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Recruiter Corner: Japan’s new Specified Residence Card is here!
Written by Camila Fernandez Hernandez
YARUKI Switch Career Recruiter
July 2026
If you live in Japan as a foreign resident, you know the drill: keeping track of your Residence Card is an absolute necessity. But a high-tech upgrade rolled out on June 14, 2026 may make your administrative life a lot smoother.
Say hello to the Specified Residence Card (tokutei zairyu kaado / 特定在留カード)! This single, chip-enabled IC card pulls double duty by merging your standard Residence Card and your My Number Card into one sleek package.
Let’s break down exactly what this means, why it matters, and what you need to know.
What is a My Number Card?
While every expat knows their Residence Card, the My Number Card is sometimes a bit of a mystery. Think of it as the physical, high-tech version of a National Identification or Social Security number. It is a plastic, chip-enabled card used for everything from taxes to health insurance in Japan. Unlike your Residence Card – which you receive directly at the airport when you arrive – the My Number Card requires you to physically go and apply for it at your local city hall.
The problem it solves (No more double errands!)
Previously, whenever you renewed your visa or changed your status, you had to play a frustrating game of administrative tag: You would visit the Immigration Bureau, wait in line, and get your shiny new Residence Card.
You then had to take that new card to your local city hall to manually sync and extend the expiration date on your My Number Card.
If you forgot that second step? Your My Number Card would expire permanently, forcing you to pay a fee and reapply from scratch.
Introducing the Specified Residence Card
Because your immigration data and your My Number profile are now digitally linked, updating your visa at the Immigration Bureau automatically updates the IC chip for both profiles at once. That means zero extra trips to city hall just to update a card expiration date!
Who can apply?
Long-term residents and special permanent residents are eligible to apply for the Specified Residence Card. Switching to the new card is completely optional, so there’s no pressure to replace your current card until your next renewal! Check out the official resources below to learn how to apply.
Three things to know
1. The “invisible” information
This is something that may catch people off guard. From June 14, 2026, all newly issued cards have undergone a major facelift – literally. Key pieces of information like your period of stay, visa type, and exact expiration date are no longer printed on the face of the card. It is all encrypted inside the IC chip.
Check out the Immigration Services Agency website (link below) for information on a free app that allows you to read the chip on your card.
2. The airport catch for new arrivals
Are you relocating to Japan soon? Even though this card is available, new arrivals cannot get the combined card immediately at the airport. Because the card requires a registered address, new residents must still get a standard card at the airport, register their address at city hall, wait for their My Number issue notice, and then apply for the Specified Residence Card at a regional immigration bureau or city hall later.
3. The 10-day lag time
Already living in Japan and planning a vacation right after your visa renewal? You might need to factor this into your plans.
Because the Immigration Services Agency now has to coordinate data back and forth with your local city hall’s network to link the accounts, processing the new integrated card takes roughly 10 days longer than traditional cards. Make sure to plan your trips accordingly!
Of course, if you need to prioritize speed, you can still opt for the traditional card. While you will miss out on the integrated convenience later, the quicker turnaround is helpful if you’re on a tight timeline.
Official resources:
Want to check the formal guidelines? The Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) has launched multi-language hubs covering the entire transition: