(1) What is Individual Number?

The Individual Number is a 12-digit number owned by everyone who has a Certificate of Residence in Japan.
Foreign nationals with a Certificate of Residence (Medium to long-term residents, special permanent residents, etc.) are also assigned their Individual Number.
The Individual Numbers are used only for administrative procedures in the fields of social security, tax, and disaster countermeasures.

(2) Notification of Individual Number

After you newly came to Japan and create your Certificate of Residence for the first time, you will receive a sealed letter by mail at the address on the certificate within a few weeks.

(3) How to make your Individual Number Card

The Individual Number Card is a plastic card with an IC chip. The card has a face photo of a person and his/her name, address, date of birth, and gender on the front, which can be used as an identity verification document with photo. The Individual Number is printed on the back.

[1] If you have an Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form

You can apply for your Individual Number Card by attaching your face photo (length 4.5 cm x width 3.5 cm, taken within 6 months, front, no hat, no background) to the Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form and mailing it or by uploading a photo taken with a smartphone or digital camera via the Internet using the QR code on the Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form. The first application is free.
(* Please note the expiration date of your Residence Card. If you expect it to expire by the time you receive your Individual Number Card, make an application after completing the Residence Card renewal procedure.)
How to fill in the Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form (Individual Number Card Comprehensive Site (English / Chinese / Korean))

[2] If you do not have an Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form or if your Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form contains past information

If you do not have an Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form, or if your Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form contains past information,we will check your identity verification documents (*) at the counter and hand you an Individual Number Card Issuance Application Form containing the latest information.

* Example of identity verification documents

• Any document issued by a public office with a face photo (for example: Residence Card, Permanent Resident Certificate, Driver's License)

* If you do not have any of the above documents, please contact us.

(4) Issuance of Individual Number Card

After receiving your application, we send an Issue Notice (postcard or envelope) to those whose Individual Number Card is ready to be handed over in sequence. Visit a designated issuing place and receive your card.
It takes one and half months to two months from application to the sending of the Issue Notice.

[What to bring]

- Issue Notice (postcard or envelope)
- Identity verification documents (for example: Residence Card, Permanent Resident Certificate, Driver's License)

* If you do not have any of the above documents, please contact us.

(5) Handling counter

- Individual Card Promotion Office, Information Policy Division ((1st floor of City Hall Building 2)
- Individual Card Promotion Center (3rd floor of Miyako City Shopping Center)
- Community Welfare and Services, each General Branch Office
- Each Regional Center

(6) Point of Contact

Comprehensive toll-free number for Individual Number
We will answer inquiries about the Individual Number in foreign languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese).

• Matters concerning the Individual Number System, Individual Number Portal
  0120-0178-26 (Toll free number)

[Reception time]

Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 9:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
(Excluding the Year-end and New Year holidays from December 29 to January 3)

• Individual Number Notice, Issue Notice, Individual Number Card, temporary suspension of Individual Number Card due to loss or theft

  0120-0178-27 (Toll free number)

[Reception time]

• English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese

  24 hour support

• Thai, Nepali, Indonesian

  9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Vietnamese, Tagalog

  10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

(7) External link

• Digital Agency (Individual Number System/Individual Number Card) 
• Individual Number Portal
• Individual Number Card Comprehensive Site (English / Chinese / Korean)

(Inquiries) ※Japanese only