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Nov 10, 2024

Do you have a My Number card?

I never got one - long story, possibly for a blog post! But I am just curious did you get one? From March you can use a My Number card as a driver's license. This interests me so I am now considering getting one. Pros / cons?

BigfamJapan

BigfamJapan

Former nickname was "Saitama". Changed it to save confusion on place review posts! Irish, 20+ years in Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com

3 Answers



Best Answer

  • helloalissa

    on Nov 11

    I didn't hear about the driver's license thing. It's like an all-purpose ID card I guess. I got one a couple years back because they were offering bonuses to get it - I got some credit added to my WAON card. Then I got more bonus credit when I updated it to the version that can be used for a health insurance card. I recently used it that way for the first time. Pros are you can use it to pick up some forms at convenience stores instead of the city hall. Cons are it is an absolute pain to get it, even for Japanese people! Plus as I recently blogged, they have expiration dates to keep track of. I imagine eventually they will force everyone to get one or make it very inconvenient if you don't have it.

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  • TonetoEdo

    on Nov 12

    My employer's administration urged all our staff to get them before December 2nd when My Number and health insurance card integration starts. Japan Times has a landing page for My Number related stories - https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/my-number/

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  • Eli

    on Nov 17

    I got one when they first started releasing them. There was a campaign where you could 20.000 Yen in Paypay points for registering your My number card so didn't want to miss out out that.

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on Aug 3