One of the things that can confuse English speakers the most when they arrive in Japan is the MyNumber system. It is not generally a problematic issue: people in the UK have national insurance numbers, while Americans have social security numbers. The big confusion, however, is that the Japanese version, known officially in English as one’s “Individual Number,” is more commonly known as “MyNumber.”
The big reason this can be an issue is…well, just the linguistic differences. It might not be a problem to say, “watashi no MyNumber,” but it is unusual and, a little bit hard, to describe, “My MyNumber” in English.
Nevertheless, for any resident, acquiring your MyNumber is an essential part of Japanese life. It helps you get a job, pay your taxes, find an apartment, and, essentially, live your life.
So how do you go about getting your MyNumber Card? Well, let me take you through it!
Getting Your Papers
The first thing you’ll need to do is get your MyNumber papers when you first visit your local City Hall. This is the place where you will register yourself and be given MyNumber by the government. This is a relatively simple process: present yourself, your passport, and sign some documents.
Like everything at City Hall, it will take you time. My friendly civil servant reassured me that this was just one of those things: everyone needs a MyNumber, even her. And she was 100% correct. It is essential that anyone who remains in Japan for more than 90 days asks for and retains a MyNumber.
Getting Your Card
That being said, after you have finished registration, this is not the end of the process. While you will receive a paper copy of your MyNumber in the mail, that is not necessarily the end of what you need to do. It is possible to use your paper version for a long time — even for years. I did so myself, and for as long time it was fine.
When I decided to get my card, I looked up where to make the conversion online. And it turns out, I didn’t even need to go back to City Hall. All I had to do was visit a local civil service office with a photo and my paper copy, sign my card, and I was good to go.
But why bother? Well, eventually, it is probably a good idea to convert your paper card into a plastic one. Why? Well, a few reasons.
The first thing is that your plastic card has your facial ID attached. This is a good way to prove to others that you are who you say you are. It does.not carry the authority of a zairyu card, but it is evidence that, yes, you are a legal resident of Japan.
But the other, and more significant reasons, are that today, having a MyNumber plastic card is very important when it comes to accessing healthcare. Until recently, you would receive paper healthcare cards if you were insured by National Health Insurance. However, it has since become the policy of the government to have NHI identification be one’s MyNumber card. If you ever need to see a doctor, or visit a hospital, this will be essential.
It’s also essential to the printing of official documents. While your paper card does have your individual number, it’s what might be thought of as “provisional”: yes, when dealing with the government directly, it’s fine. But when dealing with second parties? Not so much. Especially these days.
But the benefits are that you will be able to get tax records from convenience stores. You can also, if you have the right machinery, apply to renew your visa online, rather than doing so by going to the immigration office and applying in person.
Because it is an official photographic form of identification, it is also a good way to prove your identity in the unlikely event that you lose your zairyu card.
In Summary
Getting your MyNumber card is not especially difficult, but going from the paper original to the plastic hard copy will take an hour or so of your time. That being said, it’s worth it. And, it’s always nice to have something of a small souvenir that says: “yes, the Government of Japan approved you.” You know?
