New Resident Registration System
 

With the new Resident Registration System just going into effect.

Are you applying for the new Resident ID card immediately? If I read the information circulars our old Alien Registration card is still valid to 2015. Correct?

Will there be benefits to applying for the new card sooner?

The new card contains a chip that will make it easier for authorities to keep track of you.

That's about the only "benefit" I can think of.

If you have permanent resident status and are over 16 then yes, to July 8, 2015. Otherwise the ARC is functional as Resident ID until it expires naturally.

http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact...point_3-4.html

How will they handle status changes that used to be updated on the card by the local authority? For example, if you change address, will you have to "upgrade" to the new card?

EDIT - Oh. I guess that's what this clause in mjm's link refers to?
Mid- to long-term residents will be asked to exchange their alien registration certificates for a resident card when filing an application or notifications involving the issue of a new resident card at a Regional Immigration Office

Just to clarify this: an old ARC is only valid until the holder's visa expires (not necessarily until the ARC expires)

Actually not so in all cases. Specifically mine. :)

The holder of Permanent Residency and who is over the age of 16, i.e. me, has until July 8, 2015. Were I under 16 I would have until I turned 16.

Now if my ARC were to expire before that date I would need to go get the new card.

The details are all in the link provided. :)

So the old ARC is valid until any one of the following occurs:

1. Holder turns 16 years of age
2. ARC expires
3. Visa expires
4. July 8, 2015 passes

Unless a new law takes effect that supersedes the old one during that time.

I believe you are also requested to with the new card if a change of details such as change of address occurs, but basically yes.

The language used is:

"Mid- to long-term residents will be asked to exchange their alien registration certificates for a resident card when filing an application or notifications involving the issue of a new resident card at a Regional Immigration Office, or can exchange the certificates for a card at their own request at a Regional Immigration Office."

My ARC expires on October 31, 2014 so I need to get the new card before then.

However having another piece of legal ID may not be a bad idea.

No you don't need to get a new card if your address changes:

The new residency system does not require you to go to the regional immigration office to inform them of address status.
The new information packet states:

Changes of addresses are still handled at the local level, so when you move, you need to inform the local office of movement to a new address. If you are on NHI or National Pension, these are all still handled via the local city offices.

Very cool. Many thanks. :-)

Since you can only exchange it at the immigration office (I heard airport immigrations is also possible, but not sure on this), and not the municipal office, I'm in no rush. The important things like getting a juminhyo and no more re-entry permits should happen automatically.

I believe you also get a zairyu card if you are on a work visa and change employers, or if you get a new passport, or anything else that would render the data on your ARC out of date (other than your address), since these are all items that now have to be reported to immigration.

Honestly the only problem I have with the new card is that it prominently states whether you are qualified to work in Japan. If you have a working visa that's restricted to a certain job category (like a humanities or engineer visa) your card will say something like 就労制限あり ("EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTED") in large letters, which I am sure will look suspicious as heck to many uninformed locals.

The chip is a non-issue. Driver's licenses and passports have had essentially the same chip for a long time now.

One thing I noticed at the post office today is that they no longer allow people to use an alien registration card as ID when picking up registered mail, even if the card is still valid. There was a sign at the counter to this effect.

You need either a zairyu card or a driver's license or other standard form of "Japanese" ID.

Interesting. I've never liked using the gaijin card as ID anyway, and I've exclusively used my drivers license for that purpose after finally struggling through the process of getting it last year.