Lost Your Residence Card in Tokyo? How to Get a Police Certificate (2026)

Information current as of March 2026, based on official guidance from the Metropolitan Police Department (Keishicho), the National Police Agency, and the Immigration Services Agency/Ministry of Justice procedures pages.

Hanami at Ueno Park is amazing—until the moment you realize your wallet or card case is missing and your Residence Card (在留カード / Zairyu card) was inside. If you searched “lost residence card Ueno Police Station Tokyo” in a panic, this guide is for you.

I’m writing this as someone who built LO-PAL because I’ve lived the “I don’t know how to ask for the right thing” stress abroad. When I moved to Manchester in my early twenties with limited English, even a simple phone call felt like a wall—so I take paperwork anxiety seriously, and I’ll keep this practical and step-by-step.

Item	Amount / count	Source / as-of date
Time limit to apply for Residence Card reissue after you learn it’s lost	Within 14 days	Immigration Services Agency procedure page (MOJ/ISA) (page is the official reference)
Ueno Police Station (window services incl. lost property)	Weekdays 8:30–16:30 (closed weekends/holidays)	Keishicho: Ueno Police Station info (updated Jan 4, 2022)
Nearest station to Ueno Police Station	Ueno Station ~5 minutes on foot	Keishicho: Ueno Police Station info (updated Jan 4, 2022)
MPD “Lost Item Search” inquiry hours	Weekdays 8:30–17:15	Keishicho: Lost item search (updated Aug 1, 2025)

What to do in the first 30 minutes (freeze cards, check likely places, call facilities)

This is the “stop the bleeding” phase. Your goal is to (1) reduce financial risk, and (2) make it more likely your card is returned quickly.

1. Freeze payment cards and accounts immediately. If your wallet was lost with credit/debit cards, lock them in the banking app or call the card issuer. Don’t wait for the police report first.
2. Check the last “touch points” in reverse order. During hanami, cards often fall out when you:
   • pay at a convenience store or yatai-style stand,
   • use a restroom,
   • pull out a phone for photos,
   • stand up quickly from a picnic sheet.
3. Call the facilities you used (fastest recovery route). Many items are found by staff before they ever reach police. If you visited museums, cafés, or a station, contact them directly first.
4. Call Ueno Park management if you think it was lost in the park. The park is managed under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government framework, and the official park page lists the management office contact as 03-3828-5644. (Ueno Onshi Park official page)
5. Check Keishicho’s “Lost Item Search” later the same day and for a few days after. MPD publishes certain unclaimed items for up to 3 months, but not everything (and not items where the owner is already identified). (Keishicho: 落とし物検索)
6. Write down the details now (before memory fades). Police will ask “when/where/what.” The National Police Agency explains that the report is used to match found items with your description, so specifics really matter. (NPA: What is a Lost Property Report?)

Item	Amount / count	Source / as-of date
Ueno Police Station (main number)	03-3847-0110	Keishicho: Ueno Police Station info (updated Jan 4, 2022)
Ueno Onshi Park management office	03-3828-5644	Tokyo Park Association: Ueno Onshi Park (page lists the contact)
Keishicho Lost Property Center (general line shown on MPD site)	0570-550-142	Keishicho: Lost item search (updated Aug 1, 2025)

File an Ishitsu Todoke for Ueno Park (why Ueno Police Station is the right jurisdiction)

Next, you need to file a loss report so police can match found items to you—and so you can get the paperwork Immigration may ask for later.

Important nuance: A lost property report (遺失届 / Ishitsu Todoke) is mainly to help police contact you if the item is found. The National Police Agency explicitly notes that a lost property report is not proof that you lost the item—it’s a record of what you declared. (NPA: 遺失届とは・注意点)

Why Ueno Police Station? Keishicho’s official page for Ueno Police Station lists its jurisdiction (管轄区) as including Ueno Park (上野公園). (Keishicho: Ueno Police Station info)

Ueno Police Station details (for your map app):

• Address: 4-2-4 Higashi-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0015 (東京都台東区東上野4丁目2番4号) (source)
• Phone: 03-3847-0110 (source)
• Nearest station: Ueno Station (about 5 minutes on foot) (source)
• Weekday counter hours for window services (incl. lost property): 8:30–16:30; no weekends/holidays (source)

Can you file at a koban first? Yes—koban can accept a loss report. But a very common trap is assuming the koban can also issue the certificate you need for other procedures. Many prefectural police pages clearly state that while you can submit a lost property report (遺失届) at a koban, certificate issuance is handled at a police station. (Aichi Prefectural Police: certificates and notes)

What to prepare (so you don’t freeze at the counter): date/time range, exact place, item description, and any identifying numbers. Keishicho also provides an English PDF with instructions on what to write in a lost property report form, including “FROM/TO” times and detailed descriptions. (Keishicho PDF: Instructions)

What to say in Japanese (short, counter-busy version):

• Start: I lost my residence card in Ueno Park. I want to file a lost item report. (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。)
• If they’re rushing you: Please give me the reception/acceptance number. (受理番号をください。)
• If you also lost your wallet/cards: I also lost my credit cards. (クレジットカードも一緒になくしました。)

How to get the police proof Immigration may ask for (reception number vs certificate)

This is the core bureaucracy point that causes most panic: Immigration may accept your reception number—but they can also ask you for a certificate. If you understand the difference, you won’t waste a day bouncing between a koban and a police station.

Step 1: Get (and keep) the reception number slip

When you file an Ishitsu Todoke, you’ll be given a reception/acceptance number (届出受理番号). The official Immigration procedure page for reissuing a Residence Card due to loss indicates that for loss/theft you report to police and you need the reception/acceptance number for your statement, and it also notes that they may request additional materials such as a lost property report certificate (遺失届出証明書) depending on the case. (MOJ/ISA: Residence Card reissue due to loss)

Practical tip: Take a clear photo of the slip, and store it in a cloud folder. If you lose the slip too, your day gets harder.

