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Enrolling in National Health Insurance or Employees' Health Insurance in Japan
Document Checklist
在留カード (Zairyū Kādo)
Residence Card
Required: Original; address field must show current municipality of residence
Cost: Free
For mid-to-long-term foreign residents. The card's address field is updated through the municipal Resident Record system at the same counter.
個人番号カード (Kojin Bangō Kādo) / 通知カード (Tsūchi Kādo)
My Number Card or Notification Card
Required: My Number Card preferred; legacy Notification Card remains valid as proof of My Number where still held
Cost: Free
The Notification Card is no longer issued to new applicants but remains valid as evidence of an assigned My Number where the resident has not yet been issued the chip-card.
健康保険資格喪失証明書 (Kenkō Hoken Shikaku Sōshitsu Shōmeishō)
Certificate of Loss of Health Insurance Qualification
Where to get: Issued by the previous employer's insurer (Kyōkai Kenpo branch or specific Kumiai Kenpo society)
Required: Original — needed when transitioning from Employees' Health Insurance to NHI
Cost: Free
Used to document the coverage-loss date on which NHI eligibility begins. Without it, the municipal NHI counter may default the start date to the address-registration date, which can produce a premium gap.
パスポート
Passport
Required: Original — used by foreign residents to corroborate identity and the residence-status period
Cost: Free
Bank account details
Where to get: From an existing Japanese bank account; passbook (tsūchō) or recent statement
Required: Account holder name, bank, branch, and account number for direct-debit (Kōza Furikae) setup
Cost: Free
Direct debit is the default NHI premium-collection method. Convenience-store payment slips remain available where direct debit is not set up.
印鑑 (Inkan)
Personal seal
Required: Personal seal where requested by the municipality; many municipalities now accept a signature in lieu of a seal for NHI enrolment
Cost: Free
Practice varies by municipality. Some ward offices still treat the seal as the default expectation on enrolment slips and direct-debit mandates; bring one if it has been used in earlier procedures.
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