Arrival and First Months
A timeline for your first months in Japan:
- Before coming to Japan, be sure to complete the arrival service and obtain the QR code.
- Upon arrival at immigration, present the QR code. You will be issued a residence card (zairyuu card) without a specified address. You may be asked to show your Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
- Obtain a personal seal (inkan) at a convenience store.
- Visit the municipal office where you will reside to obtain your resident registration (juuminhyou). Have your residence card updated with your address, obtain your personal identification number (kojin-bangou), and apply for a My Number card as well.
- Open your first bank account. You will need your juuminhyou, residence card, passport, and personal seal (inkan). Provide a contact number where you can receive an SMS one-time password (OTP). Your bank account may be mailed to you later.
- Subscribe to a phone service from one of the available carriers. Understand the payment method for your contract. Direct payment from your bank account will require an SMS OTP. Some carriers may offer alternative payment methods. If you donโt have a compatible smartphone, you can also purchase one from your carrier. Note that the are carriers that you could contract even before arriving to Japan.
- Start working earnestly and receive your salary from your company. Ensure they enroll you in health insurance and pension plans.
- Meanwhile, wait for a letter to apply for your My Number Card (ๅไบบ็ชๅท้็ฅๆธ). Upon receiving it, promptly apply for your My Number card through the online application or by mail. Having a My Number Card will be very helpful for your life in Japan.
- It may take weeks for your My Number Card to be processed and sent to the municipal office where you reside. You will need to collect it from there.
- You can also apply for cashless payment services, such as Rakuten Pay. Some services like PayPay may require verification with your My Number Card. Having cashless payment will be convenient if you donโt want to carry too many small coins.
- Once you have your My Number Card and health insurance card, you can apply for digital banking services (e.g., Rakuten or Sony). You will typically need two forms of identification.
- After establishing a stable income, you can apply for credit cards and other payment services that offer better rewards or points.
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