On June 14, 2026 — just days ago — Japan launched one of the most significant changes to foreign resident documentation in over a decade. The new Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 (特定在留カード, Tokutei Zairyu Card) merges your Residence Card (在留カード) and My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) into a single, secure IC-chip-based document. If you are a foreign resident in Japan, this Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 update changes how your IDs work, how your visa details are stored, and how you manage renewals and address changes. This guide covers exactly what the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 is, how it works, who should get it, and what changes even if you decide not to switch.
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: what is it?
The Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 — officially 特定在留カード (Tokutei Zairyu Card) — is a new optional single card that performs all the functions of your current two-card system. It was introduced by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as part of Japan’s digital government reform. Every new or reissued Residence Card from June 14, 2026 also comes with a significant format change: your visa details (visa type, period of stay, work conditions) are no longer printed visibly on the card surface. Instead they are stored exclusively in the IC chip embedded in the card, readable only by authorized equipment. Even if you keep your current separate cards, your next Residence Card renewal will produce this new chip-only format. The Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 is the merged version — one card, all functions.
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: what exactly changed on June 14?
- New card format for all new/reissued Residence Cards: From June 14, 2026, ALL newly issued or reissued Residence Cards use the new format — visa type, period of stay, and work restriction details are removed from the visible card surface and stored only in the IC chip. This affects everyone getting a new card, whether or not they choose the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 combined version.
- New optional combined card — the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: A single IC-chip card that merges both Residence Card and My Number Card functions. Getting one is voluntary — you can keep your existing separate cards. The Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 is highly recommended for its administrative convenience but is not mandatory.
- One-stop renewal: If you get the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026, when you renew your visa status, your My Number Card functions update simultaneously at the same immigration counter — eliminating the need to visit city hall separately afterward.
- Single address update: Moving to a new address? With the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026, one visit to your ward office updates both your residence registration and My Number records together.
- In-person biometrics required: To obtain the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026, you must appear in person at an immigration bureau or your municipal office and provide fingerprints and an electronic signature — proxy application is not accepted.
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: who is eligible?
The Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 is available to mid-to-long-term foreign residents in Japan — those with a Residence Card valid for more than 3 months. Special Permanent Residents (Zainichi Korean and Taiwanese residents with 特別永住者 status) can also apply during renewal or reissuance. The Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 is NOT available to short-term visitors, tourists, or people on temporary visitor status. New arrivals to Japan from June 14, 2026 can apply for the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 during initial entry procedures at the immigration counter. Current residents can switch to the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 during their next scheduled immigration procedure — visa renewal, status change, or reissuance due to loss or damage.
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: should you get it?
- Get the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 if: You are coming up to a visa renewal in the next 1–2 years, you frequently update your address, you currently forget to update one card when you update the other, or you simply want to carry fewer cards
- Stick with separate cards if: Your current cards are valid for several more years and the convenience gain is not worth an extra immigration bureau visit right now, or you are uncomfortable having both card functions on a single document that could be lost together
- Key downside of the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: If you lose the combined card, you lose both your Residence Card and My Number Card simultaneously — a significantly more serious loss than losing one card alone. Consider your lifestyle and whether you are prone to losing cards before switching.
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: the new card surface changes — even for non-switchers
This is the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 change that affects every foreign resident in Japan — even those who choose to keep their separate cards. From June 14, 2026, all newly issued Residence Cards no longer display visa details on the visible surface. You will no longer see your visa type, period of stay, or work conditions printed on the front or back of the card. This information is stored in the IC chip instead. For practical purposes, this means: immigration officers, employers, and banks must use authorized IC chip readers to verify your visa status rather than visually reading your card. This transition aligns Japan with international standards for biometric secure ID documents and is intended to reduce identity theft risk. Your card’s visible surface will show: your name, date of birth, nationality, address, and the card’s validity period. Everything else is in the chip.
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026: where and how to apply
- Apply at: Your regional Immigration Bureau or Branch Office — or your municipal city/ward office (市区町村の窓口) at the same time as a residence notification or My Number Card procedure
- Online applications: NOT available — must apply in person for the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026
- What to bring: Current Residence Card, current My Number Card, passport, and any documents required for your immigration procedure (renewal, status change, etc.)
- Biometrics: Fingerprints and electronic signature are required in person — new mandatory step for the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026
- Card collection: Must collect the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 personally — no proxy collection allowed
- Official information: Immigration Services Agency (English)
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 FAQ
- Is the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 mandatory? No — it is optional. Your existing Residence Card and My Number Card remain valid until their expiry dates. However, any new or reissued Residence Card from June 14, 2026 will use the new chip-only format for visa details.
- Do I need to do anything right now? Not immediately if your cards are current. When you next renew your visa or residence status, you will receive the new format Residence Card automatically. You can choose at that time whether to get the combined Japan Specified Residence Card 2026.
- What happened to health insurance card integration? From December 2024, new physical insurance cards stopped being issued. The My Number Card — now integrated into the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 — serves as the health insurance credential at medical facilities. Ensure your My Number Card is registered with the national insurance database before your next hospital or clinic visit.
- My Number Card expires with my visa — does this apply to the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026? Yes — the Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 expires when your visa period ends, just like your current Residence Card. After every visa renewal, update the expiry date at your ward office or immigration bureau.
Japan Specified Residence Card 2026 — quick reference
- Launch date: June 14, 2026 — already in effect
- Official name: 特定在留カード (Tokutei Zairyu Card) — Japan Specified Residence Card 2026
- What it is: Optional combined card merging Residence Card + My Number Card
- Mandatory change regardless: All new Residence Cards from June 14 remove visa details from visible surface — stored in IC chip only
- Key benefit: One-stop visa renewal + My Number update at same immigration counter
- Key risk: Losing the card means losing both Residence Card and My Number Card simultaneously
- Apply at: Immigration Bureau or ward office — in person only, biometrics required
- Who can apply: Mid-to-long-term foreign residents + Special Permanent Residents
- Current cards: Remain valid until expiry — no rush to switch
- Official info: isa.go.jp/en
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