Japan's My Number Card Guide 2026: Application, Health Insurance & Taxes for Expats

Quick Reference: Notification Slip vs. IC Plastic My Number Card

New residents often confuse the initial paper notification with the official plastic IC card. Here is how they compare:

The 2024–2026 Myna Health Insurance Card (マイナ保険証) Transition

One of the most critical regulatory shifts affecting foreign residents is the integration of Japan's National Health Insurance (NHI) and Employees' Health Insurance into the My Number Card system:

• December 2, 2024 Cutoff: The Japanese government officially ceased issuing new traditional health insurance cards.
• December 1, 2025 Grace Expiration: Pre-existing traditional health cards issued prior to December 2, 2024 remained valid for a maximum grace period of one year, expiring no later than December 1, 2025.
• Current Standard (2026): Medical institutions, clinics, and pharmacies nationwide use facial-recognition card readers to scan your plastic My Number Card for health coverage verification.

What if you don't have a My Number Card yet? If you have not received your My Number Card or have not yet registered it for health insurance, your health insurer will issue an Insurance Eligibility Confirmation Certificate (資格確認書 - Shikaku Kakunin-sho)—not to be confused with the immigration "Certificate of Eligibility" you used for your visa. This paper certificate ensures you retain full healthcare coverage without penalty while your card is being processed.

3 Ways to Register Your My Number Card for Healthcare

1. At Clinics & Pharmacies: Place your card into the facial recognition reader at hospital check-in counters and select "Register for Health Insurance."
2. Via Mynaportal App: Log into the official Mynaportal (マイナポータル) smartphone app by holding your card to your phone's NFC reader and entering your 4-digit PIN.
3. At Seven Bank ATMs: Insert your My Number Card into any Seven Bank ATM (located in 7-Eleven stores across Japan), choose "Myna Health Insurance Registration," and follow the English screen prompts.

Step-by-Step: How Foreign Residents Apply for the My Number Card

Applying for your physical card is free of charge for your first issuance. Follow these steps after registering your residential address at your local Ward Office (区役所 / 市役所):

Step 1: Receive Your Notification Paper

Within 2 to 3 weeks of registering your address at your local municipal office, a registered envelope from the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (J-LIS) will arrive at your mailbox containing your Personal Number Notification (個人番号通知書) along with an Application Form (個人番号カード交付申請書) containing a QR code.

Step 2: Submit Your Application

You can apply using one of three methods:

• Smartphone (Recommended): Scan the QR code on your application form using your phone camera. Upload a clear, plain-background digital passport-style photo, fill in your email address, and submit.
• By Mail: Attach a physical 4.5cm x 3.5cm ID photo to the paper application form, seal it in the provided postage-paid envelope, and mail it to J-LIS.
• Town ID Photo Booths: Use commercial photo booths (such as DNP's Ki-Re-i machines) found near train stations. Select "My Number Card Application," scan your application QR code, take your photo directly in the booth, and submit digitally.

Step 3: Collect Your Issuance Notice (交付通知書)

After approximately 3 to 4 weeks, your city or ward office will mail a postcard-sized Issuance Notice (交付通知書) to your home address. This card specifies your assigned collection location and deadlines.

Step 4: Pick Up Your Card at the Ward Office

Visit the designated ward office counter. You must present the following documents in person:

• Your physical Residence Card (在留カード).
• Your valid Passport.
• The original Issuance Notice postcard (signed and dated).
• Your paper Notification Slip (if you still have it).

During pickup, you will set up two essential security PINs on a touchscreen terminal:

1. 4-Digit Numeric PIN: Used for daily identity verification, Mynaportal app logins, convenience store printing, and health insurance readers.
2. 6 to 16 Character Alphanumeric Password: Used for digital signatures, electronic tax filing (e-Tax), and municipal online applications.

Critical Expiration Rule for Foreign Residents

Japanese citizens' My Number Cards are valid until the 10th birthday after issuance (the 5th birthday for holders under 18), and the electronic certificates on the chip expire after 5 years regardless. For foreign residents, the rule depends on your status of residence (as regulated by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan):

• Residents with a period of stay (most Student, Work, Dependent and Spouse visas): your My Number Card expires on the same date as your Residence Card (在留カード).
• Permanent Residents, Special Permanent Residents and Highly Skilled Professional (ii) holders have no period of stay, so their cards follow the same 10-year rule as Japanese nationals.

