Start with Identity
Subscribe
🇯🇵 Japan · National ID card

My Number Card

Individual Number Card (Kojin Bango Card)

The My Number Card is Japan's optional IC identity card carrying the 12-digit Individual Number and two JPKI digital certificates for online authentication and signing. It supports tax filing, health insurance, and government services via the Mynaportal, and now runs on Android and iPhone.

What it does
Online authenticationQualified digital signaturesIdentity verification / KYCMobile credential (in person)
Country:🇯🇵 Japan
Type:National ID card
Status:Live
Launched:2016
Issuer:J-LIS (Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems); Digital Agency as policy owner
Who can get it:Japanese citizens and registered foreign residents with an Individual Number
Format
CardMobile appNumber
Identity attributes
NameAddressDate of birthGenderPhoto12-digit Individual NumberJPKI electronic certificates
Authentication methods
4-digit PIN (user authentication)6-16 character PIN (signature)JPKI public-key cryptographyContactless IC
Common use cases
Government services / subsidiesTax (e-Tax)Health insurance cardConvenience-store certificate issuance
Standards
JPKI PKI / X.509 certificatesContactless IC cardISO/IEC smart-card standards
Coverage

~98 million cards issued by mid-2025 (around 78-80% of the population)

Interoperability

Domestic

Privacy and trust

The system is designed so the My Number is not a universal login key and information is distributed across agencies rather than centralized, with legal restrictions on how the number may be collected.

Identity verification providers

Independent identity verification vendors that support documents like this for KYC and onboarding. Exact document coverage varies by provider and region, so confirm support before relying on it.

OnfidoJumioVeriffSumsubPersonaAU10TIXIDnowRegula
Official source
https://www.digital.go.jp/en/policies/mynumber

My Number Card: frequently asked questions

Is the My Number Card mandatory?
No. Holding the physical card is voluntary, although every resident is automatically assigned an Individual Number; the card is the optional credential that unlocks online services.
Can I use the My Number Card on my phone?
Yes. It works on Android since 2023 and iPhone since 2025, carrying the JPKI certificate and basic data, and now also functions as a health insurance card.
Educational reference, not official guidance. Confirm current details with the issuing authority. See Japan data protection law · all Japan schemes · identity verification vendors