My Number Card Pickup in Japan: Postcard, Booking & PINs (Checklist)

Part of our My Number Card application for foreigners in Japan 2026: the fast, nationwide guide (even if you lost the form) guide.

Issuance notice (交付通知書): what it is (and what to do immediately)

The issuance notice is your municipality’s “your card is ready” message—often a postcard, and sometimes an A4 letter if it was re-sent. The national portal explains the basic flow and that you should go by the deadline written on the notice: My Number Card portal: how to receive your card.

• Check the pickup deadline printed on the notice (don’t assume you can go “anytime”).
• Find the reservation method (URL/QR/phone) and any “reservation number” printed on the notice.
• Confirm the pickup location (it’s your registered municipality’s designated counter/center).
• Pick your PINs now (see the PIN table below) so you don’t freeze at the counter.

If it never arrives (or you can’t find it): fast triage

Timing varies by municipality: the national site says the notice often comes about a month after applying, but some municipalities say 1.5–2 months depending on workload. If you’re past that window, start triage.

Help lines (nationwide): phone numbers + hours

Use these when you’re stuck, especially for general rules, lost/stolen stops, or where to ask next. Hours and foreign-language options are listed on the My Number Card portal contact page.

Reserve pickup + pickup day checklist (what to bring, what they’ll ask)

Many municipalities require a reservation, and some explicitly state you can only reserve after the notice arrives. Book the first realistic slot you can attend.

1. Reserve using the method on your 交付通知書 (web/QR/phone).
2. Choose the correct location if your municipality offers multiple counters/centers.
3. Arrive early (aim for 10–15 minutes) because ID checks + PIN setup take time.

Bring this (minimum set)

The official My Number Card portal’s checklist for pickup is: issuance notice + identity documents, plus your old notification items if you still have them: Required documents for receiving your card.

• 交付通知書 (issuance notice postcard/letter)
• Identity documents (typically: 1 photo ID, or 2 non-photo IDs)
• Your notification card / notification letter (if you still have it)
• Any existing My Number Card (if this is an update/reissue)
• Residence card (在留カード) if it’s one of your main IDs (common for foreigners)

What usually happens at the desk (common questions)

Common fees (quick reality check)

PINs & activation: what you’ll set, lockouts, and fastest recovery

You can set different PINs per function, but many people set the three 4-digit PINs to the same number for speed. Some municipalities explain that the card uses four PINs and three can be the same 4-digit code.

PIN rules (memorize this table)

These lengths and lockout counts are widely stated by municipalities (example: Koto City’s PIN rules).

Lockouts: the “don’t make it worse” checklist

• Stop guessing. 3 misses (4-digit) or 5 misses (signature) will lock you out.
• Good news: many municipalities note the lockout counter clears when you successfully enter the correct PIN.
• Fastest reset: go to your municipality counter for PIN reset if you forgot everything (common and usually free).
• Possible “no-counter” reset: some municipalities support an app + convenience-store kiosk reset workflow for e-certificate PINs, but it generally requires you to still know at least one of the two e-certificate PINs; see an example explanation on Saitama City’s reset guidance.

Use LO-PAL to keep your notice → reservation → pickup documents → PIN plan in one place, and Back to full guide.