Japan has many different official authorities, and the right source depends on your situation. AIC Japan organizes important official resources by user need rather than by ministry name.
Start with the question closest to yours. For procedures, decisions and individual cases, the responsible authority has the final say.
Study
For official study information, student support and scholarships. These sources help with research and preparation; they do not replace a school’s or authority’s decision about an individual application.
Study in Japan
Start with official information for planning your studies in Japan.
Use this national information site to understand study routes, planning, schools and preparation in Japan. Begin here when you are researching study options before choosing a specific institution or procedure.
Find official student-support and study-abroad information.
Official sourceJapan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
AuthorityJASSO
Use JASSO for official information connected with international study, student support and related services. Check the current page for the program or support area relevant to your situation.
Check official scholarship information for study in Japan.
Official sourceScholarships for Study in Japan
AuthorityJASSO
Use this source to review official scholarship information and current requirements or application guidance. Availability, timing and conditions can change by program and academic year.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English
For official employment routes, labour consultation and nationwide or regional job-service discovery. A Tokyo service is shown separately and must not be treated as a nationwide office.
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)
Understand the official Specified Skilled Worker route.
Official sourceSupport Website for the Specified Skilled Worker Program
AuthorityImmigration Services Agency of Japan
Use this official site for the structure of the Specified Skilled Worker program, fields, procedures and related information. Your eligibility and route must be checked against the current official requirements.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English
Find official labour consultation information for foreign workers.
Official sourceCounseling Services and Hotlines in Foreign Languages
AuthorityMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Use this MHLW page to find foreign-language consultation services and labour-standards hotlines for workplace and working-condition questions. Available languages, days and service hours can change, so check the current official page before contacting a service.
Find a Hello Work office or employment-service location anywhere in Japan.
Official sourceHello Work location information
AuthorityMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare / Hello Work
Use this nationwide location route to identify Hello Work offices and related employment-service locations. Services, language assistance and local handling can vary by office.
Scope: NationwideLanguage: Japanese official source
Official sourceTokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners
AuthorityTokyo Labour Bureau / MHLW
Use this regional service for foreign-worker employment support in Tokyo. It is Tokyo-specific; users elsewhere in Japan should begin with the nationwide Hello Work route or their local employment office.
For immigration procedures, residence information and nationality orientation. PR is an immigration matter. Naturalization is a separate nationality procedure under the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Bureau system.
Immigration and residence authority
Start with the official immigration and residence authority.
Official sourceImmigration Services Agency of Japan
AuthorityImmigration Services Agency of Japan
Use the ISA portal to identify official information about immigration, residence procedures, support for foreign residents and related announcements. The correct procedure depends on your status and individual circumstances.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English / Japanese
Find an immigration or residence procedure by type.
Official sourceISA procedure index
AuthorityImmigration Services Agency of Japan
Use this index to locate the official procedure category that matches your question. Confirm the current requirements, forms, deadlines and responsible office before acting.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English / Japanese
Open the official Permanent Residence procedure information.
Official sourcePermanent residency permit guidance
AuthorityImmigration Services Agency of Japan
Use this official procedure page to review Permanent Residence information. It is an immigration procedure source, not a determination that a particular person qualifies or will be approved.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English
Find multilingual government information for foreign residents.
Official sourcePortal site for supporting the lives of foreigners
AuthorityImmigration Services Agency of Japan
Use this portal for multilingual announcements, living and working information, city/ward/town/village procedure categories, consultation contacts and links to related government sources. Local procedures still depend on the authority where you live.
Scope: Nationwide system / local implementationLanguage: Multilingual
Understand the official nationality-administration framework.
Official sourceNationality Administration
AuthorityMinistry of Justice
Use this source for official nationality-administration information and orientation. Naturalization is a nationality procedure separate from Permanent Residence and residence status.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English
Find official Naturalization application information.
Official sourceNaturalization permission application information
AuthorityMinistry of Justice / Legal Affairs Bureau system
Use this Japanese official source for Naturalization application orientation and the official route to check. Individual consultation and interpretation of requirements belong with the competent Legal Affairs Bureau or responsible authority.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: Japanese official source
Many daily procedures are handled by the city, ward, town or village where you live. This Hub does not provide one universal municipal procedure page. Use the official discovery routes below, then confirm the local process with your own authority.
My Number system
Check the national My Number system and related administration.
Official sourceMy Number (Individual Number) System / My Number Card
AuthorityDigital Agency
Use this source for national My Number information and the official system context. Local registration, notices and practical handling may still require confirmation with your municipality.
Scope: Nationwide system / local implementationLanguage: English
Identify local administrative and foreign-resident support routes.
Official sourcePortal site for supporting the lives of foreigners
AuthorityImmigration Services Agency of Japan
Use the portal’s local-procedure and consultation sections to identify the type of city, ward, town or village support you may need. Then check the current website or contact route of the authority where you live.
Scope: Nationwide system / local implementationLanguage: Multilingual
Use national health-system information for orientation, then confirm enrollment, coverage, premiums and local administration with the responsible insurer, municipality or provider. AIC does not diagnose or decide an individual result.
Health and welfare information
Start with the national health and welfare authority.
Official sourceMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare
AuthorityMHLW
Use the ministry portal to locate current health, insurance, welfare and related administrative information. The page language and the practical route may vary by topic.
Scope: NationwideLanguage: Japanese official source
Review official health-insurance and My Number Card information.
Official sourceMy Number Card as your Health Insurance Certificate
AuthorityMHLW
Use this English MHLW document for an overview of Japan’s health-insurance system and information on using the My Number Card as a health-insurance certificate. It does not determine your enrollment, premium, coverage or eligibility; confirm your individual situation with the responsible insurer or municipality.
