Moving to Osaka City? 転入届, NHI, and Ward Office Steps for Foreigners

Osaka has 24 wards. Which office to go to, what to bring, and how to file 転入届, update your residence card, and enroll in NHI in one visit.

Bottom line: When you move to Osaka City, you must visit the ward office (区役所 / kuyakusho) of your new address within 14 days. In one visit you can file your 転入届, enroll in NHI, and update both your マイナンバー and 在留カード — all at the same building. Osaka City has 24 wards, each with its own office, and multilingual support is available through dedicated city services.

Information current as of March 2026 based on the Osaka City official "Enjoy Osaka" guide, Osaka International House FAQ, and OFIX foreigner consultation services. For a complete move-to-Japan timeline, see our Japan Moving Checklist for Foreigners.

Step 0 — Find your ward office

Osaka City has 24 wards (区 / ku), each with its own 区役所 (kuyakusho). You must go to the ward office that covers your new address — not the nearest one, not city hall. Your lease contract will show which ward you live in (e.g., 中央区, 北区, 浪速区). The ward office handles all registration, insurance, and card updates in one location.

Ward offices are generally open Monday–Friday, 9:00–17:30. Some wards offer extended hours on select days — call ahead or check the Osaka City facilities page for your ward's schedule. Avoid Monday mornings and the first business day after holidays — these are the busiest times.

What to bring

Document	Japanese name	Notes
Moving-out certificate	転出届 (tenshutsu todoke)	Issued by your previous city/ward office. Required when moving from another municipality.
Residence Card	在留カード (zairyuu kaado)	Must be valid. Bring the physical card — not a copy.
My Number Card or Notification Card	マイナンバーカード / 通知カード	If you have the plastic マイナンバーカード, bring it for address update. Paper notification card also accepted.
Passport	パスポート	Bring as backup ID. Required if your Residence Card doesn't show current status.
Personal seal (optional)	印鑑 (inkan)	Not required if you sign forms in person, but useful to have.

Moving within Osaka City (ward to ward): You do not need a 転出届. Just submit the 転入届 at your new ward office.

The ward office visit — step by step

Counter 1: Resident registration (住民異動届)

Take a number at the 住民登録 (juumin touroku) or 届出 (todokede) counter.
Fill out the 転入届 (tennyu todoke / moving-in notification). Staff will give you the form — it asks for your new address, old address, household members, and move date. Some wards have English-language forms; if not, staff can help you fill it in.
Submit the form with your 転出届 certificate, 在留カード, and マイナンバーカード.
在留カード address update: The ward office staff will write your new address on the back of your Residence Card on the spot. You do not need to visit immigration — this is done right here at the ward office.
マイナンバー address update: If you have the plastic マイナンバーカード, staff will update the IC chip and print the new address. You may need to enter your 4-digit PIN. If you only have the paper notification card, the address is updated in the system automatically.

Tip: The 在留カード address change is done at the ward office — not at immigration (入管). This is one of the most common misconceptions. The ward office clerk writes the new address directly on the back of your card during the 転入届 process.

Counter 2: National Health Insurance (国民健康保険)

After completing the 転入届, go to the 保険年金 (hoken nenkin) counter — usually in the same building.
Bring your 在留カード (now with new address) and your 転入届 receipt.
Your NHI card (保険証 / hokensho) will either be issued on the spot or mailed within 1–2 weeks.

Note: If your employer enrolls you in company health insurance (社会保険 / shakai hoken), you do not need NHI. Only enroll if you are self-employed, freelance, a student, or between jobs.

Complete counter guide

Task	Counter (Japanese)	Time needed
転入届 (moving-in notification)	住民登録 (juumin touroku)	20–40 min
在留カード address update	Same counter — done during 転入届	Included above
マイナンバー address update	Same counter or マイナンバー窓口	5–15 min
NHI enrollment	保険年金 (hoken nenkin)	15–20 min
National Pension enrollment	保険年金 (hoken nenkin)	10–15 min
Child allowance / school enrollment	子育て支援 (kosodate shien)	15–20 min

Total time: Plan for 1.5–2.5 hours depending on wait times. Mornings tend to be busier.

Multilingual support in Osaka

Osaka City ward offices do not all have dedicated English-speaking staff, but the city provides strong backup through two key services:

Service	Languages	Hours	Contact
Osaka International House — Information Counter for Foreign Residents	English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese + 80 languages via machine translation	Mon–Fri 9:00–19:00; Sat/Sun/holidays 9:00–17:30	☎ 06-6773-6533 · Website
OFIX — Osaka Information Service for Foreign Residents	English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Filipino, Thai, Indonesian, Nepalese, Ukrainian + more	Mon/Fri 9:00–20:00; Tue–Thu 9:00–17:30	☎ 06-6941-2297 · Website

Strategy: Call Osaka International House or OFIX before your ward office visit to confirm exactly what your ward requires. They can also help you prepare forms in advance or explain documents you've received.

Japanese phrases for the ward office

転入届を出したいです。
(Tennyu todoke wo dashitai desu.)
— I'd like to submit a moving-in notification.

国民健康保険に加入したいです。
(Kokumin kenko hoken ni kanyuu shitai desu.)
— I'd like to enroll in National Health Insurance.

在留カードの住所を変更したいです。
(Zairyuu kaado no juusho wo henkou shitai desu.)
— I'd like to change the address on my Residence Card.

マイナンバーカードの住所変更もお願いします。
(Mainanbaa kaado no juusho henkou mo onegai shimasu.)
— Please also update my My Number Card address.

英語の用紙はありますか？
(Eigo no youshi wa arimasu ka?)
— Do you have English forms?

Deadline reminder

14-day rule: You must submit your 転入届 within 14 days of moving in. Missing this deadline can result in a fine of up to ¥50,000. The 在留カード address update is also legally required within 14 days — failure to report can affect your visa renewal.

Let LO-PAL handle the paperwork

Navigating a Japanese ward office alone can be stressful — especially when forms are only in Japanese. LO-PAL can accompany you to your Osaka ward office, help fill out every form, interpret at each counter, and make sure nothing gets missed. One visit, everything done right.

→ Book ward office support on LO-PAL