MyNumber Card for Foreign Residents: Why You Should Get Yours
The MyNumber Card is no longer optional for a convenient life in Japan. From skipping city hall queues to renewing your visa online, we break down the benefits, the application process, and the critical “validity trap” that catches many foreign residents off guard.
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What is the MyNumber System?
The “Social Security and Tax Number System,” commonly known as MyNumber (Mai-Namba), was introduced in 2016 to unify personal information across three areas: social security, taxation, and disaster response.
Every resident in Japan—including foreign nationals with a visa status of more than 3 months—is assigned a unique 12-digit number. This number stays with you for your entire life, even if you leave Japan and return years later.
The Two Types of “Cards”
There is massive confusion between the “Notification” you receive in the mail and the actual “Card.”
| Feature | Individual Number Notice (Tsuuchi-sho) | MyNumber Card (Kojin Bango Kado) |
| Format | A simple paper slip (A4 size). | Hard plastic ID card with IC Chip. |
| Photo | No photo. | Your ID photo is printed on it. |
| Use as ID | Cannot be used as ID. | Valid official ID (like a Driver’s License). |
| Konbini Printing | No. | Yes. |
| Online Applications | No. | Yes (required for online visa renewal). |
| Cost | Free (sent automatically). | Free to apply (1st time). |
If you are holding a green paper card (the old “Notification Card”) or a simple A4 letter, you do not have the actual MyNumber Card yet. To unlock the digital benefits of living in Japan, you need to apply for the plastic one.
Top 5 Reasons Foreign Residents Need the Card
While the government touts efficiency, for expats, the benefits are practical and immediate.
1. Goodbye, City Hall: The Konbini Printer
This is the single biggest time-saver. Without a MyNumber Card, getting a Certificate of Residence (Juminhyo) or an Income Tax Certificate (Kazei Shomeisho) requires a trip to your local ward office. This usually means taking time off work, filling out paper forms, and waiting 30–60 minutes.
With the MyNumber Card, you can walk into almost any convenience store (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart) between 6:30 AM and 11:00 PM, place your card on the photocopier, and print these official documents instantly.
- Cost Savings: It is often cheaper at the konbini (e.g., ¥10–¥200) compared to the ward office counter (¥300–¥400).
2. Online Visa Renewal (The Game Changer)
For years, renewing a visa meant spending an entire day at the gloomy Immigration Bureau in Shinagawa or Osaka.
Now, if you have a MyNumber Card and a smartphone (or IC card reader), you can submit your Application for Extension of Period of Stay completely online. You only go to immigration once to pick up the new Residence Card, or you can even have it mailed to you.
3. The New Health Insurance Standard
As of December 2, 2024, Japan stopped issuing new traditional paper/plastic health insurance cards. The system has transitioned to the “MyNa Hokensho” (MyNumber Health Insurance).
While your old health insurance card remains valid for a transition period (until late 2025), clinics and hospitals are rapidly switching to card readers that require your MyNumber Card. Using it allows doctors to instantly see your medication history, preventing dangerous drug interactions.
4. Integration with Driver’s Licenses (March 2025)
Starting March 24, 2025, the MyNumber Card will officially integrate with Japanese Driver’s Licenses.
- One-Stop Address Change: Currently, if you move, you have to update your address at City Hall and the Police Station. With the integrated card, updating your address at City Hall will automatically update your driving credentials.
- Cheaper Renewal: Renewal fees for the “MyNa License” will be slightly lower than the traditional license.
5. International Remittance and Banking
Japanese banks are under immense pressure to comply with global “Know Your Customer” (KYC) laws. When you open a bank account or use remittance services (like Wise or GoRemit) to send money home, the MyNumber Card is considered the “strongest” form of ID. It satisfies both the “Photo ID” and “My Number Proof” requirements in a single upload.
How to Apply: The Path of Least Resistance
You do not need to visit city hall to apply. In fact, doing it from your sofa is the preferred method.
Method 1: Smartphone (Recommended)
This is the fastest route.
- Locate the QR code on the Application Form sent to you by mail.
- Scan it with your smartphone camera.
- Enter your email address to register.
- Take a selfie. The site guides you through the process. You can take the photo against a plain white wall in your apartment.
- Submit.Note: If you lost the application form with the QR code, you can ask your city hall to reissue a “QR Code Application Form” or use the handwritten method.
Method 2: ID Photo Booth
You will see ID photo booths (Ki-Re-i type) on street corners. Many of these are now “MyNumber Compatible.”
- Select “MyNumber Application” on the screen.
- Scan the QR code from your paperwork.
- The booth takes a high-quality photo and uploads the data directly to the government server.
- Cost: Approx. ¥800–¥1,000.
- Pros: Guaranteed to pass the strict photo quality check (no shadows, correct background).
Method 3: Mail
You can fill out the paper form, attach a physical ID photo (4.5cm x 3.5cm), and mail it in the provided envelope. This is the slowest method and most prone to errors.
The Photo Trap: Why Applications Get Rejected
The most common reason for rejection is the photo. Japan is incredibly strict about ID photos.
- No filters: Do not use beauty filters on your smartphone selfie.
- Background: Must be plain. No shadows, no patterned wallpaper.
- Eyebrows: Your eyebrows generally should be visible (though rules have relaxed slightly, bangs covering eyes are a no-go).
