How to Renew Your Visa & Get a My Number Card in Japan – Complete Guide
Everything US and UK expats and long-term visitors need to know about renewing their Zairyu Card and getting a My Number Card in Japan in 2026.
Feb 24, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 2 min read
Everything US and UK expats and long-term visitors need to know about renewing their Zairyu Card and getting a My Number Card in Japan in 2026.
Your Residence Card (在留カード, Zairyu Card) and visa have expiration dates — and letting them lapse is a bureaucratic nightmare you do not want. This guide walks you through renewing on time and picking up your My Number Card, Japan's all-in-one digital ID.
1. Renewing Your Zairyu Card (Residence Card)
When do you need to renew?
- When your visa status is approaching its expiry date — file at least 3 months early
- When you're changing your residence status (e.g., moving from a Student visa to a Work visa)
Documents required (standard work visa renewal)
- Renewal application form (download from the Immigration Services Agency website)
- Your current passport + Zairyu Card
- Certificate of Employment from your employer (Zaisho Shomei)
- Last 3 months' pay stubs
- Tax return documentation (if applicable)
- Application fee: $27 (¥4,000)
Where to apply
Head to your nearest Immigration Services Agency office (出入国在留管理局, Nyukoku Kanri Kyoku). In the Greater Tokyo area: Shinagawa, Tachikawa, or Yokohama. Prefer to skip the queue? You can also apply online at immigration.e-gov.go.jp.
2. My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)
Your My Number is a 12-digit national ID number issued to every resident of Japan — including foreign nationals. Between 2024 and 2026, the physical My Number Card is being upgraded to double as your health insurance card too.
Why bother getting the card?
- Print your Juminhyo (residence certificate) at any 7-Eleven or convenience store — no trip to City Hall required
- File your taxes online via eTax
- Use it as proof of identity for banking, phone contracts, and other services
- Functions as your health insurance card (from 2024 onwards)
How to apply
- After registering your address, you'll receive your My Number notification letter by post
- Apply for the physical card online at mynumbercard.kojin-bango.go.jp or in person at your local City Hall (Shiyakusho)
- Allow 1–2 months for processing, then return to City Hall to collect your card
💡 Once you have your My Number Card, you can print a Juminhyo at any convenience store, 24/7, for around $1.35 (¥200) — beats standing in line at City Hall by a mile.
