Getting Your My Number Card in Japan: Complete Guide for Expats (2026)

Everything expats in Japan need to know about My Number and the My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) in 2026 — how to get your number, apply for the card, use it as your health insurance card (マイナ保険証), troubleshoot delivery issues, and what to do when you leave Japan.

If you live in Japan, My Number (マイナンバー / 個人番号) is an essential identification number — you'll encounter it when filing taxes, enrolling in health insurance, and starting a new job. This article explains how foreign residents receive their number, how to apply for the physical card, and why you should do it sooner rather than later.

What Is My Number?

My Number is a 12-digit identification number assigned by the Japanese government to every person registered as a resident in Japan. It functions similarly to a national ID number in many countries, and is used across a range of government procedures:

Category	Specific Use
Taxes	final tax return (確定申告), year-end adjustment (年末調整), withholding certificate (源泉徴収票)
Social Insurance	Health insurance, employees' pension (厚生年金), national pension (国民年金) enrollment
Employment	Employers are legally required to record each employee's My Number
Government procedures	Online applications via My Number Portal (マイナポータル)
Identity verification	My Number Card as health insurance card substitute

Do Foreign Residents Have a My Number?

Yes. Any foreign national who has completed resident registration (転入届) in Japan is assigned a My Number — regardless of visa type. This includes working holiday visa holders, students, and workers.

How to Get Your My Number

Step 1: Complete Resident Registration (転入届)

Within 14 days of arriving in Japan, visit the ward office (市区町村役所) at your place of residence to complete the address registration (転入届).

You'll need:

Residence Card (在留カード)
Passport

Step 2: Wait for Your Notification Letter

Approximately 2–4 weeks after completing registration, the ward office will mail your My Number notification letter (個人番号通知書) — or the older notification card (通知カード) — to your registered address.

It arrives in an official white envelope from the ward office.

⚠️ Important: If the mail cannot be delivered (you're not home, wrong address, etc.), you may not receive your number. Make sure your registered address is correct and someone can accept the mail.

How to Apply for Your My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)

Once you have your number, apply for the physical My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) (photo IC card) as soon as possible.

Why Apply?

Serves as photo ID: Can substitute for your passport or Residence Card in everyday identity verification
My Number health insurance card integration (マイナ保険証) — Mandatory from December 2024: Japan has phased out the traditional paper health insurance card (保険証). As of December 2024, the My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) IS your health insurance card. At most clinics and hospitals, you'll tap your card at an automated reader at reception. If you don't have a My Number Card, you'll need to obtain an Eligibility Confirmation Letter (資格確認書) from your health insurance insurer as a temporary fallback — but obtaining the My Number Card is the proper long-term solution. Do not delay applying.
Electronic certificate: Use e-Tax to file your final tax return (確定申告) online
My Number Portal (マイナポータル): Online platform for various government procedures

Application Methods

Method 1: Smartphone (QR Code — Recommended)

The easiest and most convenient method:

Receive your My Number notification letter (個人番号通知書)
Scan the QR code on the letter with your smartphone
Open the application page (マイナンバーカード総合サイト)
Take a selfie (must meet photo specifications)
Confirm your details and submit
About 1–2 months later, the ward office sends a pickup notice (交付通知書)
Bring the notice and ID documents to the ward office to collect your card

Method 2: Computer (Online Application Site)

Same process as smartphone — visit the My Number Card Portal (マイナンバーカード総合サイト) to apply online.

Method 3: In Person at the Ward Office

Apply in person at the counter, where staff will take your photo. Expect longer wait times, especially during busy periods.

Method 4: Photo Booth at Convenience Stores

Some convenience store photo booths support My Number Card applications.

Collecting Your My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)

About 1–2 months after applying, the ward office will mail you a pickup notice postcard (交付通知書).

Documents needed to collect:

Pickup notice postcard (交付通知書)
Identity documents (Residence Card, passport)
My Number notification letter (個人番号通知書) (or old notification card (通知カード), if you have it)

When you collect your card, you'll set the following PINs at the ward office:

4-digit numeric PIN (used for My Number health insurance card / マイナ保険証 and other basic functions)
6–16 character alphanumeric signature certificate PIN (used for e-Tax and other important procedures)

💡 Keep your PINs safe. Forgotten PINs must be reset in person at the ward office — there is no online reset option.