- Glasses: No reflections or thick frames covering the eyes.
The Pickup Process: Setting Your Passwords
Approximately 1 month after applying, you will receive an “Issuance Notice” (Kofu Tsuuchisho)—usually a postcard—in the mail.
You must pick up the card in person. You cannot send a friend.
What to bring to City Hall:
- The “Issuance Notice” postcard.
- Your Notification Card (the old green one, if you have it).
- Your Residence Card (Zairyu Card).
- Your Passport.
The 4 Passwords
At the counter, you will be asked to set four passwords. This often confuses people.
- Signature Password (6–16 alphanumeric characters): This is the “big” password used for online applications (like visa renewal and e-Tax). It verifies that “you are you” digitally.
- User Certification Password (4 digits): Used to log into websites like MyNa Portal.
- Basic Resident Registration Password (4 digits): Used for verifying address changes.
- Card Face Input Assistance Password (4 digits): Used for administrative updates.
Pro Tip: You can usually make passwords #2, #3, and #4 the same 4-digit PIN to save your sanity. But the 6–16 character password must be complex and secure.
The “Expat Trap”: Visa Expiry and Card Validity
This is the most critical section for foreign residents.
For Japanese citizens, the MyNumber Card is valid for 10 years.
For foreign residents (except Permanent Residents), the MyNumber Card expires on the exact same day as your visa.
The Scenario
You are on a 1-year “Humanities” visa.
- Visa Expiry: May 1, 2026.
- MyNumber Card Expiry: May 1, 2026.
If you renew your visa, your MyNumber Card does not update automatically. You must go to city hall and update the data on the IC chip.
The “2-Month” Extension Rule
Often, your new visa approval arrives only a few days before (or even after) your old visa expires.
- If you have applied for a visa extension but haven’t received the new card yet, you can take your passport and current Residence Card (with the “Application in Progress” stamp) to city hall.
- They will grant a 2-month special extension on your MyNumber Card validity.
The Penalty for Expiring
If you let the date pass—even by one day—your MyNumber Card becomes a useless piece of plastic.
- The Consequence: You must apply for a brand new card from scratch.
- The Fee: You will be charged a re-issuance fee (usually ¥1,000) because it was your “fault” for letting it expire.
Action Item: Whenever you go to the Immigration Bureau to pick up your new Residence Card, go straight to your local ward office immediately afterward to update your MyNumber Card. Make it a bundled errand.
Moving House or Leaving Japan
The MyNumber Card is intimately tied to your address.
Moving Within Japan
When you move to a new apartment, you have 14 days to register your new address at the local city hall. You must bring your MyNumber Card. The clerk will digitally update the address on the IC chip and print the new address on the front of the card.
Leaving Japan Permanently
If you leave Japan for good, you are supposed to return the card to the municipality. However, they will often punch a hole in it and give it back to you.
Keep this cancelled card.
Your My Number (the 12 digits) is yours for life. If you return to Japan 5 years later to work, you will need that same number again. Having the old card makes re-registration much smoother.
Security Concerns: Is it Safe?
Japanese media often highlights data leaks, causing anxiety. However, the MyNumber Card itself is reasonably secure.
- The Chip: The IC chip does not contain your full tax history, pension data, or medical records. It only holds a unique key that unlocks those records from secure government servers when authorized.
- Lost Cards: If you lose your card, you can call the toll-free number (0120-95-0178) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to suspend it immediately. Support is available in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Conclusion
The MyNumber Card has evolved from a “nice-to-have” to an essential tool for living in Japan. For foreign residents, the ability to bypass the Immigration Bureau’s waiting room is reason enough to apply.
While the strict link between visa validity and card validity is a nuisance, the benefits of instant konbini printing, streamlined banking, and simplified tax filing far outweigh the hassle. If you haven’t scanned that QR code yet, do it today. Your future self—standing in a 2-hour line at city hall—will thank you.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the MyNumber system regulations as of early 2026. Government procedures, fees, and implementation timelines (such as the driver’s license integration) are subject to change. Please verify the latest requirements with your local municipality or the official MyNumber General Site.
References
Primary sources (official)
- Digital Agency (Japan). Using My Number Card driver’s licenses (Starting March 24, 2025). https://www.digital.go.jp/en/policies/mynumber/drivers-license
- Digital Agency (Japan). Scenes of My Number Card use (Health Insurance, Taxes). https://www.digital.go.jp/en/policies/mynumber/utilization
- Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (J-LIS). My Number Card Application Methods. https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en/
- Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (J-LIS). Frequently Asked Questions (Loss, Expiry, Validity). https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en-faq/
Other helpful sources
- Tamaki Town Office. For foreign residents who have a My Number card (Extension Procedures). https://kizuna.town.tamaki.mie.jp/kurashi/mynumber/foreignMyNumberextensionprocedure.html
- Visa Yamamoto Office. Expiration date of My Number cards for foreigners. https://en.gyosei-y.com/blog/2025/06/16/expiration-date-of-my-number-cards-for-foreigners/
- Thousand Leaves CHIBA. Extending Period of Stay (Visa Renewal Guide & My Number). https://thousandleaveschiba.wordpress.com/living-in-chiba/immigration/immigration-and-visa-procedures/visa/
