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    MynaPortal for Foreign Residents: What You Can Do Online and How to Start

    JAPAN
    A foreign resident uses a smartphone to access online government services in Japan.

    MynaPortal for Foreign Residents: What You Can Do Online and How to Start

    MynaPortal is Japan’s official online gateway for personal government services. Foreign residents with a resident record and a compatible My Number Card can use it to check registered information, receive government notices, connect to services such as e-Tax, and complete certain procedures online.

    The important limitation is that MynaPortal does not make every government procedure digital. Available services depend on the procedure, municipality, age, family situation, and other conditions. Some applications still require documents, a municipal-office visit, or use of a separate linked website.

    This guide is for foreign residents and family members who want to understand what to prepare, which PIN to use, and when an online application may not be enough.

    What you need to know first

    • MynaPortal itself is a government service, not the same thing as your My Number Card.
    • Most personal functions require a valid My Number Card with active electronic certificates.
    • The four-digit login PIN and the 6-to-16-character signature password have different purposes.
    • A supported smartphone is usually the simplest way to read the card.
    • Municipal and linked-agency services vary, so check the exact procedure before relying on an online submission.

    Information in this guide was checked against official sources available on August 1, 2026.

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    What MynaPortal actually does

    MynaPortal brings several types of government activity into one starting point, but they do not all work in the same way.

    According to the Digital Agency’s overview, the portal supports administrative procedures such as moving and passport-related applications, as well as access to personal information such as medical expenses. Its English service menu also identifies the following functions:

    • searching for administrative procedures and submitting eligible applications;
    • viewing information held about you, including income and individual resident tax data;
    • receiving notices from government bodies;
    • checking records of information exchanges between administrative organizations;
    • connecting your identity to external services such as e-Tax;
    • accessing passport-related procedures;
    • creating certain documents, including employment-certificate forms.

    These are categories, not a promise that every related task can be completed entirely online. For example, MynaPortal may send you to another agency’s service, ask for an electronic signature, or show that your municipality does not offer the procedure electronically.

    MynaPortal, My Number, and the My Number Card are different

    These terms are easy to confuse:

    • My Number is the 12-digit number assigned to people recorded as residents in Japan, including eligible foreign nationals.
    • My Number Card is the optional photo ID card containing an IC chip.
    • MynaPortal is the online service that uses the card’s electronic certificates to confirm your identity.

    An Individual Number Notice or an old paper Notification Card does not replace the IC card for MynaPortal login. You need a usable My Number Card or an eligible smartphone version of its electronic certificate.

    Before you try to sign in

    A successful login depends on the card, its electronic certificate, the correct PIN, and compatible equipment. Check all four before starting an urgent application.

    Basic preparation checklist

    Have the following ready:

    • your valid My Number Card;
    • the four-digit PIN for the electronic certificate used for user identification;
    • the 6-to-16-character signature password if the procedure requires an electronic signature;
    • a compatible NFC smartphone with the latest MynaPortal app, or a supported computer setup;
    • any documents required by the specific procedure;
    • enough time to recover a locked PIN or expired certificate before a deadline.

    Using MynaPortal is generally free. A connected procedure may still have its own fee, such as a certificate or passport fee. Confirm payment instructions on the page for that service.

    Understand the two main credentials

    The two electronic certificates in a standard My Number Card perform different jobs.

    Four-digit login PIN

    The electronic certificate for user identification confirms who is logging in. Its numeric four-digit PIN is commonly used to enter MynaPortal and access information.

    Entering this PIN incorrectly three consecutive times can lock it. If that happens, follow the official reset instructions or contact your municipality; do not continue guessing.

    Signature password

    The electronic certificate for the bearer’s signature is used to sign and submit electronic documents. Its password contains 6 to 16 uppercase letters and numbers, with at least one of each.

    This is not simply a longer version of the login PIN. A procedure can allow you to log in with the four-digit PIN and then ask for the signature password at submission.

    ここがポイント: Logging in proves that you are accessing the account. Adding an electronic signature confirms that you personally approve and submit a specific application. Keep both credentials available, but never share them with someone who is merely helping you translate the screen.

    Check the card and certificate expiry dates

    The physical card and its electronic certificates can have different expiry dates. The card’s expiry appears on its front; electronic-certificate status can also be checked through MynaPortal.

    If an electronic certificate has expired, it cannot be renewed online. Renewal or reissuance requires a municipal-office procedure, and some municipalities use appointments.

    Foreign residents should pay particular attention after extending a period of stay or changing personal details. Check the date printed on the card and ask your municipality whether any card procedure is required. Do not assume that completing an immigration procedure automatically resolves every My Number Card issue.

