Losing Your Residence Card, Wallet or Bank Card in Japan: Koban Police Report, Juri Bango & 14-Day Free Reissue

Losing your wallet, cash cards, or Japanese Residence Card (在留カード – Zairyu Card) on a train, in a restaurant, or on the street is a stressful emergency for any foreign resident. Fortunately, Japan boasts one of the highest lost-property return rates in the world—over 70% of lost wallets in Tokyo are returned intact to police stations.

However, to prevent fraudulent transactions and comply with immigration laws, you must follow the correct administrative steps immediately. Here is the exact checklist to secure your accounts, report the loss, and obtain a free replacement card.

1. Step 1: Lock payment cards immediately and check with station staff

Before running to the police station, your immediate priority is securing your finances against unauthorized transactions:

1. Lock credit cards (クレジットカード) and cash withdrawal cards (キャッシュカード): Open your mobile banking app (such as Yucho Direct, SMBC, or Rakuten Bank) to temporarily suspend card operations (カード利用停止), or call your bank’s 24/7 emergency lost-card hotline. Contactless tap-to-pay functions make unlocked cards vulnerable to rapid fraud at convenience stores.
2. Inquire with station staff or store managers: If you misplaced your belongings on a train or in a shop, retrace your steps immediately to the nearest station attendant (駅員) or customer service counter. Japanese citizens routinely hand in found items directly to local staff within minutes. If your property was turned in, showing a photo ID allows immediate recovery.

2. Step 2: File a lost property report (遺失届) at a police box (交番 Koban) and obtain your case number (受理番号)

If your wallet is not at the station or store, head to the nearest neighborhood police box (交番 – Koban) or municipal police station (警察署 – Keisatsusho):

• Complete the Lost Property Notification form (遺失届 – Ishitsu-todoke): The officer will ask for:
  1. The estimated date, time, and transit route where the item was lost.
  2. Detailed descriptions: Wallet brand, shape (bi-fold, long wallet), color, approximate cash amount, and listed contents (Zairyu Card name, health insurance card, My Number card).
• CRITICAL: Obtain your official Police Case Number (受理番号 – Juri Bango):
  • Once your report is logged into the national police database, the officer will issue your case receipt number (受理番号 – Juri Bango), noting the filing date and police station name.
  • Keep this number safely noted. It is required to reissue your residence card, replace bank cards, and claim lost-item insurance benefits.
• Online search portals: Prefectural police departments (such as Tokyo’s 警視庁) maintain searchable online databases of logged lost property. Found property is held for up to three months under the Japanese Lost Property Act (遺失物法).

3. Step 3: Reissue your Residence Card at Immigration within 14 days (Completely Free)

Under Article 19-12 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, foreign residents who lose their Residence Card due to misplacement, theft, or disaster must apply for a re-issuance within 14 days of discovering the loss:

• Where to apply: Your regional Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理局 – Nyukan) branch office.
• Required documents:
  1. Application for Re-issuance of a Residence Card (在留カード再交付申請書, available on-site or online).
  2. Your original, valid passport (パスポート).
  3. One color ID photo (4cm × 3cm): Taken within the last three months, plain white background, hatless.
  4. Police Lost Property Certificate (遺失届出証明書), or simply your Police Case Number (受理番号 – Juri Bango) and the reporting police station name written on the application form.
• Fee: ¥0 (Completely Free of Charge). Immigration does not charge any processing fee for replacing lost cards.
• Processing time: In most cases, your new Residence Card with your existing status of residence and expiry date is printed and handed to you within 30 to 60 minutes.

Once your new Zairyu Card is in hand, take it to your municipal ward/city office (役所) to reissue your Health Insurance card and My Number card, and visit your bank branch to request a replacement ATM cash card.