Question 1

What is this topic?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan's Alien Resident Certificate, issued by the National Immigration Agency, must be applied for within 30 days of entry, and an address change reported within the same 30-day window — miss it and the Immigration Act sets a fine of NT$2,000–10,000. Japan's Residence Card runs on a tighter clock: 14 days, whether it's the first address registration or notifying a change of employer, both fixed by the Immigration Control Act. Mainland China gives registered residence-permit changes 10 days (Exit-Entry Administration Law, Article 33), and staying somewhere other than a hotel only 24 hours (Article 39). The United States has no national residence-registration office at all, but a registered alien's change of address is still bound by federal law — 8 U.S.C. § 1305 — to the same 10-day window, in writing. India runs on visa category rather than a single residence card: an Employment or Student visa valid over 180 days must be registered with the FRRO within 14 days of arrival. Indonesia caps an address change at 14 days, with the sponsor jointly responsible for reporting it. Brazil is the most generous: a temporary-visa holder has 90 days to register with the Federal Police. On whether the work permit and the residence permit are the same document, the seven countries split two ways: Taiwan, China, and Indonesia issue two documents from two agencies; Japan builds work eligibility directly into the residence status itself; and in the United States, the Green Card is itself the proof of work authorization.

Question 2

When is it?

Accepted Answer

There is no single verified fixed date here; timing varies by place, household, or personal choice.

Question 3

How do places mark it?

Accepted Answer

United States; Brazil; China; Indonesia; India; Japan; Taiwan

Question 4

What differs by place?

