If you live in Saga Prefecture, please go to the Saga Branch Office of the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau (Saga City, Saga Prefecture), the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture), or the Nagasaki Branch Office of the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau (Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture) for procedures regarding status of residence or visa.

Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau Saga Branch Office

Address	Saga Joint Government Bldg. No.2 3-3-20 Ekimae-Chuo, Saga City, Saga Prefecture
Tel.	0952-36-6262
Business hours	9:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00 (Closed on weekends and holidays)

Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau

Address	Fukuoka Legal Affairs Government Complex No.1 3-5-25, Maizuru, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture *The Student And Trainee Inspection Department is situated in the Nishijin Office (14-15 Sohara, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, 5th floor)
Tel.	General inquiries　092-717-7596 Employment And Permanent Residence Inspection Department　092-717-7596 Student And Trainee Inspection Department　092-831-4108
Business hours	9:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00 (Closed on weekends and holidays)

Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau Nagasaki Branch Office

Address	Nagasaki Port Joint Government Bldg. 7-29 Matsugae-machi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Tel.	095-822-5289
Business hours	9:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00 (Closed on weekends and holidays)

Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau (Website of the Immigration Services Agency)

For general information regarding status of residence or visas you can consult with an Immigration Information Center(外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター) over the phone. You can speak with these centers in various foreign languages, such as English, Korean, Chinese and Spanish.

Immigration Information Center（外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター）

Tel.	0570-013904（IP, PHS, International calls:03-5796-7112）
Business hours	Weekdays from 8:30 to 17:15

Immigration Information Center（外国人在留総合インフォメーションセンター）

Yes, you can consult a “Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist” at the center. A Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist is a person who helps you to prepare difficult documents to be submitted to government agencies and is knowledgeable about status of residence and its procedures. You can consult with them up to twice for free for one topic of consultation. Interpretation services are also available, so you also can consult in a foreign language. If you wish to consult, please contact the center and make an appointment.
Furthermore, every 3rd Saturday, members of Kurashi Support Saga (a group of Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists) hold a free consultation meeting at the Saga International Plaza.
If you would like to have a consultation meeting, please contact the number written on the “free consultation meeting for foreigners leaflet” (link below). If you have difficulty making phone calls in Japanese, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga.

Free consultation meeting for foreigners leaflet

The Center for Multicultural Society in Saga holds a consultation meeting on immigration procedures once every month or two. You can consult directly with immigration officials and ask questions about the procedures to be taken at the Immigration Bureau (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). Consultation is free of charge and interpreters are available. Those who wish to participate should make an appointment.

Immigration Procedures Consultation Meeting

You can use the “Multilingual Call Center” (a telephone interpretation service) at every city hall and town hall in Saga Prefecture. This service is available in 21 languages (as of October 2022). Go to the city or town hall and tell the person at the counter that you want to use the services of the “Tagengo Tsuyaku Call Center” (Multilingual Call Center). If you are worried about going to the city or town hall alone, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga. The Center will contact the city or town hall.

Multilingual Call Center（多言語通訳コールセンター）

Yes, it is possible to talk with a lawyer at the Center. You may consult on one particular topic up to two or three times for free. (Whether you are eligible for two or three free legal consultations depends on your salary) There is also an interpreting service, so you can consult in languages other than Japanese. If you would like to have a consultation, please contact the Center to make an appointment.

The procedure for getting married (registered) in Japan is as described below.

When you marry in Japan

• You need to file your marriage notification to the municipal office.
• When it is acknowledged that you satisfy the requirements for marriage and your notification is accepted, your marriage comes into effect.

1. Documents Required for a Marriage Registration
   Japanese
   • A transcript of the family register
   Foreign Nationals
   • A certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage
   *A certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage is obtained at your embassy or (general) consulate in Japan. (note 1)
   ・If you submit documents written in a foreign language, such as a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage, a Japanese translation must be attached to all of such documents. (note 2)
   (note 1) Some countries do not issue this certification. If so, you are required to submit an alternative document.
   (note 2) The name of the translator has to be recorded in the translation. The applier himself/herself can be the translator.
2. Validity of marriage in your country
   Marriages that are contracted in Japan are valid in Japan, however, are not necessarily valid in your country. You should inquire regarding its validity at the embassy/ (general) consulate in Japan of your native country.

