7JO Immigration Consulting Office is an administrative scrivener office located in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. Because of our location, we frequently receive inquiries about applications submitted to the Takamatsu Regional Immigration Services Bureau (Takamatsu Immigration), which has jurisdiction over the Shikoku region.

One question we recently received was:

“I’m planning to apply for Permanent Residence, but I’ll be moving to Kagawa (Shikoku) in the near future. Can I apply immediately after changing my address? If so, should I submit my application to the Takamatsu Immigration Office?”

For most applications to renew or change your Status of Residence, the timing of your application is largely determined by the expiration date of your current residence status. However, Permanent Residence applications are different. Since you can generally decide when to apply regardless of your current period of stay, many applicants are unsure whether they should apply before or after moving.

In this article, we explain whether moving to a new address affects your Permanent Residence application and how you should proceed, using practical examples.

(Although many people refer to it as a “Permanent Visa,” the official status is “Permanent Residence in Japan”. In this article, “Permanent Residence” is used as the official term.)

Can You Apply for Permanent Residence Immediately After Moving?

Conclusion: Yes, as long as your resident registration has been completed.

Many people wonder:

“I just moved. Don’t I have to live at my new address for a certain period before I can apply for Permanent Residence?”

Fortunately, there is no such rule.

As a general rule, once you have completed your resident registration at your new address and your address has officially been updated, you may submit your Permanent Residence application.

Can You Apply on the Same Day You Move?

If you are allowed to apply as soon as your resident registration is completed, does that mean you can submit your Permanent Residence application on the very day you move?
The answer is:

Theoretically, yes. In practice, however, you will probably not have enough time to complete everything on the same day.

One of the required documents for a Permanent Residence application is a Residence Record (Juminhyo) showing your current registered address.
To obtain this document, you must first complete your resident registration after moving.
However, whether you can receive your Residence Record immediately after completing the moving-in procedures depends on the municipality and even on the office where you complete the registration.

For example, if you complete your moving-in notification at a branch office rather than the city’s main municipal office, it may not be possible to obtain your Residence Record on the same day.
Even if your municipality can issue the document immediately after your resident registration is completed, the process itself may take time. Depending on how busy the service counter is, it may take longer than expected to receive the document.
If obtaining your Residence Record is delayed, you may not have enough time to visit the Immigration Office before it closes for the day.

We understand that many applicants want to submit their Permanent Residence application as soon as possible. However, in most cases, it is safer to spend the day of your move completing your resident registration, carefully reviewing all of your application documents—including your newly issued Residence Record—and then submitting your Permanent Residence application calmly on the following day or later. This approach is generally less stressful and helps avoid unnecessary problems.

Which Immigration Office Should You Submit Your Permanent Residence Application to After Moving?

If you apply for Permanent Residence after moving, you must submit your application to the Immigration Office that has jurisdiction over your new residential address.

Even if you began preparing your application before moving, and even if some of your supporting documents were issued by the municipality where you previously lived, your Permanent Residence application must be submitted to the Immigration Office responsible for your current registered address.

What If Your Home Address and Workplace Are Under Different Immigration Offices because of Remote work?

With the growing popularity of remote work and fully remote positions, it is no longer unusual for people to live far away from their workplace. In some areas with convenient transportation, commuting from a neighboring prefecture is also quite common.
In these situations, your home address and your workplace may fall under the jurisdiction of different Immigration Offices, leaving many applicants wondering which office they should use for their Permanent Residence application.

The answer is simple:

Your Permanent Residence application should be submitted to the Immigration Office that has jurisdiction over your residential address—not your workplace.

For example:
Case A

• You work for a company located in Okayama Prefecture.
• Your registered address is in Kagawa Prefecture.
• You commute to work every day by train.

→ You should submit your Permanent Residence application to the Takamatsu Immigration Office.

Case B

• You work for a company based in Tokyo.
• Your employer officially allows you to work fully remotely.
• You live with your family in Hokkaido.

→ You should submit your Permanent Residence application to the Sapporo Immigration Office.