Accepted Answer

Brazil: Brazil's residence document for foreigners is the National Migratory Registry (RNM), with the physical card called CRNM, issued by the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) under the 2017 Migration Law (Law No. 13,445) and its implementing Decree No. 9,199/2017; the fee is R$204.77. The registration deadline depends on the person's status: holders of a temporary visa have 90 days after entering Brazil to register, while those granted a residence authorization (autorização de residência) have 30 days after the approval is published in the Official Gazette (Diário Oficial) to register. If an address changes, the Federal Police offers a free online form with no in-person visit required, though the official pages found do not state an exact number of days for that report. Failing to complete formalities within the deadline set on the migratory document, under Article 307(II) of Decree 9,199/2017, can bring a per-day fine for the excess period plus deportation. Brazil's "residence authorization for employment purposes" is classified as a subtype within the same simplified Migration Law residence-authorization system, rather than a separate, classic work-permit card outside it. One distinctive feature is the Mercosul Residence Agreement, under which nationals of member and associated states — Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay — can obtain residence through a simplified procedure. China: Mainland China issues foreigners a "foreigner's residence permit" in five types — work, study, journalist, family reunion, and private affairs — issued by public security exit-entry authorities at the prefecture level or above, under the National Immigration Administration. Article 38 of the Exit-Entry Administration Law requires foreigners aged 16 and over to carry their passport or residence permit while staying in China. If the visa indicates that a residence permit must be obtained after entry, the application must be filed within 30 days of the date of entry (Article 16, Regulations on the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China). Any change to a registered item on the residence permit, including address, must be reported within 10 days of the change to the public security exit-entry authority at the place of residence (Article 33); staying somewhere other than a hotel requires registration within 24 hours of moving in (Article 39). The work permit and the residence permit are two documents from two different systems: the work permit is issued by the human resources and social security authorities (or local labor departments), while the residence permit comes from public security; changing employer or work location must be reported to public security within 10 days, and the employer must likewise report contract termination and return the related documents (Articles 19 and 20). Indonesia: Indonesia's long-term residence status is split into ITAS (Izin Tinggal Terbatas, limited stay), with the physical card called KITAS, and ITAP (Izin Tinggal Tetap, permanent stay), card called KITAP — both issued by the Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. ITAP is valid 5 years and renewable indefinitely; ITAS can be extended up to 2 years at a time, for a maximum of 6 years total. Article 48 of Immigration Law No. 6/2011 requires every foreigner in Indonesia to hold a valid stay permit; Article 71(2) is not a standing carry duty but requires showing or surrendering the document when requested by an on-duty immigration officer. Article 71(1) of the same law requires foreigners to report any change in civil status, nationality, employment, sponsor, or address to the local Immigration Office; an address change specifically must be reported within a maximum of 14 days, and the sponsor (Penjamin) shares responsibility for reporting it under Article 63(2) — late reporting can bring administrative or criminal sanctions. Indonesia's old work-permit system, IMTA, was abolished under Presidential Regulation No. 20/2018; under the current system the employer first files a Foreign Worker Utilization Plan (RPTKA) with the Ministry of Manpower and pays a compensation fee of US$100 per worker per month, and only after that approval can the foreign worker apply through Immigration for a work-purpose KITAS (category 312) — work approval and residence permit remain two separate agencies and two separate steps. A "Golden Visa" launched in July 2024 (under Ministerial Regulation No. 11/2024) offers another path: individual investment of US$350,000 (5-year) or US$700,000 (10-year), with higher thresholds for corporate investors, exempting holders from the standard KITAS process. India: India has no single "residence card" issued to every foreigner, as the other six countries do; the visa category itself is the organizing unit. Foreigners on Employment, Student, Research, Medical, or Medical Attendant visas valid for more than 180 days must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) / Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) within 14 days of first arrival; what they receive is officially called a "Residential Permit." Business, Entry (X), and Journalist visas of 180 days or less on a single visit are generally exempt; Pakistani nationals must register within 24 hours and Afghan nationals within 14 days, while children under 16 are exempt. If a foreigner will be away from the registered address for 8 or more continuous weeks, or if any registered detail — including address — changes, the Registration Officer must be informed within 14 days, in person, through an authorized representative, or by registered post. Late registration can draw a penalty of roughly the equivalent of US$30, and an overstay is prosecutable under the Foreigners Act, 1946, punishable by up to 5 years' imprisonment plus a fine, followed by deportation. India has no separate work-permit card — the right to work is built into the Employment (E) visa category itself, sponsored by the employer, with a minimum annual salary threshold generally set at US$25,000 (NGOs have exceptions). The Residential Permit must be surrendered to the Registration Officer or an immigration officer at the port of exit before final departure. Japan: Japan's long-term residence document is the Residence Card (在留カード), issued by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency to "mid- to long-term residents." Article 23 of the Immigration Control Act requires the card to be carried at all times; carrying the Residence Card removes the separate obligation to carry a passport. After receiving the card and settling on an address, a foreigner must report that address (住居地) to the municipal office within 14 days (Article 19-7(1)); if the address later changes, the new municipal office must be notified within 14 days of the move (Article 19-9(1)). Japan has no separate "work permit" card — whether a person may work is built into the residence status itself, shown on the card as 就労の可否 (permission to work); a separate written Certificate of Authorized Employment (就労資格証明書) can be requested but is optional (Article 19-2). Holders of a work-related residence status who quit or are dismissed must notify the Immigration Services Agency of the change within 14 days (Article 19-16); failing to report, or reporting falsely, carries penalties and can disadvantage future visa applications. Taiwan: Taiwan's long-term residence document is the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC, 外僑居留證), issued by the National Immigration Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of the Interior. A foreigner entering on a resident visa must apply for the ARC within 30 days of the day after entry. If the registered address changes, it must be reported to the NIA service station covering the new address within 30 days of the day after the change; late filing carries a fine of NT$2,000–10,000 under the Immigration Act. Foreigners aged 14 and over must carry their passport or ARC at all times (Article 28); refusing to produce it on request is likewise finable under Article 85. The ARC and the work permit are two separate documents from two separate agencies: the work permit is issued by the Ministry of Labor (Workforce Development Agency), while the ARC comes from the NIA, so changing employers means applying for a fresh work permit. One distinctive feature is the Employment Gold Card, launched in 2018, which bundles the work permit, resident visa, ARC, and re-entry permit into a single card valid 1–3 years — holders are not tied to one employer and can change jobs freely. United States: The United States has no single "residence card" system; foreigners follow one of two tracks. Lawful permanent residents hold Form I-551, the Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card"), issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Nonimmigrant visa holders (H-1B, F-1, and others) are instead tracked through Form I-94, issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at admission, which records the authorized period of stay and visa classification. 8 U.S.C. § 1304(e) requires every registered alien aged 18 or over to carry with them, at all times, proof of their registration (such as the I-551); violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100 and/or up to 30 days' imprisonment. 8 U.S.C. § 1305(a) requires a registered alien to notify in writing of any change of address within 10 days of the change. Unlike the other six countries here, the U.S. has no national municipal residence-registry office — the address-reporting duty is a stand-alone federal rule, not a local registration system. On work authorization, the Green Card itself serves as evidence of the right to work with no separate document needed, while certain categories — such as F-1 students on OPT, asylum applicants, and some dependent spouses — must separately file Form I-765 for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

Question 5

What does Brazil require?

