Japan’s Specified Residence Card Starts June 2026: What Foreign Residents Need to Do
CEO / Native Japanese Expert
Updated on: May 12, 2026
Essentials
How this guide is checked
Updated against official, partner, and reviewed site evidence where available.
Last updated: May 12, 2026
Official or partner facts are separated from practical notes.
Prices, screening, documents, and rules can change.
Some next-step links may be monetized.
Needs review: Approval, visa/tax/legal, availability, and campaign terms are not guaranteed. Confirm on the official or partner page.
Send to Friends (Summary)
- •Japan will start the Specified Residence Card system on June 14, 2026. Here is what changes, who can apply, whether it is mandatory, and what to check before renewal or moving.
Great for LINE / WhatsApp sharing
Japan’s Specified Residence Card Starts June 2026: What Foreign Residents Need to Do
Last verified: 2026-05-12
Japan plans to start the Specified Residence Card system on June 14, 2026. Local immigration offices are expected to accept applications from the next business day, June 15, 2026.
The short answer: it is optional. You can still keep a separate residence card and My Number Card. But if you renew your status, change status, apply for permanent residence, or move after June 2026, this system may affect your paperwork.
What changes?
| Topic | Until June 13, 2026 | From June 14, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | Residence Card and My Number Card are separate | Eligible residents can request one integrated card |
| Mandatory? | Residence card must be carried | Specified Residence Card is also a residence card, so carry it |
| Procedures | Immigration and city office steps can be separate | Some steps can be handled more efficiently |
| Airport issue | New arrivals receive a normal residence card | You cannot receive a Specified Residence Card at the airport |
| Processing time | Standard residence card timing | About 10 extra days may be needed |
Who can apply?
The system is for mid- to long-term residents or special permanent residents recorded in the Basic Resident Register. It is not for short-term visitors or people without a registered address in Japan.
When can you apply?
You can request the card together with procedures such as:
- Extension of period of stay
- Change of status of residence
- Permanent residence application
- Renewal of residence card validity
- Reissuance of a residence card
- Change of residence-card details other than address
- Moving-in or address procedures at a municipal office, when treated as residence address notification
For now, if you use the online residence application system, the Specified Residence Card request is not accepted together with that online flow. If you want the integrated card during a renewal or change application, check the immigration counter process.
The risky point: My Number Card validity
From January 2026, if you apply for extension/change of status and enter the special period after your original residence expiry without extending the My Number Card validity in time, you may lose the ability to submit additional materials through the online system.
So if you use online applications, check both dates: your residence card expiry and My Number Card validity. Even with a Specified Residence Card, the My Number function is tied to the original residence period.
Checklist for foreign residents
- Check your residence-card expiry date.
- Check whether you have a My Number Card and when it expires.
- If you will renew, change status, apply for PR, or move after June 2026, decide whether you want the integrated card.
- If you plan to apply online, remember that the integrated-card request currently needs a counter process.
- Because the new card design moves some information to the IC chip, confirm what your employer, bank, or housing agent needs.
Related life setup
ID changes can affect banks, SIM contracts, and rental screening. If you are preparing your Japan setup, also read Japan SIM Card Comparison and Japanese Bank Account Guide.
Official sources
- https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/tokutei.html?hl=ja
- https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/whatzairyu_00001.html
- https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/11_00068.html
- https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/01_00461.html?hl=ja
- https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001420065.pdf
- https://www.digital.go.jp/en/policies/mynumber_faq_02
Save this guide for later?
You might need this information again. Bookmark this page to access it anytime.
Get the Latest Visa Updates
Receive important updates about visa requirements and new residence statuses directly to your inbox.
Reading this in English?
Help improve English guides like this
If this guide helped but a phrase felt unnatural, your native check can make the next English article clearer for foreign residents in Japan.
Disclaimer
※ The information in this article is accurate as of the time of writing. Laws and regulations may change, so please always check official sources for the latest information. We assume no liability for any damages resulting from the content of this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Specified Residence Card mandatory?
A: No. It is optional. You can keep a separate Residence Card and My Number Card.
Q: Can I receive it at the airport?
A: No. New arrivals receive a normal Residence Card at the airport.