Consultation Q&A index for foreigners

We have collected consultation examples from many foreign nationals living within Akita Prefecture into this Q&A collection.
At times such as when you have some trouble, or people such as your family or friends consult you about something, feel free to make use of this Q&A collection.

う

運転免許（うんてんめんきょ）Driver's license

• Can I drive a car in Japan using a driver's license from my home country?

え

永住許可（えいじゅうきょか）Permanent residency permission

• What type of paperwork is necessary in order to continue living in Japan forever?

か

観光（かんこう）Sightseeing

• My family and friends want to come to Japan for sightseeing. What kind of paperwork is needed?

け

結婚（けっこん）Marriage

• Teach me about paperwork for international marriage.
• My Japanese husband says he is submitting a divorce notification to the government office, but I don't want a divorce. What should I do?

健康保険（けんこうほけん）Health insurance

• Tell me about Japan's public health insurance program.

健康保険証（けんこうほけんしょう）Health insurance card

• Tell me about Japan's public health insurance program.

こ

公印確認（こういんかくにん）Official government seal verification

• I submitted some paperwork I received at my city hall to my country's embassy (consulate). I was told that for this paperwork I need an Authentication of Official Seals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

子育て（こそだて）Raising children

• I have a 2 year old child. I am not working, so during the day the child and I are mostly passing the time inside the house with just the two of us. My stress is building up, and my physical condition isn't well.

さ

在留カード（ざいりゅうかーど）Residence Card

• I received a "Residence Card" when I arrived in Japan. At what sorts of times is this card used?

在留資格（ざいりゅうしかく）Status of Residence

• What is status of residence?
• What should I do when I want to change my status of residence or extend my period of stay?
• My Japanese husband has passed away. Is it possible for me to continue living in Japan?
• What type of paperwork is necessary in order to continue living in Japan forever?
• I want to invite my (biological) child from my home country to come live in Japan with me. What should I do?
• I lost my passport. Who should I notify?
• I am looking for a job in Akita. How should I go about my job search?
• A payment collection letter (a letter asking me to quickly pay my insurance fees) for my National Health Insurance has arrived. What would happen if I left this alone and didn't pay?

査証（さしょう）Visa

• I want to invite my (biological) child from my home country to come live in Japan with me. What should I do?
• My family and friends want to come to Japan for sightseeing. What kind of paperwork is needed?

し

資格外活動許可（しかくがいかつどうきょか）Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted under the status of residence

• I am looking for a job in Akita. How should I go about my job search?

事故（じこ）Traffic accidents

• If I get into a traffic accident, what are the first things I should do?

仕事（しごと）Jobs

• I have a 2 year old child. I am not working, so during the day the child and I are mostly passing the time inside the house with just the two of us. My stress is building up, and my physical condition isn't well.
• I want to start working. Is there a place that can look after my small child while I am working?
• I am looking for a job in Akita. How should I go about my job search?
• I have learned that my hourly wages are lower than Akita Prefecture's minimum wage. Is it because I'm a foreign national?

出産（しゅっさん）Childbirth

• I have become pregnant. What kind of preparation and paperwork are necessary for giving birth in Japan?

出入国在留管理庁（しゅつにゅうこくざいりゅうかんりちょう）Immigration Services Agency of Japan

• What should I do when I want to change my status of residence or extend my period of stay?
• My Japanese husband has passed away. Is it possible for me to continue living in Japan?
• What type of paperwork is necessary in order to continue living in Japan forever?
• I want to invite my (biological) child from my home country to come live in Japan with me. What should I do?
• I lost my passport. Who should I notify?
• I am looking for a job in Akita. How should I go about my job search?
• I want to learn more about living in Japan, but reading Japanese is hard. Is it possible to learn about life in Japan in my home country's language?

証印転記（しょういんてんき）Transfer of Endorsement

• I lost my passport. Who should I notify?

た

大使館（たいしかん）Embassy

• My family and friends want to come to Japan for sightseeing. What kind of paperwork is needed?
• Can I renew my passport in Japan?
• I lost my passport. Who should I notify?
• Teach me about paperwork for international marriage.
• What kind of paperwork is needed for a divorce?
• My Japanese husband says he is submitting a divorce notification to the government office, but I don't want a divorce. What should I do?
• I submitted some paperwork I received at my city hall to my country's embassy (consulate). I was told that for this paperwork I need an Authentication of Official Seals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
• Can I drive a car in Japan using a driver's license from my home country?

つ

通訳（つうやく）Interpretation

• I am looking for a job in Akita. How should I go about my job search?
• I am looking for someone who will translate or interpret for me. Where can I be introduced to such people?

に

妊娠（にんしん）Pregnancy

• I have become pregnant. What kind of preparation and paperwork are necessary for giving birth in Japan?

認定こども園（にんていこどもえん）Certified early childhood center

• I want to start working. Is there a place that can look after my small child while I am working?

は

パスポートPassport

• Can I renew my passport in Japan?
• I lost my passport. Who should I notify?

ハローワークHello Work

• I am looking for a job in Akita. How should I go about my job search?

病院（びょういん）Hospital

• I want to go to the hospital, but I can't speak Japanese.
• Tell me about Japan's public health insurance program.

ほ

保育所（ほいくしょ）Day care center

• I want to start working. Is there a place that can look after my small child while I am working?

翻訳（ほんやく）Translation

• I want to go to the hospital, but I can't speak Japanese.
• I am looking for someone who will translate or interpret for me. Where can I be introduced to such people?

ま

マイナンバー　My Number

• I have received a My Number. At what sorts of times is this used?

よ

幼稚園（ようちえん）Kindergarten

• I want to start working. Is there a place that can look after my small child while I am working?

予防接種（よぼうせっしゅ）Vaccination

• I have a baby who was just born. I have heard that I need to have a lot of vaccinations done for the baby. However, I don't understand very well when I should have vaccinations done, and for which diseases.

り

離婚（りこん）Divorce

• My Japanese husband has passed away. Is it possible for me to continue living in Japan?
• What kind of paperwork is needed for a divorce?
• My Japanese husband says he is submitting a divorce notification to the government office, but I don't want a divorce. What should I do?
• I'm going to divorce my Japanese husband, but I still want to raise my children. What will happen to my children when I get a divorce?

D

DV　Domestic Violence

• I am suffering physical domestic violence from my husband. I can't speak Japanese well, and there is nobody around me who I can consult with, so I don't know what to do.