Getting verified in Japan using My Number Card

There are two verification methods for My Number card—using your phone to tap your card, or by taking photos of your card.

This page will outline the details on how to verify your identity by tapping your My Number card. Refer to Getting verified in Japan for other methods of verification.

What you’ll need

  1. A valid My Number Card.

  2. A compatible smartphone with NFC functionality and working camera (most modern iPhones and Android devices support this). The device must be running a compatible operating system (e.g., iOS 13.1 or later, Android 6.0 or later).

Note that this verification method is currently only available on our app.

Which PIN is required?

You'll be required to enter the 4 digit PIN set by you with your local government office for your My Number Card, specifically the PIN for assisting input of card information (券面事項入力補助用の暗証番号).

If you enter it incorrectly for more than two times, your My Number card will get locked and you’ll have to visit the local municipality office to unlock it.

The verification steps

  1. Prepare your My Number card on hand. We'll also ask for a live selfie in this flow

    Japan - step 1

  2. Enter your 4 digit PIN (券面事項入力補助用の暗証番号) of your My Number Card

    Japan - step 2

  3. Re-enter your 4 digit pin (券面事項入力補助用の暗証番号) — this is for confirmation

    Japan - step 3

  4. Tap your card

    Japan - step 4

  5. You’ll see the following screen if we’re able to read your card

    Japan - step 5

  6. If the scan fails, please try again. You can find your phone’s NFC reader position from here

    Japan - step 6

  7. Check if your details are correct. If your name order is incorrect, click Swap name order. If any of the details are outdated or incorrect, update your My Number Card details at your local municipality office

    Japan - step 7Japan - step 7.1

  8. Consent screen — we need to process your biometric data to confirm your identity. Read more on our biometric data processing

    Japan - step 8

  9. Take a selfie. We’ll check your selfie with the photo on your My Number Card

    Japan - step 9

    Tips:

  • Find the best light. Face a window to use natural daylight and turn off any overhead lights that might cause glare. Avoid having a strong light source behind you.

  • Show your whole face. Look straight at the camera and make sure nothing is covering your face. It's best to remove hats or sunglasses.

FAQs

You can always check out this government FAQ page for more information about My Number Card. Below are some of the frequently asked questions about NFC based verification methods.

What if I forgot my PIN?

If you forget your PIN or lock your card due to too many incorrect attempts, you must visit your local municipal office (city hall, ward office) to have your PIN reset. Currently, it’s not possible to reset the 4-digit PIN (券面事項入力補助用パスワード) at the convenience store. 

My phone isn't reading the card. What should I do?

  1. For Android devices, ensure NFC is enabled on your smartphone settings. NFC is automatically enabled on iPhones

  2. Check if the card is placed correctly. The exact location of the NFC reader antenna varies by phone model. Try slowly moving the card over the back of the phone until the reading process begins. For iPhones, the reading area is typically near the top of the phone (near the camera)

  3. Remove any thick phone cases that may interfere with the short-range signal

Find out where the NFC reader position of your mobile phone is from here.

My Number card has expired 

You'll need to renew your My Number Card before verifying your identity. Alternatively, you can use your other valid Japanese ID that we can accept. You can find the expiry date on your card '〇〇〇〇年〇〇月〇〇日まで有効', next to your date of birth. This isn't to be confused with the electronic certificate expiry date (電子証明書の有効期限). 

I've changed my personal details (name or address)

You'll need to update your details on your My Number Card before verifying your identity. You can do so at your municipal office (city hall, ward office).

I'm planning to move out of Japan soon

We can't accept My Number cards with a 'returned' or ‘move out’ stamp (国外転出or 返納). If you're moving out of Japan (国外転出), we can't offer you an account in Japan, but you'll likely be able to open a Wise account wherever you are, as long as you're in a supported country. When you move, you can update your address to your new country of residence and then verify your account accordingly.

I have a My Number Card, but I'm not currently residing in Japan

You should use your current address where you reside to register your Wise account, rather than your address in your home country.

If you're living outside of Japan, you can generally open a Wise account as long as you're in a supported country.

If you've moved back to Japan, first complete the official moving-back process at your local municipal office. Before proceeding with the verification process, your My Number Card must be updated to reflect your current address in Japan.

How is my data being stored and used?

For more information on how we process your personal data, see our Wise Privacy Notice.

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