From 14 June 2026, amendments to Japan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and related legislation have introduced a new Specified Residence Card. This card integrates the functions of the existing Residence Card and the My Number Card (Individual Number Card), enabling eligible foreign residents to use a single card for both immigration status management and personal identification purposes.1
WHY THIS MATTERS
Under the new framework, the functions of the Residence Card and the My Number Card are combined into a single card. Foreign residents who choose to obtain this integrated card will no longer need to complete the “double procedure” of visiting the immigration office each time their period of stay is renewed and then visiting the municipal office to renew the validity of their My Number Card.
For those who opt for the integrated card, both sets of information can be updated through a single procedure, streamlining the overall process.2
Obtaining the Specified Residence Card is entirely optional, and the conventional Residence Card will remain available. Foreign residents may therefore continue to hold and use two separate cards and follow existing procedures if they prefer.
Key Highlights
- From 14 June 2026, authorities have begun accepting applications for the Specified Residence Card, which integrates the functions of the current Residence Card and the My Number Card.
- Eligible applicants include mid- to long-term residents and Special Permanent Residents. Applications for the Specified Residence Card can be submitted in conjunction with certain immigration procedures, such as extension of stay, change of status, and reissuance.
- The Specified Residence Card is not issued at airports (Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai, Shin-Chitose, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka) upon initial entry into Japan. Instead, a standard Residence Card is issued at the time of entry.
- The current Residence Card remains valid until its expiry date, and obtaining a Specified Residence Card is not mandatory.
- For Permanent Residents and Highly Skilled Professionals, the card validity period will be extended to the 10th birthday after the date of issuance (or the 5th birthday after issuance for individuals under 18).
Application procedures and administration
From 14 June 2026, eligible foreign residents in Japan have been able to apply for the Specified Residence Card. Applications are expected to be submitted either to the Immigration Services Bureau or to municipal offices, depending on the type of procedure. Eligible mid- to long-term residents and Special Permanent Residents may file applications in conjunction with the following procedures:
Application at the Immigration Services Bureaus:
- Notification of changes other than address
- Application for extension of the validity period of the Residence Card
- Application for reissuance of a Residence Card (e.g., due to damage)
- Application for optional renewal of a Residence Card
- Application for extension of period of stay
- Application for change of status of residence
- Application for permanent residence
Application at the municipal offices:
- Notification of moving in after newly landing in Japan
- Notification of moving in from another municipality
- Notification of moving within the same municipality
Required documents include:
- Passport and Residence Card
- Application form for the Specified Residence Card
- Request form for setting the Specified Residence Card PINs
- One photograph
Note: As of 14 June 2026, submission of a facial photograph is mandatory for all residence card-related applications, including for individuals aged 1 to under 16, in line with My Number Card requirements.3
Changes to the format and information on the current Residence Card
The current Residence Card has also been revised into a new format for cards issued on or after 14 June 2026. Key changes to the information contained on the card:
- The period of stay, type and date of permission, and date of issuance will no longer be printed on the card and will instead be stored on the IC chip.
- Information stored in the IC chip can be viewed using the Residence Card Reader application.4
- Immediately after implementation, IC chip reading functionality may not be fully available and will be rolled out in stages.
Validity period changes
- Current rule: Seven years
- New rule: Until the 10th birthday after issuance (or the 5th birthday after issuance for those under 18)
Positioning and key functions of the Specified Residence Card
The Specified Residence Card is a Residence Card enhanced with My Number Card functionality. As such, it enables integrated access to a wide range of services, including:
- Use of the card as a health insurance card
- Use for online residence-related applications 5
- Access to various municipal administrative services (including procedures related to pensions and passport applications) 6
- Use for electronic applications that rely on electronic certificates, such as e-Tax, among others
Risk considerations
Data protection and compliance
Because the Specified Residence Card consolidates residence status information and My Number data on a single card, employers could consider the following:
- My Number constitutes sensitive personal information and may only be used for legally permitted administrative purposes (social security, taxation, and disaster response).7
- As integration may result in My Number appearing on copies of the card, employers are expected to handle such data in strict compliance with applicable laws, including restrictions on use, storage, and retention.