Accepted Answer

Brazil's residence document for foreigners is the National Migratory Registry (RNM), with the physical card called CRNM, issued by the Federal Police (Polícia Federal) under the 2017 Migration Law (Law No. 13,445) and its implementing Decree No. 9,199/2017; the fee is R$204.77. The registration deadline depends on the person's status: holders of a temporary visa have 90 days after entering Brazil to register, while those granted a residence authorization (autorização de residência) have 30 days after the approval is published in the Official Gazette (Diário Oficial) to register. If an address changes, the Federal Police offers a free online form with no in-person visit required, though the official pages found do not state an exact number of days for that report. Failing to complete formalities within the deadline set on the migratory document, under Article 307(II) of Decree 9,199/2017, can bring a per-day fine for the excess period plus deportation. Brazil's "residence authorization for employment purposes" is classified as a subtype within the same simplified Migration Law residence-authorization system, rather than a separate, classic work-permit card outside it. One distinctive feature is the Mercosul Residence Agreement, under which nationals of member and associated states — Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay — can obtain residence through a simplified procedure.

Question 6

What does China require?

Accepted Answer

Mainland China issues foreigners a "foreigner's residence permit" in five types — work, study, journalist, family reunion, and private affairs — issued by public security exit-entry authorities at the prefecture level or above, under the National Immigration Administration. Article 38 of the Exit-Entry Administration Law requires foreigners aged 16 and over to carry their passport or residence permit while staying in China. If the visa indicates that a residence permit must be obtained after entry, the application must be filed within 30 days of the date of entry (Article 16, Regulations on the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China). Any change to a registered item on the residence permit, including address, must be reported within 10 days of the change to the public security exit-entry authority at the place of residence (Article 33); staying somewhere other than a hotel requires registration within 24 hours of moving in (Article 39). The work permit and the residence permit are two documents from two different systems: the work permit is issued by the human resources and social security authorities (or local labor departments), while the residence permit comes from public security; changing employer or work location must be reported to public security within 10 days, and the employer must likewise report contract termination and return the related documents (Articles 19 and 20).

Question 7

What does Indonesia require?

Accepted Answer

Indonesia's long-term residence status is split into ITAS (Izin Tinggal Terbatas, limited stay), with the physical card called KITAS, and ITAP (Izin Tinggal Tetap, permanent stay), card called KITAP — both issued by the Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. ITAP is valid 5 years and renewable indefinitely; ITAS can be extended up to 2 years at a time, for a maximum of 6 years total. Article 48 of Immigration Law No. 6/2011 requires every foreigner in Indonesia to hold a valid stay permit; Article 71(2) is not a standing carry duty but requires showing or surrendering the document when requested by an on-duty immigration officer. Article 71(1) of the same law requires foreigners to report any change in civil status, nationality, employment, sponsor, or address to the local Immigration Office; an address change specifically must be reported within a maximum of 14 days, and the sponsor (Penjamin) shares responsibility for reporting it under Article 63(2) — late reporting can bring administrative or criminal sanctions. Indonesia's old work-permit system, IMTA, was abolished under Presidential Regulation No. 20/2018; under the current system the employer first files a Foreign Worker Utilization Plan (RPTKA) with the Ministry of Manpower and pays a compensation fee of US$100 per worker per month, and only after that approval can the foreign worker apply through Immigration for a work-purpose KITAS (category 312) — work approval and residence permit remain two separate agencies and two separate steps. A "Golden Visa" launched in July 2024 (under Ministerial Regulation No. 11/2024) offers another path: individual investment of US$350,000 (5-year) or US$700,000 (10-year), with higher thresholds for corporate investors, exempting holders from the standard KITAS process.

Question 8

What does India require?

Accepted Answer

India has no single "residence card" issued to every foreigner, as the other six countries do; the visa category itself is the organizing unit. Foreigners on Employment, Student, Research, Medical, or Medical Attendant visas valid for more than 180 days must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) / Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) within 14 days of first arrival; what they receive is officially called a "Residential Permit." Business, Entry (X), and Journalist visas of 180 days or less on a single visit are generally exempt; Pakistani nationals must register within 24 hours and Afghan nationals within 14 days, while children under 16 are exempt. If a foreigner will be away from the registered address for 8 or more continuous weeks, or if any registered detail — including address — changes, the Registration Officer must be informed within 14 days, in person, through an authorized representative, or by registered post. Late registration can draw a penalty of roughly the equivalent of US$30, and an overstay is prosecutable under the Foreigners Act, 1946, punishable by up to 5 years' imprisonment plus a fine, followed by deportation. India has no separate work-permit card — the right to work is built into the Employment (E) visa category itself, sponsored by the employer, with a minimum annual salary threshold generally set at US$25,000 (NGOs have exceptions). The Residential Permit must be surrendered to the Registration Officer or an immigration officer at the port of exit before final departure.

