Residence cards will be fully IC by the end of 2026! Three changes you don't know about and preparations you should make now

As of November 2025, the Immigration Bureau is in the midst of a full-scale transition to IC cards for residence cards, and it has finally become clear that the transition will be complete by the end of 2026. The plastic card will be replaced by a new residence card with an IC chip equivalent to a My Number card.

Three major changes that you really don't want to know about

1. Complete Integration with My Number The 12-digit My Number will be printed on the back of the new residence card, and it will be automatically linked to the resident card. While renewal of period of stay and change of address will be completed online, registration on My Portal will be practically obligatory.
2. Renewal procedures will shift to "online application only" (with some exceptions) From April 2026, most new issues, renewals, and reissuances will be online applications only. The direction is that over-the-counter applications will be limited to cases of "unavoidable circumstances" only. The current "I am too busy with work to go to the counter on weekdays" will no longer apply.
3. Dramatically enhanced anti-counterfeiting functionality Biometric information (fingerprint or facial recognition data) is likely to be recorded in the IC chip, making it possible to pass through automated gates at airports with only a residence card. On the other hand, old residence cards are scheduled to completely expire at the end of 2026.

List of preparations to be made now (for both the foreigner and the employer)

• Install "Mynaportal App" on your smartphone
• Confirmation of linkage between residence card and my number card (as soon as possible if you have not yet done so)
• Company HR personnel switch "Residency Management System" to online-compatible one.
• Those who have a residence card with an expiration date after December 2026 are also encouraged to switch as soon as possible (crowding is inevitable).

While IC is "more convenient," it also sharply increases the risk of a direct link to illegal residency for those who are not digitally literate.