Japan My Number Portal and Digital ID Guide for Foreigners

If you live in Japan, the My Number system is something you cannot ignore. Whether you're filing taxes, applying for benefits, or just trying to print a residence certificate at your local convenience store, your 12-digit My Number and the My Number Card are central to navigating Japanese bureaucracy as a foreigner. This guide explains everything you need to know about the My Number Portal (マイナポータル), how to get your card, and how to make the most of Japan's digital identity infrastructure.

What Is the My Number System?

Japan's My Number (マイナンバー) system is a national identification system that assigns a unique 12-digit individual number to every resident of Japan — including foreign nationals who stay longer than three months. It was introduced in 2016 to streamline administrative processes, reduce paperwork, and link your records across tax, health insurance, and pension systems.

Your My Number never changes. Even if you renew your visa, change jobs, or move to a different city, your 12-digit number stays the same for life. As of June 2025, Japan hosts a record 3.95 million foreign residents, all of whom are covered under this system.

There are two key components to understand:

• My Number (マイナンバー): Your 12-digit individual number, issued automatically when you register your address at a city office
• My Number Card (マイナンバーカード): A physical plastic IC chip card that serves as official photo ID and enables digital services — optional but increasingly essential

For more context on living in Japan as a foreigner, check out The Complete Guide to Daily Life in Japan.

Who Gets a My Number as a Foreign Resident?

Any foreign national who registers as a resident at a municipal office (市区町村) and has a registered address (住民票) in Japan automatically receives a My Number. This includes:

• Workers on employment visas (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities, Skilled Labor, etc.)
• Students on student visas
• Dependents of Japanese citizens or permanent residents
• Holders of spouse visas, cultural activities visas, and other long-term statuses
• Permanent residents and special permanent residents

If you are staying less than three months, or entered on a tourist/short-stay visa, you are not registered in the Basic Resident Register and will not receive a My Number.

When you complete your move-in notification (転入届, tennyu-todoke) at your local city office, a My Number Notice Card (通知カード) or an Individual Number Notification (個人番号通知書) will be sent to your registered address, usually within two to three weeks.

The My Number Card: How to Apply and What You Get

The My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) is the physical card you apply for separately after receiving your My Number. It is a plastic card with an embedded IC chip containing your:

• Full name
• Registered address
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Photo (taken by you and submitted with the application)
• 12-digit My Number
• Digital certificate for online authentication

The card is free of charge to obtain for the first time.

How to Apply

You can apply in four ways: by smartphone, PC, postal mail, or at a photo booth kiosk. For foreigners less comfortable with Japanese, postal mail is often the easiest option since English application forms are available for download.

Steps:

1. Locate the application postcard that came with your My Number Notice (or download the form)
2. Attach a photo (4.5cm × 3.5cm, plain white background, taken within 6 months)
3. Mail the application using the prepaid return envelope
4. Wait approximately 3–4 weeks for notification that your card is ready
5. Collect the card in person at your local municipal office, bringing your notification letter and residence card

For English-language application support, call the My Number General Inquiry Hotline: 0120-0178-27 (toll-free) or 0570-064-738.

Card Expiration for Foreign Residents

This is a critical difference from Japanese citizens. For Japanese nationals, the My Number Card is valid for 10 years. For foreign residents, the card expires on the same day as your visa/period of stay. When you renew your visa, you must also update your My Number Card at the city office.

What Is the My Number Portal (マイナポータル)?

The My Number Portal (マイナポータル) is Japan's official online government service platform. It allows you to access administrative services, check personal data held by government agencies, and complete official procedures from your smartphone or computer — without visiting a city office in person.

The portal is available at myna.go.jp and has partial English-language support.

Key Features of the My Number Portal

1. Pittari Service (ぴったりサービス) Search for government services and benefits that you are eligible for based on your situation (childbirth, moving, job loss, etc.). You can apply for many services directly online using your My Number Card as a digital signature.

2. Health Insurance Card Integration Your My Number Card doubles as your health insurance card (健康保険証) at participating medical facilities. You no longer need to carry a separate health insurance card. Since September 19, 2025, the MyNa Health Card function is also available on smartphones.

3. Medical and Prescription Records View your own medical records, past prescriptions, and health checkup results stored in the system. This is useful when changing hospitals or if you need to share your medical history with a new doctor.

