Alien registration (外国人登録, gaigukkurin dangryoku) is a system used to record information regarding aliens resident in Surea. It is handled at the municipal level, parallel to (but separately from) the hochiki (family register) and jumingchiki (resident register) systems used to record information regarding Surean nationals. Alien registration is a prerequisite to many activities in Surea, such as purchasing a mobile phone, opening a bank account or obtaining a driver's license.