Japan merges immigration ID and My Number into Specified Residence Card

Specified Residence Card merges immigration ID with My Number

Japan began issuing a combined residence and My Number card for foreign residents on June 14, 2026, with regional immigration offices accepting applications the next business day, June 15. The format, commonly called the Specified Residence Card, packs both functions onto a single IC chip.

The legal basis was promulgated June 21, 2024. Even residents who skip the integrated format will see redesigned residence cards: sensitive details like period of stay and status type are no longer printed on the front and instead sit on the chip.

Japan's official My Number site says the card supports health insurance registration, online identity verification and other administrative services, with private-sector use cases expanding through 2026.

Who the card covers

The integrated card is aimed at mid- to long-term foreign residents and special permanent residents. Tourists and short-term visitors aren't eligible because they don't receive residence cards or My Number cards in the first place.

For expats already in Japan, the practical change touches ID verification at municipal offices, banks and health-insurance counters. Digital nomads passing through on short stays see no change. Those who later shift into a qualifying residence status can opt into the combined card when they apply.

Existing residence cards remain valid until their normal expiration dates, so nothing forces a swap right away.

How to get one

The integrated card is optional. Holders of current residence cards can keep using them until expiration, then choose the new format at renewal, reissue or status change.

Applications run through regional immigration offices. Standard My Number Card issuance involves:

• Application submission with identity verification
• PIN setup for the IC chip
• Linkage to health insurance and online services, if desired

Renewal of the card and its electronic certificate is fee-free under existing My Number rules, though initial issuance and reissuance can carry separate procedures depending on circumstances. Residents weighing the switch should confirm processing times with their local immigration bureau, since the system is only days into live operation.

Read our full Japan guide for the complete picture and check our visa updates for more on residency changes across Asia.