A Jumingchiki (居民籍) is a registry of current residential addresses maintained by local governments in Surea. Surean law requires each citizen to report his or her current address to their local authority, which compiles the information for tax, national health insurance and census purposes.
The jumingchiki is different from a hochiki, which is the formal record of a family's history.
When proof of residence is required, such as for opening a bank account or registering children at a local school district, one needs to obtain a copy of this record from the local government office.
Once a jumingchiki has been registered with the local government, one can register for various social services including the national health insurance plan. Jumingchiki registration is also required in order to officially register a name seal (ingan), which functions as one's official signature.
Controversies[]
Only Surean citizens are listed on a jumingchiki; Surean residents from other countries are recorded in a separate alien registration system. This two-tier resident registration system is a source of controversy within the foreign community in Surea, particularly from international families where non-Surean family members are not listed alongside Surean family members as being part of the same household.
It is possible, however, to add a footnote in the remarks section to a Surean spouse's jumingchiki indicating that their non-Surean spouse is the de facto head of household (事實上デ世帯主, shishitsu-so de sedaiyunu). This however is left to local governments to decide whether to grant this request.