4. Tax Records and e-Tax Link your My Number Portal account to the e-Tax system (国税電子申告・納税システム) for filing your annual income tax return (確定申告) online. This is especially useful for freelancers and those with income from multiple sources.

5. Pension Records (ねんきんネット) Access your Japan Pension Service records to verify your contribution history, check your estimated future pension benefits, and receive pension-related notifications. See our guide to Banking and Finance in Japan for more on managing finances here.

6. Moving Procedures Submit change-of-address notifications online without visiting the city office. This is one of the most time-saving features for expats who move frequently between cities or change employers.

7. Government Notifications Receive official notifications from government agencies directly in the portal instead of by paper mail. This reduces the risk of missing important documents at your address.

For a detailed overview of what services are available on the portal, Practical Japan has an excellent breakdown.

Technical Requirements

To use the My Number Portal, you will need:

Using My Number Card at Convenience Stores

One of the most practical day-to-day uses of the My Number Card is printing official documents at convenience store kiosks — no appointment needed.

At 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart kiosks (available 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM daily), you can print:

• Resident certificate (住民票の写し)
• Certificate of residence stamp (住民票記載事項証明書)
• Seal registration certificate (印鑑登録証明書)
• Tax payment certificate (課税証明書 / 非課税証明書)
• Various other municipal documents

This saves significant time compared to visiting the city office during working hours. Documents typically cost ¥100–¥300 per page depending on your municipality.

For a broader overview of navigating Japanese bureaucracy, see our guide on Moving to Japan.

My Number and Your Tax Obligations

Your My Number is mandatory for tax purposes. You are required to provide it to:

• Your employer (for withholding tax)
• Banks and securities accounts (for reporting interest and dividend income)
• The National Tax Agency when filing your own tax return

If you earn income in Japan — whether as an employee, freelancer, or business owner — you will use your My Number for all tax filings. See our complete guide to taxes in Japan for foreigners for step-by-step instructions on filing.

Recent 2025–2026 Updates You Need to Know

Japan's digital ID system has been evolving rapidly. Here are the most important recent changes:

Driver's License Integration (March 2025) Since March 24, 2025, your My Number Card can function as a driver's license at police checkpoints and car rental agencies. If you hold a Japanese driver's license, you can link it to your My Number Card and leave the physical license at home.

MyNa Health Card on Smartphones (September 2025) As of September 19, 2025, the health insurance card feature of your My Number Card is available as a smartphone app. Compatible hospitals and clinics can accept your phone instead of the physical card.

Special Residence Card Launch (June 2026) Starting June 14, 2026, a new Special Residence Card will be introduced that integrates the My Number Card and the Residence Card (在留カード) into a single document for foreign residents. This is expected to significantly simplify administrative procedures for foreigners living in Japan.

Tips for Foreign Residents: Getting the Most from My Number

Here are practical tips based on common foreigner experiences with the My Number system:

1. Apply for the card immediately — Don't wait until you need it urgently. Processing takes 3–4 weeks and you must collect it in person.
2. Set your PIN codes carefully — You'll need a 4-digit PIN for everyday use and a 6–16 digit PIN for digital signatures. Write them down and store safely.
3. Update your card when renewing your visa — Your card expires with your visa, so bring it to your visa renewal appointment.
4. Link your health insurance immediately — Medical facilities increasingly require or prefer My Number Card over the traditional health insurance card.
5. Use the portal for moving notifications — This saves a trip to the city office when you change addresses.

For information on healthcare and using your health insurance in Japan, visit our healthcare guide.

Additional Resources

The My Number system is an important part of life in Japan for foreigners, and there are excellent English resources to help you navigate it:

• MailMate's My Number Card Guide — A clear, practical overview for foreigners
• Practical Japan: What You Can Do on Myna Portal — Detailed guide to portal features
• Official My Number Portal (English) — Government site with service listings

For broader guides on working and living in Japan, visit Living in Nihon and For Work in Japan, both of which offer comprehensive guides for expats. Additionally, Ittenshoku is a helpful resource for IT professionals considering career moves in Japan.

The My Number system may feel daunting at first — the paperwork, PIN codes, and portal interfaces can be confusing, especially if your Japanese is limited. But once you have your My Number Card in hand and your portal account set up, you'll find it genuinely simplifies a wide range of administrative tasks that used to require multiple trips to the city office. Get the card, set up the portal, and start using Japan's digital ID infrastructure to your advantage.