Arrival Guide
Your first 30 days in Japan.
Most preparation resources stop at departure. This one doesn't. Here is what you actually need to do in your first month — the legal requirements, the practical setup, and who to call if something goes wrong.
14 days
to register at city hall
Required by law from arrival date
~20%
typical salary deductions
Health, pension, tax — know before your first pay slip
3 orgs
that can help if problems arise
Labor office, Legal Aid, JFIE — all free to contact
Who this is for
SSW workers in their first month
You just arrived. You have your Residence Card and a place to stay. Now you need to do several registrations in a specific order — some of which are legally required within 14 days. This checklist walks through every step with the detail you actually need.
Workers still preparing
Knowing what arrival looks like in advance removes one more source of anxiety. Read through this before you leave so that nothing catches you off guard. The pre-departure checklist covers everything up to boarding the plane.
Arrival Progress
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Day 0
At the Airport
Your first hours in Japan set the tone. A few things need to happen immediately.
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Receive your Residence Card (在留カード) at the airport
RequiredGet a Japanese SIM card or pocket WiFi
RequiredConfirm pickup or route to your accommodation
RequiredExchange currency or withdraw from a 7-Bank ATM
Days 1–7
First Week — Required Registrations
These are legal requirements. Missing the 14-day window for city hall registration can cause problems with your visa status.
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Register at your local city, ward, or town hall (住民登録)
RequiredConfirm health insurance enrollment with your employer
RequiredUnderstand your My Number (マイナンバー)
Understand your housing situation and keep copies of your contract
RequiredDays 8–30
First Month — Getting Set Up
These are not urgent on Day 1 but you will need them within your first month.
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Open a bank account (Japan Post Bank / ゆうちょ銀行 recommended)
RequiredRead and understand your first pay slip
RequiredSet up workplace commuting route and emergency contacts
Register for Japan's national pension if not covered by employer
Learn basic workplace Japanese survival phrases
Ongoing
Know Your Rights — Always
Problems are uncommon but they do happen. Knowing what you are entitled to makes the difference.
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You have the right to a written contract — in Vietnamese
RequiredUnderstand what you cannot be forced to do
Save these emergency contact numbers
Know how to resign if you need to
Know you can claim your pension contributions back when you leave Japan
Still preparing?
Not in Japan yet? Start with the full preparation checklist.
The 28-step SSW checklist covers everything from language tests and documents through to pre-departure — before you get to arrival.
After the first month
Once you are settled, focus shifts to work performance and finances.
Track your savings progress
Use the salary calculator to model take-home pay and build a monthly savings target. Knowing your actual numbers reduces financial stress significantly.
Salary calculatorKeep building workplace Japanese
Daily vocabulary practice and scenario familiarity matter most in your first three months — when you are still learning workplace norms and communication patterns.
Vocabulary trainerReview your rights regularly
Pay slip irregularities, housing cost changes, or shift schedule problems are most likely to appear in months 2–6. Know your rights so you can identify problems early.
Rights guideUnderstand your visa renewal timeline
SSW visas are typically issued for 1 year and can be renewed. Mark your Residence Card expiry date in your phone now. Renewal requires your employer's cooperation — confirm your employer's process at month 9 at the latest.