    A facial-recognition My Number Card is another exception. It is designed for PIN-free identity checks in limited settings and cannot be used to log in to MynaPortal or complete PIN-based online procedures.

    How to start using MynaPortal

    The simplest route for most residents is a compatible smartphone that can read the card’s IC chip.

    Step 1: Use the official website and app

    Open the official MynaPortal website and install the latest official MynaPortal app through the link provided there or through your device’s official app store.

    Avoid apps or messages that ask you to disclose your 12-digit My Number, card PIN, or signature password. A translator, employer, school employee, or family member does not need to know your PIN to explain a screen.

    Step 2: Confirm device compatibility

    The portal checks the operating system and browser. An unsupported combination may prevent smartphone login or use of a card reader.

    If the phone cannot read the card:

    • remove a thick case or other cards near the phone;
    • place the card against the device’s NFC reading position and hold it still;
    • keep the app open until reading finishes;
    • check the portal’s current supported-environment information;
    • try another supported device rather than repeatedly entering the PIN.

    A computer can also be used. Depending on the login method, you may need an IC card reader or may be able to scan a QR code with the MynaPortal app on your phone.

    Step 3: Read the card and register as a user

    Follow the on-screen instructions to read your card and enter the four-digit login PIN. New users will be guided through registration.

    After signing in, confirm that your displayed name and address match your current resident record. MynaPortal reads government-held data; it is not the place to casually rewrite official resident information. If the underlying record is wrong, contact the responsible municipality or agency.

    Step 4: Find the service by purpose

    Search by the action you need to take, not only by the name of a ministry. Useful starting areas include:

    • moving;
    • passports;
    • health and medical-expense information;
    • tax and income information;
    • pensions;
    • public-funds receiving account registration;
    • notices from government bodies;
    • links to external services.

    Read the eligibility section before entering data. An available button does not necessarily mean that every applicant or family arrangement qualifies for the digital route.

    Step 5: Prepare attachments before submission

    A procedure may request photographs, scans, supporting certificates, or information from an employer or school. Check:

    • accepted file formats and size limits;
    • whether the document must be issued within a specified period;
    • whether all pages are required;
    • whether names and addresses match the resident record;
    • whether a Japanese translation is required for a foreign-language document.

    Requirements come from the agency handling the procedure, not from one universal MynaPortal rule.

    Step 6: Sign, submit, and save proof

    If asked, enter the signature password only when you are ready to submit. Then save the receipt number, completion screen, or other submission record.

    Check the portal’s notices and the linked service afterward. “Submitted” does not always mean “approved.” The agency may request another document, return the application for correction, or require an in-person step.

    Practical services worth checking

    The portal is most useful when it replaces a specific trip, gives access to personal records, or connects you securely to another public service.

    Moving procedures

    MynaPortal offers online moving-related procedures, including an online moving-out notification and arrangements connected with moving in. However, moving into a new municipality generally still involves an in-person identity and residence-registration step at the new municipal office.

    Before using the service, confirm:

    • whether every household member is included correctly;
    • the intended moving date;
    • which office you must visit after moving;
    • the deadline shown by the municipality;
    • whether separate procedures are required for health insurance, childcare, school enrollment, parking, welfare, or other local services.

    Online notice to one office does not automatically update every private contract. You must still handle matters such as utilities, banking, mobile service, your employer, and your landlord separately.

    Personal information and government notices

    MynaPortal can display information connected to tax, income, medical expenses, and other government records. This can help when preparing a tax filing or checking what an agency has recorded.

    Pay attention to the year and reporting period. Resident tax information, for example, is tied to a tax year and the municipality responsible for the assessment. A number shown in the portal may not represent what you owe today or what will be deducted from your next salary.

    If a figure appears wrong, contact the agency named as the information holder. MynaPortal displays the data but may not be the body authorized to correct it.

    Connections to e-Tax and pension services

    MynaPortal can link your identity to external systems. The National Tax Agency uses MynaPortal linkage to retrieve eligible certificate data for an e-Tax return, while Japan Pension Service procedures may require a connection between MynaPortal and Nenkin Net.

    This distinction matters because the final task may take place outside the main MynaPortal interface. Each linked service has its own:

    • eligibility conditions;
    • document requirements;
    • deadlines;
    • support desk;
    • definition of a completed submission.

    For example, Japan Pension Service guidance says that some electronic pension applications require a My Number Card, the signature password, MynaPortal registration, a Nenkin Net connection, and—in certain payment-related cases—a registered public-funds receiving account.

