(My Number) For Foreigners Registered as Residents in Japan

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You will be notified of your Social Security and Tax Number at your registered address in or after October.

◆  The municipal office will send a notification card to your registered address.
You may fail to receive the notification card if your current address is not registered. Please confirm your registered address in advance.

◆ Beginning in October 2015, every household will receive, by recorded delivery, an envelope containing notification cards showing the Individual Numbers of household members. This card is important because it proves your Individual Number in tax and social security procedures.
Be careful not to throw it away by mistake.

◆ If you are unable to receive your Social Security and Tax Number at your registered address for reasons beyond your control*, please hand-deliver or mail the application for the notice of your　temporary residence between 24 August and 25 September to the municipal office where you are registered.

Other  informations:

(japanese) http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000370650.pdf

(english) http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000374091.pdf

 

Cabinet Secretariat Home Page – English – click to open

For Foreigners Registered as Residents in Japan

You will be notified of your 12-digit Social Security and Tax Number (also called Individual Number or “My Number”), beginning in October 2015.

What is the Individual Number (nicknamed “My Number”)?

Individual Numbers are issued under the Social Security and Tax Number System, which is the  base  for  linking  and  putting  together  personal  information  dispersed  across  multiple agencies   under   the   name   of   the   person   it   belongs   to.   The   System   serves   as   social infrastructure  to  improve  the  efficiency  and  transparency  of  the  social  security  and  tax systems, bring greater convenience to the public, and create a fair and just society.

Foreigners   registered   as   residents   in   Japan   (mid-term   residents,   special   permanent residents, etc.) will also receive their Individual Numbers.

 

 When to use the Individual Number

• You  will  present  your  Individual  Number  to  your  employer  for  use  for  the  creation  of certificates of income and withholding tax, which are needed for tax and social security procedures.
• You will present your Individual Number to security firms and insurance companies for notation on legal documents used for tax procedures.
• You will present your Individual Number to the pension office to claim for your employee pension benefits.
• You  will  present  your  Individual  Number  to  your  municipal  office  to  receive  welfare benefits.

 Necessary procedure

• The municipal office will send a notification card to your registered address.
  You  may  fail  to  receive  the  notification  card  if  your  current  address  is  not  registered.
  Please confirm your registered address in advance.
• Beginning   in   October  2015,  every  household   will  receive,  by  recorded   delivery,  an envelope  containing  notification  cards  showing  the  Individual  Numbers  of  household members.  This  card  is  important  because  it  proves  your  Individual  Number  in  tax  and social security procedures.
  Be careful not to throw it away by mistake.
• You can apply for an Individual Number Card.
  Several   application   options   are   available,   such   as   returning   an   application   for   an  Individual  Number  Card  with  a  photo  of  your  face  attached  by  mail,  or  applying  online with a photo of your face taken with a smartphone. Detailed application procedures will be  described  in  the  instruction  material  enclosed  in  the  envelope  delivered  in  or  after October 2015.
• You will then receive your Individual Number Card.
  In  January  or  later  in  2016,  you  will  receive  a  notification  that  your  Individual  Number Card  is  ready  for  issuance.  If  you  choose  to  receive  the  Card  at  the  municipal  office, please bring the following three items. The first issuance is free of charge.
  – Notification card
  – Notification of issuance (received after application)
  – Personal ID (driver’s license, passport, residence card, etc.)

What is an Individual Number Card?

• This card proves both your Individual Number and identity in any procedures related to the Individual Number. It also serves as your official ID card.
• You can add an electronic certificate to the Card free of charge and use it for online tax returns.
• You  can  also  use  the  Card  to  receive  services  offered  by  your  local  government  as prescribed  by  its  ordinances  (e.g.,  public  library  services,  issuance  of  seal  registration certificates).  Some  municipalities  will  even  allow  convenience  stores  to  issue  public certificates.
• Your Basic Resident Registration Card will remain valid until its expiration date. However, you must surrender it once you obtain an Individual Number Card.
• The IC chip on the Individual Number Card will contain your name, address, date of birth, sex, Individual Number, and other information written on the face of the card, as well as the  electronic  certificate  where  applicable.  No  highly  sensitive  personal  information, such as your income, will be recorded.

 

 

Precautions in handling the Individual Number

• No one is allowed to use or collect Individual Numbers unless permitted by law. Do not carelessly show your Individual Number to others.
• Any  person  who  illegitimately  obtains  others’  Individual  Numbers  and  any  authorized person  that  handles  others’  Individual  Numbers  who  provides  a  third  party  with  a  file containing   Individual    Numbers   and    other   sensitive   personal   information   in    an illegitimate manner will be subject to punishment.

 

 

Contact information

Call center information

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Information on My Number System (new office hours on weekends and time extension)
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Public attendance in Japan through the phone number: 0570-20-0178 (only in Japanese)

• Weekdays: from 9:30 am to 10 pm – weekends and holidays: from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Except in year-end/New Year holidays (Dec 29 to Jan 3)

Public attendance in Japan through the phone number: 0570-20-0291 (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese)

• Weekdays: from 9:30 am to 8 pm– weekends and holidays: from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (service in Japanese and foreign language vary on weekdays)
• Except in year-end/New Year holidays (Dec 29 to Jan 3)

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Information regarding Notification Card and Card with Individual Number (new service)

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• Public attendance in Japan through the phone number: 0570-783-578 (only in Japanese)
• Public attendance in Japan through the phone number: 0570-064-738 (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese)
• Weekdays: from 8:30 am to 10 pm – weekends and holidays: from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (service hour is the same for all languages)
• Except in year-end/New Year holidays ( Dec 29 to Jan 3)

 

※ Both call centers will work on the hours cited above until March 31, 2016 .

 

Please carefully handle your

Individual Number.

It is valid throughout your entire lifetime.