My Number and the My Number Card
As of July 2026. Rules and procedures change — confirm with the Digital Agency and your municipal office.
If you live in Japan, you have a My Number — a 12-digit number — whether or not you ever hold a card. The My Number Card is a separate, optional IC card you can apply for. The two are easy to confuse, so let’s separate them, using official sources.
What My Number is — and yes, foreign residents get one
“It is a 12-digit number assigned to all Japanese residents who have resident records. My Number is used for administrative procedures … such as social security system, tax system, and disaster response.” (Digital Agency)
“The My Number will be designated for those with foreign nationality who have a residence certificate.” (Digital Agency)
The My Number Card (optional, free, photo ID)
“…the card is issued by a mayor of municipality upon application by a resident, and acquisition of the card is not mandatory. The application is free of charge. My Number Card is a card that can be used as an identification card with a face photo.” (Digital Agency)
What the card lets you do:
“You can log in to Mynaportal … use the certification service at convenience stores, use it as a health insurance card, etc. You can electronically sign … when filing an e-Tax return …” (Digital Agency)
As a health insurance card (マイナ保険証)
Japan has moved from paper/plastic health insurance cards to using the My Number Card for health insurance.
“With the expiration of all health insurance cards on December 1, 2025, existing health insurance cards will no longer be available on and after December 2.” (Digital Agency)
You register your card for health-insurance use via Mynaportal, a facial-recognition card reader at a facility, or a Seven Bank ATM. People without a card receive a free “Certification Document” from their insurer instead.
How to apply
“You can apply for issuance by scanning the QR Code on the My Number Card Issuance Application Form with your smartphone. When receiving a My Number Card, as a general rule, the person in question must visit the municipal office.” (Digital Agency)
You can also apply by mail or at a participating photo booth. A recent frontal, bareheaded photo (within 6 months) is required, and you set your PINs when you collect the card. Foreign residents apply the same way.
Validity and renewal
The card and its electronic certificate expire on different dates:
- Card: valid until your 10th birthday from issuance (5th birthday for minors).
- Electronic certificate: valid until your 5th birthday from issuance, regardless of age.
- Renewal is free, from three months before expiry at your municipal office.
The old notification card
“While we are no longer issuing new Notification Cards as of May 25, 2020, you will still be able to use them to apply for an Individual Number Card. If you have a Notification Card and the information on the card such as your full name and address matches that recorded on your certificate of residence, you may continue using the card as proof of your Individual Number.” (My Number Card General Site)
FAQ
Do foreign residents in Japan get a My Number?
Yes. Any foreign national with a residence certificate (registered as a resident on the Basic Resident Register) is assigned a 12-digit My Number, the same as Japanese nationals, and can apply for a My Number Card.
Is getting the My Number Card mandatory?
No. The number is assigned automatically to everyone with a resident record, but the physical My Number Card is issued only on voluntary application. Application and renewal are free.
How do I apply for the My Number Card?
Scan the QR code on the Issuance Application Form with your smartphone, or apply by mail or at a participating photo booth, attaching a recent frontal facial photo. You then collect the card in person at your municipal office and set your PINs. Foreign residents apply the same way.
How long is the card valid, and how do I renew it?
For adults the card is valid until the 10th birthday from issuance (5th birthday for minors); the electronic certificate expires at the 5th birthday from issuance. Renewal is free, from three months before expiry at your municipal office. For foreign residents, the card’s validity is tied to your period of stay and must be updated when your residence period is extended.
Can I still use my old paper notification card?
Issuance of Notification Cards ended on 25 May 2020. An existing one still works as proof of your number only if the name and address on it still match your certificate of residence; otherwise use the My Number Card or a certificate of residence that shows your My Number.
General information, current as of July 2026, not legal advice. Keep the 12-digit number itself confidential and share it only where legally required (tax, social security, employment). Confirm current procedures with the Digital Agency and your municipal office.
Sources
- Digital Agency (English) — About the My Number System (retrieved 2026-07-12)
- Digital Agency (English) — FAQ: My Number Card (application, voluntary, photo ID) (retrieved 2026-07-12)
- Digital Agency (English) — My Number Card uses (pros and safety) (retrieved 2026-07-12)
- Digital Agency (English) — Health insurance card use / validity & renewal (retrieved 2026-07-12)
- My Number Card General Site (Soumu/J-LIS, English) — Notification Card (retrieved 2026-07-12)
- Shinjuku City (English) — My Number Card for foreign residents (retrieved 2026-07-12)