As Japan approaches its 2025 national census, all residents — including foreign nationals — are being urged to comply. Skip or refuse, and you could face serious consequences: a fine of up to ¥500,000 under Japanese law. Worse, non-compliance may negatively affect your immigration record — something to avoid if you plan on applying for Permanent Residency.
Below is what you need to know.
What the 2025 Census Involves
- The national census is held every five years in Japan, covering all households and individuals residing in the country.
- The online response period runs from September 20 to October 8, 2025.
- Paper-based forms are accepted from October 1 to October 8.
- Census workers deliver the forms (in blue envelopes) to homes; respondents may fill them out and submit by mail, online (via a login ID / access key), or hand them to a census worker.
- Foreign residents who have lived in Japan for more than three months, or plan to stay beyond three months, must respond.
- The census is available in multiple languages, and the government underscores that the data will be used only for statistical purposes, not for immigration control or law enforcement purposes.
Legal Obligation & Penalties
- Under Articles 13 and 61 of the Statistics Act (統計法), refusing to respond or submitting false information can lead to penalties.
- The maximum fine allowed is ¥500,000.
- After the October 8 deadline, census workers are authorized to revisit households between October 17 and October 27 to collect responses.
- According to anecdotal reports, a refusal or falsified census response can be recorded in one’s legal record, which may be relevant in immigration or Permanent Residency applications. > “The fine is a maximum of 500,000 yen and it counts towards your criminal record for things like PR application.”
Why It Matters for Permanent Residency (PR) Applicants
One of the requirements for Permanent Residency (永住許可) in Japan is demonstrating that you are of “good moral character” (良好な品行). A refusal or violation of census obligations — which is a legal duty — may be considered a negative black mark in that evaluation.
While I did not find an explicit rule that census noncompliance automatically disqualifies a PR application, many experienced observers and foreign residents regard it as risky. The census violation might be treated similarly to a minor legal infraction or fine, potentially hurting one’s standing in the eyes of immigration authorities. (Indeed, some discussions online mention that census offenses can show up in one’s “record.”)
Given the steep fine and the possible impact on your immigration file, it’s strongly advisable for long-term foreign residents to comply.
What You Should Do If You Haven’t Responded Yet
- Respond promptly by October 8 — whether online or by paper.
- If you missed the deadline, watch for census workers visiting between October 17 and 27. Be ready to submit your responses to them.
- If you face any difficulty (language, technical, delivery), reach out to the Census Call Center (0570-02-5901 or 03-6628-2258) by November 7.
- Keep records of your response (a screenshot, receipt, or proof of submission) in case you need to show you complied later.
- If a census worker visits your home, ask to see their census ID or credentials (they should have them).
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Japanese census is more than just a data collection exercise — by law, it is a civic obligation. Ignoring it can lead to a steep fine and may cast doubt on your legal standing should you ever seek Permanent Residency. For foreign residents in Japan, compliance isn’t merely good citizenship — it’s practical risk mitigation.