Card Validity

Item	Validity
Card itself	10 years from issue date (5 years for those under 18)
Electronic certificate	5 years from issue date
Cards for short-stay residents	Validity may match the Residence Card expiry date

You'll receive a renewal notice before expiry — renew at the ward office.

Foreign Residents and Card Validity

If your Residence Card has limited remaining validity (e.g., 6 months), the expiry date on your My Number Card may be set to match your Residence Card expiry. After renewing your Residence Card, visit the ward office to update the validity information on your My Number Card.

Using My Number Portal (マイナポータル)

Once you have your My Number Card, use My Number Portal (マイナポータル) for:

Electronic signing for final tax return (確定申告) — e-Tax
Viewing your medical history and prescription records
Accessing and applying for various government documents
Child benefit applications

My Number Health Insurance Card (マイナ保険証): Using Your My Number Card for Healthcare

As of December 2024, the traditional health insurance card (保険証) has been phased out across Japan. Your My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) is now your health insurance card.

How It Works at the Clinic

At the reception desk, look for the My Number reception terminal (マイナ受付) (a card reader with a display screen)
Insert or tap your My Number Card
Enter your 4-digit numeric PIN when prompted
The system verifies your health insurance enrollment in real-time
Proceed to see the doctor as normal

💡 You can also choose "face recognition" instead of PIN at some terminals once you've registered your face data via My Number Portal (マイナポータル).

What If I Don't Have a My Number Card Yet?

If you haven't received your card yet, contact your health insurance provider (municipality for National Health Insurance (国保), or HR for employer insurance):

National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 / 国保): Contact your ward office to request a 資格確認書 (Eligibility Confirmation Letter) — this acts as a temporary proof of enrollment
Employer insurance (健康保険): Contact your employer's HR — they can request an Eligibility Confirmation Letter (資格確認書) from the health insurance association

⚠️ This is a temporary fallback. Apply for your My Number Card as soon as possible to avoid ongoing inconvenience.

Benefits of Using マイナ保険証

Using your My Number Card for medical care unlocks additional benefits:

Benefit	Details
Lower co-pay discount	Some facilities offer a small discount for My Number health insurance card (マイナ保険証) users
Pre-filled forms	Your insurance history and prescriptions are visible to doctors (with your permission)
Prescription history	Doctors can see your recent medication — reduces duplicate prescriptions
Medical check-up results	Sharable with doctors via My Number Portal (マイナポータル)

What to Do If Your My Number Card Doesn't Arrive

Scenario 1: The Notification Letter Never Arrived

Wait 4 weeks from registration; if nothing arrives, contact your ward office directly
Common reasons: mail delivered to wrong address, apartment mailbox too full, the letter was returned to sender
Solution: Visit the ward office in person with your Residence Card and passport

Scenario 2: Your Card Pickup Notice Didn't Arrive

After applying, you should receive a pickup notice (交付通知書) in 1–2 months. If it doesn't arrive:

Contact your ward office's My Number section (マイナンバーカード係)
Bring your application confirmation number if available

Scenario 3: Your PIN is Locked

If you enter the wrong PIN 3 times, the card locks:

4-digit numeric PIN: Unlock at the ward office (free, takes 5–10 minutes) or at designated convenience store terminals (コンビニ交付機)
Signature certificate PIN: Must be unlocked at the ward office in person
⚠️ You cannot reset PINs online

Updating Your My Number Card After Moving

When you move to a new address within Japan:

Complete your new resident registration (転入届) at the new ward office
Bring your My Number Card — the ward office will update the address information on the card's chip
This is mandatory — the address on the card must always match your registered address

⚠️ If you don't update, your My Number health insurance card (マイナ保険証) function may not work correctly at clinics.

When You Leave Japan

If you leave Japan permanently:

Return your My Number Card to your ward office on the day you deregister (転出届)
Your My Number is tied to your residential registration — it becomes inactive once you deregister
If you return to Japan and re-register as a resident, you will be reassigned the same My Number (it's permanent for your identity)

If you move to another country temporarily and plan to return:

You may choose to maintain your Japan resident registration (住民登録) — in which case your My Number and card remain valid
This depends on your visa type and circumstances