41.04 Digital Government & Civic Services
Japan’s digital portals can save hours of queueing if you know which documents to prepare. This note keeps the essentials close so errands from 41.02 Arrival and First Months finish faster.
My Number card & MyPortal
- Start with the J-LIS My Number card guide for application steps, photo rules, and the PINs you set at pickup.
- Collect the card at your ward office when the issuance notice arrives. You will set four PINs on the spot; store them somewhere safe.
- Activate the optional smartphone certificates if you plan to use the MyPortal app for vaccination records, tax data, or childcare notices.
Certificates at convenience stores
- After enabling the service at your municipal office, you can print resident certificates (住民票), seal registration proofs, and tax statements at 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, and other participating chains.
- J-LIS maintains the service list and outage calendar so you know which stores support the machines and when maintenance shuts them down.
- Bring your My Number card and the four-digit copy PIN. The machine rejects requests after three incorrect attempts, so double-check the numbers before you start.
Tax filing and online payments
- The National Tax Agency English portal links to income tax, consumption tax, and telephone support for non-Japanese filers.
- e-Tax (national returns) requires a My Number card plus either an IC card reader or the My Number mobile app. Install the software before February to avoid last-minute troubleshooting.
- For local tax, confirm whether your city supports the eLTAX portal. Tokyo’s 23 wards and many major cities already allow online filings for individuals and businesses.
Pension and social security accounts
- Register for Nenkin Net once your pension handbook arrives. The site lets you check contributions, print certificates, and request the lump-sum withdrawal form when you leave Japan.
- The Japan Pension Service English site explains the types of social insurance and points to multilingual call centres.
- If your employer handles enrolment digitally via e-Gov, confirm the schedule when you change jobs so coverage does not lapse mid-year.
Residency maintenance checklist
| Timing | Action | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days before expiry | Confirm renewal eligibility and gather employer or school letters. | Residence card, passport, proof of employment or enrolment. |
| 60 days before | Collect financial proofs. | 最新の源泉徴収票 or 確定申告控え, Nenkin Net contribution printouts, health insurance premium notices. |
| 30 days before | Submit renewal application and request a re-entry permit if travel is planned. | Immigration form, photo, revenue stamp, travel itinerary. |
| Mid-year (July) | Reconcile municipal tax and health invoices. | Resident tax receipts, National Health Insurance bill, Nenkin Net ledger. |
| After approval | Update municipal offices and digital services. | New residence card, My Number card, passport. |
Use 55.06 Immigration Status Maintenance for the detailed document lists and 55.07 Japan Pension Service Nenkin Net when downloading contribution records.
Moving notifications and mail forwarding
- Review the Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook for Living and Working in Japan” before you move; it bundles address change forms, school enrolment steps, and disaster-preparedness tips.
- Submit Japan Post’s online change-of-address form or visit a post office with ID so mail forwards while municipal registries update.
- Share your new address via MyPortal’s message box whenever your city supports it—more municipalities send child allowance notices and tax reminders digitally.
Related notes
- residency-essentials for national helplines and support desks.
- after-the-first-month for the first 30-day paperwork timeline.
- digital-communication-tools for setting up LINE alerts, Japan Post e-notifications, and NHK registration.