Do I get in trouble for not changing my address before leaving Japan?

2 comments

1. If you’re going on vacation, that’s not actually a change of address. City Hall wants to know where you reside, which is where you live on a somewhat long-term basis, and is definitely not your hotel when you’re on the road. What you should have done is told Osaka City Hall that your moving out date is approximately the day you leave the country.

   Will you get in trouble if you don’t go to City Hall at your new place where you don’t actually reside? No, I don’t think you will. But if you’re worried about it, go back to Osaka City Hall and change the date of departure.

2. Are you leaving Japan as in not a resident anymore? or are you leaving and will be back on the same visa within a year?

   If you are leaving just temporarily (like on vacation), then you don’t need to tell city hall anything or change your residence.

   If you are leaving Japan long term (like moving out of the country), then you need to tell city hall that you are leaving Japan, not changing address. At city hall, you need to do other things too, like cancel your health insurance and pension. You don’t want to come back to Japan down the line to find out you were still responsible for paying all that.