There has been a major change that might affect your residence ard when you arrive in Japan: Immigration Services Agency (ISA), the official body responsible for immigration affairs, declared that the Residence and My Number card can be combined into a single card, called the 特定在留カード (tokutei zairyu kaado), as of June 15, 2026. This new change will affect how foreign residents manage their official public records for residing in Japan.
So, what do you need to know? Is there anything you need to do, and how will it affect your life in Japan? Let’s break down everything you need to know!
What is the Tokutei Zairyu Card and What Changes?
The ISA is creating the Tokutei Zairyu Card, which translates to the Special Residence Card, allowing foreigners to combine the following:
- 在留カード (zairyu kaado), or Residence Card: Used as an identification card that must be carried at all times in public and states your address, nationality, and visa status.
- マイナンバーカード (Mai nanbaa kaado), or My Number Card: The My Number card is also used for identification and includes a unique 12-digit code that you can use to access certain records or public services, such as your taxes, residence documents, and health insurance.
So, these 2 cards and all of their functions can now be integrated into a single card. This could help reduce administrative tasks, especially since foreign residents must visit the immigration bureau for renewing or changing visa status, and then kuyakusho (city hall) specifically for My Number procedures. With the new Tokutei Zairyu Card, you only need to go to immigration.
Main Benefits of The Tokutei Zairyu Card
So, let’s go over the main benefits to foreign residents offered by the Tokutei Zairyu Card:
1. No Need to Visit City Hall
One of the biggest practical benefits is that the Tokutei Zairyu Card finally allows you to complete what used to require two separate trips in a single visit. Previously, if you held a My Number Card and received a residence-related approval or made a notification at a regional immigration bureau, you would need to separately visit your municipal office to update your My Number Card information.
2. Can be Used as Your Health Insurance Card
Since the Tokutei Zairyu Card carries full My Number Card functionality, it can also serve as your マイナ保険証 (maina hokensho), or My Number health insurance card. This means you can use the card directly at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies just as you would with a standard My Number Card linked to your health insurance, without needing to carry a separate physical insurance card.
3. Can be Used as Your Driver’s License
The Tokutei Zairyu Card can also be linked to function as your マイナ運転免許証 (Maina unten menkyo), or My Number driver’s license. One important thing to keep in mind here, however, is that you will need to visit a police station to re-register your license information on the new card after it is issued. This is not an automatic process, so be sure to set aside time for this extra step if you plan to use your card this way.
4. Your Nickname (通称名) Can be Printed on the Card
Just like the standard My Number Card, your 通称名, or registered nickname, can also be printed on the Tokutei Zairyu Card if you have one on file. This is a meaningful benefit for foreign residents who commonly go by a Japanese nickname or alternate name in daily life, as it allows your card to reflect the name you are actually known by, rather than only your legal name.
Who Can Apply for the Tokutei Zairyu Card
Any foreign national who is already registered as a resident in Japan and carries a zairyu card is eligible for the Tokutei Zairyu card. This generally includes any foreigner who is a medium-to-long-term resident with virtually any residence status that allows work, study, cultural activities, or special designations.
However, when you first arrive in Japan, you will still be issued the regular zairyu card at the airport. So you will have to apply for the Tokutei Zairyu card at your local city hall or office.
Wondering how to apply for a student visa? Check out our guide: Guide to Japanese Student Visa Application.
How Do You Apply for the Tokutei Zairyu Card?
When you move to Japan, you will need to do certain processes, such as registering your address with your local city hall or office. So when you do these procedures, you can apply for the Tokutei Zairyu Card at the same time. Here are some common processes that you can apply together with the Toketei Zairyu card:
- Visa renewal
- Change of visa status
- Permanent residence application
- Re-issuance of your zairyu card
- Registering or changing address details
When you apply, you will need to provide all required documents for your chosen residence status (if renewing or changing your visa) in addition to the documents for the Tokuteii Zairyu card. Here are the documents you need to submit for the Tokutei Zairyu Card:
1. Application Form
The form you use depends on where you are applying. If you are applying to a regional immigration bureau, you will need the Tokutei Zairyu Card application form specifically. If you are applying at your local municipal office (city hall), you will be given the appropriate municipal application form there, so there is no need to obtain it yourself in advance.
2. PIN Setting Request Form
If you are applying at a regional immigration office, you will also need to submit a PIN setting request form. This is where it gets a little more digital than you might expect. When filling out the form, you will need to enter four different PINs, which will automatically generate a barcode. You will then need to print out the form with this barcode included and submit it along with your application.
One important note: this form must be filled out in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, so make sure you are using one of these browsers when generating your barcode.
If you are applying through your municipal office instead, you do not need to worry about this step in advance, as the PIN-setting form will be provided to you directly at the office.
