Is this a bill? Do I have to pay?

No. It is a statistical-survey form, not a bill. Responding never triggers any payment.

Answering the census and other statistical surveys is a citizen's duty under the Statistics Act. But your answers are used only for statistics — never for tax collection or law enforcement.

Won't my answers be used for other purposes?

Survey answers are used only to produce statistics, with strict confidentiality required by law. Your individual answers are not handed to the tax office or police. You can answer with peace of mind.

Are foreign residents included?

Yes. Regardless of nationality, everyone living in Japan during the survey period is included. Multilingual guidance and response options may be provided, so check the instructions on the document.

City hall

国勢調査: Japan Census & Statistical Survey Form Explained

This document is a form for the 国勢調査 (national census) or another official statistical survey. The census is Japan's most basic national statistical survey, covering every person and household living in Japan to record population and household information. ⛔ It is not a bill and does not ask for payment. Answering is a duty under the Statistics Act, and you can respond online using the ID (login details) provided. Your answers are used only for statistics — never for collecting tax or identifying individuals. ⚠️ A real survey will never ask for your bank account number, credit-card number, or a PIN.

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Watch for scams

⚠️ Beware of scams impersonating the census or statistical surveys. A real survey will never ask for your bank account number, cash-card or credit-card number, PIN, savings balance, or the detailed figure of your income. If someone visits, calls, emails or texts saying "this is the census" and asks for such financial information, it is a scam. Do not answer, and do not hand over money or information on the spot. The URL of the official response site is printed on your delivered document; if an email or SMS link prompts you to enter login details, do not open the link — verify whether it is genuine using the official contact printed on the document. When in doubt, don't decide alone; consult your municipal counter or a consumer-affairs center.

Who receives it

Everyone living in Japan during the survey period — every person and household. For the census, an enumerator delivers the survey documents to each household, or they arrive by mail. Nationality does not matter; foreign residents in Japan are included. Each household receives survey forms and an ID and instructions for online response. Some surveys target only a portion of households or businesses.

What to do

1Check which survey the delivered document is (e.g. the census) and by when you must respond.
2Respond online from the site indicated, using the enclosed ID and password (a paper form is also an option).
3If responding on paper, fill in the form and return it by the method given (mail, hand to the enumerator, etc.).
4⚠️ If, during the response or at a visit or phone call, you are asked for a bank account, card number or PIN, it is not a real survey. Do not answer.
5If the content or how to respond is unclear, confirm with the official contact printed on the document (Statistics Bureau / your municipality).

About the deadline

The form states a response (submission) deadline. ⛔ Always confirm the deadline on your own document. Answering is a duty under the Statistics Act, and you are asked to cooperate by responding by the deadline. The online-response cutoff is sometimes set a little earlier, so check the date given. If you may be late, you can consult the contact listed on the document.

Common misunderstandings

Is this a bill? Do I have to pay?: No. It is a statistical-survey form, not a bill. Responding never triggers any payment.
Do I have to answer?: Answering the census and other statistical surveys is a citizen's duty under the Statistics Act. But your answers are used only for statistics — never for tax collection or law enforcement.
Won't my answers be used for other purposes?: Survey answers are used only to produce statistics, with strict confidentiality required by law. Your individual answers are not handed to the tax office or police. You can answer with peace of mind.
Are foreign residents included?: Yes. Regardless of nationality, everyone living in Japan during the survey period is included. Multilingual guidance and response options may be provided, so check the instructions on the document.

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