My Number Card Pickup in Japan: Postcard, Booking & PINs (Checklist)
Scan-friendly checklist for the issuance notice postcard, reservation, what to bring, and PIN setup/lockout recovery.
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.
| Situation | Most common reason | Do this now |
|---|---|---|
| No notice after ~6–8 weeks | Processing backlog (varies by city/ward) | Call your municipality’s My Number counter, or use the official hotline list to get routed. |
| You moved and used mail forwarding | Many municipalities send the notice as “do not forward” (転送不要) | Update your resident registration address (住民票) and ask the municipality to re-send or advise pickup steps. |
| Deadline already passed | The card may still be held before disposal | Contact your municipality ASAP; some municipalities publish that pickup can still be possible if the card hasn’t been discarded yet. |
| You lost the notice | It happens | Ask your municipality about re-issuing the notice or proceeding with alternate ID; some municipalities state pickup may be possible without the notice if you bring sufficient ID. |
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.
| Support | Phone | Hours (Japan time) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Number general toll-free | 0120-95-0178 | Weekdays 9:30–20:00; weekends/holidays 9:30–17:30 (some menu options to 20:00) | Lost/stolen stop is 24/365 |
| My Number Card call center (navidial) | 0570-783-578 | 8:30–20:00 | Call charges apply |
| If the above won’t connect (IP phones, etc.) | 050-3818-1250 | (See official page) | Paid line |
| Foreign languages (card/notice/loss stop) | 0120-0178-27 | English/Chinese/Korean/Spanish/Portuguese: daily 8:30–20:00 | Loss stop is 24/365 |
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.
- Reserve using the method on your 交付通知書 (web/QR/phone).
- Choose the correct location if your municipality offers multiple counters/centers.
- 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)
| Desk step | What the staff does | Your job |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Identity check | Confirms your name/address and verifies ID | Hand over IDs immediately; be ready to confirm your current registered address |
| 2) PIN setup | Guides you through setting PINs (暗証番号) for card functions | Enter your planned PINs carefully (see rules below) |
| 3) Activation / handover | Finalizes issuance and hands you the card | Verify your name/addresses printed on the card before leaving |
Common fees (quick reality check)
| Item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First-time issuance | Free | Official FAQ on application fees |
| Replacement due to loss, etc. | Often 1,000 yen (including e-certificate reissue fee) | Example municipality FAQ: Yokosuka City |
| PIN reset at municipal counter | Usually free | Example municipality page: Saitama City |
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).
| PIN (Japanese name) | Length | Locks after | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature certificate (署名用電子証明書) | 6–16 characters (letters + numbers) | 5 wrong attempts (cumulative) | Online signing (e-Tax, some applications) |
| User authentication (利用者証明用電子証明書) | 4 digits | 3 wrong attempts (cumulative) | Login (MyNaPortal, convenience-store certificates, etc.) |
| Basic Resident Register (住民基本台帳用) | 4 digits | 3 wrong attempts (cumulative) | Moving-related procedures, some municipal processes |
| Card info input assist (券面事項入力補助用) | 4 digits | 3 wrong attempts (cumulative) | Reading printed info into apps/services |
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.
Written by
Founder, LO-PAL
Former Medical Coordinator for Foreign Patients (Ministry of Health programme) and legal affairs professional. Built LO-PAL from firsthand experience navigating life abroad.
Written with partial AI assistance
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