From December 2, 2024, the Japanese government will stop issuing traditional health insurance cards, transitioning entirely to the use of the My Number Card as a health insurance card. This multi-purpose card, referred to as the My Number Health Insurance Card, integrates health insurance and various government service functionalities.
Introduced in 2016, the My Number Card serves as official identification card for identity verification purpose and grants access to a broad range of government services in Japan. It is issued to all Japanese nationals and medium- to long-term foreign residents staying in Japan for over three months. This integration of health insurance into the My Number Card further enhances its importance. This alert highlights the key procedures and considerations for transitioning to the My Number card, which will be essential for managing foreign employees in Japan.
1) Transition to the My Number Health Insurance Card (My Na Hokensho): Key Timelines and Procedures
From December 2, 2024, conventional health insurance cards will no longer be issued. However existing health insurance cards will remain valid until their expiry date, but no later than December 1, 2025.
Individuals who have not obtained a My Number Card or have not registered to use the My Number Health Insurance Card will be issued an Eligibility Confirmation Certificate from their medical insurer. This certificate can be presented at medical institutions to access insured medical care. However, the Japanese government recommends transitioning to the My Number Health Insurance Card to simplify future procedures.
For foreign nationals, the transition process depends on the individual’s timing of arrival in Japan and the type of medical insurance they are enrolled in, as outlined below.
| Timing of Arrival in Japan | Type of Medical Insurance | Transition Process |
| Residents with medium-to-long-term status who arrived in Japan before December 1, 2024 | Employment-based health insurance | Existing health insurance cards will remain valid until December 1, 2025. From December 2, 2025, it will be mandatory to use either the My Number Card Health Insurance Card or the Eligibility Confirmation Certificate (資格確認書) issued by your insurer.
*Note: If there is a change in insurance eligibility, such as a job change before December 2, 2025, individuals must transition to either the My Number Health Insurance Card or the Eligibility Confirmation Certificate. |
| National Health Insurance | Current health insurance cards can be used until their expiration, typically around July or August 2025. After expiration, a transition to the My Number Health Insurance Card or the Eligibility Confirmation Certificate is required. | |
| Residents with medium- to long-term status entering Japan on or after December 2, 2024 | Upon entering Japan, apply for a My Number Card during or after completing resident registration. Ensure that the My Number Card is registered for use as a health insurance card, or use the Eligibility Confirmation Certificate provided by the insurer. | |
Employers are advised to guide employees through the application and registration processes to ensure compliance with these updated requirements.
2) My Number Card Validity and Renewal Requirements for Foreign Residents
The validity period of a foreign resident’s My Number Card depends on their visa type. Updates to a visa’s expiry date, such as after a visa extension, are not automatically reflected on the My Number Card. Therefore, once a visa extension or new period of stay is granted, foreign residents must visit their local municipal office before the card expires to update its validity. If this step is not completed, the card will expire (and will impact usage, including health insurance, if registered for health insurance use), requiring the resident to reapply for a new card.
| Visa Type | My Number Card Validity |
| Permanent Resident, Highly Skilled Professional (ii), Special Permanent Resident | ・For individuals 18 years and older: Until the cardholder’s 10th birthday following card issuance
・For individuals under 18 years: Until the cardholder’s 5th birthday following card issuance |
| Others (e.g. Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/ International Services, Intra-Company Transferee, Business Manager, Highly Skilled Professional (i), etc.) | Valid until the expiry date of the residence card. |
3) Special Measures for My Number Card Validity During Residency Renewal
If a residence extension or status change application is under review, a special measure under the Immigration Control Act allows foreign residents to remain in Japan under their current status until the review is completed or up to two months from the visa’s expiration date, whichever is sooner.
However, this grace period does not apply automatically to the My Number Card. To continue using the card, residents must complete a “Validity Extension Procedure” at their local city or ward office before their visa expires. This procedure extends the My Number Card’s validity for up to two months.
If the extension procedure is not completed, the card will become invalid, requiring reissuance (with associated fees). This step is essential for maintaining uninterrupted access to services linked to the My Number Card.
