Between My Number Card registration, ward office procedures, National Health Insurance, pension contributions, vehicle inspection (shaken), and annual tax filing, residents in Japan face a maze of administrative tasks with strict deadlines. Missing them can mean fines, lapses in coverage, or bureaucratic headaches.
Government & Ward Office Tasks
Track residence registration, My Number, ward office procedures, and government portal (e-Gov) requirements
Foreigner Residency Tracking
Residence Card renewal, visa status, re-entry permit — never miss an Immigration Bureau deadline
Health & Pension
National Health Insurance payments, pension (kokumin nenkin) contributions, and employer health insurance tracking
Vehicle & Renewal Reminders
Shaken (vehicle inspection), road tax, insurance — automatic alerts well before expiry
Stay on top of these critical household requirements in Japan.
My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) — register at ward office. Update residence registration (jūminhyō) within 14 days of moving. Notify ward of address changes.
National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) monthly payments. Kokumin Nenkin (national pension) contributions due monthly. Employer health insurance (shakai hoken) if employed.
Kakutei shinkoku (確定申告) due by March 15 for the prior year. Freelancers, multiple income earners, and those with medical deductions must file. Use e-Tax via My Number Card.
Mandatory vehicle inspection (車検) every 2 years for vehicles older than 3 years. Book at an authorized garage. Road tax (jidōsha-zei) paid annually in May. Compulsory car insurance (JCI) must be current.
Update address with Japan Post, bank, and utilities when moving. Council tax (jūminzei) billed annually. Gas, electricity, and water transfer on move-in/out.
Japanese passport renewal via Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外務省). Foreigner Residence Card renewal at Immigration Bureau before expiry. Re-entry permits and visa status tracking.
Navigate Japan's key government systems:
Japan's national ID card. Apply at your ward office. Required for tax filing via e-Tax, My Number Portal, and an increasing range of government services.
Learn more →Japan's central government online services portal. Access applications, procedures, and notifications across ministries.
Learn more →File kakutei shinkoku (tax return) by March 15. Use e-Tax with My Number Card for online filing. Check withholding tax, deductions, and refunds.
Learn more →Forward mail when moving (転居届). Available online or at any post office. Free for up to 1 year.
Learn more →Residence Card renewal, visa extension, change of status, and re-entry permits for foreign residents.
Learn more →Everything you need to know about Japan life administration
My Number (マイナンバー) is Japan's 12-digit national identification number. It's used for tax, social security, and disaster relief. The My Number Card (physical ID) is increasingly required for government services, e-Tax filing, and health insurance. Apply at your ward/city office — processing takes 1–2 months.
Kakutei shinkoku is due by March 15 for income earned in the prior calendar year. Salaried workers whose taxes are withheld by employers generally don't need to file unless they have additional income, large medical expenses, or home loan deductions. Self-employed and freelancers must always file. Use e-Tax with your My Number Card for online submission.
Shaken (車検) is a mandatory roadworthiness inspection. New cars require shaken after 3 years, then every 2 years. It includes safety checks, emissions tests, and mandatory insurance renewal. You can use a dealer (dealership shaken) or an independent garage (user shaken). Book at least a month in advance. Costs typically range from ¥60,000–¥150,000+ depending on the vehicle.
Foreign residents must renew their Residence Card (在留カード) before it expires at an Immigration Bureau office. Renewal should be done 3 months before expiry. You'll need your current card, passport, and renewal application form. Long-term residents (permanent residents) renew every 7 years. Check your card's expiry date carefully — overstaying your visa status has serious consequences.
National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 / Kokumin Kenkō Hoken) covers residents not enrolled in employer-based insurance. Premiums are set by your municipality and based on income. Enroll at your ward office within 14 days of arriving or losing employer coverage. It covers 70% of most medical costs. Failure to pay premiums can result in reduced coverage.