Social Security and Tax Number System (My Number System)

The My Number system is a social infrastructure that streamlines administration, enhances the convenience for citizens, and realizes a fair and just society.
Each individual with a Certificate of Residence is assigned a unique personal number (My Number) to efficiently manage information in the fields of social security, taxation, and disaster response, and to confirm that personal information existing in multiple agencies belongs to the same individual.

About Personal Number (My Number)

• Starting from October 2015, a 12-digit My Number (Individual Number) will be notified to each and every citizen.
• The My Number will not be changed for life, except in cases where the number information may be leaked and used fraudulently.
• You cannot use or provide your My Number for purposes other than those specified by law.

Benefits of Introducing the My Number System

(1) Improved convenience for citizens

To make it easier to confirm that the information existing in multiple agencies belongs to the same person, the burden on applicants will be reduced, such as by reducing the number of attached documents in administrative procedures.

(2) Administrative Efficiency

In the fields of social security, taxation, and disasters, the verification and input tasks at national and local government administrative agencies will be reduced, leading to increased efficiency in administrative operations.

(3) Realization of a Fair and Just Society

By making it easier to understand each individual's income and their receipt of administrative services, we can prevent unfair evasion of burdens and fraudulent receipt of benefits, while also providing detailed support to those who are truly in need.

My Number is used in these places

(1) Procedures for Resident Relocation

When reporting changes in residency at each municipal City Hall, it is necessary to present the personal number card for changes to the information on the back of the card.

(2) Pension Sector

This is used when acquiring or confirming pension eligibility and when receiving benefits.

(3) Labor Sector

Used for acquiring and confirming eligibility for employment insurance, as well as for receiving benefits.

(4) Welfare, Medical Care, and Other Fields

• This is used for procedures such as the collection of insurance premiums for medical insurance, etc.
• Used when receiving benefits in the welfare sector.
• Used for receiving and confirming Public Assistance.

(5) Taxation

Used for tax returns, notifications, investigations, etc.

(6) Disaster Prevention Field

• This will be used for the administration related to the creation of the disaster victim registry.
• This will be used for the provision of living reconstruction support funds for disaster victims.

About the card with the personal number (My Number) written on it

My Number Card (Individual Number Card)

For more details, please refer to the page about the My Number Card (Individual Number Card).

• About My Number Card (Individual Number Card)

Notification card (As of May 25, 2020, the notification card system has been abolished)

For details, please refer to the 'Notification Card' page.

• Notification Card

Information on the My Number System (Multilingual)

This is a language-specific guide about the My Number system.

• Japanese (PDF 894.3KB)
• English (PDF 792.6KB)
• Simplified Chinese (PDF 856.6KB)
• Traditional Chinese (PDF 984.6KB)
• Korean (PDF 872.8KB)
• Spanish (PDF 799.0KB)
• Portuguese (PDF 848.2KB)
• Vietnamese (PDF 967.4KB)