How to Get a My Number Card in Japan: Application, Pickup, PINs & 2026 Foreign-Resident Rules

My Number is the 12-digit Individual Number assigned to people recorded in Japan's resident-registration system. The physical My Number Card is a separate photo ID and electronic-identity card that you receive only after applying.

You do not need to apply for a card in order to be assigned an Individual Number. The card becomes useful when you want a government-issued photo ID, electronic certificates, MyNa Portal access, health-insurance verification, supported convenience-store certificate issuance and other services.

• My Number: the 12-digit Individual Number
• My Number Card: the physical photo IC card
• Electronic certificates: credentials stored in the card for supported online procedures
• Services vary by municipality and system

Your application is tied to the information in the Basic Resident Register. If you have just arrived in Japan, first complete the appropriate address-registration procedure with your municipality.

Check that your legal name, address, date of birth and other resident-record information are correct before using an application form. Foreign residents should also make sure the information used for the application is consistent with the applicable residence-card records.

• Register the address where you actually live
• Check name spelling and date of birth
• Check the complete address including building and room number
• Resolve mismatched residence-card information before applying

On June 14, 2026, Japan introduced the Specific Residence Card for eligible mid- to long-term residents. It can perform both residence-card and My Number Card functions in one physical card.

If you already hold or plan to apply for a Specific Residence Card, your workflow can differ from the standard separate-card process explained in this guide. Confirm with your municipality or the Immigration Services Agency before submitting duplicate or unnecessary applications.

Older residence cards and standard My Number Cards can remain valid until their own expiration dates, so the 2026 reform does not mean every foreign resident must immediately replace existing cards.

• Separate residence card + My Number Card remains possible
• Specific Residence Card combines the two functions
• Existing valid cards do not all require immediate replacement
• Use the procedure that matches the card type you actually hold

A My Number Card application form is normally sent after resident registration together with My Number-related documents. If you no longer have a usable form, your municipal office can issue a form with an Application ID for online use.

The online process uses a 23-digit Application ID. Scanning the QR code on the official form with a smartphone normally enters that ID automatically.

If your printed information is no longer current, check the official instructions for your application method. Foreign residents should contact the municipality if the form information differs from the residence-card information.

• Application form
• QR code
• 23-digit Application ID
• Current resident information
• Municipal reissue if the form is missing

Photo problems are a major cause of application defects. The official standard requires a recent front-facing image with no hat and a plain background, with the face clearly identifiable.

For postal applications, the standard photograph size is 4.5 cm by 3.5 cm. For online applications, the official site accepts JPEG images meeting its current file-size and pixel requirements.

Do not heavily edit the face. A technically attractive photo can still be rejected if it no longer represents your normal appearance.

• Taken within the last 6 months
• Front-facing
• No hat
• Plain background
• No excessive editing
• Check current online file requirements before upload

The standard application can be submitted by smartphone, personal computer, compatible ID photo booth or mail. Smartphone application is usually the simplest if your form has a QR code.

For smartphone application, scan the QR code, register an email address, upload or take the photo, confirm the required application information and submit. The official site sends a completion email after successful submission.

Postal applications require the completed form and photograph in the approved return envelope. A compatible photo booth can submit the application electronically after reading the form's QR code.

• Smartphone
• Personal computer
• Compatible ID photo booth
• Postal mail
• Municipal application support where locally offered

Submitting the application does not mean the card is ready at city hall. The official My Number Card site states that it takes about one month from application until the municipality ships or issues the pickup notice, excluding defective applications, and local timing varies.

Do not visit only because an online status screen shows progress. Wait for the municipality's formal issuance notice and follow the pickup location and deadline printed there.

If you move to a different municipality before the notice is issued, the official site warns that you may need to reapply at the new municipality.

• Keep the application confirmation
• Check application status if needed
• Wait for the municipal issuance notice
• Follow the pickup location and deadline
• Recheck the process if you move before pickup

The applicant normally collects the card in person. The exact identity documents depend on the municipality and your circumstances, so use the checklist on the issuance notice rather than a generic list.

Bring the issuance notice and the identity documents specified by the municipality. If you still have an old Notification Card or an expired My Number Card that must be returned, follow the instructions printed on the notice or the municipal website.

Representative pickup is limited to qualifying circumstances and requires additional documentation; ordinary convenience is not enough.

• Issuance notice
• Required identity-verification documents
• Existing My Number-related card when instructed
• Residence-related ID used by the municipality
• Additional representative documents only when permitted

At issuance, you set PINs used for electronic certificates and card functions. Preparing them in advance avoids delays at the counter.

The signature electronic certificate uses 6 to 16 alphanumeric characters and must include at least one uppercase letter and one number. The user-authentication certificate, Basic Resident Register function and card-entry assistance function use 4-digit numeric PINs; the official site allows the same 4-digit number to be used for those three functions.

Do not use an obvious birthday or share your PINs with a person who is merely helping you complete the application.

• Signature certificate: 6–16 uppercase letters and numbers
• User-authentication certificate: 4 digits
• Basic Resident Register: 4 digits
• Card-entry assistance: 4 digits
• Store PINs securely and separately from the card

The My Number Card is both an identity document and a platform for electronic services. Availability depends on the service, municipality and whether the necessary electronic certificate is active.

Common uses include identity verification, online administrative procedures, MyNa Portal, supported private online verification, health-insurance verification and convenience-store certificates where the municipality participates.

A service being technically possible does not mean every municipality offers it, so confirm local availability before relying on the card for a deadline.

• Official photo identification
• MyNa Portal
• Online government procedures
• Health-insurance verification
• Convenience-store certificate issuance where supported
• Electronic identity verification

Foreign residents with a defined period of stay need to pay particular attention to the relationship between immigration status and My Number Card validity. Current Immigration Services Agency guidance after the June 2026 card reform states that the My Number Card expiration for relevant foreign residents is tied to the residence-period expiration date.

If your period of stay is extended, do not assume that every My Number function updates automatically. Follow the current municipality and Immigration Services Agency procedure before the My Number Card expires.

Permanent residents, Highly Skilled Professional (ii) holders and people using a Specific Residence Card can have different validity mechanics, so check the expiration date printed or recorded for the exact card you hold.

• Check the card expiration date
• Start the update process before expiry
• Do not wait until after the residence-period deadline
• Use the rules for your exact residence status and card type

When your registered address changes, complete the municipal moving procedure and bring the relevant My Number-related card so the address and electronic functions can be updated as required.

If the card is lost or stolen, use the official suspension procedure promptly and then follow the municipality's reissue process. A lost card can expose identity and authentication risks even though the My Number alone is not enough to access all services.

Keep the card, PINs and copies of My Number documents separate. Do not send unrestricted photographs of both sides of the card unless an authorized procedure specifically requires them.

• Bring the card when changing address
• Check electronic certificates after a move
• Suspend a lost card promptly
• Follow the official reissue procedure
• Protect the card and PINs from unnecessary copying