Lost Residence Card in Tokyo: Police Certificate & 14-Day Rule (2026)

Your 在留カード is missing in Tokyo — and the 14-day Immigration clock is already ticking. This 2026 guide walks you through the police side at Ueno Police Station, the difference between a 受理番号 and a 遺失届出証明書, and the Shinagawa Immigration reissue (free of charge under 入管法 §19-12).

Bottom line: If your 在留カード is missing in Tokyo, file an Ishitsu Todoke (遺失届) at the police station for the area where you lost it, then apply to reissue at Tokyo Immigration (Shinagawa) within 14 days. Reissuance due to loss or theft is free of charge. The "Ueno" piece of this guide refers to Ueno Police Station, the correct jurisdiction for Ueno Park — Tokyo Immigration does not have an Ueno satellite office.

14-day rule: 入管法 §19-12 requires reissue application within 14 days of learning of the loss; failure can mean up to ¥200,000 fine or 1 year imprisonment (§75-2).
Reissue fee: ¥0 when the cause is 紛失/盗難/滅失. Other reasons (damage, name change, etc.) cost ¥1,600.
The police paper you actually need: a 受理番号 (reception number) at minimum; sometimes Immigration asks for a 遺失届出証明書 (lost-property report certificate).
Ueno Police Station hours: weekdays 8:30–16:30, closed weekends and holidays.

Information current as of May 2026, based on the Immigration Services Agency residence-card reissue procedure, the Keishicho (Tokyo MPD) Ueno Police Station page, the Keishicho police-certificate procedure, and the e-Gov text of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

The Ueno hanami scenario, distilled:

× What didn't work	✓ What did
Filed 遺失届 at a koban inside Ueno Park, walked away with just a verbal "受理番号" the officer recited	Visited Ueno Police Station main desk the same afternoon, requested the 遺失届出証明書 in writing
Tried to book a Shinagawa Immigration slot the next morning — earliest opening was 4 weeks out	Booked online at 6am the next day for a slot two business days later (cancellations open up daily)
Assumed reissue cost ¥1,300 like a renewal — brought cash	Confirmed at Shinagawa it's ¥0 for loss/theft — saved the cash for the 6-month renewal coming up
Carried only passport during the gap; got asked for 在留カード at a bank — refused service	Carried passport + 申請受付票 (Immigration acceptance slip) + photo of police 受理番号; bank accepted on second try

Pattern distilled from common foreign-resident accounts; not all branches/officers behave identically.

Losing your 在留カード is a YMYL emergency: under 入管法 §23 you must carry it at all times, and §75 imposes a fine of up to ¥200,000 for not having it on you when asked. The author runs LO-PAL and has helped foreign residents through this exact scenario at Ueno, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. Below is the actual workable sequence — police first, then Immigration.

The 14-day clock starts the moment you realize it's gone

Under 入管法 §19-12, you must apply to reissue within 14 days of learning of the loss. If you discovered it while abroad, the 14 days start from your first re-entry. Miss the window without a valid reason and you face up to ¥200,000 in fines or up to 1 year imprisonment.

Fact	Value	Primary source
Reissue application deadline after loss	14 days	ISA procedure
Reissue fee for loss/theft/destruction	¥0 (free)	ISA procedure
Penalty for missing 14-day rule	Up to ¥200,000 / 1 yr imprisonment	入管法 §75-2 (e-Gov)
Penalty for not carrying card (§23)	Up to ¥200,000	入管法 §75 (e-Gov)
ISA Foreign Resident Information Center	0570-013904 (17 languages)	ISA center page

First 30 minutes: freeze, retrace, call

Freeze your cards. If your wallet went with the residence card, lock credit/debit cards in your banking app before anything else.
Retrace the last touchpoints. Hanami losses cluster around convenience-store payments, restrooms, photo-taking moments, and standing up from picnic sheets.
Call the venues you visited. Museums, cafés, and station offices receive lost items before they reach police; recovery is fastest through them.
If you lost it inside Ueno Park, call the park management office: 03-3828-5644 (Ueno Onshi Park).
Check the Keishicho lost-item search several times over the following days: Keishicho 落とし物検索.
Write a clean memory log now. Date, time range, exact place, route, and what was inside the card holder. The NPA Lost Property Report guide describes how specifics drive matching.

Where to file: Ueno Police Station is the correct jurisdiction for Ueno Park

You can hand in a 遺失届 (Ishitsu Todoke / lost-property report) at any 交番 (koban) or 警察署 (police station). For items lost in Ueno Park, the jurisdiction is Ueno Police Station (上野警察署), per Keishicho's own jurisdiction page.

Item	Value	Source
Address	4-2-4 Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0015	Keishicho: Ueno PS
Phone	03-3847-0110	Keishicho: Ueno PS
Nearest station	Ueno Station (~5 min walk)	Keishicho: Ueno PS
Counter hours	Weekdays 8:30–16:30 (closed weekends/holidays)	Keishicho: Ueno PS
Keishicho Lost Property Center	0570-550-142	Keishicho lost-item search

Koban vs. police station: a common trap

You can file the report at a koban, and you'll get a 受理番号 there. But the 証明書 (certificate) is issued at the police station — not the koban. If Immigration later asks you for the paper certificate and you only have the koban slip, you'll have to make a second trip.