3. A Portrait Photo
You will also need to submit one photo, though there are a few specific requirements to keep in mind:
- Only one photo is needed; you do not need to submit multiple copies, even if you are applying for or renewing multiple documents at once
- If you are applying on behalf of a child who will be under one year old at the time the card is issued, a photo is not required at all.
- The photo must show only you, taken without a hat, and facing forward
- The background must be plain, without shadows or other objects in frame
- The photo must be clear and not blurry
- The photo must have been taken within six months of your application date
- Editing or retouching the photo to alter your appearance, or flipping the image horizontally, is not allowed and will result in your application being rejected
Since the photo requirements are fairly strict, it is worth using a proper photo booth or studio rather than attempting a DIY photo, especially since most convenience store photo booths in Japan are designed with these exact specifications in mind.
For more information, please visit the official Tokutei Zairyu Card page on the Immigration Services website.
How Long is the Application Process
Compared to a standard residence card, the Tokutei Zairyu Card takes about 10 days longer to be issued. This extra time is needed because the My Number functionality has to be properly integrated into the card during processing, which is a more involved process than issuing a standard residence card alone.
This is especially important to plan around if you are applying close to the expiration of your current residence status, since standard residence period renewals or status changes can already take around 40 to 65 days on average, depending on your visa type, and the Tokutei Zairyu Card adds roughly another 10 days on top of that.
New Design of Zairyu Card (Residence Card)
Even if you don’t apply for the Tokutei Zairyu Card, the format and design of the standard residence card or 在留カード (Zairyu Kaado) will change. It will basically look the same as the Tokutei Zairyu Card, but without the My Number information printed on the back of the card. Here are some of the major changes:
1. Certain Information No Longer On Card Face
Period of stay, type of permission, permission date, and issuance date will no longer be printed on the face of the card. Instead, this information will be stored inside the IC chip on the card.
2. Children Aged 1-16 Will Have a Photo Displayed on the Card
Just like the My Number Card, the new Tokutei Zairyu Card will include a portrait photo of children aged 1 to 16.
3. My Number Will be Printed on the Back
If you get the new Tokutei Zairyu Card, your My Number will be printed on the back, but if you get the standard Zairyu Card, it will not be displayed.
Do You Need to Combine Your Residence & My Number Card?
As of now, combining your Residence Card and My Number Card into the Tokutei Zairyu Card is not mandatory, but it is worth strongly considering for convenience. Since the new card consolidates the functions of both documents into one, you will no longer need to carry two separate cards or visit multiple offices to manage your residence and My Number-related records.
That said, if you do not apply for the Tokutei Zairyu Card right away, you can simply continue using your existing Residence Card and My Number Card separately for the time being. There is currently no indication that foreign residents will be forced to switch immediately, though it is likely that the Tokutei Zairyu Card will become the standard moving forward, especially since you will automatically be issued one whenever you renew or change your residence status at the city hall.
If you do not currently see a pressing need to combine the two cards, there is no harm in waiting until your next renewal or status change, at which point you can simply request the Tokutei Zairyu Card as part of that process rather than going out of your way to apply separately.
Conclusion: The Tokutei Zairyu Card Makes Life More Convenient
The new Tokutei Zairyu Card will genuinely make life a bit easier for foreigners in Japan. If you decide to get the new card, you will no longer need to go to city hall for your My Number, and you can carry your health insurance and driver’s license on one card! This is a very useful change and will dramatically simplify processes for living in Japan.
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FAQ
What is the Tokutei Zairyu Card?
The Tokutei Zairyu Card (特定在留カード) is a new card introduced by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency that combines the functions of the Residence Card (在留カード) and the My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) into a single card. It began rolling out on June 15, 2026, and is designed to simplify identification and reduce the need to manage two separate cards and visit multiple government offices.
Is getting the Tokutei Zairyu Card mandatory?
No, it is entirely optional. Since obtaining a My Number Card is voluntary in Japan, getting the combined Tokutei Zairyu Card is voluntary as well. If you choose not to get one, you will simply continue to be issued a standard residence card in its updated format.
How long does it take to receive the Tokutei Zairyu Card?
The Tokutei Zairyu Card takes about 10 days longer to issue compared to a standard residence card, since My Number functionality needs to be integrated during processing. It is not available at the airport upon arrival in Japan; new arrivals are issued a standard residence card first and must apply for the Tokutei Zairyu Card afterward at a regional immigration bureau or city hall.
Who is eligible to apply for the Tokutei Zairyu Card?
Any foreign national already registered as a resident in Japan with a valid zairyu card is eligible, including medium- to long-term residents in work, study, cultural activities, and other residence statuses.