4) Updates to Social Insurance Procedures
From December 2, 2024, a new section will be added to the Notification of Acquisition of Insured Status and Dependent Change Notification forms submitted by the employers to social insurance offices and pension offices.
The forms will include a section titled “Need to issue an Eligibility Confirmation Certificate or not”. If the certificate is required, employers must check the “Issuance Necessary” box on the form. Based on this information, the Eligibility Confirmation Certificate will be issued.
This certificate is particularly important for foreign employees and their dependents who do not have a My Number Card upon entering Japan and cannot use the My Number Card, as it serves as proof of health insurance coverage and ensures access to insured medical treatment.
The My Number Card is becoming essential for health insurance in Japan as traditional health insurance cards will be phased out by December 2, 2024, with existing cards valid only until Dec 1, 2025. While obtaining the card itself is not legally mandatory, it is strongly encouraged to avoid inconvenience.
Medium- to long-term residents must manage My Number Card renewals separately from Residence Cards renewals, requesting temporary extensions if necessary.
Employers are expected to guide employees in adapting to the changes, including arranging Eligibility Confirmation Certificate for new foreign residents to ensure access to insured healthcare before receiving their My Number Cards.
The Japanese government is promoting the widespread use of the My Number Card, including new integrations:
The Vialto Partners Japan Team offers comprehensive support services for immigration, social insurance, and tax matters. If you have any questions about the new system or require assistance with procedures for foreign nationals, please feel free to reach out to the Japan team at Vialto Partners.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Noriyuki Tominaga
Partner
Jia Ee
Director
Ryo Uehara
Director
Wakana Tachikawa
Senior Manager
Atsuko Yamamoto
Manager
Saeko Ichimi
Senior Associate
Zoila Mundell
Associate
Further information on Vialto Partners can be found here: www.vialtopartners.com
Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
©2024 Vialto Partners. All Rights Reserved.
日本政府は2024年12月2日以降、従来の健康保険証の新規発行を停止し、マイナンバーカードを健康保険証として利用する「マイナ保険証」への全面的な移行を推進します。マイナンバーカードは日本に3か月を超えて在留する外国籍の中長期在留者も発行対象としており、今回の健康保険証との統合により、今後の外国籍社員の管理における重要性がさらに高まることが予想されます。本アラートでは、今後の外国籍社員の在留管理において必要となるマイナンバーカード関連の手続き及び留意点を整理します。
1) 外国籍者のマイナ保険証への移行プロセス
従来の健康保険証の新規発行は2024年12月2日以降停止されますが、既に発行済みの現行の健康保険証は有効期限内であれば最長で2025年12月1日まで使用可能です。日本政府はマイナ保険証への移行を推奨していますが、マイナンバーカードを取得していない方やマイナ保険証の利用登録を行っていない方には、加入している医療保険者から「資格確認証」が交付され、この「資格確認証」を医療機関で提示することで従来通り保険診療を受けることも可能です。下記は、入国時期及び加入中の医療保険に応じた今後のマイナ保険証への移行プロセスです。
