UNIT 8
City Hall, Address & Basic Procedures
City Hall, Address & Basic Procedures
Lesson 3: Moving In and Changing Address
ひっこしました — Reporting Your Move at the Ward Office
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
When you move to a new address in Japan, you are legally required to report the change to your ward office within 14 days. This applies to both Japanese residents and foreign nationals. In this lesson you will learn how to say you have moved, ask to change your address, submit the necessary notifications, and find out what documents you need.
What you will learn:
- Say you moved — 引っ越しました
- Request an address change — 住所変更をしたいです
- Identify your new address — 新しい住所です
- Identify your previous address — 前の住所です
- Submit a moving-in notification — 転入届を出したいです
- Submit a moving-out notification — 転出届を出したいです
- Ask what documents are needed — 何が必要ですか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
引っ越しました。
Hikkoshimashita.
I moved.
住所変更をしたいです。
Juusho henkoo o shitai desu.
I want to change my address.
新しい住所です。
Atarashii juusho desu.
This is my new address.
前の住所です。
Mae no juusho desu.
This is my previous address.
転入届を出したいです。
Tennyuu todoke o dashitai desu.
I want to submit a moving-in notification.
転出届を出したいです。
Tenshutsu todoke o dashitai desu.
I want to submit a moving-out notification.
何が必要ですか。
Nani ga hitsuyoo desu ka.
What do I need?
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 転入届 vs 転出届 — which notification do I need?
These two documents handle opposite sides of a move. You need to understand which one applies to your situation.
転入届 (tennyuu todoke) — moving-in notification
Submit this at your new ward office when you arrive. Required within 14 days of moving in.
Submit this at your new ward office when you arrive. Required within 14 days of moving in.
転出届 (tenshutsu todoke) — moving-out notification
Submit this at your current ward office before you leave. Needed when moving to a different city or ward.
Submit this at your current ward office before you leave. Needed when moving to a different city or ward.
② 新しい住所 vs 前の住所
新しい = new. 前の = previous/former. At the counter you will need to provide both addresses, so knowing these two phrases helps you label each one clearly for the staff.
③ 何が必要ですか — always ask first
Required documents vary depending on your situation (Japanese national, foreign national, moving within the same ward, etc.). 何が必要ですか (“What do I need?”) is the safest opening question when you are unsure what to bring.
⚠️ Important for Foreign Nationals
If you are a foreign national registered in Japan, an address change requires you to update your 在留カード (residence card). Bring it to the ward office when you submit your notification — the staff will stamp or update the card with your new address on the spot.
If you are a foreign national registered in Japan, an address change requires you to update your 在留カード (residence card). Bring it to the ward office when you submit your notification — the staff will stamp or update the card with your new address on the spot.
3. Moving Procedure Words ／ ひっこしのことば
📋 Key Notifications
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 転入届 | tennyuu todoke | moving-in notification |
| 転出届 | tenshutsu todoke | moving-out notification |
| 住所変更 | juusho henkoo | address change |
| 引っ越し | hikkoshi | moving house |
📄 Required Documents (typical)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 在留カード | zairyuu kaado | residence card (foreign nationals) |
| マイナンバーカード | mainanbaa kaado | My Number Card |
| 印鑑 | inkan | personal seal (sometimes required) |
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Reporting a Move
💬 Conversation 2 — Asking What You Need
💬 Conversation 3 — New and Previous Address
💬 Conversation 4 — Moving-Out Notification
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 引っ越し | hikkoshi | moving house |
| 住所変更 | juusho henkoo | address change |
| 新しい | atarashii | new |
| 前の | mae no | previous / former |
| 転入届 | tennyuu todoke | moving-in notification |
| 転出届 | tenshutsu todoke | moving-out notification |
| 必要 | hitsuyoo | necessary / needed |
| 在留カード | zairyuu kaado | residence card |
| 来月 | raigetsu | next month |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. Answers and explanations are shown below.
Q1. What does 「引っ越しました。」 mean?
A. I want to move. B. I moved. C. I am moving now. D. I will move next month.
Answer: B
引っ越しました = “I moved.” The 〜ました ending marks completed past action. Always say this first at the ward office to explain why you are there.
引っ越しました = “I moved.” The 〜ました ending marks completed past action. Always say this first at the ward office to explain why you are there.
Q2. What is the difference between 転入届 and 転出届?
