On Arrival…
I arrived at Haneda. If you have a choice between Narita and Haneda, choose the latter because the former is technically not in Tokyo, but Chiba-another prefecture, and it just means up to an additional hour’s journey after your 11 hour flight.
I wasn’t really interviewed or asked any questions by the immigration officer; it’s highly likely he didn’t speak enough English. He just gave a few instructions to have my photo taken and fingerprints scanned. The most he asked was whether I had a certificate of Eligibility. I didn’t. He did some official stuff with my passport and handed me my residence card then and there. Easy as pie.
At the municipal office…
Unlike in the bloggers mentioned in my previous post who had to apply for an ‘alien registration’ card, my brand spanking new residence card was issued at the airport (one bureaucratic procedure sidestepped!) However it’s still necessary to register your address within 14 days of getting one. This will be printed in Kanji on the back of your card.
Once I found a more permanent place to live I went to the Municipal Office with my housing contract to effectively tell Japan where to find me. My goodness it was the most painless bureaucratic experience ever. I wandered up to the man at the information desk and I just said “Can you help I don’t speak Japanese” He immediately took me to the ‘foreigner assistance counter’ where a person who can speak English has the sole job of helping us go through the relative bureaucratic processes. A woman who had spent 20 years in the US effectively held my hand through the entire process.
NHI card
I registered my address and then took the opportunity to enrol in the Japanese National Health Insurance Scheme (NHI) mainly because I decided not to buy travel insurance (it’s just a scam) and seeing as I’m in an earthquake and typhoon prone country I thought I should at least take some precautions. There are maybe two forms to fill in and the option to giver permission to be an organ doner, but the person helping you will guide you through it. There’s also a booklet to take away and read. As I’m not working yet my premium comes to about 1,300 yen per month to be paid at a convenience store. There’s a whole other procedure if you get a job, leave your city and/or ward and leave Japan, but I’ll get to that when I get to that!
For all intents and purposes my immigration status in Japan is ‘Designated Activities‘ rather than working holiday. It says so on the little stamp they put in your passport and this is what you need to write when you go to register at the municipal office and for most official things.
Next thing on my list is to open a bank account then get a mobile sim card with a telephone number that can actually make a receive calls! I’m still deciding on the options, but I’ve already got my Hanko prepared so I’ll update once it’s done…