am I right that there is no need to make a separate notification of the move to the 出入国在留管理庁?

Is the procedure at the city or ward office enough?

It is. The moving-in procedure at the local office is itself the notification to the 出入国在留管理庁.

Under the present system in Japan, you file a 「転入届」 (moving-in notification) at the ward or city office and have your new address written on the back of your 在留カード. That information is then passed on automatically to the system of the 出入国在留管理庁.

What you have to do　Within 14 days of moving, take your 在留カード to the office for your new address and complete the moving-in procedure.
A separate notification　For a change of address (a change of place of residence), you do not need to go to a counter of the 出入国在留管理庁 in person, or to send anything by post. The procedure at the local office completes it.

How is the 「所属機関に関する届出」 different?

It is a completely separate procedure from a change of address. You file it yourself, directly, when you leave a company or move to a different one.

There is another kind of notification to the 出入国在留管理庁, the 「所属機関に関する届出」. This is a completely separate procedure from a change of address.

When your address changes　Only the procedure at the local office (no contact with the 出入国在留管理庁 is needed).
When you leave a company, or move to a different one　You must file the 「所属機関に関する届出」 directly with the 出入国在留管理庁, online or by post.

This case is a change of address, so the procedure at the local office is all you need.

What should I watch out for when an application to change status is coming up?

3 points: the address you write on the application form, receiving your post, and telling the company.

The address you write on the application form
On the form you submit, always write the new address as changed at the local office.
Receiving your post
If your address changes while an application is pending, there is a risk that notices (postcards and the like) will not reach you. At the same time as the procedure at the local office, be sure to file a 「転居届」 (change-of-address notification, for forwarding your post) at the post office.
Telling the company (the accepting organisation)
For a 特定技能 application, the company also needs to know your address accurately. As soon as you have moved, give the company a copy of your new 住民票 (certificate of residence) and any other papers it needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I move house, do I have to notify the 出入国在留管理庁 directly?

As a rule, no. If you file a moving-in notification at the city or ward office for your new address and have the new address written on the back of your 在留カード, that information is passed on automatically to the system of the 出入国在留管理庁.

By when do I have to complete the change-of-address procedure?

Within 14 days of moving, take your 在留カード to the office for your new address and complete the moving-in procedure.

When is the 「所属機関に関する届出」 needed?

When you leave a company, or when your company changes. In that case you must notify the 出入国在留管理庁 directly, online or by post. It is a completely separate procedure from a change of address.

What should I watch out for if I move house while an application to change my status of residence is pending?

Write the new address as changed at the local office on the application form, and file a change-of-address notification at the post office so that notices reach you. Also give the company a copy of your new 住民票 and any other papers it needs.

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This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.