A. 転入 = move out; 転出 = move in B. 転入 = move in; 転出 = move out C. They are the same document. D. 転入 = address change; 転出 = residence certificate.
Answer: B
転入 = moving in — submit at your new ward office. 転出 = moving out — submit at your current ward office before you leave.
転入 = moving in — submit at your new ward office. 転出 = moving out — submit at your current ward office before you leave.
Q3. How do you say “I want to change my address”?
A. 住民票がほしいです。 B. 引っ越しました。 C. 住所変更をしたいです。 D. 新しい住所です。
Answer: C
住所変更をしたいです = “I want to change my address.” Pair this with 引っ越しました for a natural opening at the counter.
住所変更をしたいです = “I want to change my address.” Pair this with 引っ越しました for a natural opening at the counter.
Q4. What does 「新しい住所です。」 mean?
A. This is my previous address. B. This is my postal code. C. This is my room number. D. This is my new address.
Answer: D
新しい住所です = “This is my new address.” 新しい = new. Use this alongside 前の住所です (previous address) when the staff asks for both.
新しい住所です = “This is my new address.” 新しい = new. Use this alongside 前の住所です (previous address) when the staff asks for both.
Q5. How do you ask “What do I need?”
A. 手続きをしたいです。 B. 何が必要ですか。 C. 住所を書いてください。 D. 番号札を取ってください。
Answer: B
何が必要ですか = “What do I need?” 必要 = necessary. Always ask this when you are unsure what documents to bring.
何が必要ですか = “What do I need?” 必要 = necessary. Always ask this when you are unsure what documents to bring.
Q6. A foreign national moved to a new ward. Which document must they bring to the ward office?
A. 住民票 B. 番号札 C. 転出届 D. 在留カード
Answer: D
在留カード = residence card. Foreign nationals must bring this so the ward office can update the registered address on the card.
在留カード = residence card. Foreign nationals must bring this so the ward office can update the registered address on the card.
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
引っ越しました。 → ______
住所変更をしたいです。 → ______
新しい住所です。 → ______
前の住所です。 → ______
転入届を出したいです。 → ______
転出届を出したいです。 → ______
何が必要ですか。 → ______
Choices: A. I want to submit a moving-out notification. B. This is my new address. C. I moved. D. What do I need? E. This is my previous address. F. I want to change my address. G. I want to submit a moving-in notification.
Answers: 引っ越しました = C ／ 住所変更をしたいです = F ／ 新しい住所です = B ／ 前の住所です = E ／ 転入届を出したいです = G ／ 転出届を出したいです = A ／ 何が必要ですか = D
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice the address-change conversation at the ward office.
Role-play this sequence with your teacher:
引っ越しました。／ 住所変更をしたいです。／ 転入届を出したいです。／ 何が必要ですか。／ 新しい住所は〇〇です。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson you learned how to report a move and handle the address-change procedure at the ward office.
引っ越しました。(I moved.)
住所変更をしたいです。(Address change, please.)
新しい住所は〇〇です。(New address: 〇〇.)
何が必要ですか。(What do I need?)
住所変更をしたいです。(Address change, please.)
新しい住所は〇〇です。(New address: 〇〇.)
何が必要ですか。(What do I need?)
💡 Key difference: 転入届 = submit at your new ward office after moving in. 転出届 = submit at your current ward office before you leave. Foreign nationals must also bring their 在留カード for the address update.
FAQ
Q. Do I need to report my move if I’m just moving to a different apartment in the same ward?
Yes. Even within the same ward, any address change must be reported. The procedure is simpler — you only need to submit a 住所変更届 at the ward office rather than the full 転入 / 転出 process. Foreign nationals must also update their 在留カード regardless of distance.
Q. What is the deadline for reporting a move?
You must report within 14 days of moving in. For foreign nationals, failing to update the address on your 在留カード within 14 days is technically a violation of the Immigration Control Act. The ward office staff are generally understanding about delays, but it’s best to go as soon as possible.
Q. Can someone else submit the notification on my behalf?
Yes — a family member living at the same address can submit on your behalf. For foreign nationals, a proxy (代理人) can also submit with a written authorization letter (委任状). Ask the ward office: 代理人が手続きできますか (“Can a proxy do the procedure?”).
🏛️ Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
Address-change procedures involve real paperwork and specific vocabulary. Try a free trial lesson and practice the full moving notification conversation.
Online or in-person — both available on request.