| 日本上陸のタイミング | 加入している医療保険 | マイナ保険証への移行プロセス |
| 2024年12月1日以前から在留する中長期在留者 | 被用者保険加入者 | 移行期間として2025年12年1日までは現行の健康保険証が使用可能。2025年12年2日以降マイナ保険証への紐づけまたは保険者から送付される資格確認証の利用が必要 *2025年12年１日までに転職などで保険資格が変わる場合はその時点でマイナ保険証または資格確認証の利用への移行が必要 |
| 国民健康保険加入者 | 現行の健康保険証は有効期限（多くの場合２０２５年７月または８月）まで利用可能。有効期限以降はマイナ保険証への切り替え、もしくは保険者から送付される資格確認証の利用が必要 | |
| 2024年12月2日以降に上陸し在留する中長期在留者 | 入国後、住民登録の際または後にマイナンバーカードの申請を行い、マイナ保険証利用の手続きを行うこと、または保険者から送付される資格確認証の利用が必要 | |
2) マイナカード有効期限
外国籍者のマイナンバーカードの有効期限は在留資格に応じて異なります。在留期間の更新許可等により在留期間が変更された場合であっても、その情報 はマイナンバーカードには自動的に反映されません。そのため、在留カードの更新手続きを行った際には、新しい在留カードの受領後、マイナンバーカードの期限が到来するまでに居住地の市区町村窓口でマイナンバーカードの有効期間の延長手続きを行う必要があります。この手続きを行わない場合、マイナンバーカード（保険証利用登録を行っている場合は、マイナ保険証）が失効し、再申請が必要となります。
| 在留資格 | マイナンバーカードの有効期限 |
| 永住者、高度専門職２号、特別永住者 | 18歳以上：10回目の誕生日まで 18歳未満：5回目の誕生日まで |
| 上記以外の中長期在留者 | 在留期間の満了の日 |
3) 在留期間更新手続き中の注意点
在留期間更新許可申請や在留資格変更許可申請の審査期間中に在留期限が到来した場合、入管法に基づく特例期間により、審査結果が出るまで、もしくは在留期間の満了の日から2か月が経過する日のいずれか早い時点まで、現行の在留資格で引き続き在留することが可能です。
ただし、マイナンバーカードにはこの特例期間が自動的に適用されないため、引き続き使用するには市区町村役場で「有効期間の延長手続き」（最長2か月）を在留期限が到来する前までに行う必要があります。この手続きを行わない場合、マイナンバーカードは失効し、カードの再申請（有料）が必要となりますのでご留意ください。
4) 社会保険手続き上の留意点
2024年12月2日以降、企業が社会保険事務所及び年金事務所に提出を行う「被保険者資格取得届」および「被扶養者（異動）届」には新たに「資格確認書発行要否」欄が設けられます。新たに被保険者や被扶養者になる方が資格確認書を必要とする場合は、届書の「□発行が必要」にチェックを入れて申告することとなります。この届出内容に基づき、資格確認書が発行されることとなります。
特に、日本入国時点においてはマイナンバーカードを保有しておらず、またマイナンバーカードを健康保険証として利用できない外国籍従業員やその扶養家族については、この資格確認書が健康保険の被保険者であることを証明する重要な書類となります。
2024年12月2日より従来の健康保険証の新規発行が廃止され、マイナンバーカードは日本の健康保険制度において中心的な役割を担うことになります。カードの取得は法律上の義務ではありませんが、政府はその取得を強く推奨しています。また、中長期在留者の場合、在留カードの更新とは別に、マイナンバーカードの更新が必要になる点にも留意が必要です。さらに、外国人従業員を雇用する事業主には、新制度への対応として新規入国者がマイナンバーカードの受け取り前でも医療保険が利用できるよう資格確認証を手配することや、従業員に対して新制度に関する情報提供や更新手続きのサポートを行う等の支援を提供することが求められます。
現在、日本政府はマイナンバーカードの普及と活用の拡大を推進しています。行政手続きでは、2025年3月より運転免許証との一体化が実施される予定です。また、税務手続においては、国税庁がE-Taxを通じた納税手続の際に、納税者が本人確認書類の添付やパスワードの管理を省略できる新しい仕組みを導入しており、マイナポータルとの連携を通じた税務手続きの簡素化が実施されております。
Vialto Partners日本チームでは、イミグレーション、社会保険、税務に関する総合的なサポートを提供しております。新制度についてのご質問や外国籍者の手続きに関するご相談がございましたら、ぜひVialto Partners日本チームまでご連絡ください。
より詳しい情報は、Vialtoパートナーズの担当者までお問い合わせください:
冨永 紀之
Partner
Jia Ee
Director
上原 龍
Director
立川 若納
Senior Manager
山本 厚子
Manager
一見さえこ
Senior Associate
Zoila Mundell
Associate
Vialtoパートナーズの詳細はこちらをご覧ください
Vialto Partners (“Vialto”) refers to wholly owned subsidiaries of CD&R Galaxy UK OpCo Limited as well as the other members of the Vialto Partners global network. The information contained in this document is for general guidance on matters of interest only. Vialto is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Vialto, its related entities, or the agents or employees thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this document or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
©2024 Vialto Partners. All Rights Reserved.