contents
1. Change of Address of Ownership Registration Holder
2. Notes in the case of sale by foreign national
3. Who may request disclosure?
4. What may be made a request for disclosure?
5. What personal information is recorded on the alien registration card?
6. Method of Disclosure
7. Handling charge
8. Submission of Identification Documents
9. Period of time required for disclosure decision
10. Where to submit the disclosure request form
1. Change of Address of Ownership Registration Holder
When you sell or purchase real estate, the procedure for registration of transfer of ownership is required.
If the address of the seller of the real estate has changed from the address recorded in the real estate registry, the change of address of the registered owner must be registered as a prerequisite for the registration of the transfer of ownership.
Let’s look at an example below:
Example 1: Seller A sells land and building to buyer B.
The address of A in the registry is 1-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, but his current address is 2-2-2 Shibuya-ku, Tokyo since he has moved.
In this case, as a precondition to applying for registration of transfer of ownership of the land and building from A to B, it is necessary to register a change of registered owner’s address to change A’s registered address (Shinjuku-ku) to his current address (Shibuya-ku).
Example 2: Seller A sells land and building to buyer B.
A’s address listed in the register is 1-1-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, but after that, he moved to 2-2-2, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, and further, 3-3-3 Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture.
In this case, as a prerequisite for the registration application to transfer the ownership of the land and building from A to B, the registration of the change of ownership registration holder’s address to change the registered address of A to the current address (Saitama City) is still required.
However, the difference from Example 1 above is the attached documents when applying for registration.
In Example 1, it is OK if you attach Certificate of Residence of your current address.
In Example 2, not only Certificate of Residence of Saitama, which is the current address, is not enough, but it is also necessary to attach Certificate of Residence of Shibuya-ku. In other words, you will need a certificate such as Certificate of Residence that confirms the connection from the address listed in the register to your current address.
2. Notes in the case of sale by foreign national
If the seller of the real estate in Japan is a foreigner and the address was transferred before July 8, 2012, the following documents are required.
– Certification of Information Recorded on Foreign Resident Registration File
(Certificate of Registered Matters of the Alien Registration Card)
This is because prior to July 8, 2012, foreigners were not registered as residents, and their addresses were not listed on Certificate of Residence. As an alternative, the Certification of Information Recorded on Foreign Resident Registration File may be submitted.
With the introduction of the new residency management system on July 9, 2012, the alien registration system was abolished, and the alien registration card is now managed by the Immigration and Residence Management Agency as personal information that can identify a specific individual.
If you wish to check your alien registration card or request a copy of it, you need make a request for disclosure.
3. Who may request disclosure?
(1) The principal person;
(2) If the principal is a minor or an adult ward, his/her legal representative (person with parental authority or guardian of an adult);
(3) A voluntary representative.
4. What may be made a request for disclosure?
(1) The alien registration card of the person making a request for disclosure;
(2) Alien registration card of a person other than the person making a request for disclosure.
However, since (2) is a request for “personal information of the person making the disclosure request that is recorded in the alien registration card of a person other than the person making the disclosure request,” in principle, personal information of persons other than the person making the disclosure request will not be disclosed (excluding information that the person making the disclosure request knows or can know as a matter of practice).
5. What personal information is recorded on the alien registration card?
The personal information recorded on the Alien Registration Card includes the following personal information that was registered with the municipality prior to the abolishment of the Alien Registration Law on July 9, 2012.
However, since the form of the alien registration card and the registration items have been revised several times, not all of the personal information may be included in the card.
(1) Name, (2) gender, (3) date of birth, (4) nationality, (5) occupation, (6) passport number, (7) passport issue date, (8) date of registration, (9) registration number, (10) landing permission date, (11) status of residence, (12) period of stay, (13) place of birth, (14) address or residence in country of nationality (15) Place of residence, (16) Name of head of household, (17) Relationship to the head of household, (18) Name and location of place of work or office, (19) Members of the household (relationship to the head of household, name, date of birth, nationality), (20) Father, mother and spouse in Japan (excluding those listed in (19)) (name, date of birth, nationality), (21) signature, (22) photograph, (23) details of registration of change, and (24) any amendments.
* If you have applied for registration of changes to the information on the registration card at the municipal office before July 8, 2012, the history of such changes (name, nationality, occupation, status of residence, period of stay, name of head of household, relationship, place of residence, etc.) is also included.
6. Method of Disclosure
The applicant may come to the Immigration and Residence Management Agency to inspect the alien registration card or request a copy of the card, or request a copy of the card be sent to him or her by mail or other means.
7. Handling charge
300 JPY revenue stamp must be affixed to the request form as a handling fee.
8. Submission of Identification Documents
Identification documents must be submitted in order to confirm identify the individual.
Examples of identification documents: driver’s license, certificate of residence (issuded within 30 days), certificate of status of residence, etc.
If the current name, nationality, or date of birth differs from the name, nationality, or date of birth at the time of the request due to naturalization or other reasons, something that shows the history of the difference (e.g., an extract from the family register) must be attached.
9. Period of time required for disclosure decision
According to the law, a request for disclosure must be made within 30 days from the date of the request.
In the case of real estate settlements, etc., it is recommended that the request should be made beforehand as soon as possible.
Please note that the actual time required for the disclosure decision, etc. varies from case to case.
10. Where to submit the disclosure request form
The Request for Disclosure Form and identification documents must be submitted (or sent) to the following address.
Submission address: Immigration Information Disclosure Section, Information Systems Management Office, General Affairs Division, Immigration and Naturalization Service Agency
Address: 13F Yotsuya Tower, 1-6-1 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and year-end and New Year holidays)
For details, please check the Immigration and Immigration Agency website.
For more information on real estate registration procedures, please contact us.