Scope: Nationwide system / local implementationLanguage: English official PDF
Pension and tax questions have different official owners. National tax is generally handled by the National Tax Agency, while resident-tax and local administration may involve the municipality. Individual treatment remains case-dependent.
Japan Pension Service
Start with official pension information for foreign residents.
Official sourceJapan Pension Service
AuthorityJapan Pension Service
Use this English portal for pension-system information and foreign-resident guidance. For a notice, enrollment question or individual record, use the responsible pension office or official service route.
Review official National Pension enrollment information.
Official sourceEnrollment in National Pension
AuthorityJapan Pension Service
Use this page to understand the official enrollment route and related information. Your obligation, exemption, payment and record questions depend on your circumstances and should be confirmed with Japan Pension Service.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English
Find official national-tax information for individuals with international circumstances.
Official sourceInformation about Income Tax
AuthorityNational Tax Agency
Use this source for general national income-tax information relevant to foreign residents and international circumstances. Do not infer a personal filing, residency or tax outcome from a general page.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English
Browse the NTA’s broader official tax information.
Official sourceNational Tax Agency Japan
AuthorityNational Tax Agency
Use this portal to find current NTA information and national-tax topics. Resident tax and other local administrative matters may belong to your municipality rather than the NTA.
Scope: Nationwide / case-dependentLanguage: English
Family services usually combine a national framework with local implementation. Childcare, school, benefits and practical support may require your municipality’s current information. No source here guarantees eligibility or entitlement.
Family and children information
Start with national family and children policy information.
Official sourceChildren and Families Agency
AuthorityChildren and Families Agency
Use this portal for national family and children information and policy context. For childcare, benefits, school-related support or local services, confirm the current route with your municipality and the responsible provider.
Scope: Nationwide system / local implementationLanguage: English
Use these sources to understand consumer information, legal-support routes and reference law. They do not guarantee a refund, representation or legal outcome.
Consumer information and support
Find official consumer information and support routes.
Official sourceConsumer Affairs Agency
AuthorityConsumer Affairs Agency
Use this portal for official consumer policy, warnings and support information. For a specific dispute, confirm the correct consultation route and keep the issuer’s records and notices available.
Find official legal-information and consultation routing.
Official sourceJapan Legal Support Center (Houterasu)
AuthorityHouterasu
Use Legal-support information for legal-information and consultation-routing information, including support for foreign nationals. The service does not guarantee representation or a particular legal result.
Scope: Nationwide with local consultationLanguage: English
AuthorityMinistry of Justice / official Japanese Law Translation system
Use this reference service to access English translations of selected Japanese laws. A translation is not personalized legal advice and may not answer how a law applies to an individual case.
Scope: Nationwide referenceLanguage: English / Japanese
If there is immediate danger, call the appropriate emergency service first and follow current official instructions. This section is a source map, not medical triage or emergency assessment.
119 emergency guidance
Find official information about Japan’s 119 emergency number.
Official source119 emergency reporting guidance
AuthorityFire and Disaster Management Agency
Use this official source for general information about emergency fire and ambulance reporting in Japan. In an immediate emergency, use the emergency service rather than waiting for an online explanation.
Scope: NationwideLanguage: Japanese official source
Find official police information and national police resources.
Official sourceNational Police Agency
AuthorityNational Police Agency
Use this portal for official police information and links. For immediate danger or a crime in progress, follow the current emergency route and local police instructions.
Check official weather and emergency-warning information.
Official sourceJapan Meteorological Agency Emergency Warning System
AuthorityJapan Meteorological Agency
Use JMA for official warning information and weather-related risk communication. Local evacuation actions, shelters and instructions must be confirmed through the relevant municipality and current local announcements.
Scope: Nationwide with local actionLanguage: English
Find official disaster-prevention information and links.
Official sourceMLIT Disaster Prevention Portal
AuthorityMinistry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Use this portal to find national disaster-prevention information and related resources. The practical response, shelter and evacuation route may depend on your area and current official instructions.
Scope: Nationwide with local actionLanguage: English
Find official safety and disaster-information support for people in Japan.
Official sourceSafety Tips for travelers
AuthorityJapan Tourism Agency / Japan National Tourism Organization
Use Safety Tips for official safety and disaster-information support. It is especially oriented toward visitors, so residents should also follow their municipality, JMA and other responsible local authorities.
Scope: Nationwide with local actionLanguage: English
If you do not know which authority you need, start with the Foreign Resident Support Portal. It is organized for foreign residents and includes local-procedure and consultation routes. Use e-Gov as a broader government search and reference portal.
Foreign Resident Support Portal
Start when you are not sure which authority or service you need.
Official sourcePortal site for supporting the lives of foreigners
AuthorityImmigration Services Agency of Japan
Use this as the first general route for foreign-resident information, local-procedure categories, living and working guidance, multilingual announcements and consultation contacts. It helps you identify the relevant authority without promising a personal outcome.
Scope: Nationwide system / local implementationLanguage: Multilingual
Use e-Gov as a broad government information and search reference when you already have a likely topic or authority in mind. It is not personalized assistance and may require you to continue to the responsible ministry or local authority.
For a wider explanatory list of official websites and how to judge whether a source is reliable, continue to Useful Official Websites for Foreign Residents in Japan. That guide is a broader reference; this Hub is organized around the problem you are trying to solve.
Before you act
Use the responsible authority for official decisions. Local procedures, service availability, language support and current requirements may differ by municipality, region, provider and personal circumstances. Use the related AIC guides for preparation and context, then verify the current official route before acting. If you are unsure which authority owns a problem, return to this Hub and start with the closest need group.
