If you’ve just arrived in Japan and someone tells you to “get your My Number Card as soon as possible,” your first instinct might be to ask why. It’s not legally required to carry it. You already have your Residence Card. So what’s the point?
The card quietly unlocks a surprising number of things in Japan — opening a bank account faster, filing taxes, signing up for a SIM plan, even accessing certain government services online. For foreign English teachers especially, getting it done in the first 60 days saves you a lot of friction later.
This guide walks you through the process from start to finish, including a few things that trip people up — things nobody tells you until you’re already standing at the counter.
What Is the My Number Card?
Every resident in Japan — including foreigners on a work visa — is assigned a 12-digit identification number called a My Number (マイナンバー). You received a notification about this number shortly after registering your address at the city hall.
The My Number Card is the physical card that carries this number, your photo, and your basic personal information. Think of it as a government-issued photo ID that also functions as proof of residency.
It is separate from your Residence Card, though both will become part of your daily life in Japan.
Why Bother Getting It?
For English teachers specifically, the My Number Card is most useful in three scenarios:
Getting a bank account open faster. When opening a Japanese bank account — which you’ll need to receive your salary — some banks accept the My Number Card as a primary ID. If you’re using Wise to send money home, having your Japanese bank account set up quickly matters. Every week of delay is a week your salary isn’t moving where you need it.
Getting a proper phone plan. Japan’s major carriers require identity verification. The My Number Card works cleanly for this. If you haven’t sorted your phone plan yet, Sakura Mobile and Mobal are the two options I consistently recommend to new arrivals — both accept foreign residents without the usual bureaucratic headaches.
Keeping your tax and insurance admin clean. Your employer will ask for your My Number at some point. Having the card makes this a 10-second task instead of a 20-minute hunt through paperwork.
Step 1: Apply at Your Local City Hall
First, grab your Residence Card and head to your local city hall(市役所, shiyakusho).
Tell the front desk you want to apply for a My Number Card. They will direct you to the right counter.
At the counter, one of two things will happen: they’ll take your photo on-site, or they’ll hand you a QR code to apply via smartphone later. In most city halls, especially in smaller cities and towns where many ALTs are placed, the photo is taken right there.
Small trap: when the staff points the camera at you, smile naturally and you’ll immediately be told to stop. Neutral expression only. No teeth. No grin. This catches almost every foreign applicant off guard because the instruction comes in rapid Japanese, and the confusion on both sides slows everything down. Straight face, look at the camera, done.
Step 2: Wait for the Postcard
Your card is not issued on the spot. The process takes approximately two weeks, after which a notification postcard is mailed to your registered address.
When that postcard arrives, open it and don’t panic. It will be dense — small Japanese text filling most of the page, official formatting that looks like it demands careful reading. Don’t worry — the only thing you actually have to fill in is your name and address. Both can be written in Roman alphabet. That’s it.
Keep the postcard. You’ll need it at pickup.
Step 3: Pick Up Your Card
Head back to the same city hall and make sure you bring these two things:
- The notification postcard
- Your Residence Card or passport
Hand both to the counter staff. They’ll verify your identity, you’ll set a PIN, and you’ll walk out with your My Number Card.
The PIN setup takes a few minutes and involves choosing separate numbers for different functions. The staff will guide you through it. If your Japanese is limited, it’s worth writing down your PIN choices in advance so you’re not trying to decide on the spot while someone is waiting.
A Note on Timing
The 60-day window matters more than most new arrivals realize. Setting up your full financial infrastructure — bank account, salary receipt, international transfers, insurance registration — all moves faster when you have this card in hand.
If you haven’t sorted your housing yet, the address registration that triggers your My Number notification happens automatically when you move in. For foreign teachers who want to avoid the stress of apartment hunting through traditional agencies, Oakhouse offers share houses across Japan that handle the registration process smoothly for foreign residents.
Is It Really Worth the Hassle?
The My Number Card takes about three weeks from application to pickup. The process itself is straightforward — the friction comes from not knowing what to expect. Go in knowing you’ll need a straight face for the photo, that the postcard looks harder than it is, and that you just need your Residence Card and the postcard to collect it.
Get it done in your first month. It saves you from having to dig out your passport every time someone asks for ID.
Already sorted your phone plan and bank account? Check the Japan SIM card guide and how to open a bank account as a foreigner for the next steps.
Already in Japan and still figuring out the basics? Download the free Japan First 30 Days Checklist — bank account, SIM, health insurance, pension. The exact order that saves you from missing deadlines. Drop your email below and it lands in your inbox in under a minute.
コメント