What to say at the counter (Japanese scripts)

Opening: 上野公園で在留カードを落としました。遺失届を出したいです。
("I lost my residence card in Ueno Park. I want to file a lost-property report.")
Get the number: 受理番号をください。("Please give me the reception number.")
Request the certificate: 入管で在留カード再交付申請に必要なので、遺失届出証明書を発行してください。("I need it for an Immigration residence-card reissue, so please issue a lost-property report certificate.")

受理番号 vs. 遺失届出証明書 — what Immigration actually wants

The official ISA procedure requires a 紛失・盗難に係る陳述書 (sworn statement) that includes the police reception number. The same page notes that Immigration may also request additional materials such as a 遺失届出証明書 (lost-property report certificate) depending on the case.

In practice:

受理番号 (reception number) — given on a slip or business-card-sized paper at the police. This alone is usually enough at Shinagawa Immigration.
遺失届出証明書 (lost-property report certificate) — a formal certificate issued from the police station window, not the koban. Ask for it if Immigration tells you the reception number isn't sufficient.

Tokyo's online police-certificate route

Keishicho operates an online portal for "届出証明" issuance, and explicitly lists Residence Card → Immigration reissue → loss/theft as eligible: Keishicho 警察証明オンライン申請. The same page warns that online takes longer than the station window. If you are inside the 14-day clock, walk into the station.

Reissuing at Tokyo Immigration (Shinagawa, not Ueno)

There is no ISA satellite office in Ueno. All Tokyo residence-card reissues happen at the Shinagawa main office (5-5-30 Konan, Minato-ku) or other Tokyo branches (Tachikawa, Hachioji). Book via the Tokyo Immigration appointment system — English and Chinese versions available.

Document checklist

Document	Notes
在留カード再交付申請書	Download from the ISA reissue page or pick up at the counter.
Photo	4cm × 3cm, taken within last 3 months (age 16+).
Passport	Required. If you also lost it, see the section below.
紛失・盗難に係る陳述書	Sworn statement including police reception number.
遺失届出証明書 (if requested)	Issued at police station window.
Fee	¥0 for loss/theft/destruction.

If your passport was also lost: consulate first, police second, Immigration third

You cannot apply for a residence-card reissue without a valid passport or alternative ID. The correct sequence is:

Visit your country's consulate or embassy to start an emergency passport application.
File the 遺失届 with police covering both items.
Once the new passport is in hand, apply at Tokyo Immigration. If your new passport is delayed past 14 days, bring evidence of the consulate application — Immigration will treat that as a 正当な理由 (legitimate reason) under §19-12.

Stolen rather than lost: file a 盗難届

If the card was stolen (pickpocket, snatched bag), file a 盗難届 — a separate, more formal report — at the police station, not a koban. The 盗難届受理番号 serves the same Immigration purpose as a 遺失届出受理番号. If you have renters' or travel insurance, the 盗難届出証明書 is also what your insurer will require for any replacement-card or property claim.

What if the lost card turns up later?

Once Immigration issues you a replacement, the lost original is void. Under 入管法 §19-12 paragraph 4, if you recover the original after reissuance, you must hand it in to Immigration without delay. Don't keep it "as a spare."

Living without the card during the gap

You won't have your card for at least a few business days after reissue application. During that window:

Carry your passport as primary ID, plus a photo/copy of the police 受理番号 slip.
Carry the 申請受付票 Immigration gives you at submission — it documents that your application is in process.
If stopped by police under §23, show all three. The carrying obligation is not technically waived, but with these documents in hand officers routinely accept the situation.

Multilingual help lines

Service	Number	Languages
ISA Foreign Resident Information Center	0570-013904	17 languages incl. EN, ZH, KO, ES, PT, VI, TL, NE, ID, TH, KH, MY, MN, FR, SI, UR
Houterasu Multilingual Info Service	0570-078377	10 languages (Houterasu page)
Keishicho Lost Property Center	0570-550-142	Japanese only

FAQ

Does Immigration always accept just the koban reception number?

Usually yes for Shinagawa walk-ins. The ISA page states the number is required and that a certificate may be requested depending on the case. If you have time, get the certificate from the police station — it removes ambiguity.

Is the reissue really free?

Yes — for loss, theft, or destruction, the fee is ¥0 per the ISA procedure page. The ¥1,600 fee that appears in older guides applies to reissue for "other reasons" (damage you caused, name change, etc.).

What happens if I'm caught carrying nothing during the gap?

Under 入管法 §23 and §75, not carrying a valid residence card is punishable by up to ¥200,000. Showing the 申請受付票 plus passport is the practical mitigation; officers have discretion.

Can a family member apply on my behalf?

Yes, if you are under 16 or have a medical reason. A cohabiting family member can submit the reissue application. Otherwise, you must apply in person (or through a registered 取次者).

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration procedures and police-certificate availability vary by individual circumstance, the officer at the counter, and any current policy updates. For YMYL decisions (penalties, missed deadlines, criminal record exposure), confirm with the ISA Foreign Resident Information Center or a licensed 行政書士 (gyoseishoshi / immigration lawyer). Statute citations are to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act as published on e-Gov.

Get Help Through the Counter

Police paperwork in Japanese is dense, and Immigration is a YMYL setting where one wrong document costs you another trip. Post on LO-PAL for free: a local Japanese helper can translate the 陳述書 wording, accompany you to Ueno Police Station, and walk you through the Shinagawa appointment. You only pay if you accept hands-on task help.