Excerpt from:“Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 2 Procedures at Municipal Offices 1-2 Notification of Marriage

You may also consult with a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist regarding the paperwork.

• You can consult with a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist individually at the center. Consultations are free of charge. If you wish to consult, please contact the center and make an appointment.
• Furthermore, every 3rd Saturday, members of Kurashi Support Saga (a group of Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists) hold a free consultation meeting at the Saga International Plaza. During this consultation, you may consult about the procedures and documents mentioned above. For more information, see the leaflet below.

Free consultation meeting for foreigners leaflet

The Center for Multicultural Society in Saga is unable to introduce jobs or part-time jobs to you. However, you can consult with the “Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office” (佐賀県のしごと相談室), which is a consultation desk for employment and labor issues operated by Saga Prefecture. Every Thursday from 13:00 to 19:00, an advisor (consultant) from the “Saga Prefecture Labor Consultation Office” is at the Saga International Plaza. If you wish to consult regarding work, you may either visit the Saga International Plaza during those hours on Thursdays, or contact the Saga Prefecture Labor Consultation Office using the contact information below. If it would be difficult to contact them in Japanese, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga.

Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office（佐賀県のしごと相談室）

Business hours	(Saga International Plaza): Thursdays from 13:00 to 19:00 (Saga Prefectural Government Office, New Building): Weekdays from 10:00 to 19:00 *Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and from December 29 to January 3
Tel.	0952-25-7066
E-mail	sagashigoto@pref.saga.lg.jp

Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office（佐賀県のしごと相談室）

Neither the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga, nor the Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) can provide recruitment services. However, if you have a job vacancy registered at Hello Work, we can share such vacancies on SPIRA’s social media. Please contact us if you would like to use our social media.

Furthermore, a consultation desk operated by Saga Prefecture, known as the “Saga Prefecture Labor Consultation Office” provides matching services between companies and prospective employees. If you are interested in using such services, please contact them using the contact information below. (For consultations regarding foreigners, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga first. We can help you while cooperating with the “Saga Prefecture Labor Consultation Office”).

Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office（佐賀県のしごと相談室）

Business hours	(Saga International Plaza): Thursdays from 13:00 to 19:00 (Saga Prefectural Government Office, New Building): Weekdays from 10:00 to 19:00 *Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and from December 29 to January 3
Tel.	0952-25-7066
E-mail	sagashigoto@pref.saga.lg.jp

Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office（佐賀県のしごと相談室）

Yes, when a company closes at their convenience, they have to pay leave allowance to foreign workers just as they have to pay to Japanese workers.

Absence from work for reasons attributable to the company

In the event of an absence from work for reasons attributable to the company, the company must pay a leave allowance equal to at least 60 percent of the worker’s average wage in order to guarantee a minimum standard of living for the worker. As long as the reasons for absence from work are attributable to the company, a certain level of salary is guaranteed to the worker.

Excerpt from:“Living and Work Guidebook for Foreigners” Chapter 3 Employment/Working 1-4 Wages (3)

You can also check the website of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for other rules regarding labor in Japan which companies must follow. See the link below. (There are also materials available in foreign languages)

(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) 外国人雇用対策/Employment Policy for Foreign Workers

We can help you fill out the paperwork for your child’s health check-up at the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga, so please come to our office with this paperwork. Please make a reservation beforehand. We can also dispatch a medical interpreter on the day of the check-up. This service is available in English, Chinese and Korean. Please make sure to make a reservation for a medical interpreter at least one week in advance.

Medical Interpreter（医療通訳サポーター）

When your child is born, you will need to do the following procedures:

Notification of Birth（出生届）

• A notification of birth must be submitted by the mother or father.
• This notification must be submitted within 14 days of birth.
• Submit the notification of birth to the municipality where your child was born or the municipality of the person submitting the notification.

1. Documents required for notification of birth
   • Birth certificate
   • For other necessary documents, contact the municipality to which you are submitting the notification.
2. Other procedures
   If a status of residence is not obtained for the child within 60 days of birth, the residence certificate may be deleted, and the child may not be able to receive administrative services such as national health insurance and child care allowance.

Notification of the childbirth to home countries

If neither of the parents have Japanese nationality, your child cannot obtain Japanese nationality even if he or she is born in Japan. In such a case, it is necessary to perform the procedure to report the birth of the child to your home country. For details, please contact the embassy or consulate (general) of the father’s or mother’s country in Japan. In addition, acquire a passport for your child.