Warning: Visa Extensions Do NOT Automatically Update Your My Number Card!
When you extend your visa or change your residency status (e.g., renewing a Student Visa or Work Visa), your My Number Card does not update automatically. You must physically visit your local ward office before your current card expires to extend its validity. If your card expires, it becomes permanently void, and your municipality charges a 1,000 Yen re-issuance fee (800 Yen without electronic certificates) to print a new card.

What to do when extending your visa:

1. Receive your new Residence Card from the Immigration Bureau.
2. Visit your municipal ward office before your current My Number Card expiration date.
3. Present your new Residence Card and current My Number Card to update the expiration date printed on the card face and chip.
4. Temporary Extension: If your visa renewal application is still under review at Immigration and your card is about to expire, bring proof of visa application (the "application in progress" stamp on the back of your Residence Card, or the confirmation email from the online application system) to the ward office to request a one-time 2-month extension of your My Number Card. This special extension cannot be renewed a second time.

New in 2026: The Specified Residence Card (特定在留カード)

Since June 14, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency has offered an optional combined card—the Specified Residence Card (特定在留カード - Tokutei Zairyū Card)—that merges your Residence Card and your My Number Card into a single document. Your residence status, period of stay and work permissions are printed on the front, and your 12-digit My Number on the back.

• Who can get it: Mid-to-long-term residents registered in the Basic Resident Register and Special Permanent Residents. It is entirely voluntary—you can keep carrying two separate cards.
• Where to apply: At the regional Immigration Bureau when you renew or change your status of residence (or apply for Permanent Residence), or at your city/ward office when you register an address. It is not issued at airports on arrival.
• Why it matters: Because the immigration office updates the card directly, you no longer need the separate ward-office visit described above to extend the card's expiry after every visa renewal.
• Processing time: Roughly 10 days longer than a standard Residence Card.

Top Benefits for Expats in Japan

• Convenience Store Certificate Printing (コンビニ交付): Print your Official Residence Certificate (住民票 - Juminhyo) or Tax Certificates (課税証明書) at multi-copy machines in 7-Eleven, Lawson, or FamilyMart for 200–300 JPY—saving time and avoiding waiting lines at ward offices.
• Simplified Bank Account Setup & International Transfers: Banks and remittance services (such as Sony Bank, Wise Japan, and Revolut) must collect your My Number for tax-reporting and remittance compliance. The My Number Card is the fastest way to prove it online, although most providers also accept the notification slip together with a photo ID. Learn more in our Opening a Bank Account in Japan guide.
• Online Tax Refunds & e-Tax: Seamlessly file annual tax adjustments or claim pension refunds with the National Tax Agency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is the My Number Card mandatory for foreign residents?

A: Holding the physical plastic IC card is legally voluntary, but holding a 12-digit My Number is automatic upon address registration. However, because health insurance cards have been phased out into Myna Health Cards, getting the plastic card is strongly recommended for seamless medical care and municipal access.

Q: What happens if I move to a new address in Japan?

A: When registering your move at your new ward office (within 14 days), you must present your My Number Card. The staff will update your new address on the front of the card and update the internal IC chip. This "continued use" procedure (継続利用手続き) must be completed within 90 days of your move—otherwise the card is invalidated and you will need to apply for a new one.

Q: What should I do if I lose my My Number Card?

A: Immediately call the toll-free My Number Call Center at 0120-95-0178 (Japanese) or 0120-0178-27 (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese)—both lines accept loss and theft reports 24/7—to suspend your card functions. Next, file a lost property report at a local police box (Koban) and visit your ward office with the police report number to apply for a re-issuance.

Q: What happens to my My Number Card when I leave Japan permanently?

A: When completing your moving-out notification (転出届 - Tenshutsu-todoke) at your ward office, hand over your My Number Card. The staff will punch a hole through the card chip, render it invalid for digital services, and return it to you as a record.

Q: Can I check my budget and moving expenses in Japan?

A: Yes! Use our interactive yuzu.help Japan Budget Calculator to calculate initial moving costs, municipal fees, and monthly living expenses across Japanese cities.