Question 9

What does Japan require?

Accepted Answer

Japan's long-term residence document is the Residence Card (在留カード), issued by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency to "mid- to long-term residents." Article 23 of the Immigration Control Act requires the card to be carried at all times; carrying the Residence Card removes the separate obligation to carry a passport. After receiving the card and settling on an address, a foreigner must report that address (住居地) to the municipal office within 14 days (Article 19-7(1)); if the address later changes, the new municipal office must be notified within 14 days of the move (Article 19-9(1)). Japan has no separate "work permit" card — whether a person may work is built into the residence status itself, shown on the card as 就労の可否 (permission to work); a separate written Certificate of Authorized Employment (就労資格証明書) can be requested but is optional (Article 19-2). Holders of a work-related residence status who quit or are dismissed must notify the Immigration Services Agency of the change within 14 days (Article 19-16); failing to report, or reporting falsely, carries penalties and can disadvantage future visa applications.

Question 10

What does Taiwan require?

Accepted Answer

Taiwan's long-term residence document is the Alien Resident Certificate (ARC, 外僑居留證), issued by the National Immigration Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of the Interior. A foreigner entering on a resident visa must apply for the ARC within 30 days of the day after entry. If the registered address changes, it must be reported to the NIA service station covering the new address within 30 days of the day after the change; late filing carries a fine of NT$2,000–10,000 under the Immigration Act. Foreigners aged 14 and over must carry their passport or ARC at all times (Article 28); refusing to produce it on request is likewise finable under Article 85. The ARC and the work permit are two separate documents from two separate agencies: the work permit is issued by the Ministry of Labor (Workforce Development Agency), while the ARC comes from the NIA, so changing employers means applying for a fresh work permit. One distinctive feature is the Employment Gold Card, launched in 2018, which bundles the work permit, resident visa, ARC, and re-entry permit into a single card valid 1–3 years — holders are not tied to one employer and can change jobs freely.

Question 11

What does United States require?

Accepted Answer

The United States has no single "residence card" system; foreigners follow one of two tracks. Lawful permanent residents hold Form I-551, the Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card"), issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Nonimmigrant visa holders (H-1B, F-1, and others) are instead tracked through Form I-94, issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at admission, which records the authorized period of stay and visa classification. 8 U.S.C. § 1304(e) requires every registered alien aged 18 or over to carry with them, at all times, proof of their registration (such as the I-551); violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100 and/or up to 30 days' imprisonment. 8 U.S.C. § 1305(a) requires a registered alien to notify in writing of any change of address within 10 days of the change. Unlike the other six countries here, the U.S. has no national municipal residence-registry office — the address-reporting duty is a stand-alone federal rule, not a local registration system. On work authorization, the Green Card itself serves as evidence of the right to work with no separate document needed, while certain categories — such as F-1 students on OPT, asylum applicants, and some dependent spouses — must separately file Form I-765 for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

Place	When is it?	How the date is set
United States	Date to be confirmed	Everyday topic
Brazil	Date to be confirmed	Everyday topic
China	Date to be confirmed	Everyday topic
Indonesia	Date to be confirmed	Everyday topic
India	Date to be confirmed	Everyday topic
Japan	Date to be confirmed	Everyday topic
Taiwan	Date to be confirmed	Everyday topic

How many days to register a residence permit — and does a new address or a new job have to be reported?

Quick answers

Near you

Events

People are talking about this

How the world celebrates

What does Brazil require?

What does China require?

What does Indonesia require?

What does India require?

What does Japan require?

What does Taiwan require?

What does United States require?

Sources and dates

Quick answers

📍Near you

🎉Events

💬People are talking about this

🌎How the world celebrates

🇧🇷What does Brazil require?

🇨🇳What does China require?

🇮🇩What does Indonesia require?

🇮🇳What does India require?

🇯🇵What does Japan require?

🇹🇼What does Taiwan require?

🇺🇸What does United States require?

Sources and dates

Related topics

Near you

Events

People are talking about this

How the world celebrates

What does Brazil require?

What does China require?

What does Indonesia require?

What does India require?

What does Japan require?

What does Taiwan require?

What does United States require?