Excerpt from:“Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 4 Childbirth and Parenting 2 Procedures after Birth

Acquisition of status of residence (birth)

If a child is born in Japan without Japanese nationality, and seeks to continue to stay in Japan beyond 60 days after he or she is born, it is necessary to apply for acquisition of his/her status of residence within 30 days from the date of birth.

• *As a birth certificate (Shussei todoke kisai jikou shoumeisho, or “Certificate of Entry items in Birth Notification”) and other documents (see the following for details) are required, please register a birth at an office of municipality before applying for acquisition of a status of residence at a Regional Immigration Services Bureau.

Necessary Documents

• Passport (if one has been issued already)
• An application form for permission to acquire status of residence
• Certificate of entry items in birth notification (It is available at office of municipality) or other documents that proof birth
• Documentation that specifies the child’s planned activity in Japan
• A copy of your Certificate of Residence or Certificate of entry items in Resident Register (You can get it at office of municipality)

Excerpt from:“Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 1 Procedures for Entry/Residence 2-4

Please see the “Saga Guidebook～at School～”. These guidebooks are available in Japanese, English and Chinese. They were created by Saga Prefecture Japanese Language Learning Support “CASTANETs” (a group that supports Japanese language study for foreigners). If you have any further questions after reading this guidebook, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga.

Saga Guidebook～at School～

The Saga Prefecture International Relations Organization (SPIRA) offers a service called “Japanese language supporter for children”. This is a service where a Japanese teacher goes to your child’s school and teaches Japanese. If you would like to use this service, please contact the Saga Center for Multicultural Society or the teacher of your child’s school. SPIRA will consult with the teacher to see if this service can be used.

Japanese language supporter for children（子ども日本語学習サポーター）

Furthermore, there are Japanese language classes in various cities and towns in Saga prefecture. In these classes, volunteer teachers will teach you Japanese. See the link below for more information on these classes. If you are interested in joining a class, please contact the teacher directly. If you have trouble contacting them, please ask the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga for help.

Volunteer Japanese Language Classes（日本語教室のお知らせ）

The Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) is operating a project called “Earth Discovery Corps Guest Lectures”. We dispatch or introduce foreign and Japanese instructors depending on the requests of school teachers and companies. For details, please check the link below and contact SPIRA if you would like to make a request.

SPIRA Guest Teacher（地球発見隊出前講座）

The Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) offers the dispatch of medical interpreters. An interpreter will go with you to the hospital and interpret during your visit. You do not have to pay for this service; it is free of charge. SPIRA pays the interpreter for their services. Please apply at least one week before the day you plan to visit the hospital. (For more urgent situations, please see the question below) See the link below for a detailed description of this service and application form.

Medical Interpreters（医療通訳サポーター）

When requesting a medical interpreter, you must apply at least one week in advance. However, in certain hospitals in Saga Prefecture you may use telephone interpreting services. You can see which hospitals offer this service via the link below.

Medical Institutions Providing Multilingual Call Center Services in Saga

It may be possible to use telephone interpreting at hospitals that are not listed on this site. If you would like to know more, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga.

We do not know of any mental health clinics that provide treatments in foreign languages in Saga at this moment (as of September 7, 2020). The Saga Prefecture Center for Mental Health and Welfare is a public institution in Saga Prefecture where you can consult about things that trouble you mentally.
Furthermore, there are consultation counters available that deal with various causes of mental distress at the Comprehensive Center for Countermeasures against Domestic Violence in Avance (アバンセ).
If you need support in relation with language or culture when consulting one of these institutions, please contact the Saga Multicultural Center.

Saga Prefecture Center for Mental Health and Welfare（佐賀県精神保健福祉センター）

Here, you may consult on mental issues, as well as gambling or alcoholism, all free of charge. A psychiatric social worker will take care of you, and if needed you can consult with a psychiatrist as well.

Address	178-9 Ogi-machi, Ogi City, Saga Prefecture
Tel.	0952-73-5060
E-mail	seishinhokenfukushisenta@pref.saga.lg.jp

Saga Prefecture Center for Mental Health and Welfare（佐賀県精神保健福祉センター）

Avance Comprehensive Center for Countermeasures against Domestic Violence（アバンセ　DV総合対策センター）

There is a variety of consultation desks, for example for mental counseling for women or general counseling for men.

