Move-Out and Move-In Notices in Japan: When to File, Counting the 14 Days, Weekends and What to Bring
When you move to another municipality in Japan, you must file a move-out notice with the office for your old address and a move-in notice with the office for your new one. Many people get stuck on the deadlines: how many days ahead can the move-out notice be filed, does moving day count toward the 14 days for the move-in notice, and what if the deadline falls on a weekend? This article explains the difference between move-out, move-in and change-of-address notices, when the move-out notice opens and the three ways to file it, how to count the 14 days correctly, what to do when a deadline lands on a weekend, public holiday or the New Year break, what to bring to each counter, and what happens if you're late, with examples using real dates.
Move-out, move-in and change-of-address notices
The notices that transfer your resident record fall into two patterns depending on whether your new home is in the same municipality. Moving to another municipality takes two filings, a move-out notice then a move-in notice. Moving within the same municipality takes one, a change-of-address notice.
| Notice | Who files | Where | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move-out notice | People moving to another municipality | Office for the old address | Before the move (from about 14 days ahead) |
| Move-in notice | People who have moved in from another municipality | Office for the new address | Within 14 days of moving in |
| Change-of-address notice | People moving within the same municipality | Office for the municipality you live in | Within 14 days of moving in |
The 14 days for move-in and change-of-address notices are set by the Basic Resident Registration Act (Articles 22 and 23). The change-of-address notice you file with the post office asks them to forward your mail, and is a completely separate procedure from the one you file with your local government. The process for moving within the same municipality is in Moving within the same city.
When can you file a move-out notice? Three ways to file
The move-out notice should in principle be filed before you move (Basic Resident Registration Act, Article 24). When filing opens varies by municipality, but about 14 days before the planned moving date is typical. Many municipalities still accept it within 14 days after the move, but that means a trip back to your old office, so it's best to finish it beforehand.
| How to file | What you need | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| At the counter of your old office | ID, a personal seal (depending on the municipality), National Health Insurance card (if enrolled) | Moving-out certificate (issued on the spot) |
| By post | The move-out form, a copy of your ID, a stamped return envelope | Moving-out certificate (sent by post) |
| Mynaportal (online) | My Number Card, PIN for the signature certificate (6–16 characters) | No paper moving-out certificate |
Filing a move-out notice automatically cancels your seal registration at the old address. Many municipalities also let you give up National Health Insurance and file the notice ending child allowance at the same counter on the same day. Doing them together means only one trip to your old office.
Points to watch when filing the move-out notice online
With a My Number Card, you can file the move-out notice online through Mynaportal's moving one-stop service and tell the office you're moving to when you plan to visit. Not having to go to your old office is a big advantage, but there are a few points to watch.
- You still have to go to the counter for the move-in notice: only the move-out notice can be done online. You or someone in your household must go to the office for your new address with the My Number Card.
- The move-in notice must be within 30 days of the planned move-out date and within 14 days of moving in: with an online move-out, once 30 days have passed since the planned move-out date you can no longer file the move-in notice as is, and you'll have to get a moving-out certificate from your old office instead.
- Check your PINs in advance: when the card address is updated along with the move-in notice, you enter the 4-digit PIN. The signature certificate (6–16 characters) expires when your address changes, so if you use it for e-Tax or similar, have a new one issued.
Counting the 14 days for a move-in notice: moving day doesn't count
When a period is counted in days, the law says the first day isn't counted (Civil Code, Article 140). For a move-in notice, the day after you start living there is day 1, and the deadline is your moving day plus 14.
| Day you moved in | Day 1 | Deadline (day 14) |
|---|---|---|
| November 1 | November 2 | November 15 |
| March 27 | March 28 | April 10 |
| December 20 | December 21 | January 3 |
The reference point is the day you started living there, not the day your belongings arrived or the lease start date. You also can't file a move-in notice until you've actually moved in. It can't be filed in advance. Not counting the first day works the same way as counting business days, covered in detail in How to count business days.
What if the deadline falls on a weekend, holiday or the New Year break?
