Since 14 June 2026, Japan issues the 特定在留カード — a single card combining the residence card (在留カード) and the My Number card. Applications opened at regional immigration bureaus on 15 June 2026. Getting one is voluntary: you can continue carrying the two cards separately exactly as before.
Issued since
2026-06-14
Mandatory?
Voluntary
Standalone?
—
Who can apply
- •Mid- to long-term residents and special permanent residents recorded in the resident register (住民基本台帳).
- •People who have, or want, a My Number card — that is voluntary too.
- •Anyone tired of two trips, to immigration and to the city office, every time a detail changes.
What to know before applying
- ✓You cannot apply on its own. It must be filed together with another procedure: extension of stay, change of status, permanent residence, residence-card renewal or reissue, address notification, and so on.
- ✓The main benefit: when you complete a procedure at immigration, the My Number side is updated at the same time, with no separate trip to the city office.
- ✓Not applying costs you nothing — two separate cards remain perfectly valid.
- ✓If you have an extension or a permanent residence application coming up, that is the convenient moment to do both at once.
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Build CV freeFrequently asked questions
Is the 特定在留カード mandatory?
No. Like the My Number card itself, getting one is voluntary. You can keep using a separate residence card and My Number card.
Can I apply for it by itself?
No. The application must be made at the same time as another procedure, such as an extension of period of stay, a change of status, a permanent residence application, or an address notification.
When did it start?
It went live on 14 June 2026, with applications accepted at regional immigration bureaus from 15 June 2026.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁) · moj.go.jp/isa/tokutei.html