Procedures for Address, Family Register, Taxation

• Resident Registration / Residence Card
• Family Register Notifications
• Registration of Personal Seal
• Individual Number Notification Cards and My Number Cards
• Types of Certificate
• Taxation

In Japan, personal seals are used instead of signatures to confirm intent. The seal registration system certifies that the personal seal you have registered is yours.

Applying to register a personal seal

If you are registered as a resident with Toshima City and aged 15 years old or more, you may apply to register your personal seal. Basically, you are to apply for a seal registration yourself. If a foreign national living in Japan for the medium-to-long-term seeks to file such an application, it is asked that they come to the Toshima City Office in person with both the personal seal that they wish to register and also their Residence Card. It should be noted that there is a 500 yen handling charge.

If you have your Residence Card, you can receive a Seal Registration Card on the day. If somebody other than yourself seeks to file an application to register a personal seal on your behalf, the seal to be registered, a power of attorney written by you and documents proving the identity of the person acting on your behalf are required. In such cases, a Seal Registration Card will not be issued on the same day.

Seals that can be registered

• If a foreign national wants to register a personal seal, the seal should be imprint an impression of their “Full Name,” their “Surname” or their “First Name,” which are identical to how they are listed on their Resident Record under the “Full Name,” the “Alias” or the “Full Name in Katakana” headings. If persons wish to register a personal seal that imprints an impression that depicts Chinese kanji characters, the characters appearing in the imprinted impression that are the same as Japanese kanji characters only can be registered.

• Shape, Materials of Personal Seals: Seals that may be registered have an outer border and use materials that are difficult to deform. They are with the shortest side being 8mm or more and to be able to fit within a square whose sides are 25mm.

 Seals that may not be registered

• Seals that imprint an impression that lacks the items listed in your Resident Record under the “Full Name,” the “Alias” or the “Full Name in Katakana” headings may not be registered.
• Seals that imprint an impression that mix both alphabet and Japanese characters may not be registered.
• Seals that imprint an impression of just the initials taken from the “Surname” and “First Name” of an individual may not be registered.
• Seals that are imprinted an impression of kanji characters used as a phonetic equivalent by foreign nationals who are citizens of states/territories other than those where kanji characters are used, may not be registered.
• Seals carved to depict items other than a person’s full name, such as their profession, etc., may not be registered (those that feature complex designs, etc., are also not accepted).
• Seals that are made of materials which are easy to change may not be registered. (For example, those made of rubber or ebonite, and self-inking seals).
• Seals that imprint a fuzzy impression or whose imprinted characters are difficult to read may not be registered.
• Seals that do not have an outer border may not be registered. Seals that imprint the impression of an outer border that is greatly damaged may not be registered.
• Seals whose imprinting surface has been carved in reverse may not be registered.
• Seals whose size falls outside the prescribed dimensions may not be registered.

In addition to the examples above, there are other types of seal that may not be registered. Please inquire for more information.

Seal Registration Certificate

You may apply to receive this certificate by showing your seal registration card at the Toshima City Office service counter.

A 400 yen handling charge applies for each certificate that is issued.

Those who have registered their personal seal in Toshima City and have a My Number Card with a registered digital certificate can obtain a seal registration certificate by using the multifunction copy machines at convenience stores or the issuing machine on the third floor of the City Office, Tobu Residents Office or Seibu Residents Office.

A 300 yen handling charge applies for each certificate that is issued.

Inquiries

About Seal Registration Certificates:

Certifications Group, General Information Center Section, Tel: 03-3981-4766

Other:

Resident Registration Group, General Information Center Section Tel. 03-03-3981-4782