My Number in Japan: what it is, what it's for, and how to get the card

My Number is one of those topics that generates disproportionate confusion among foreign residents in Japan, partly because there are two distinct things that share the same name: the number and the card. Most people have been in Japan for years with a number assigned without ever having applied for the card, or have the card but aren’t entirely sure what it’s for beyond identification. This article explains the difference and covers the current state of the system in 2026, which has changed considerably in recent years.

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The number and the card: two different things

My Number (マイナンバー, also called 個人番号, kojin bangō) is a twelve-digit identification number assigned to all residents in Japan — Japanese nationals and foreigners with a valid residence card alike. It’s assigned automatically when you register at the municipal office. You don’t need to apply for it: it arrives by post in an envelope with your number and some basic instructions.

The My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) is a physical card with an IC chip that you can apply for voluntarily — in theory. In practice, by 2026, enough procedures require it that “voluntary” has become an increasingly inaccurate description. The card doesn’t arrive automatically: you have to request it.

Many people arrived in Japan years ago, received the paper notification with their number, put it in a drawer and never thought about it again. The problem is that paper notification (通知カード, tsuchi card) was abolished in May 2020 — new residents no longer receive it, and those who have it can no longer use it to prove their number for most procedures. The only valid document today to certify your My Number is the physical card or the MyNaPortal app.

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How to get the card

The process has several steps but is not complicated:

1. Apply for the card

Applications are made online via the My Number Card portal (manabi.card.go.jp) or at your municipal office. To apply online you need the QR code photo that came with your number notification (if you have it) or your current applicant number, and a recent photo against a white background taken with your phone.

If you don’t have the QR code or can’t remember your number, go to the municipal office with your residence card — they can help you verify your number and start the application there.

2. Wait for the collection notification

The card takes four to eight weeks to be ready. When it is, the municipal office sends a notification by post for you to come and collect it. They don’t send it to your address — you have to go in person.

3. Collect the card at the municipal office

Bring the notification and your residence card. At the counter they set up your PINs (there are several, more on this below) and hand over the card. The process at the counter takes about ten minutes.

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The PINs: what they are and what each one does

The My Number Card has four different PINs depending on the function:

Digital signature PIN (署名用電子証明書): six alphanumeric characters. Used for online administrative procedures, such as filing a tax return from home.

Authentication PIN (利用者証明用電子証明書): four numeric digits. Used to access the MyNaPortal app and to authenticate yourself on government online services.

Basic information PIN: four digits. For updating the chip data at a counter.

Health insurance PIN: four digits. For using the card as a health insurance card at hospitals and clinics.

Write these down somewhere secure away from your phone. If you enter the signature PIN incorrectly three times in a row it gets locked and you’ll need to go to the municipal office to unlock it.

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What it’s used for in 2026

The My Number system has expanded its uses significantly in recent years. These are the main ones in 2026:

Health insurance card replacement (保険証の代替)

Since October 2023 the My Number Card can be used as a health insurance card at hospitals and clinics. And since December 2024, traditional health insurance cards (保険証) stopped being issued to new insured persons — the official channel is now the My Number Card or a provisional certificate. If you have an old health insurance card it remains valid during a transitional period, but the direction of the system is clear: the My Number Card is the unified document.

In practice, many hospitals and clinics now have chip readers at reception. You present the card, they read it, and the system automatically retrieves your insurance details. You don’t need to carry your health insurance booklet.

Online tax returns

The tax return (確定申告) that previously required going to the tax office can now be done from home via e-Tax if you have the My Number Card and the MyNaPortal app installed on your phone. The process is considerably faster than on paper and refund times are shorter.

Opening bank accounts

Since 2024 banks are required to link bank accounts with the account holder’s My Number. For new accounts, most banks now require it at the time of opening. For existing accounts, there is a period to communicate it.

Pensions and social security

Your Nenkin Net account can be linked directly with My Number, which simplifies access and verification of your contribution history. The guide to Japan’s pension system explains how to use Nenkin Net in more detail.

Municipal office procedures

With the card you can print copies of your residence certificate (住民票) and other documents from machines at konbinis (the multifunction printers at Lawson, 7-Eleven and FamilyMart), without needing to go to the municipal office. It costs ¥120–200 per document and works 24 hours.

Driver’s licence (in progress)

Integration between the My Number Card and the Japanese driver’s licence is underway with the aim of unifying both documents. The implementation timeline varies by prefecture.

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MyNaPortal: the app

MyNaPortal (マイナポータル) is the official government app linked to My Number. Available for iOS and Android.

From the app you can:

• View your health insurance details and verify your coverage
• Check the history of card use at clinics and hospitals
• Receive notifications about pending administrative procedures
• File your tax return (connecting with e-Tax)
• Link with Nenkin Net to view your pension history
• Consult tax data such as the previous year’s withholding summary

To register in the app you need the My Number Card and a phone with NFC. The registration process involves placing the card against your phone and entering your authentication PIN. Once in, many procedures that previously required a physical visit to a counter can be done from your phone.

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If you lose the card

Call the 24-hour My Number support line immediately: 0120-95-0178 (free, available at any hour). They can remotely block the card’s chip to prevent fraudulent use. Then go to the municipal office to apply for a replacement card with your residence card.

The My Number itself doesn’t change if you lose the card — what gets replaced is the physical card.

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FAQ

Do foreigners in Japan have a My Number? Yes. All residents with a valid residence card (在留カード) have a My Number assigned. This includes workers, students and dependent family members with legal residence. Tourists and short-term visitors do not.

Is it mandatory to have the physical card? Formally it remains voluntary, but the health insurance card is no longer issued to new insured persons and several important procedures require the card or are considerably simplified with it. In practice, living in Japan without the card is becoming increasingly inconvenient.

Does it need to be renewed? Yes. The My Number Card is valid for ten years for adults over 18 (five years for minors). The digital signature chip is renewed every five years. The municipal office sends a notification when the date approaches.

What happens to the card if I change address? You need to go to the municipal office with your My Number Card to update the residence information on the chip. It’s the same process as notifying a change of address, and many municipal offices handle it at the same counter.

Can I use the card as ID at work? The My Number Card isn’t designed as a general identification document — the official ID document for foreigners remains the residence card (在留カード). However, for procedures with Japanese public administration, the My Number Card is the primary document.

How does it affect the tax return? Since 2016 it’s mandatory to include My Number on the tax return (確定申告) and on the year-end tax adjustment (年末調整) done by the employer. If it’s not registered with your company, HR may ask you for it. The Japan net salary calculator can help you understand how these deductions affect your take-home pay.

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One of the things that stands out when you’ve been in Japan for a while is how quickly the My Number system has gone from being “something you might need someday” to everyday infrastructure. The health insurance card no longer exists for new insured persons, banks ask for it, Nenkin Net uses it, and at the konbini you can print your residence certificate with it at two in the morning. The system is there — the hard part is understanding what it’s made up of. We hope this article makes it clearer.

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Information updated June 2026. The My Number system continues to expand — check the official portal at myna.go.jp for the latest developments.