There is a rule that when a filing deadline falls on a day the office is closed, it moves to the next working day (Local Autonomy Act, Article 4-2, paragraph 4). But municipalities explain this differently, and the day it moves to can be crowded, so the safe choice is to finish by the office's last working day before the deadline. Some municipalities open weekend counters for move-in notices in March and April.
| Moving day | Move-in notice deadline | Previous working day |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 2026/11/1 | Sun 11/15 | Fri 11/13 |
| Sat 2027/3/27 | Sat 4/10 | Fri 4/9 |
| Sun 2026/12/20 | Sun 2027/1/3 (New Year break) | Mon 12/28 |
Moves in late December need extra care. If the New Year closure of government offices (December 29 to January 3) overlaps the deadline, the previous working day goes back to December 28. If you move on December 20, the deadline is January 3, but in practice you can only visit the counter by December 28 or from January 4 onward.
What to bring for the move-in notice and what to do on the same day
- Moving-out certificate (not needed if you filed the move-out notice online; bring your My Number Card instead)
- ID for the person at the counter (driver's license, My Number Card, etc.)
- My Number Cards for everyone in the household, and each card's 4-digit PIN
- A letter of authorization if a proxy files (many municipalities don't require one for a household member)
- For National Health Insurance, something showing your My Number; for seal registration, the seal to register
- If you have children in elementary or junior high school, the certificate of enrollment and textbook issuance certificate from the previous school
Once the move-in notice is filed, your resident record moves to the new address, and the same day you can go on to update the address on your My Number Card, join National Health Insurance, apply for child allowance, register your seal and receive a school transfer notice for your children. Children attending public elementary or junior high school take that notice and the two certificates from their previous school to the new school. Your My Number Card stops working if the address isn't updated within 90 days of the move-in notice, so it's safest to do it the same day.
What happens if the move-in notice is late?
A move-in notice is still accepted after the deadline. But if it's late without good reason, you may face a non-criminal fine of up to 50,000 yen (Basic Resident Registration Act, Article 52, paragraph 2). You may be asked to fill in a form explaining the delay. If there were unavoidable circumstances such as a hospital stay or disaster, say so.
- Effect on allowances and insurance: after 15 days, you may miss a month of child allowance. With National Health Insurance, even if you join late, eligibility goes back to the day you moved in, so you pay the premiums for that period in one go.
- Effect on elections: to vote at your new address, you need to have been on the resident register there for at least three months after the move-in notice. A late notice delays when you can vote there.
- Effect on certificates: if you can't get a copy of your resident record at the new address, you can't change the address on your driver's license or vehicle inspection certificate either.
To check everything from the move-out notice to the move-in notice and the license and car procedures by date, enter your moving day in the Moving To-Do List. Deadlines for the move-out notice, move-in notice, child allowance and car appear as dates, along with the previous working day if one falls on a weekend or holiday. For the overall flow, see Moving to-do list in chronological order.
FAQ
- How many days before moving can I file a move-out notice?
- Many municipalities accept it from about 14 days before the planned moving date. When filing opens differs by municipality, so check the website of the office for your old address. With a My Number Card, you can also file online through Mynaportal.
- Does moving day count toward the 14 days for a move-in notice?
- No. The day after you start living there is day 1 (Civil Code, Article 140). If you moved in on March 27, the deadline is April 10.
- What if the move-in notice deadline falls on a weekend?
- There's a rule that a deadline falling on an office closure day moves to the next working day, but municipalities explain it differently. The sure way is to file by the last working day (weekday) before the deadline. Some municipalities open weekend counters in March and April.
- What do I need for a move-in notice?
- The moving-out certificate (or your My Number Card if you filed the move-out notice online), ID for the person at the counter, and My Number Cards and PINs for everyone in the household. A proxy needs a letter of authorization, and if your child is changing schools, bring the certificate of enrollment and the textbook issuance certificate too.
- What happens if the move-in notice is more than 14 days late?
- It will still be accepted, but a delay without good reason can bring a non-criminal fine of up to 50,000 yen. You may also miss a month of child allowance, and the date from which you can vote at your new address is pushed back, so file as soon as you notice.
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