Osaka move-in checklist for expats: registration, utilities, taxes

Exterior of a ward office building in Osaka where foreigners register residency

Moving to Osaka as an expat means ticking several municipal and national boxes quickly: resident registration, immigration notification, health insurance and pension enrollment, tax reporting, utilities, and learning ward-specific waste rules. This checklist focuses on concrete steps, timelines, required documents, and where to go in Osaka (Osaka City Hall and ward offices such as Naniwa and Kita) using official guidance [1][2][3][4][5][6].

Before you move: documents to prepare

Prepare originals and photocopies of these items before arriving at a ward office or utility provider:

Passport and Residence Card (在留カード) — required for municipal and immigration notifications [1][2].
Rental contract or a landlord’s letter confirming your move-in date and address (賃貸契約書) — many offices request proof of address [1].
Personal seal (hanko) or signature — often requested for opening accounts and some registrations.
Employer documents or proof of income if available (for tax and insurance guidance) [3].

Within 14 days: notify your ward office (転入届 / moving-in notification)

By law, you must submit a moving-in notification (転入届) to the municipal/ward office that handles your district within 14 days of moving into your new Osaka address. Osaka City Hall and local ward offices (for example, Naniwa Ward Office or Kita Ward Office) provide reception desks and guidance for foreign residents; check the Osaka City portal for procedures specific to your ward [1].

Bring your Residence Card, passport, and rental contract. The ward will register your address and issue a residence certificate (住民票) if requested [1].
Ask about English-language support at your ward office — many Osaka ward offices list available services on the Osaka City site [1].

Immigration: update your address on your Residence Card

Immigration law requires foreign residents to notify the Immigration Services Agency of Japan of address changes within 14 days. The Residence Card must reflect your current Osaka address. While some municipal offices can forward or help with the procedure, the obligation itself is with you under Immigration Services Agency rules [2].

Health insurance and pension: National Health Insurance and National Pension

If you are not covered by employer-sponsored health insurance, enroll in National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) at your ward office — registration is generally required within 14 days after moving into Osaka [1]. For pension matters, the Japan Pension Service explains that residents not covered by an employer plan typically enroll in the National Pension (国民年金); registration and contributions depend on age and employment status [4].

Bring your Residence Card and proof of address; the ward office issues NHI enrollment and provides a certificate of insurance [1].
Contact the Japan Pension Service or the local ward pension liaison (info via ward office) for enrollment forms and guidance on exemptions or payments [4].

Taxes: income tax, resident tax, and filing timeline

Understand two layers of tax: national income tax administered by the National Tax Agency and resident tax (住民税) administered by the municipality. Income tax returns (確定申告) for the previous calendar year are normally filed with the NTA by March 15; see the NTA English portal for forms and requirements [3]. Resident tax is assessed by your municipality based on prior-year income and is billed by the city (payments typically begin the following fiscal year, with bills issued around June or July) [3].

If employed, most companies withhold income and resident tax through payroll; if not, you must file directly and pay in instalments to Osaka City [3].
Ask your ward office for resident tax payment schedules and municipal tax office contact details [1][3].

Osaka city utilities: power and gas company offices and customer service counters

Utilities: electricity, gas, water, internet setup in Osaka

Set up utilities promptly on or before move-in. In Osaka the major providers are Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) for electricity, Osaka Gas for city gas, and Osaka City’s water services for tap water — each offers online or phone registration and requires ID and your address [5][6][1].

Electricity: Contact Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO) to start service; they provide English pages for customers and online start options [5].
Gas: Osaka Gas has English customer pages explaining how to start or transfer service; you’ll need the address and move-in date [6].
Water: Osaka City’s waterworks information and application for a new contract are handled via municipal channels — check your ward office or the Osaka City portal [1].

Waste, recycling and local rules (Osaka ward specifics)

Garbage separation rules, collection days, and designated bags or tags differ by ward. For example, Osaka City’s municipal pages detail combustible vs. non-combustible schedules, recyclable separation, and rules for oversized trash; check the Osaka City website or your ward office for the exact categories and pick-up calendar for your neighborhood [1].

Practical extras: bank account, phone, My Number

Open a Japanese bank account (bring Residence Card, passport, and proof of address) and arrange a mobile phone or SIM plan. Your ward office will also provide information on the My Number (social security number) and where to collect or register your card if needed [1].

One-month and three-month checklist & timeline

Use this short timeline to stay on top of tasks:

Within 14 days: Register at ward office, notify Immigration, enroll in NHI if no employer coverage [1][2][4].
Within 1 month: Confirm utilities (KEPCO, Osaka Gas, water) are active; open bank account and get a phone plan [5][6][1].
By 3 months: Verify pension enrollment if applicable and prepare documents for next tax season; if you have additional or freelance income, prepare for income tax filing by March 15 [3][4].

Final notes

Osaka City Hall and your local ward office are your primary hubs for registrations and guidance; consult the Osaka City portal for ward-specific hours and services, use the Immigration Services Agency for Residence Card rules, and check KEPCO and Osaka Gas for utility start procedures [1][2][5][6]. Keeping photocopies of your passport, Residence Card, and rental contract will save time at each counter.

How CallButler Can Help

CallButler is a multilingual concierge service that handles research, coordination, and bookings so you do not have to navigate language barriers or unfamiliar systems alone. If you need help related to Osaka move-in checklist for expats: registration, utilities, taxes or the tasks around it, our team can step in to manage the details and keep things moving smoothly.