- If the holder of a Specified Residence Card enters a special period while a change or extension of status of residence is under review, the My Number functions linked to that card will be temporarily suspended. In such cases, the procedures to extend the special period for the My Number functions are expected to be completed separately at the municipal office by the expiry date of the current period of stay.
- If these procedures are not completed, the My Number functions may become temporarily unavailable (including its use as a health insurance card). It is therefore important to check that the special period is properly managed.
Operational risks
The introduction of the Specified Residence Card may create operational challenges due to differences in issuance timelines and conditions.
- Applications for the Specified Residence Card cannot be filed online and are required to be submitted in person at the Immigration Services Bureau.
- In the following situations, an application for the Specified Residence Card cannot be made, and a standard Residence Card will be issued instead. A separate application for the Specified Residence Card is required to be submitted at a later stage:
- Application for acquisition of a status of residence.
- Initial entry into Japan.
- Loss of a Specified Residence Card.
- Application for acquisition of a status of residence.
- In addition, even where an application for the Specified Residence Card has been submitted, a standard Residence Card may still be issued in the following cases:
- Where the applicant’s name changes after the application has been filed.
- Where, at the time the change or renewal application is approved, less than one month remains before the end of the special period applicable to My Number functionality.
- Where the applicant’s name changes after the application has been filed.
- As the issuance process for the Specified Residence Card (which typically takes around 10 days) is added on top of the standard examination period, the overall processing time is expected to be longer. Therefore, residence-related applications could be submitted with a longer lead time than before.
KPMG INSIGHTS
Integration of the Residence Card and My Number Card (optional)
Acquisition of the Specified Residence Card is entirely optional. Accordingly, from June 2026 onward, foreign employees may fall into one of the following two categories:
- those who elect to obtain and use the integrated Specified Residence Card; and
- those who choose to continue holding a separate Residence Card and My Number Card, as under the previous framework.
In substance, the key change brought about by this amendment is the introduction of an optional integrated card. The existing two card system remains available, and there is no legal requirement for foreign residents to transition to the Specified Residence Card.
Changes to card format
Under the new format, key information previously printed on the card (such as period of stay and permission details) is stored only in the IC chip for privacy and security reasons. As a result, this information can no longer be confirmed through visual inspection alone.
Implications for HR and employment management
These changes directly impact HR processes. Employers can no longer rely solely on physical card checks or copies to verify employees’ status of residence or period of stay. Instead, verification could incorporate:
- The Immigration Services Agency’s validity check application; and
- IC chip readers and related systems.
In addition, where copies of the integrated card are retained, strict My Number compliance requirements apply, including limitations on collection, use, storage, and disposal. Companies could implement appropriate data protection measures, including masking and secure handling of IC chip data, in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
If assignees and/or their programme managers have any questions or concerns about the scope of the update, its application and potential impacts, and appropriate next steps, they should consult with their qualified professional or a member of the GMS team with KPMG in Japan (see the Contacts section).
ENDNOTES:
1 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (in Japanese), “Application for Issuance of the Specified Residence Card (Operations to begin June 14, 2026).”
2 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (in Japanese), “Online Procedures for Residence Applications.”
3 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (in Japanese), “Submission of facial photographs for persons aged 1 to under 16 in connection with the issuance of residence cards, in the new format (effective June 14, 2026).”
4 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (in Japanese), “Residence Card Reader Application / Revocation Information Inquiry – Support Page.”
5 Immigration Services Agency of Japan (in Japanese), “Functions Available on the Online Residence Application System Depending on the My Number Card Procedures from January 2026 Onward.”
6 Digital Agency Japan (in Japanese), “Use Cases of the My Number Card.”
7 Digital Agency Japan (in Japanese), “FAQ: Handling of My Number by Private-Sector Businesses.”
Contacts
Disclaimer
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Japan.
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