Start with the ward where you live

Osaka’s guide directs foreign residents to their local ward office for residence registration. It distinguishes moving into the city, moving within Osaka and moving out. These are different procedures, so explain both your old and new address when asking which notification applies.

The guide gives a fourteen-day period for moving-in and changes within the city, while a moving-out notification is made before the move. Check the current ward instructions and how the rule applies to your circumstances. If you are newly arriving from abroad, tell the office rather than using a checklist meant only for a move from another Japanese municipality.

Prepare the household details

Check the identity, residence and My Number documents requested for your case. When a household relationship must be established, overseas documents and a Japanese translation identifying the translator may be needed. Ask the ward office for the exact requirements before arranging a visit, especially for a family moving together.

Write the complete Japanese address, including the building and room, and keep name spellings consistent. Before leaving the counter, ask what has been registered, what will arrive by post and which linked tasks remain. Health insurance, a bank, school and employer records may each require separate updates. Store receipts and the final address record securely so that the next organization receives the same accurate details.

Adapted and rewritten by Japanese.Pink from the City of Osaka’s Resident Registration. The wording and organization have been edited. Source checked: 9 November 2026.