# Juminhyo (住民票): what the certificate of residence is and how to get one

URL: https://japanhow.com/life/admin/juminhyo-certificate-of-residence/
Author: JapanHow editors
Updated: Oct 24, 2026

## Summary

A juminhyo (住民票) is a copy of your resident record from your city office. Foreign residents get one if they have a lawful status and a stay of over 3 months. It can show your nationality, status of residence, period of stay and residence card number, but Meguro City leaves these out unless you ask. As of October 2026 Meguro charges ¥300 at the counter or ¥200 at a convenience store with a My Number card. Kawasaki City says it can't issue one in English.

## Key facts

- Who gets one: Stays over 3 months
- Counter fee: ¥300 a copy (Meguro)
- Convenience store: ¥200, 6:30 to 23:00 (Meguro)
- English version: Not issued (Kawasaki); translate it

A juminhyo (住民票) is a certified copy of your resident record at the city office, and it proves where you live in Japan. Foreign residents get one once they register an address, if they have a lawful status and **a stay of over 3 months**. As of October 2026 a copy costs **¥300 at the Meguro City counter** or **¥200 at a Meguro convenience-store machine** with a My Number card. It can show your nationality, status of residence and period of stay, but in Meguro only if you ask.

**The rule most foreigners miss:** Ask for the foreigner items (Meguro City leaves out nationality, status of residence, period of stay and residence card number unless you request them.)

## What is a juminhyo?

住民票 means resident record. Every city keeps one for each registered resident. The paper you take away is a certified copy (住民票の写し), but almost everyone just calls it a 住民票.

You get a record when you register your address. Meguro City says a new arrival must notify the ward office **within 14 days** of settling at an address, with a passport and residence card (在留カード). When you move to another city, you file a moving-in notice (転入届) within 14 days of the move. See [moving within Japan](/life/admin/moving-within-japan-address-change/).

Meguro says only people with a lawful status of residence and **a period of stay over 3 months** get a 住民票. Tourists and other short-term visitors don't have one.

## What does a foreigner's juminhyo show?

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省) lists what the record holds. Your copy prints only the items you ask for or the city includes by default, and the defaults vary by city.

| Item | On a foreign resident's record? | Printed by default in Meguro? |
|---|---|---|
| Name, date of birth, sex, address | Yes | Yes |
| Nationality or region (国籍・地域) | Yes | No, ask for it |
| Status of residence (在留資格) | Yes, mid- to long-term residents | Ask for it |
| Period of stay and its expiry date | Yes, mid- to long-term residents | Ask for it |
| Residence card number | Yes, mid- to long-term residents | Ask for it |
| Head of household and relationship | Yes | Ask for it |
| My Number (マイナンバー) | Yes | Ask for it, limited use |

Your name follows the spelling on your residence card. Special permanent residents have their certificate number on the record instead of a residence card number.

Addresses from before 9 July 2012 aren't on the record. Your history under the old alien registration system is held by the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁). Meguro says to apply there for a 外国人登録原票記載事項証明書 if you need it, because the ward office can't issue one.

## Which items should you ask for?

Meguro City issues copies with these items left out by default for foreign residents: head of household and relationship, My Number, resident record code, nationality, your resident category, status of residence, period of stay, its expiry date, residence card number and alias history. If you need any of them, say so at the counter.

The receiver decides what you need. Read their checklist before you go:

- **Permanent residency:** the immigration bureau wants a 住民票 for **your whole household**, with My Number left out and **every other item included**, issued within 3 months. See [permanent residency requirements](/visa/residency/permanent-residency-japan-requirements/).
- **Driver's license conversion:** the Tokyo police ask foreign residents for a 住民票 with the specified items (特定事項). See [converting a foreign license](/driving/license/convert-foreign-license-japan/).
- **Wise:** a 住民票 issued in the last 6 months that **shows your 12-digit My Number** works as your My Number document. Name, date of birth and address must match your ID and Wise profile exactly. See [sending money from Japan](/money/remittance/send-money-from-japan/).
- **Japan Post Bank:** if your residence card has no photo, show another document such as a 住民票 when you open an account. See [bank accounts for foreigners](/money/banking/bank-account-for-foreigners-japan/).

At the counter you can say: 在留資格と在留期間、在留カード番号、国籍を記載してください (Please include my status, period of stay, residence card number and nationality).

**My Number: only when asked:** Meguro City says a 住民票 with your My Number can be given only to government bodies and to businesses handling social security, tax or disaster procedures. When you request one, the counter asks what it's for and who will receive it. Don't add My Number unless the receiver's list says so.

## How do you get a juminhyo at the city office?

In Meguro you can get your own copy or one for a member of your household. A person in a separate household needs a power of attorney (委任状), even at the same address.

Kawasaki City says you don't need a personal seal (印鑑) if you sign the request form yourself. Meguro's ward office is open on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:00, and also on Saturdays and usually the second Sunday from 10:00 to 16:30.

