Skip to main content

This page has been translated using TexTra by NICT. Please note that the translation may not be completely accurate.
If you find any mistranslations, we appreciate your feedback on the "Request form for improving the automatic translation ".

FAQ: For private business who want to start using My Number Card (Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI))

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be expanded in the future.
  • The E-Certificate for smartphones is also as follows.

Table of

  1. My Number Card

  2. Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI)

  3. Service for providing the latest user information (4)

  4. Mynaportal

1. My Number Card

Q1-1 What is the number of Issue tickets in My Number Card and the ratio of the number of Issue tickets to the population?

A1-1

Please see the following page.

Q1-2 How can I use the My Number Card?

A1-2

My Number Card is roughly divided into 3 places to use.

  • Use of Card Certificate (Personal Identification Number)
  • Use of free space in IC chips
  • Use of E-Certificate (E-Certificate for signature, E-Certificate for user identification)
Use of Card Certificate (Personal Identification Number)

The front side can be used as an identification document at a contact point that requires identity confirmation, such as a financial institution, and the back side can be used when the presentation of the Individual Number is requested.
After the introduction of the My Number System, it will be necessary to present your personal identification number in many situations, such as employment, changing jobs, childbirth and childcare, illness, receiving a pensions, and disasters. In this case, if you have a My Number Card, you can confirm your number and identity with just one sheet.

Use of free space in IC chips

The IC chips of My Number Card have free areas in which independent services can be provided as specified by regulation for municipalities and prefectures, and as specified by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for national institutions.
About Proprietary Services

  • City, town, ward, village: Seal registration certificate, convenience store Issue, certificate automatic Issue machine
  • Prefecture: User cards for prefectural libraries
  • Public authorities of the Country: Identification Functions for National Public Officers (Access Control)
Use of E-Certificate (E-Certificate for signature, E-Certificate for user identification)

The IC Chip of My Number Card stores two E-Certificate by Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI), which are "E-Certificate for Signature" and "E-Certificate for User Identification". For details, please refer to "2. Information on E-Certificate".

Q1-3. Is it possible to use My Number Card to verify my age?

A1-3

It is possible to use My Number Card to verify your age.
There are three main types of age verification.

  1. Method using JPKI-AP in My Number Card IC chips
  2. A method of using the auxiliary AP for entering the ticket surface in the IC chips of the My Number Card
  3. Method of reading certificate information with OCR

Please refer to the following table for details.

Pattern 1Pattern ②Pattern ③
My Number Card UsageJPKI AP (E-Certificate for Signature)Certificate Entry Auxiliary APCertificate information (read by OCR)
Available ToPlatform (PF) Operator / Service Provider (SP) OperatorAnyone can do it.
PIN entry required / not requiredRequired (6 to 16 alphanumeric characters)Required (14-digit number *)Not required
OverviewElectronic signatures and E-Certificate are received from users, and age verification is performed based on the date of birth of the four pieces of information obtained.(I) The information of the date of birth (or 4 information) is read by the certificate entry auxiliary AP, and the age confirmation is performed from the information. (ii) In this pattern, only the date of birth information can be obtained.The date of birth printed on the face of the My Number Card was read by the OCR function, and the age was confirmed.

Addendum
*For Pattern 2, Reference Number B (14 digits: 6 digits of the date of birth + 4 digits of the Christian era part of the expiration date + 4 digits of the security code) is required.

Q1-4 Is there a valid period for My Number Card?

A1-4

If you are 18 years old or older, it is until your 10th birthday from the issuance, and if you are less than 18 years old, it is until your 5th birthday from the issuance.

Q1-5 Can I continue to use My Number Card even if I move overseas?

A1-5

Since the My Number Card is issued based on the resident record, it will expire if the resident record is deleted when you move out of Japan. In addition, under the Act on Partial Revision of the Digital Procedure Act enacted in 2019 and the My Number Act enacted in 2023 (2023), it will be possible for people who have moved out of Japan to acquire and use the family registry based on the Ticket of the municipal My Number Card by the end of May 2024 (2024).

Q1-6 In addition to My Number Card, what else is stored in E-Certificate's IC chips and how are they used?

A1-6

In the AP configuration in the IC chips, in addition to E-Certificate, "Ticket AP," "Ticket item entry auxiliary AP," and "Basic AP" are stored, and can be used to obtain names, addresses, etc. online.
For details, please refer to "What is My Number Card (4. Information on the My Number Card) ".

Q1-7 Are there any means or mechanisms to prevent "spoofs" and "use by third parties"?

A1-7

When you use E-Certificate in My Number Card, you need a PIN number, and it will be locked if you make a mistake a certain number of times.
In addition, we have taken high security measures, such as adopting a mechanism in which if you try to forcibly remove information from the IC chips, the chips will break, and the lost or stolen will not be leaked due to the personal data of the card. In addition, if you lose your card, you can temporarily suspend the use of the function by contacting the "My Number General Toll-free Number (0120-95-0178)" of the My Number Card, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Q1-8 From when will "furigana" be written on the face of My Number Card tickets?

A1-8

Due to the promulgation of "family registry" in June 2023 (2023), which requires the use of furigana for names to be listed in the Act to Partially Amend the My Number Act, it has been decided that "furigana for names" will be recorded and listed in My Number Card. In order to realize the use of furigana for names in My Number Card within three years after the promulgation, necessary preparations are underway for the enforcement.

2. Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI)

Q2-1 What is E-Certificate?

A2-1

My Number Card IC chips have two E-Certificate for E-Certificate, "Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) for User Identification" and "E-Certificate for Signature".
The "E-Certificate for user identification" can be used as a means to verify your identity. (You can log in to Mynaportal where you can view your information, use the certificate Issue service at convenience stores, and use it as a health insurance card.)
The "E-Certificate for Signature" contains four pieces of information: name, address, date of birth, and sex. When performing various procedures, you can automatically read and write these four pieces of information without entering them each time. (You can electronically sign your tax return on e-Tax or online application such as childcare in Mynaportal.)

Q2-2: What is the basis of the basic 4 information (name, address, sex, and date of birth) registered in the E-Certificate for signature?

A2-2

It is based on the resident record managed by local government.

Q2-3 Is there a valid period for E-Certificate?

A2-3

Regardless of age, it is supposed to be until the 5th birthday from the issuance.

Q2-4: When do I need to renew my E-Certificate?

A2-4

After the expiration date, the function as a E-Certificate can no longer be used. Therefore, if you wish to continue using the service, you must renew it before the expiration date.
In addition, since the E-Certificate for signature holds the four basic information (name, address, sex, and date of birth), if the name or address is changed due to marriage or change of residence, etc., the function as the E-Certificate for signature cannot be used. Therefore, if the local government for signature continues to be used, it is necessary to update it when submitting a notification of marriage or notification of moving in to the Immigration Bureau.

Q2-5 When the E-Certificate is updated and the E-Certificate is changed, how is the identity before and after the update determined in the user authentication?

A2-5

Since January 2017, a service has been provided in which, subject to the consent of the user, if local government logs in with an unknown E-Certificate, local government queries the J-LIS about the previous E-Certificate, and the J-LIS responds to the inquiry, allowing local government to identify the same person (connection service between new and old E-Certificate).

Q2-6 When private business uses Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI), is it necessary to obtain the approval of the competent minister?

A2-6

Even if you do not obtain the approval of the competent minister, you can use it by entrusting the signature confirmation service to the platform business operator. For details, please check Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) (JPKI) (6.1. Service Introduction Method) ".

Q2-7 What kind of expenses do I need to bear in validation when I use Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) as a signatory private business holder?

A2-7

The main costs are as follows.

  • Costs for the construction and operation of the Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) system associated with the use of private business
  • Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) usage fee (= Expired information provision fee) *
    • In the case of a E-Certificate for signature, 20 yen per item of expired information
    • In the case of a E-Certificate for user identification, 2 yen per expired information provision

* The fee will be free for three years from January 2023. For details, please see , where the fee for providing E-Certificate Revocation Information in Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI), will be free for three years.

Q2-8: Is it possible for private business to obtain a user's My Number by Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI)?

A2-8

The My Number may not be used for administrative procedures other than those specified in social security system or regulation, such as law, tax system, and disaster response. In addition, private business may not request the provision of the My Number from employees or customers, provide specific personal data, or collect and store the My Number except when necessary for these procedures.

For details of the auxiliary AP, please refer to "What is My Number Card (4. Information on the My Number Card) ".

Q2-9 Is Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) required to meet the requirements for identity verification under the Cell Phone Fraud Prevention Act?

A2-9

Yes, the E-Certificate for signatures prescribed in Article 3, Paragraph (1) of the Public Personal Authentication Act is specified in the E-Certificate set forth in Article 1, Paragraph (5) of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Cell Phone Abuse Prevention Act. Article 3 of the said Ordinance provides that the method of identity verification is to receive the E-Certificate pertaining to the electronic signatures from the natural persons in Paragraph (1) (h) "When concluding a service contract by receiving information with an electronic signature".

Q2-10 Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) E-Certificate Where is "death" included in the reason for revocation?

A2-10

Death is included in "affinityChanged" of the reason for expiration. Since the overseas continuous use of My Number Card will start by the end of May 2024 (2024) and the expiration of E-Certificate due to overseas transfer will end, many of the reasons for expiration will be death.

Q2-11: Could you tell us about the use of Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) in private business?

A2-11

Please refer to the following pages for information on Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) users, their businesses, card businesses, and the benefits of using them. Click on the name of the company to view detailed information.

3. Service for providing the latest user information (4 information)

Q3-1: What is the outline and procedures for using the latest User Information (4) Provision Service?

A3-1

Please refer to the following pages for an overview of the service and procedures for use.
Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) (JPKI) (Latest user information (4 information) provision service (started on May 16, 2023))

Q3-2 Is there a valid period for customer consent?

A3-2

The effective period of the customer agreement is "10 years from the day following the date of agreement." In addition, the signing validation holder must urge the user to renew the agreement after or before the 10-year effective period has elapsed.

Q3-3: What is the basis of the address information provided by the latest user information (4) provision service?

A3-3

It is the address information described in the resident record as well as the information described in My Number Card and E-Certificate.

4. Mynaportal

Q4-1 What is Mynaportal?

A4-1

Mynaportal is an online contact for administrative procedures. It provides one stop services such as searching for administrative proceduer such as child care and nursing care and applying online. My Number Card holders can also check their own information held by public authorities, etc. and check the content of notifications from public authorities, etc.
In addition, Mynaportal provides various APIs and works with various services such as private business.

Q4-2: I would like to use APIs for Mynaportal. What should I do?

A4-2

Please refer to the following page for APIs for Mynaportal usage.