New System from June 2026: The Specified Residence Card
From June 14, 2026, Japan began issuing the Specified Residence Card, which combines the Residence Card and the My Number Card into a single card.
With the new card, foreign residents no longer need to visit their city office again to update their My Number information after renewing their period of stay, which makes administrative procedures simpler.
What changes
- Updates to your residence status are reflected automatically
- The card can be used as a My Number health insurance card
- Support for combining it with a driver's license is planned
- Permanent residents and some other holders get a validity period extended to 10 years
- Children aged 1 and older now have their photo on the card, even under 16
Getting the combined card is optional. You can keep using a separate Residence Card and My Number Card if you prefer.
For foreign residents in Japan, keeping taxes, pension payments, health insurance and administrative procedures in order will matter more and more. Understanding these changes now helps you avoid problems later with visa renewals or naturalization applications.
Sincero Global Co., Ltd. offers support for foreign residents, staffing services, interpreting and translation, and visa and residency support. Feel free to contact us anytime.
