Individual Number Card

The Individual Number Card (個人番号カード), also known as the My Number Card (マイナンバーカード), is an optional identity document issued to citizens of Japan and some foreign-residents. The My Number Card is associated with the unique 12-digit Individual Number (個人番号), which is issued to all residents, including foreigners residing in Japan. It stores information such as personal name, photo, address, birthday, and sex. Residents who wish to obtain the card can request an application form from the municipality where they reside and are required to submit the application form to the My Number Card center by mail. It has been issued since 2016-01, replacing the Basic Resident Registry Card, which has been issued since 2003-08.

Beginning in March 2021, the Japanese government began to issue My Number Cards embedded with IC chips that can double as health insurance cards. These cards can be read by card readers, and in conjunction with facial recognition, give facial medical care providers instant access to patients' past health checkup results and prescription drug history. They are accepted at all medical institutions, and separate health insurance cards will no longer be issued as of December 2024.

Rate of uptake for the cards in Japan is around 25% in March 2021 and 40% as of October 2021. The government aims to have almost all residents obtain the card by March 2023.

The program was temporarily paused in May 2023, due to 13 confirmed cases of another person's information being displayed when the card was used.

In May 2024, it was announced that, starting in 2025, My Number cards would be available in Apple Wallet.