For all ForeignResidents in Japan
Information Regarding
the Individual Number
SystemJanuary 2023

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Digital Agency

Regarding Your Individual Number(My Number) Your ‘Individual Number’ (My Number) can be used for obtaining various
documents and completing certain municipal processes related to things
such as social insurance, taxes, and disaster relief. After arriving in Japan,and having your Certificate of Residence made, you will be assigned 12digit Individual Number.
 Your Individual Number will be unique to you and will not change
throughout your lifetime.
 Note that if you decide to temporarily leave Japan and re-enter, yournumber will be the same, it also cannot be changed at your request.

A notification regarding your Individual Number Card will bemailed to you (via Simple Registered Mail) After you register your address at your local municipal office, an official
letter (see below) will be mailed to you in about 2-3 weeks.

FrontBack An ‘Absentee Contact Form’ will be placed in your mailbox if you are
not present when the notification arrives at your address. You canrequest to have it resent by following the instructions on the form or
go to your local post office to pick it up directly. Be sure to contact
your local government office if the notification does not arrive or you
are unable to receive it by mail.
１ The envelope will contain an Individual Number Noticesimilar to the image below.

This is your Individual
Number (My Number).

Scan this QR code toapply for your Individual
Number Card .

(Application ID Number)
Use this to both apply for yourcard online, as well as check yourapplication’s status.

●Your Individual Number Notice can be used to confirm your Individual Number.
●Your Individual Number Notice cannot be used as an official form of ID, or as areplacement for your Individual Number Card.
●Scanning the QR code provided allows you to apply to receive an official Individual
Number Card.
※The QR code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Inc.

★Important★
 Other than requests from your employer regarding taxes, you should never tellanyone your Individual Number. Asking for or writing down another person’s
Individual Number is also prohibited by law. Make sure that you confirm the identity
and motive of anyone who asks for your Individual Number.
 You cannot apply for a card using the Individual Number Card application sent toyou if the name, address, or expiration date on your residence card has beenchanged, or if your residence Card is already expired.
 If your Residence Card is set to expire within 1 month, you must first renew it at theBureau of Immigration, and then apply for your Individual Number Card at yourlocal municipal office.

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Regarding your Individual Number Card
(My Number Card)
１．What is an Individual Number Card (My Number Card)?
 An Individual Number Card is an official form of ID that can be used both online orin-person.
 It will display your basic information, such as your name, address, date if birth,
biological sex, Individual Number, as well as a photo of yourself.
 Foreign residents can receive an Individual Number Card after confirming theiridentity using a photo ID such as their passport.
 You must apply for an Individual Number Card in order to receive one.
(Front of Card)

Expiration Date

氏名番号 花子

住所○○県□□市△△町◇丁目○番地▽▽号
性別

平成元年 3月31日生□□市長(Back of Card) Your Individual Number (My Number)

女1234 5678 9012

2025年 3月31日まで有効

氏名 番号 花子

（裏面）
0123456789ABCDEF

平成元年 3月31日生

1234

Benefits of Having an Individual Number Card You Individual Number Card is the only ID you need to confirm your identity and your Individual Number
while in Japan.
 Your Individual Number Card can be used as your Health Insurance Card as well. (You must apply either
in-person or online for this benefit after receiving your card)
 Your Individual Number Card can be used for various administrative procedures online. Not only that but
copies of documents such as your Residence Record or Seal Registration Certificate can be acquired fromconvenience stores as well. ※The availability of these services may vary depending on the city you.
 All services related to your Residence Card (applying to change your Residence Card status, extending
your card’s period of validity, etc.) can be done online using your Individual Number Card.

★Important★
 If you happen to change your name or address, you will need to go to your local municipal
office within 14 days to have the changes applied to your card.
 Your Individual Number Card has an expiration date and will become unusable if it is notrenewed before the set date.
 If you lose your Individual Number Card, please report it to the police as soon as possible.
 Make sure to also call the numbers below if you lose your card.

■Foreign Language Support☎ 0120-0178-27

・Supported Languages
English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese,Thai, Nepali, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Tagalog※(Please refer to pg.5 for a list of available times foreach language)３■Japanese Support☎ 0120-95-0178

・Weekdays: 9:30am to 8pm
・Weekends and Holidays: 9:30am to 5:30pm(excluding the End of the Year/ New Year holiday period)※Services regarding temporarily stopping service
to your card are available 24/7

２．How to Apply for your Individual Number Card

There are currently 4 ways to apply for your card!

Apply by using your Smartphone（Text will be displayed in Japanese）❶ Take a picture of yourself using your smartphone.
(You can do this in the middle of the application process)❷ Scan the QR Code found on your Individual Number Notice❸ Register your e-mail address on the website that appears.
❹ Check your e-mail for the web link sent to access the application
webpage. Upload your photo and enter the required information
to complete the application process.
Scan this QR code toapply (see pg.2)

Apply by using your Computer (Text will be displayed in Japanese）❶ Upload a photo of your face to your computer.
❷ Access the website listed below and enter your23-digit Application Number and e-mail address.

(https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en-kofushinse-pc/)❸ Check your e-mail for the web link sent to access theapplication page. Upload your photo and enter the required
information to complete the application process.

Application ID Number (see pg.2)

Apply by using an ID Photo Booth❶ Select the ‘Application for an Individual Number Card’ option
on the touchscreen.
❷ After paying the required amount of money, scan the QR CodeFound on your Individual Number Notice using the photo booth’s code scanner.
❸ Follow the instructions displayed on the touchscreen, and enter
the required information.
❹ Follow the final steps to have your photos and application sent
Scan the QR code to apply
electronically, completing the process.

Apply By Mail❶ Fill in the necessary information in the Application Form (sent with your Individual NumberNotice) and attach a photo taken within 6 months to the application.
❷ Include an extra envelope along with required documents and send them by mail.

Individual Number CardApplication

Photo of your face
45mmx35mm

An extra envelope so the necessary
documents can be returned to you

You can also reference our English homepage for any other questions regarding
your Individual Number Card. (https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/en/)

You can also access our homepage using the QR code here⇒４

If you have any questions, please call thenumbers listed below
Multilingual Interpreter Support (Toll Free)☎ 0120-0178-27(For all inquiries regarding your Individual Number Card, as
well as the temporary suspension of your card）

Reception Hours:◆English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese: 24/7

※Note that during the hours of 8pm until 9:29 am of thefollowing day, only calls related to the temporary suspension of yourcard will be accepted.
◆Thai, Nepali:10am-6pm◆Vietnamese, Tagalog: 10am-7pm☎ 0120-0178-26(For all inquiries regarding the Individual Number Card system）

Reception Hours:◆English・Chinese・Korean・Spanish・Portuguese・Vietnamese・Thai・Indonesian・Tagalog・Nepali
・Weekdays: 9:30am～8pm
・Weekends and Holidays: 9:30am～5:30pm（Excluding the End of the Year/New Year Holiday period）

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