Step 2: If you need the certificate, ask for it by name

The certificate name varies a bit by what the staff is used to saying, but what foreigners most commonly need is one of these:

• Lost Property Report Certificate (遺失届出証明書)
• Lost Item Report Acceptance Certificate (遺失物届受理証明書)
• Notification Certificate (届出証明)

Use this sentence at the counter:

• Immigration needs it for my Residence Card reissue application, so I want to apply for the notification certificate. (入管で在留カード再交付申請に必要なので、届出証明を申請したいです。)

Keyword note (for what you might see online): Many people search for “Ishitsu todoke shomeisho (lost property report certificate) Tokyo” and end up confused because the report itself isn’t the same as the certificate. The certificate is what you explicitly request as “proof” for a government submission.

Option A (fastest if you’re on a deadline): Apply at Ueno Police Station window

If you’re in a hurry, go in person during the Ueno Police Station weekday window hours (8:30–16:30). (Ueno PS info)

Option B: Use the Keishicho online system (but expect extra time)

In Tokyo, Keishicho explains that certain “notification certificates” (届出証明) for submission to government agencies can be applied for online—and it explicitly lists Residence Card → Immigration → reissue application → theft/loss as eligible. (Keishicho: police certificates, online application)

Keishicho also cautions that online applications take longer than applying at the police station, and says that if you are in a hurry, you should apply directly at the station window. (same source)

To qualify for the online certificate route, Keishicho lists requirements such as: you must have filed the report with a Tokyo police station, know the station/date/reception number, and be able to receive the certificate at the station window. (Keishicho: online eligibility)

If you try online and a link is broken or the system looks different than what a friend used last year, note that Keishicho has been reorganizing online administrative procedures; for example, it states that from December 15, 2025, certain procedures moved from the National Police Agency’s site to e-Gov. (Keishicho: online procedures update)

Not sure about your case? Ask on LO-PAL.

Next step: reissuing your Zairyu card (what you can do while waiting + LO-PAL help)

Once you’ve secured the police-side paperwork, switch your brain to Immigration mode. The key is to act quickly and show a consistent paper trail.

Deadline reminder: the official procedure page states you must apply within 14 days of learning of the loss (with special handling if you learned while outside Japan). (MOJ/ISA procedure page)

In plain terms, this is the “zairyu card reissue 14 days Tokyo immigration” rule people talk about online. If you’re close to the deadline, prioritize: (1) police reception number, (2) Immigration application filing, (3) certificate if Immigration tells you to bring it.

What to prepare while you’re waiting for the police certificate

• Passport (and a copy/photo page scan).
• ID photo (commonly 4cm × 3cm). Aichi International Association and university guidance both reflect this standard requirement for reissue applications. (AIA guidance)
• Written notes for your statement (陳述書). Keep it consistent with your lost property report: date/time range, location (Ueno Park), and circumstances (“during hanami,” “while walking near Shinobazu Pond,” etc.).
• Your police report reception number (届出受理番号) and, if you obtained it, the certificate (届出証明 / 遺失届出証明書).

Cost note

Many official-adjacent guidance resources state that reissuing a Residence Card due to loss/theft is free of charge (and that other reasons may have a fee). For example, Aichi International Association explicitly states that reissuance due to loss/theft/damage is free, while “other reasons” are charged. (AIA guidance)

Always follow what the Immigration counter tells you for your case, especially if your situation involves damage, name changes, or special statuses.

One more practical reality: you may need to show ID while you’re “in between”

In daily life, losing your Residence Card is stressful because it’s your primary ID in Japan. If you’re asked for identification (for example, at a bank or when picking up a replacement), having your passport plus a copy/photo of your lost report slip and your reception number can reduce friction until the reissue is done.

FAQ

These are the questions I see come up repeatedly when people lose important IDs in Tokyo.

Is a koban reception number always enough for Immigration?

Not always. The official procedure notes the reception number is required for the statement, and it also says Immigration may ask for additional documents such as a certificate depending on the case. (MOJ/ISA procedure page)

What exactly is the “police certificate” I should ask for?

In Tokyo, it’s typically a “notification certificate” (届出証明) related to your loss report; people often call it the lost property report certificate (遺失届出証明書). Keishicho’s certificate page explicitly includes Residence Card loss/theft → Immigration reissue as an online-eligible “届出証明” type. (Keishicho: police certificates)

Can I get the certificate at a koban?

Usually, no. A common rule across prefectures is: koban can accept reports, but certificates are issued via police station counters. (Aichi Prefectural Police note)

Can I apply online in Tokyo for the certificate?

Yes, if you meet the requirements (Tokyo-filed report, you know the station/date/reception number, and you can pick it up at the station). Keishicho also warns that online can take longer than applying at the station window. (Keishicho: online police certificate application)

What if I miss the 14-day reissue deadline?

The official procedure page indicates that if you exceed the application period, you may need extra documentation explaining the reason. Don’t wait—go to Immigration as soon as possible and explain clearly. (MOJ/ISA procedure page)

Related Articles

• Residence Card Renewal Japan: Zairyu Card Updates & 14‑Day Rule
• Residence Card Renewal in Japan (2026): Online & Appointment Guide
• Tokyo Residence Card Renewal: Shinagawa Appointment + Lunch Map

Need More Help? Ask on LO-PAL

If you’re stuck on the Japanese wording (especially “reception number vs certificate”), I built LO-PAL so foreign residents can quickly connect with local Japanese helpers for questions and task support. Post what happened and what document Immigration asked for, and we’ll help you figure out the next best step.