    Smartphone My Number Card

    Supported iPhones and Android phones can add My Number Card functions through the latest MynaPortal app. The official service allows biometric authentication for supported uses and is free to set up.

    This can reduce the need to carry the physical card for compatible services, but coverage is still expanding. The Digital Agency advises users to bring the physical card when a location or service may not support the smartphone version.

    To set it up, official guidance lists a compatible phone, the latest app, the physical card, a four-digit security code, and the 6-to-16-character signature password. Treat the phone as a sensitive identity device after activation.

    Limits that matter to foreign residents

    MynaPortal follows the information in Japan’s resident-registration system. It does not replace immigration procedures, employer reporting, or municipal decisions.

    Immigration and resident registration remain separate

    A Residence Card and a My Number Card are different documents issued under different systems. Extending your status of residence, changing employers, or receiving immigration permission does not mean every municipal or My Number Card record has already been updated.

    When your name, address, residence status, or period of stay changes, check the required procedures with both the relevant immigration authority and your municipality. The correct action depends on the change and your circumstances.

    Local services are not uniform

    Municipalities decide or administer many resident-facing procedures. Two people using the same portal may see different options because they live in different cities or wards.

    Local variation can affect:

    • available electronic applications;
    • required attachments;
    • appointment systems;
    • processing times;
    • certificate fees;
    • multilingual assistance;
    • whether a final counter visit is necessary.

    The procedure page for your registered municipality is the controlling local source.

    Family members may need separate authentication

    One person’s account is not a general family account. A spouse, adult child, or other household member may need to use their own card and credentials.

    Parents and legal representatives may have special routes for children or dependents, but these depend on the procedure. Do not assume that being in the same household authorizes you to view or submit another adult’s personal information.

    Not every name fits smoothly into a form

    Foreign residents may encounter fields designed around Japanese naming conventions. Problems can arise with long names, middle names, spaces, Roman letters, katakana, or a registered alias.

    Enter information as instructed and compare it with the resident record. If the form rejects the registered name, use the service’s official support channel. Changing spelling simply to pass validation can create a mismatch that delays review.

    Common mistakes and how to avoid them

    Most failures come from preparation or from confusing the portal with the agency responsible for the procedure.

    Using the wrong PIN

    Use the numeric four-digit PIN for ordinary login and the 6-to-16-character alphanumeric password when an electronic signature is requested. Stop before repeated guesses lock the credential.

    Starting just before a deadline

    An expired certificate, locked PIN, unsupported phone, or missing attachment can turn an online task into a municipal-office visit. Test login and read the eligibility rules several days before an important deadline.

    Assuming online submission completes every step

    Look for confirmation of what happens next. You may still need to visit an office, present an original document, pay a fee, or respond to a notice.

    Asking another person to operate the card

    It is reasonable to ask for language help, but keep control of the card and enter PINs yourself. The signature certificate represents your approval of an electronic document.

    Ignoring messages after submission

    Review MynaPortal notices, email alerts from the responsible service, and any paper mail sent to your registered address. A correction request can carry its own deadline.

    If login or card reading fails

    Troubleshoot the equipment first, then the card status.

    1. Confirm that you are using the official portal and latest app.
    2. Check the supported operating system and browser.
    3. Reposition the card against the phone’s NFC reader.
    4. Confirm that you selected the correct PIN.
    5. Check whether the physical card or electronic certificate has expired.
    6. If the PIN is locked or forgotten, use an official reset route or contact your municipality.

    Electronic certificates cannot be renewed online. If the card is lost, suspend it promptly. The official My Number Card FAQ lists the toll-free Individual Number Call Center at 0120-95-0178 and says loss-related suspension is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Foreign-language support includes English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese; follow the current voice guidance.

    A final decision checklist

    Before relying on MynaPortal for an important procedure, answer these questions:

    • Is my My Number Card and its electronic certificate still valid?
    • Do I know both the login PIN and signature password if needed?
    • Does my municipality or responsible agency offer this exact procedure online?
    • Am I personally eligible for the online route?
    • Have I prepared every required attachment?
    • Will I need a later office visit, payment, or original document?
    • Where will the result or correction request arrive?

    MynaPortal can remove travel, waiting, and repeated data entry from many government tasks. Its real value comes from using it as a secure starting point—not from assuming it replaces every office and agency. For your next deadline, verify the procedure page first, test your login early, and keep the submission receipt until the agency confirms the result.

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    JAPAN
    digital procedures foreign residents Japan long-term resident My Number Card Mynaportal online government services
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