Japan Immigration and Ward Office Stuff
Gaijin Card - If you are a foreign resident, and you remain in Japan for over 90 days, you must apply for a Certificate of Alien Registration. This "Gaijin Card" is helpful in getting a bank account, an apartment, and a video rental card in Japan. It is your proof of residency. To get one, go to your local city, town or ward office. Bring your passport and if you are over 16 years old, two photo I.D.s. The photos have to be taken within the last 6 months and have to measure 4 cm by 3cm, and you can't be wearing a hat in the picture The ward office will have a form for you to fill out and, if you are over 16 years old and planning to stay in Japan at least a year, they will fingerprint you (oh, fun!). It will take a week or two for them to actually make the Gaijin Card, so you'll have to come back again and pick it up (oh joy!). By the way, if you give birth to a child who has a foreign nationality, you have to get the kid a Gaijin Card within 60 days of his/her birth (bring the birth certificate). Oh, and if you die, be sure to return your card within 14 days of your death. Basically, you have to carry your Gaijin Card with you at all times. It has never happened to me, but some of my friends have been randomly stopped by the police and asked to show their card. Isn't Japan fun!! If you lose your card, you have 14 days to report it missing and apply for another one.
Re-Entry Visa Application - Once you have a proper visa and a gaijin card, you may want to leave the country to go back home or take a vacation. Well, if you want to come back to Japan after your short trip, you need to get a Re-Entry Visa. They are available in Osaka at the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau in Tanimachi. Re-Entry Permits cost 3000 yen for a single one-time re-entry and 6000 yen for a multiple-use permit. The Kyoto Regional Immigration Office is here
Changes in Status - OK, let's say you are an English teacher. You get a working visa, come here, get a gaijin card, work here a year and then you decide to renew your contract and stay another year. You go to the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau in Tanimachiand get a 1 year visa extension. Many people forget that they now have to go back to their local ward office with their gaijin card, and passport containing the visa extension, and update their resident status. You say "But my Gaijin Card isn't going to expire for another couple of years." That may be true, but you still have to update your resident status with your local ward office with in 14 days of the change.
Getting Married - When a foreigner and a Japanese national marry, in Japan, they have to go to the ward office and register the marriage. Here is what you need to bring: the family registry of the Japanese national (this is called a "koseki-tohon"), the foreigner's passport, gaijin card (alien registration card), a "gaikokujin toroku-zumishomei-sho", which is a certificate that shows that the foreigner has filed his/her alien registration in the area where he/she actually lives, and, ready for this, a certificate showing that the foreigner is legally competent to marry. It's called a "kon-in gubi shomeisho". If the foreigner is from North Korea, South Korea or Taiwan, he/she must also bring a copy of his/her family's registry.
National Health Insurance - If you have filed for an alien registration card (Gaijin Card) and you have permission to stay in Japan for at least a year, you can apply for National Health Insurance at your local ward office. Generally, if you get sick, the plan will pay for 70 % of your medical expenses. Also, if you get really sick and have to pay more than 60,000 yen for one problem at one medical institution within one month, you can apply to the ward office to have them pay for some of the amount beyond the 60,000 yen. If you die, you get around 30,000 yen. Also, normal births are not covered. Disclaimer: The preceding is for general informational purposes only. Ask for the specific details of your plan at your ward office.