Guide
What is a juminhyo? Japan's certificate of residence, explained
Japan Translations · Certified document translation only · Last reviewed
A juminhyo (住民票) is Japan's municipal resident record, documenting who lives at an address, when they registered, and the makeup of the household. If an immigration office, bank, or pension agency asks for a "certificate of residence from Japan," this is the document required. Below is an overview of what it contains, how to request one even after moving abroad, and when you need a certified English translation.
Juminhyo vs. koseki: not the same document
Japan keeps two separate registers about you, and overseas authorities frequently ask for one when they actually need the other.
- The juminhyo records where you live. Maintained by the municipal office of your current or former address, it shows your street address, date of registration, previous address, and household details. What you receive at the counter is formally a copy of the resident record (juminhyo no utsushi), but officials and everyone else simply call it a juminhyo.
- The koseki records family events. It tracks births, marriages, divorces, and deaths, and is registered to your legal domicile (honseki) rather than where you live. Immigration filings often require both documents. For information on the family register, see our guide on translating your own koseki.
What a juminhyo lists
Standard entries include your full name, date of birth, sex, address, date of registration at the current address, previous address, and relationship to the head of household. Certain fields appear only if explicitly requested when ordering the certificate: other household members and their relationships, registered domicile (honseki), MyNumber, and, for foreign residents, nationality and status of residence. Receiving authorities typically specify which optional entries they require, so check their guidelines before requesting the document.
Below is a sample of how a residence certificate appears in certified English translation, using fictitious details:
CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCE
(JUMINHYO — 住民票)
| Name | YAMADA Taro |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 5, 1990 |
| Sex | Male |
| Relationship to head of household | Head of household |
| Address | 1-2-3 Honmachi, Chuo City, Wakayama Prefecture |
| Date of registration at current address | April 1, Heisei 30 (2018) |
| Previous Address | 4-5-6 Sakuramachi, Kita City, Osaka Prefecture |
This is to certify that the above is a true copy of the resident record on file.
August 1, Reiwa 8 (2026)
Mayor of Chuo City, Wakayama Prefecture
[Official seal: Mayor of Chuo City]
How to get a juminhyo
- In Japan: You can obtain a copy in person at your municipal office, by mail, or at a convenience store terminal using a MyNumber card. Only the municipality where you are registered can issue the record, and the certificate is issued in Japanese. Each municipality sets its own fee, and the fee can also depend on how you request the copy: the City of Osaka charges 300 yen per copy, or 200 yen through a convenience store terminal, and Shibuya City charges 300 yen at the counter and 200 yen by mail. The municipality does not set a validity period for the copy. The authority receiving it decides how recent it must be, and Nakano City notes that copies issued within the last three or six months are commonly asked for.
- From overseas, through a proxy: Municipalities accept requests submitted by a designated proxy (dairinin) carrying a signed power of attorney. Most offices also accept applications sent by mail from abroad, though procedural details vary. Having a friend or family member in Japan visit the counter with your power of attorney is usually the fastest option.
- After you have moved out of Japan: Once your move abroad is processed, your entry is archived and the municipality issues a removed resident record (juminhyo no jokyo). This document confirms your final Japanese address and departure date, which is usually what overseas procedures need as proof of past residence in Japan. Under a 2019 revision to the enforcement order, in force from 20 June 2019, removed records are retained for 150 years instead of the previous five, so records once considered unobtainable may now be issued.
When you need it translated
Because the certificate is issued in Japanese, submissions abroad require an English translation. Official procedures generally require a certified translation accompanied by a signed statement of accuracy from the translator. Common examples include visa and immigration filings establishing residence history, overseas pension and social security claims, international banking requirements tied to a Japanese address, and driver licence exchanges where residence proof is accepted. A certified juminhyo translation mirrors the certificate's format so reviewing officers can easily compare it against the Japanese original line by line. What each authority expects from the translator's certificate is set out on our pages for USCIS, UKVI, IRCC, and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Common questions
- Can I get a juminhyo in English? No. The certificate of residence is issued in Japanese, and the accepted route is a certified English translation of the Japanese original.
- Is "certificate of residence" the same as juminhyo? Yes. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, in its English guidance for foreign residents, calls the register entry the Resident Record and the certificate a municipality issues a Copy of the Resident Record. Certificate of residence, residence certificate, and resident record all refer to this document. However, Japanese consulates abroad issue a different certificate, the zairyu shomei (certificate of residence abroad), which confirms a Japanese citizen's residence outside Japan rather than their address within Japan.
- I left Japan years ago. Can I still prove I lived there? In most cases, yes. You can request the removed resident record (juminhyo no jokyo) from the municipal office of your last address in Japan.
- Do I need the honseki or MyNumber printed? Follow the document instructions of the requesting authority. As a rule, leave MyNumber off the certificate unless it is explicitly requested, as many authorities refuse documents that include it.
Sources (last reviewed 19–26 September 2026)
- Basic Resident Registration Act, Articles 7, 12 and 30-45 (recorded items, who may request, items omitted unless asked for, entries for foreign residents)
- Order for Enforcement of the Basic Resident Registration Act, Article 34 (150-year retention of removed records)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Notice Sogyoju No. 19 of 31 May 2019 (retention extended from five years to 150, in force 20 June 2019)
- City of Nagoya, Items shown on a copy of the resident record
- City of Osaka, Requesting a copy of a resident record, including removed records (proxies, postal requests, fees)
- Shibuya City, Requesting a copy of a resident record (fees at the counter and by mail)
- Nakano City, FAQ: Does a copy of the resident record have a validity period?
- City of Ichinomiya, FAQ: How many months is a resident record valid for?
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Resident Record (English guidance for foreign residents)
- Convenience-store certificate issuance, operated by J-LIS (certificates available from kiosk terminals)
Counter procedures, fees, and what a municipality will post abroad vary between offices and change without notice. Check the published notice of the municipality holding your record before you send a request.
A certified juminhyo translation costs $24.95 per page (most juminhyo are a single page), includes a signed certificate of accuracy, and is delivered within 48 hours. Get a fixed quote.