New Residence Card Goes in Effect Today


Starting today, the old 外国人登録証明書 {gaikokujin tōroku shōmeisho} (Alien Registration Card, aka "ARC", sometimes called "Gaijin Card") will no longer be issued. Instead, a new 在留カード {zairyū kādo} (Residence Card) will be issued in its place. New immigrants to Japan will be issued these cards starting today, and existing aliens will either voluntary exchange their old ARC for a new Residence Card anytime before the expiration of their current ARC. Additionally, similar the local resident registration will cover both Japanese and foreigners (before the foreign registration was completely separate), and foreigners will have a registration card (住民票 {jūminhyō}) that is similar, though not identical (matters related to one's "foreign country" such as status of residence, passport details, and county of origin, are recorded on the alien's version) to a Japanese citizens.

In order to make this site as up-to-date as possible, I will be going through all old entries starting this week and slowing changing or eliminating references to the old ARC so new information about the Residence Card takes precedent. Obviously, I will leave in references where it makes sense like when talking about the ARC from a historical context.
Eagle-eyed readers may notice that I change entries all the time (especially right after I post a new entry; I don't proofread as much as I should) — often in response to a typo or mistake found after the fact or an error or addition contributed by someone who comments or sends us an email. Regarding surreptitious edits, please read our disclaimer.
I will be talking to my sources, both at immigration and at the Bureau of Legal Affairs, regarding how this change affects the naturalization process. I suspect the following things may be affected:

  • Either existing documentation that mentions the ARC card or the 外国人登録原票記載事項証明書 {gaikokujin tōroku gempyō kisai jikō shōmeisho} (itemized long form proof of foreigner registration) may be replaced, appended, or hand edited in advance or on-the-fly to reflect the new Residence Card system.
  • There may be a new documentation requirement that needs the alien version of the 住民票 {jūminhyō} (local residence registration card)
  • Additional documentation may be required to supplement one's information, as the Residence Card has slightly different (in other words, less) information than the original ARC
  • Special Permanent Residents have there own version of the card, the Special Permanent Resident Certificate (特別永住者証明書 {tokubetsu eijūsha shōmeisho}), which is for all purposes (including the RFID chip) identical to the Residence Card but with slightly different information (a sinogram name) and slightly different design and color. Naturalization procedures for them may differ slightly as well.
Now, here's where I may need help from you. As I'm no longer non-Japanese, I can't personally experience the procedures relating to naturalization with a Residence Card. Everybody knows that one's personal experiences and situations invite undiscovered differences that can't be well accounted for in official written procedures or documentation. I will have never experienced life as a foreign in Japan with a Residence Card. Now I've been part of a form of bureaucratic system that no longer exists in Japan, I can officially claim that I'm an "old timer".

If you are naturalizing right now (or are in the future) — and I know not a few of you reading this site are due to your emails — I'd appreciate it if you could comment (or email privately if you prefer. I will keep you anonymous if you wish) regarding how the change to the new system is affecting you in mid-process.

I'm also interested in new immigrants who are naturalizing on how those with Residence Cards are treated in terms of needed documentation and what, when, and how they ask for documentation related to it.

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