Immigration Offices in the Kanto Area: Jurisdiction, Reception Hours, Ticket Numbers, and Reservation Notes
Immigration Offices in the Kanto Area:
Jurisdiction, Reception Hours, Ticket Numbers, and Reservation Notes
If you are applying for an extension, change of status, permanent residence, dependent status, work visa, or Certificate of Eligibility in the Kanto area, one of the first questions is which immigration office you should check. This guide explains major offices, practical jurisdiction points, reception hours, and reservation-related cautions.
The Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau covers a wide area. In addition to the Shinagawa main office, applicants may need to check the Yokohama Branch Office, Kawasaki Branch Office, Tachikawa Branch Office, Saitama Branch Office, Chiba Branch Office, Matsudo Branch Office, Mito Branch Office, Utsunomiya Branch Office, Takasaki Branch Office, and other offices.
The correct office may depend on the applicant’s residential address, the location of the sponsoring company or family member, and whether the procedure is a residence-related application or a Certificate of Eligibility application.
Major immigration offices commonly checked in the Kanto area
The following table summarizes major offices that applicants and employers often need to check. Actual jurisdiction and handling may vary depending on the procedure, address, sponsoring organization, and operational changes. Please always confirm the latest official information before visiting.
| Office | Who should check this office first? | Practical note | Official information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau Shinagawa Main Office |
Applicants handling Tokyo-related cases, or those unsure which branch office applies | For certain procedures, application reservation or result collection reservation systems may matter. Arriving early is not always enough. | Official page |
| Yokohama Branch Office | Cases related to Kanagawa Prefecture | Some Kanagawa-related or nearby cases may require checking Kawasaki Branch Office. | Official page |
| Kawasaki Branch Office | Kanagawa Prefecture, Machida City, Komae City, Tama City, Inagi City, etc. | Even if the address is in Tokyo, certain municipalities may require checking Kawasaki. | Yokohama page |
| Tachikawa Branch Office | Tokyo, Sagamihara City in Kanagawa, Yamanashi, etc. | Important for western Tokyo and related areas. Check based on the exact address and procedure. | Official page |
| Saitama Branch Office | Cases related to Saitama Prefecture | From April 1, 2023, the assigned area has been announced as Saitama Prefecture only. | Notice |
| Chiba Branch Office | Cases related to Chiba and Ibaraki | The Chiba Branch Office relocated on September 24, 2024. Be careful not to rely on old address information. | Official page |
| Matsudo Branch Office | Chiba, Ibaraki, and Tokyo’s Arakawa, Adachi, Katsushika, and Edogawa wards | From April 1, 2024, four eastern Tokyo wards were added to the assigned area. | Notice |
| Mito Branch Office | Cases related to Ibaraki and Tochigi | For North Kanto cases, it may be safer to check the exact procedure page and official assigned area. | Official page |
| Utsunomiya Branch Office | Cases related to Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Gunma | Confirm whether the procedure is a residence-related application or a Certificate of Eligibility application. | Official page |
| Takasaki Branch Office | Cases related to Gunma, Tochigi, Saitama, Niigata, Nagano, etc. | If traveling from far away, confirm required documents and reception method before visiting. | Official page |
How to decide which immigration office to check
The first step is to identify the type of application. For residence-related applications such as extension of period of stay, change of status, permanent residence, and permission to engage in other activities, the foreign national’s place of residence is often a key starting point.
For Certificate of Eligibility applications, the location of the sponsoring company, school, or family member may be relevant. Because the rules can differ depending on the procedure, relying only on general geography can lead to mistakes.
Do not automatically assume that every Tokyo case goes to Shinagawa or every Kanagawa case goes to Yokohama. Machida, Komae, Tama, and Inagi may require checking Kawasaki, while Arakawa, Adachi, Katsushika, and Edogawa wards require special attention to Matsudo.
What the applicant should check
- Current residential address
- Status of residence and period of stay
- Type of application
- How the result will be collected
- Whether a reservation is needed
What the employer or sponsor should check
- Location of the company or sponsoring organization
- Applicant’s residential address
- COE application or residence-related application
- Correct filing office
- Who will visit the office and in what capacity
Reception hours and ticket-number cautions
Many official office pages show immigration counter hours as 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. However, depending on the procedure, office, congestion, and reservation system, the practical flow may differ.
Applicants often ask what time ticket-number distribution begins. However, there is no single uniform start time officially shown for all Kanto-area offices. It is safer to confirm the official guidance, posted notices at the building, and instructions from the counter on the day of your visit.
If you are traveling from far away or taking time off work, it is especially important to confirm the filing office, reception hours, reservation requirements, required documents, and result collection method before visiting.
Procedures where reservation systems may matter
At the Shinagawa main office, an application reservation system is available for certain eligible procedures and users. In addition, a result collection reservation system for application intermediaries has been introduced at major offices, including Tokyo and Yokohama.
- Whether the application reservation system applies
- Whether the result collection reservation system applies
- Available dates, time slots, reservation limits, and cancellation rules
- Whether the reserved office matches the office you will actually visit
- Who is allowed to visit: applicant, legal representative, family member, or authorized intermediary
Reservation systems can reduce waiting time and congestion, but they do not apply to every office or every procedure. A reservation for one office should not be assumed to work for another office.
Common mistakes
1. Assuming all Tokyo cases go to Shinagawa
Some Tokyo areas or procedures may require checking Tachikawa, Matsudo, or Kawasaki.
2. Assuming all Kanagawa cases go to Yokohama
Kawasaki Branch Office may be relevant depending on the address and procedure.
3. Using old address information
Some offices, such as Chiba Branch Office, have moved. Do not rely only on old blog posts or outdated map information.
4. Going to the wrong office for result collection
Around changes in assigned areas, result collection may still be handled by the office where the application was originally filed.
Pre-visit checklist
- Have you confirmed whether the applicant’s address, company address, or family member’s address is relevant?
- Have you confirmed whether the case is a residence-related application or a Certificate of Eligibility application?
- Have you checked the official page for the relevant office?
- Have you confirmed reception hours and holidays?
- Have you checked whether a reservation is required?
- Have you checked how the result will be collected?
- Have you prepared the required documents, fee, residence card, and passport?
- If traveling from far away, have you checked for missing documents in advance?
Related Pages
If you are unsure which immigration office to use, check before filing
Tommy’s Legal Service supports extension, change of status, permanent residence, dependent status, work visas, Certificate of Eligibility applications, and other immigration procedures in Japan. We can help check the correct office, organize documents, and prepare applications before filing.
Daisuke Tominaga, Gyoseishoshi
Gyoseishoshi Registration No.: 21080644 / Immigration Application Agent No.: 行-132021200250 / Registered Support Organization No.: 26登-013083
102, THE HUB Yokohama Motomachi, 1-13-2 Ishikawacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0868 Japan
TEL: 045-550-5135