Address:	3-2-11 Tenjin, Saga City, Saga Prefecture (Inside Don-don-don no Mori Park)
Tel.	0952‐28-1492
E-mail	dv@avance.or.jp

Avance Comprehensive Center for Countermeasures against Domestic Violence（アバンセ　DV総合対策センター）

No, it is not possible for short-term visitors to Japan to use the National Health Insurance（国民健康保険）.

Foreign nationals are obliged to join National Health Insurance except in the following cases:

1. The period of stay is less than three months (*);
2. The status of residence is “Temporary Visitor”;
3. The status of residence is “Designated Activities and the activities are specified as “to receive medical treatment” or “to provide everyday assistance for someone who is engaged in the activities mentioned above”;
4. The status of residence is “Designated Activities” and the activities are specified as “sightseeing, recreation or other similar activities”;
5. The status of residence is “Diplomat”;
6. Persons who do not have a valid status of residence; or
7. Persons who are from a country with which the Japanese government has a social security agreement with including health insurance, and have an official certificate issued by the government to show their membership of the social insurance system in their home country.

• *Even if your period of stay is shorter than three months, you can join the National Health Insurance if your status of residence is one of the following and if you have any document to certify that your stay will be longer than three months:

• “Entertainer”
• “Technical Intern Training”
• “Dependent”
• Designated Activities (except 3 and 4 above)

Excerpt from:“Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 6 Medical Services 2-2 (1)

Yes, you can claim your pension using the lump-sum withdrawal payment system.

Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments（脱退一時金）

If you fulfill all of the following conditions, you leaving Japan before completing 10 years of pension contributions are entitled to Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments (instead of a pension) calculated the rate of the pension contributions:

1. You will be eligible for claiming Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments within 2 years after leaving Japan;
2. Your total coverage periods for the Employees’ Pension Insurance(EPI) or the National Pension(NP) are 6 months or more to less than 10 years;
3. You no longer have an address in Japan registered to the municipal office;
4. You are already left EPI and NP;
5. You have not received Japanese Disability Pension.
6. Within 2 years after the date you no longer have a registered address in Japan.

Important notes for the claim application

If you file a claim for a Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments, keep in mind the following notes:

1. If you receive such the Payments, your contribution records up until the Payments application date as kept by JPS will be completely deleted. This will make it difficult for you to receive Japanese Old-age Pension benefits in the future. So please think about it carefully before filing a claim.
   *An application form for Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments are downloadable at the JPS website. See the additional important notes on the application form.
2. If you still have an address registered in Japan on the day JPS receives your application, the Payments will not be paid. Please submit a moving-out notification to the municipality of your residence before you leave Japan.
3. In case you file the application while you are in Japan before you leave, please file the application at JPS on or after the (planned) date of moving out appearing on your certificate of residence
4. The Payments amount will be calculated based on your coverage periods up to 36 months (3 years). Therefore, if you are going to stay in Japan for several times. with your coverage periods expected to be 37 months or more in total, and plan to receive your Payments to be calculated based on your coverage periods, there are some cases that you need to claim the Payments after each of your stay.

Visit the following JPS website of for more details about Lump-sum Withdrawal Payments and the application form including mailing address.
Japan Pension Service（日本年金機構）

Excerpt from:“Guidebook on Living and Working” Chapter 7 Pension and Welfare 1-3

Those who live in Saga Prefecture can make a reservation at the “Saga Prefectural Driver’s License Examination Center (佐賀県運転免許試験場)” and take the test there. You can check the procedure on the website of the Saga Prefectural Police Headquarters. (This website is only available in Japanese.)

Saga Prefectural Driver’s License Examination Center（佐賀県運転免許試験場）

Address	2269 Kuboizumimachi, Saga
Tel.	0952-98-2220

The procedure and documents which you need to prepare depend on your country of origin, so please contact the Driver’s License Examination Center to confirm. If you have difficulty contacting them in Japanese, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga. We will inquire with the Driver’s License Examination Center on your behalf.