Since the appropriate Immigration Office is determined by your residential address, you should keep this in mind if you are planning to move to a location that falls under a different Immigration Office’s jurisdiction.

Should You Apply Before or After Moving (change of your registered address)?

Unlike many other immigration procedures, applicants can generally choose when to submit a Permanent Residence application.
As a result, many people wonder whether it is better to apply before moving or after moving.

There is no single answer that applies to every situation. The better option depends on your individual circumstances. However, there are several factors that can help you decide which timing is more appropriate.

Does Applying Immediately After Moving Affect the Examination of Your Application?

One of the biggest concerns applicants have is whether submitting a Permanent Residence application immediately after moving could negatively affect the examination of their case.
If moving were likely to have an unfavorable impact on the review process, it would generally be better to submit the application before relocating whenever possible.

In reality, however, simply applying soon after moving is very unlikely to place you at any disadvantage during the examination process.
That said, there are a few points you should pay attention to, which we will explain below.

Important Considerations When Applying for Permanent Residence After Moving①：Be Prepared to Explain Why You Moved

Moving is a major life event that requires considerable time, effort, and expense. In most cases, people relocate for a specific reason or purpose.
For this reason, you should be prepared to explain the background and reason for your move. It is also advisable to briefly mention it in your application documents where appropriate.
Ideally, your explanation should clearly connect the reason for the move with the outcome.
For example:

• You were transferred to a different office by your employer.
• You and your Japanese spouse decided to move closer to your spouse’s family.
• You relocated for another reasonable personal or professional reason.

A straightforward explanation demonstrating why the move was necessary can help the Immigration Office better understand your circumstances.

Important Considerations When Applying for Permanent Residence After Moving②：Make Sure Your Employment Situation Is Consistent with Your New Address

Another important point is what will happen to your employment after you move.
Because your employment is directly related to your financial stability, it is one of the factors considered during the examination of your Permanent Residence application.

If you moved because your employer transferred you to another branch or subsidiary, there is generally no issue.
However, suppose your company’s head office is in Tokyo and employees are normally expected to work there in person, but you decide to relocate to Kagawa simply because you prefer a more comfortable living environment. In that situation, you should be prepared to explain how you intend to continue working despite the distance.
If you are allowed to work fully remotely, or if you only need to report to the office once a month, this generally resolves the concern. However, we recommend providing supporting documents showing that:

• your employer has officially approved your remote working arrangement; and
• your job duties are compatible with that working style.

Providing this information can help demonstrate that your employment—and therefore your income—will remain stable after your move.

When Is It Better to Apply BEFORE Moving?

Applying for Permanent Residence before moving may be the better option if:

• You are planning to move, but the timing has not yet been decided.
• You already satisfy all the eligibility requirements for Permanent Residence.
• You have already collected most of the required documents.

If you already meet all of the requirements for Permanent Residence, we generally recommend submitting your application as soon as reasonably possible.
This is because the eligibility requirements and required documents may change in the future. In addition, some supporting documents have limited validity periods. Delaying your application may mean that you have to obtain those documents again.

When Is It Better to Apply AFTER Moving?

On the other hand, it is generally better to wait until after your move if:

• Your moving date has already been decided and you will relocate within the next several months (for example, within six months).
• You expect to meet the Permanent Residence requirements soon, but you do not yet satisfy them with certainty (for example, because of your period of residence or annual income).
• You have only recently started collecting the required documents.

If your move is already scheduled and will take place in the near future, it is often safer to wait until you have settled into your new home before submitting your Permanent Residence application.
Moving itself involves numerous preparations and administrative procedures. Collecting documents and preparing a Permanent Residence application at the same time can significantly increase your workload and make mistakes more likely.

Submitting your application as quickly as possible is not always the best approach. Careful preparation is far more important than rushing to file an application with incomplete or inaccurate documents.

Important Points to Remember When Applying for Permanent Residence After Moving

If you submit your Permanent Residence application before moving, you will need to notify the Immigration Office handling your application after your address changes. However, the required documents and the way you collect them are generally the same as for any other Permanent Residence application.