## Can you get a juminhyo at a convenience store?

Yes, if your city offers convenience-store issuance (コンビニ交付) and you have a My Number card. Meguro City's terms, as of October 2026:

- **Fee:** ¥200 a copy, even when the counter would be free. No refunds.
- **Hours:** 6:30 to 23:00, except maintenance days and the New Year holidays.
- **Where:** multi-copy machines (キオスク端末) in convenience stores and similar shops.
- **You need:** a My Number card with a valid user certificate and its **4-digit PIN**, or an Android phone with the smartphone certificate, or an iPhone with the My Number card in Apple Wallet. You must be 15 or older.
- **Your choices:** foreign residents can pick nationality, status, period of stay, expiry date, card number, household details and, **from 1 October 2026**, My Number.

In Meguro you can't get a deleted record (除票), address history before your previous address, or the resident record code at a machine. The service also stops once you or a household member files a moving-out notice. For the card itself, see [My Number card for foreigners](/life/admin/my-number-card-foreigners/).

## Can you get a juminhyo in English?

Probably not. Kawasaki City says its ward offices can't issue a 住民票 in a foreign language. You can translate it yourself or ask a translation company. If the receiver wants a translation made by a government office, ask your embassy or consulate.

Before you translate, ask the receiver whether they accept your own translation, and whether it must be signed. Keep the Japanese original with it.

## Juminhyo vs residence card: what's the difference?

Your residence card is issued by the Immigration Services Agency, and you must carry it. The 住民票 is a paper copy of your city record, and you request a fresh one each time someone needs it. Receivers set an age limit: immigration wants a copy issued within 3 months, Wise within 6. Don't order copies far in advance.

The two must match. Your 住民票 takes its name, status and period of stay from your residence card. For visa or permanent residency questions about your own case, ask the immigration bureau or an immigration specialist (行政書士).

**More guides:** [My Number card for foreigners](/life/admin/my-number-card-foreigners/) · [moving within Japan](/life/admin/moving-within-japan-address-change/) · [permanent residency requirements](/visa/residency/permanent-residency-japan-requirements/) · [converting a foreign license](/driving/license/convert-foreign-license-japan/)

## Questions people ask

### What does juminhyo mean?

住民票 means resident record. What you get at the city office is a certified copy of it (住民票の写し), which proves your name, date of birth and address in Japan, plus status details for foreign residents if you ask for them.

### Can I get a juminhyo in English?

Not from Kawasaki City, which says its ward offices can't issue it in a foreign language. Translate it yourself or use a translation company, and ask your embassy or consulate if a government-made translation is required.

### Can I get a juminhyo at 7-Eleven or Lawson?

Yes, if your city offers convenience-store issuance and you have a My Number card with a valid user certificate and its 4-digit PIN. In Meguro City it costs ¥200 a copy, from 6:30 to 23:00, at multi-copy machines.

### Should my juminhyo show my My Number?

Only if the receiver asks for it. Meguro City says a copy with My Number can only be given to government bodies and to businesses handling social security, tax or disaster procedures. Immigration asks for a household copy without My Number for permanent residency.

### What is the difference between a juminhyo and a residence card?

The residence card (在留カード) is issued by immigration and you carry it at all times. The 住民票 is a paper copy of your record at the city office, and it shows your status and card number only when you ask for them.

## Sources

- [外国人住民に係る住民基本台帳制度](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/c-gyousei/zairyu/resident_record.html), Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [外国人住民の住民登録](https://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/koseki/kurashi/foreigners/gaikokujinjyuumintouroku.html), Meguro City (目黒区) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [住民票の写し等の窓口での請求](https://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/koseki/kurashi/juuminhyou/shomeimadoguchiseikyu.html), Meguro City (目黒区) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [住民票の写しをコンビニ交付サービスで取得するとき](https://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/koseki/kurashi/juuminhyou/conveni_jyumin_shomei.html), Meguro City (目黒区) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [永住許可申請](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/zairyu_eijyu01.html?lang=ja), Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [外国で取得した運転免許証を日本の運転免許証に切り替えるには](https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/kokugai05.html), Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [外国語の住民票の写しや戸籍謄本は区役所で交付してもらえますか？](https://www.city.kawasaki.jp/templates/faq/250/0000047924.html), Kawasaki City (川崎市) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [外国籍の人の住民票を請求したいのですが、どこで取れますか。](https://www.city.kawasaki.jp/templates/faq/250/0000125789.html), Kawasaki City (川崎市) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [Getting verified in Japan](https://wise.com/help/articles/2968293/getting-verified-in-japan), Wise (accessed Oct 24, 2026)
- [外国人のお客さまの口座開設](https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/kaisetu/kat_gaikokujin.html), Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) (accessed Oct 24, 2026)