With 82.1% of people in Japan having their Individual Number (“My Number”) Card issued as of April 26, 2026, the system is expected to become used more widely as part of social infrastructure. This article looks at examples of the uses of My Number Card.
[1] My Number Card as health insurance certificate
When people receive medical services covered by health insurance at medical institutions or pharmacies, they are asked to show the My Number Card associated with their health insurance registration or a health insurance eligibility certificate. Since the My Number Card associated with health insurance registration can also be used on smartphones, hospitals and pharmacies with the special equipment has begun accepting smartphone health insurance certificate from September 2025.
By using the smartphone health insurance certificate, patients who receive “high-cost medical care” will be exempted from paying the expenses exceeding a certain limit without filing an application. Medical expense deduction in tax returns can also be simplified by using the My Number Card health insurance.
[2] My Number as a driver’s license
The use of My Number Card as a driver’s license has started from March 2025. In the past, drivers had to carry the conventional driver’s license, even if they had activated My Number Card as the driver’s license. Since the rule has been changed, drivers can choose from either carrying the conventional driver’s license or the My Number Card associated with their driver’s license, or carry both of them.
When employees use company vehicles or drive their own cars to the office, companies often ask them to provide a copy of driver’s license, but employees who no longer use the conventional driver’s license cannot submit the copy. For such circumstances, companies should set an internal procedure, such as using a special application to read the data of My Number Card associated with the driver’s license.
From January 2025, issuance of the Employment Insurance system’s Letter of Separation through the Myna Portal has become available for employees who has the My Number Card. When workers notify of their leaving, companies need to ask if they wish to receive the Letter of Separation. Please explain to them that the document can be received through the Myna Portal if they complete the necessary setting in advance.
Reference
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “The status of My Number Card issuance”
https://www.soumu.go.jp/kojinbango_card/kofujokyo.html
My Number Card Special Website, “What you can do with the My Number Card”
https://www.kojinbango-card.go.jp/card/advantage/
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “The use of My Number Card as health insurance certificate”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_08277.html
The National Police Agency, “Integration of My Number Card and driver’s license, training courses for those renewing driver’s license online”
https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/traffic/r4kaisei_main.html
The information is based on laws and regulations as of the date of the original article.
