Arriving in Japan — Complete 2026 Guide: First 90 Days | VisaSHOGUN

 

🏛️ Admin Scrivener Supervised 📅 Last updated: August 2026 ✅ Based on real cases

Arriving in Japan
The Complete 2026 Guide

Everything to do in your first 90 days — before you leave, at the airport, and in your first weeks — so nothing falls through the cracks.

  • What to prepare before you leave your home country
  • What happens at the airport — residence card, work permission, SIM
  • The 14-day rule: address, bank account, health insurance, My Number
  • Money, phone, and housing — set up right the first time
  • A 30-60-90 day checklist you can actually follow
🗓️ See the Timeline ✅ 30-60-90 Day Checklist ⏰ Set Visa Reminder
⚠️
Want to work part-time from day one? If you're arriving on a Dependent Visa, you can request 資格外活動許可 (work permission) at the airport, at the same time your residence card is issued — no separate trip to Immigration needed. See the full work rules →
Practical, step-by-step guidance for new arrivals. Updated regularly as procedures change. Supervised by a licensed Administrative Scrivener (行政書士).
Overview Before You Leave Landing Day First 14 Days Money & Phone Housing Timeline Checklist FAQ
Home › Arriving in Japan
What This Page Covers

Your First 90 Days, in the Right Order

Moving to Japan involves a specific sequence of legal and practical steps — some with hard deadlines (like the 14-day address registration rule), others that are simply easier to do in the right order (like opening a bank account before your My Number is ready).

This page walks through that sequence: what to prepare before you leave, what happens the moment you land, what must be done in your first two weeks, and how to get money, a phone, and housing sorted without wasting time or money.

Stage What Happens Deadline
Before departure COE, visa stamp, insurance, housing (if arranging ahead) —
Landing day Residence card issued, work permission (if applicable), SIM Same day
First 14 days Address registration, health insurance, My Number, bank account Legal deadline
First 30-90 days Phone contract, credit history, settling in Flexible
Step 1

Before You Leave Your Home Country

1Confirm your COE and visa are in order
Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and visa stamp should be confirmed well before departure — processing has stretched to 4–7 months in 2026 for many categories, so this isn't a last-minute step.
  • Double-check your visa category matches your actual purpose (work, spouse, student, etc.)
  • See the full Visa Types guide → if you're unsure which category applies
2Arrange housing — or a short-term bridge
Signing a standard Japanese lease before you arrive is difficult (no local credit history, no guarantor, can't view the unit). Most new arrivals do one of two things: arrange a furnished share-house for the first 1–3 months, or fly in and search locally. See the full Housing guide → for the standard rental process once you're ready to sign a long-term lease.
Partner
Furnished share-house, no key money or guarantor
Oak House — book before you arrive, move in on day one
3Pack for Japan's electrical system
Japan uses Type A plugs at 100V — bring a plug adapter if your devices don't already support it, rather than searching for one after you land.
Amazon
Japan plug adapter — order before you fly
🔌 View plug adapters on Amazon →
Step 2

Landing Day — What Happens at the Airport

1Residence card (在留カード) issuance
At major airports (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu), your residence card is issued on the spot for most mid-to-long-term visa categories. Keep it on you at all times going forward — it's your primary ID in Japan.
2Work permission, if you're on a Dependent Visa
If you're arriving on 家族滞在 (Dependent Visa) and know you'll want part-time work, you can request 資格外活動許可 at this same counter — no separate Immigration Bureau visit needed later.
3Get connected — SIM or eSIM
You'll want data immediately — for maps, translation apps, and confirming your address for registration. An eSIM you activate before or on landing is the fastest option, before you have a long-term Japanese phone contract.
Partner
eSIM for Japan — activate before you land
JAPAN&GLOBAL eSIM — no physical SIM swap needed
Step 3 — Legal Deadline

Your First 14 Days

This is the one hard legal deadline in this whole guide. Everything below should be done within 14 days of moving into your address.

1Register your address at the municipal office
Mandatory within 14 days. This is also where your residence card gets your address added (if not done at the airport), and where you'll be enrolled for health insurance and My Number.
2Health insurance enrollment
Mandatory for all mid-to-long-term residents. Usually handled at the same municipal office visit as address registration.
3My Number registration
Your 12-digit My Number is issued through this same municipal registration. You'll need it for your bank account, payroll, and tax filing.
Step 4

Money & Phone — Set Up Right the First Time

1Open a bank account — start with Wise
Traditional Japanese banks often require documents you won't have yet (My Number card, months of address history). Most new arrivals open a Wise account first — it accepts just a passport and residence card, works in English, and has no visa-length minimum — then add a Japanese bank later if needed.
Partner
Open Wise before or right after you land
10-minute setup, full English, no visa length requirement
2Get a long-term phone contract once you have address history
After your eSIM/temporary data, most residents move to a standard contract for lower monthly cost once they have a Japanese bank account and address on file.
Step 5

Housing — From Temporary to Long-Term

1Moving from temporary housing into a standard lease
Once you have a job, bank account, and some address history in Japan, signing a standard lease becomes much easier — rent guarantee companies have largely replaced the old requirement for a personal Japanese guarantor.
Your Arrival Journey

The Full Timeline


Before Departure
COE, visa, insurance, housing plan
Confirm documents, arrange initial housing or a short-term bridge, pack for Japan's electrical system.

Landing Day
Residence card, work permission, SIM
Residence card issued at the airport; request 資格外活動許可 here if applicable; get connected immediately.

Days 1-14
Address, insurance, My Number
Register at the municipal office — the one hard legal deadline in this whole process.

Days 14-90
Bank, phone, settling in 🎯
Open your accounts, move toward a standard lease if in temporary housing, start building your compliance record for the years ahead.
Print This

30-60-90 Day Checklist

✈️ Before Departure / Landing Day
  • COE and visa confirmed
  • Initial housing arranged (or short-term bridge booked)
  • Plug adapter packed
  • Residence card received at airport
  • 資格外活動許可 requested, if applicable
  • eSIM activated for data on arrival
📅 First 14 Days
  • Address registered at municipal office
  • Health insurance enrolled
  • My Number issued
  • Wise (or Japanese bank) account opened
📈 Days 30-90
  • Long-term phone contract set up
  • Standard lease signed (if starting from temporary housing)
  • Visa reminder set for your next renewal
Frequently Asked

Arrival FAQ

No — the order is the opposite. Address registration and My Number come first; most Japanese banks then require your My Number to open an account. This is exactly why many new arrivals open a Wise account immediately (it doesn't require My Number to start) and add a Japanese bank once their registration is complete.
This specific landing-day process applies to Dependent Visa (家族滞在) holders. Other visa categories have different rules for what work is already permitted or how to apply for activity outside your status — see the Visa Types guide → for your specific category.
Register as soon as possible — late registration is better than none. It can become a compliance note reviewed at future renewals, so if you're past 14 days, address it proactively rather than leaving it unregistered.
Generally not recommended — most landlords and agencies want to meet you, and application requirements are easier to complete once you're in Japan. A short-term furnished option for the first 1–3 months, then a standard lease once you have income and bank history in Japan, is the most common path. See the Housing guide → for the full process.
Explore More

Related Guides

💴
Money Hub
Banking, tax, remittances
🏠
Housing
Rent, guarantors, costs
🪪
My Number Card
2026 特定在留カード
🏥
Healthcare
Insurance enrollment
👫
Family & Spouse Visas
Bringing family to Japan
🏢
Work & Life
Jobs, JLPT, daily life
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Supervised by a licensed Administrative Scrivener (行政書士) · Updated July 2026 · No spam, no sales calls

 

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