Regarding the procedure

1. Prepare the necessary documents
2. Make a reservation with the Driver’s License Examination Center over the phone
   *The test and interview are taken in Japanese. If you require interpretation, please find an interpreter before making a reservation
3. Test and interview

Contents of the Test and interview

• Verification of your driving history (inspection of paperwork → interview)
• Aptitude test (e.g. eyesight test)
• Written test (10 true or false questions)
• Driving test

• *You cannot take the driving test if you are missing the necessary documents
• *It is possible to take the written test (C) in a language other than Japanese
• *It is not easy to pass the driving test (D). It seems there are few people who pass on their first try.

If you have a driver’s license issued in a country or region listed below
you will be exempt from both the written (C) and the driving test (D).
Australia, Austria, America (Maryland, Washington, Hawaii, Virginia), Belgium, Poland, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Taiwan

（Saga Prefectural Police Headquarters）Procedure for converting a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese driver’s license (Japanese)

Volunteer interpreters from the Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) can go with you to the Driver’s License Examination Center. Please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga as soon as the exam date is set. You may decide the monetary reward for the interpreter yourself. (It can be difficult to find a volunteer interpreter. Please contact us as soon as possible.)

There are various rules for driving with an international driver’s license in Japan. Please check the link below. If you have any questions, please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga.

For Holders of Foreign Driver’s Licenses（National Police Agency）
Foreign Driver’s Licenses and International Driving Permits (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department)

The Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) has created a “Life Guide for Foreign Residents（在住外国人のための生活ガイド）” (available in 11 languages). It contains emergency telephone numbers (110, 119, etc.), information on disasters, and ready-to-use Japanese phrases. You can browse through the material and download it from the link below. It is also distributed free of charge at Saga International Plaza, so please contact us if you wish to receive some copies.

Life Guide for Foreign Residents（在住外国人のための生活ガイド）

Furthermore, counselors of the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga can conduct an orientation on daily life in Saga. We can talk about emergency contacts and disasters in Japan among other subjects, using the Life Guide. An interpreter can be provided depending on the language in question, so please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga if you wish to use this service.

• *Please note that it may not always be possible to provide an interpreter.

Saga Prefecture experiences heavy rainfall in the summer, as well as typhoons throughout the summer and fall. Furthermore, there was a big earthquake in 2005 (Fukuoka Seiho-oki Earthquake). A variety of disasters can occur in all parts of Japan, so people living in Saga Prefecture are advised to check the news regularly.

In the event of a disaster, we will send out notifications through the LINE account of the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga, and the Facebook account of Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA). Please do follow these accounts. You can also find information on disasters and disaster prevention on the homepages of each city and town. Furthermore, the Japan Meteorological Agency website offers information in various foreign languages.

(Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) Japan Meteorological Agency website
(Saga Prefecture) List of the websites of cities and towns in Saga Prefecture

The Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) has created a “Life Guide for Foreign Residents” (available in 10 languages). You can browse through the material or download it here. It is also distributed free of charge at Saga International Plaza, so please contact us if you wish to receive some copies.
Furthermore, counselors of the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga can conduct an orientation on daily life in Saga. We can talk about the rules of garbage disposal, traffic rules and daily life in general. An interpreter can be provided depending on the language in question, so please contact the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga if you wish to use this service.

• *Please note that it may not always be possible to provide an interpreter.

There are Japanese language classes in various cities and towns in Saga prefecture. In these classes, volunteer teachers will teach you Japanese. Please see here for more information on these classes.
There are also classes that are held in the evening or on the weekend, so if you are interested in joining a class, please contact the teacher directly. If you have trouble contacting them, please ask the SPIRA for help.
Furthermore, for those who would like private lessons, we can introduce Japanese teachers who are registered with SPIRA. Please contact SPIRA once you have decided on your preferred day and time of the lesson, the content and the amount of the reward to be paid to the teacher.
*Please note that we cannot guarantee we will be able to find a teacher for you.

There are Japanese language classes throughout Saga prefecture. Each is operated by a volunteer organization.
You can see a list of these classes here. If there is a class that you are interested in, please contact them using the information on the PDF. (Our association currently does not directly run any language classes.)
Furthermore, those who have certain certification, (those who have studied Japanese language education as a major or minor at an university or such, those who have passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test, or those who have completed the Japanese Language Teacher Training Course) may be able to register and perform activities as a “Volunteer Japanese language support（ことば日本語ボランティア）” of our association. Please check this page before contacting us regarding applications.