Enroll in National Health Insurance

If your employer does not enroll you in shakai hoken (company health insurance), you must enroll in National Health Insurance (kokuho) within 14 days of registering your address. In many cases, you can handle this at the same counter as your move-in notification.

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Complete the situation questionnaire to see a personalized document list for your visa type and employment status

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Documents needed

✓Residence Card

✓Passport

✓Something showing your My Number (can be confirmed at the counter after move-in registration)

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Steps

Go to the move-in notification counter or the National Health Insurance counter

Fill in the enrollment form and present your Residence Card and Passport

A 'Qualification Confirmation Card' or 'Eligibility Information Notice' will be issued or mailed to you (varies by municipality and My Number health insurance registration status)

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Important notes

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Enroll within 14 days of your registration date — delays may create a gap in coverage

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Premiums are based on the previous year's income. If you had no income in Japan in the prior year, you may qualify for a reduction — but the calculation method varies by municipality, so ask at the counter

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International students can also enroll in National Health Insurance. Check whether your school offers its own insurance plan first

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If you later join a company and enroll in employer health insurance, you must withdraw from National Health Insurance

🔗 Related procedures

Move-In Notification

Register your address at the city or ward office of your new location. If moving from within Japan, you must complete the move-out notification first. If arriving from abroad for the first time, no move-out certificate is required.

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Enroll in National Pension

If you are 20 or older and not enrolled in a company welfare pension (kosei nenkin), you must enroll in National Pension (kokumin nenkin) as a Category 1 insured person within 14 days of registering your address. This is usually handled at the same counter as National Health Insurance.

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