Life Information

About housing

 （1）Finding an Apartment

Our Student Center introduces various residences for all students.
International students are able to stay there without a joint guarantor agreement.
You may contact our real estate partner directly or come to a housing counseling. 
For more information, please check the link below.

 Other Reference Links

Joint Guarantor when signing an apartment contract

Generally, a joint guarantor is required when signing a contract for an apartment in Japan, but for many international students, it may be difficult to find a Japanese joint guarantor with a financial guarantee.

If you cannot find a guarantor in Japan, some real estate companies have a system where you can pay a certain fee (about 0.5 to 2 months' rent) to the guarantor company and the guarantor company will provide an institutional guarantee to sign a rental contract. If it is difficult to find a guarantor, we recommend that you look for a property with a real estate agency that offers such a system.

  • GTN保証プランのご紹介

    （2）Once You Find an Apartment

    If you have newly arrived in Japan and received your Residence Card at the airport, or if you have relocated within Japan, please visit your local municipal office to submit a moving-in notification within 14 days of moving into your new residence.
    At this time, if you wish to apply for a "Specific Residence Card" (which integrates your Residence Card with a My Number Card), you can submit your application at the counter.

    Once your address registration is completed, your new address will be officially recorded on your Residence Card.
    From then on, you can obtain a "Certificate of Residence" (住民票) whenever necessary, which serves as an official proof of your legal name and address in Japan.


    （３）Social Insurance Procedures

    When you submit your moving-in notification (as mentioned in section (2) above), please make sure to complete the following social insurance procedures at the same time.
    Please be aware that unpaid social insurance premiums can negatively affect your future residency status screenings, so please complete these steps carefully.

    ・National Health Insurance (国民健康保険)

    ・National Pension (国民年金) 
       In Japan, all residents between the ages of 20 and 59, regardless of nationality, are required to join the National Pension system and pay premiums.
       However, for many international students who only stay in Japan for a few years, it is realistic that few will actually receive a pension in the future.

     To address this, there is a system called the"Special Payment System for Students" (学生納付特例制度)"
     By applying for this, you can postpone (defer) your premium payments while you are enrolled in school.
     Please consult with the staff at your local municipal office for details and to complete the application.

    （４）When you moving   

  • If you are relocating within Japan, please also refer to this procedure checklist.
  • Moving Checklist
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