If, on the other hand, you submit your application after moving, there are several additional points that you should keep in mind.

Submit Your Application to the Immigration Office That Has Jurisdiction Over Your New Address

As explained earlier, if you apply for Permanent Residence after moving, you must submit your application to the Immigration Office that has jurisdiction over your new residential address.
For this reason, you should check the information provided by the Immigration Office where you will submit your application, including whether appointments or advance consultations are required and whether there are any office-specific instructions for applicants.
In addition, the level of congestion varies from one Immigration Office to another, so processing times may also differ depending on where you submit your application.

Where to Obtain the Required Documents

A Permanent Residence application requires a considerable number of supporting documents. If you move before applying, you should pay careful attention to which office issues each document.

For example, your Residence Record (Juminhyo) must reflect your current registered address, so you will need to obtain the latest version after completing your move.
However, documents relating to resident tax must generally be obtained from the municipality where you were registered as of January 1 of the relevant tax year.
Documents relating to national taxes or public pension contributions may often be obtained from the tax office or pension office nearest your new residence. In some cases, however, you may still need to visit an office located near your previous address.

This is particularly important if you are relocating to a rural area. Before moving, it is a good idea to confirm where the relevant government offices are located and how you will access them.
Depending on the document, obtaining it before your move may be significantly more convenient than doing so afterward.

How to Successfully Prepare a Permanent Residence Application If You Plan to Move

①Understand Exactly Which Documents and Information You Will Need

Even if you are planning to move, the required documents for a Permanent Residence application generally remain the same.
In some cases, it may be appropriate to briefly explain the background of your move in your statement of reasons, but that part of the application can usually be adjusted later.
The first step is to gain a clear understanding of the standard documents and information required for a Permanent Residence application.

②Create Separate Timelines for Your Move and Your Permanent Residence Application

Because moving can affect your Permanent Residence application, many people naturally think about both at the same time.
However, they are actually two separate events, each requiring considerable time, effort, and planning.
Trying to handle both simultaneously can become overwhelming and increase the risk of mistakes in both processes.

Instead, begin by planning each process independently. Create an ideal schedule for your move and another for your Permanent Residence application.
If you find that the preparation periods overlap too much or become too burdensome, consider adjusting the timing of one of the two procedures to reduce unnecessary stress.

③Look for Ways to Reduce Your Workload

Both moving and preparing a Permanent Residence application involve tasks that only you can complete, as well as tasks that can be delegated to professionals.

For example, when moving, you can hire a professional moving company and choose a service package that provides more comprehensive support.
For your Permanent Residence application, you may ask an Administrative Scrivener or immigration lawyer to begin reviewing your documents and checking your application even before your move.

Most people move only a few times in their lives, and a Permanent Residence application is also something they normally submit only once. As a result, many applicants must learn the process through trial and error.
Professionals who regularly assist with these procedures, however, understand the common difficulties and know how to avoid the mistakes that applicants frequently make.

If you want to complete both your move and your Permanent Residence application smoothly, finding a reliable professional to support you can be an excellent investment.

Conclusion: You Can Apply for Permanent Residence Immediately After Moving—But Plan Your Schedule Carefully

Even if you have just moved, you can generally submit your Permanent Residence application once your resident registration at your new address has been completed.
However, changing your address may affect which Immigration Office you must apply to and where certain supporting documents must be obtained. Some documents may also require additional time and effort to collect after your move.

For this reason, it is important to carefully consider the timing of your application.
If you already know that you will be moving, we recommend organizing the following in advance:

• Which documents should be obtained before your move.
• Which documents should be obtained after your move.
• The most appropriate timing for submitting your Permanent Residence application.

Planning these points ahead of time can make the entire application process much smoother.

At 7JO Immigration Consulting Office, we work with each client to create a Permanent Residence application plan that best suits their individual circumstances.
We also provide online document reviews before your move, as well as application document preparation and advisory services for applicants who only need professional guidance.
If you would like to make your Permanent Residence application as smooth and stress-free as possible, please feel free to contact us.