Japan Specified Residence Card (特定在留カード) 2026: The Residence Card + My Number Merger Explained

What Is the 特定在留カード (Specified Residence Card)?

Since June 14, 2026, Japan offers a new type of card called the 特定在留カード (*Tokutei Zairyu Kado* / Specified Residence Card). It combines your Residence Card (在留カード, *Zairyu Kado*) and My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) into one physical card.

This card is optional. You are not required to switch. You can keep carrying two separate cards as before if you prefer.

*Source: Ministry of Justice Immigration Services Agency, effective June 14, 2026.*

Who Is Eligible?

You can apply for the Specified Residence Card if you are:

• A mid-to-long-term resident (中長期在留者) — you hold a valid residence card and are registered in the resident basic registry (住民基本台帳)
• A special permanent resident (特別永住者)

You are not eligible if you are in Japan on a short-term stay, under provisional admission, or not registered in the resident basic registry.

Key Trade-offs Before You Switch

Important: The ~10 extra days is an average, not a guarantee. If your application is still processing when you need to travel internationally, you may face complications — your old cards already surrendered, your new card not yet issued. Plan your timing carefully.

The Employer Impact: Document Retention Changes

If you are an employer in Japan, this card changes your HR compliance obligations.

Employees who obtain the Specified Residence Card no longer carry a separate residence card. You must now retain a copy of the My Number card for these employees as your status-confirmation document — not the old residence card.

This is a change from standard employer document-retention practice. Consult a licensed immigration specialist (行政書士) or labor compliance specialist before your next renewal cycle to ensure your procedures are updated.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

Where to apply: Regional Immigration Bureau (地方出入国在留管理局) — the same office where you renew your residence card.

Step 1 — Confirm you are registered in the 住民基本台帳. Check with your local municipal office (区役所/市役所). If you have moved recently and not updated your address, update it first.

Step 2 — Confirm you already have a My Number Card. You must hold a valid マイナンバーカード to apply. If you do not have one yet, apply at your municipal office first — issuance typically takes 3–4 weeks.

Step 3 — Gather your documents. Bring: your current valid Residence Card (在留カード), your current My Number Card (マイナンバーカード), one passport-style photo (3cm × 4cm, taken within 6 months; required from age 1+), your passport, and the application form (available at the immigration bureau or at moj.go.jp).

Step 4 — Submit in person at the immigration bureau. There is currently no online application. Go to the counter for residence card procedures.

Step 5 — Wait for processing. Allow your standard renewal time plus approximately 10 extra business days. You will receive a receipt; carry it with your passport while waiting.

Step 6 — Collect your card and download the IC chip reader app. Since visa expiry is no longer printed on the card surface, download the government app (マイナポータルアプリ or the Immigration Services Agency app) to check your visa status by scanning the IC chip.

⚡ Yamada Hack

Do not apply for the Specified Residence Card right before an international trip.

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The ~10-day extra processing window is an average, not a guarantee. If your application is still in process when you need to travel, you may be at the airport with no valid ID — your old cards already surrendered, your new card not yet issued.

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Best timing: Apply at least 6 weeks before your visa expiry date, and at least 3 weeks before any planned international travel. If a trip is coming up within the next month, complete the trip first, then apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Specified Residence Card mandatory?

No. Switching is entirely optional. You can continue using your separate Residence Card and My Number Card with no penalty and no deadline to switch.

Can I switch back if I change my mind?

There is no simple undo. The Specified Residence Card functions as both cards simultaneously. If you want to revert to two separate cards, you would need to go through separate application processes for a standard residence card renewal and a new My Number Card. Think carefully before switching.

Does it help with taxes and pension tracking?

In principle yes — because your My Number and residence status are on one card, administrative coordination between the National Tax Agency and Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) should become more seamless over time. As of mid-2026, the practical integration benefits are still rolling out. Use Nenkin Net (ねんきんネット at nenkin.go.jp) to track your pension record regardless of which card you hold.

Does switching affect my PR application?

No direct impact. The Specified Residence Card is an administrative ID change — your PR eligibility is still determined by years of continuous residence, income, language proficiency, pension compliance, and other criteria. See the related PR article below for the 2026 N2, income, and pension changes.

What happens if I lose the Specified Residence Card?

Report it immediately to: (1) the nearest police station (警察署) — file a loss report (遺失届), and (2) your regional immigration bureau — report the loss and apply for a replacement. Because one card now covers both your My Number and residence status, a lost Specified Residence Card carries higher fraud risk than losing either card individually. Report the same day.

Does this card replace my passport for domestic ID?

No. For domestic ID purposes it functions the same as the My Number Card previously did. It is not a travel document and cannot substitute for a passport for international travel.

Related Tools on EasyNihon

• PR Compliance Checker — Self-audit your PR eligibility, including the new 2026 JLPT N2, income, and pension projection requirements.
• Nenkin Checker — Understand and verify your pension payment record; relevant for the new 2026 pension projection PR requirement.
• Japan PR Language and Income Requirements 2026 — JLPT N2 Update — Full guide to the formalized N2, income, and pension requirements effective October 1, 2026.