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Got your My Number Card back in 2016? The 10-year expiration notice will be arriving in the mail soon. Ten years goes by faster than expected.
For the 10-year renewal, you'll need to submit a new facial photo. The 5-year electronic certificate renewal, on the other hand, requires no photo. Knowing this distinction up front saves a lot of confusion.
Your My Number Card actually has two different renewal cycles.
| Item | Card Body Renewal | Electronic Certificate Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle | 10 years (5 if under 18) | 5 years (all ages) |
| Photo | Required | Not required |
| Application | Online / postal / counter / photo booth | Municipal counter only |
| Card exchange | Yes (new physical card) | No (chip is rewritten) |
| Fee | Free | Free |
Source: My Number Card site — Renewal procedures
So every 5 years you renew the electronic certificate, and every 10 years you renew the physical card. You only need a new photo for the 10-year card-body renewal.
My Number Cards launched in January 2016. Anyone who got their card in 2016 is now in the first 10-year renewal wave (2026). Early adopters are at the front of the line.
Cards issued during the My Number Point campaign of 2020-2022 will reach their 10-year card-body renewal in 2030-2032 — that's the much larger wave.
You can apply from 3 months before the expiry date up to the expiry date itself. After expiry, the card is invalidated, so apply early once the notice arrives.
If your notice has no QR code
If your Expiration Notice doesn't include a QR code, you cannot apply online. You'll need to apply at your municipal counter. Follow the instructions in your notice.
The regulation requires a photo taken within the last 6 months. The photo on your current card — taken 10 years ago — is not valid for renewal.
Renewal photo specs match those of a first-time application. For the full spec table, common rejection reasons, and shooting tips, see the complete My Number Card photo guide.
Quick recap of the online-submission requirements:
Hair, body shape, and natural aging change a lot in 10 years. As long as the photo represents your current appearance, the change from the old photo is not a problem. Heavily edited or filtered photos, however, will be rejected.
The setup for an at-home renewal is already in place:
The entire renewal application — from capture through submission — finishes the same day from home.
mynaphoto.jp: from shot to submittable file in 5 minutes
Upload your smartphone photo to mynaphoto.jp and our AI handles background removal, sizing, and spec verification automatically. The same upload covers 19 document types including passport, resume, and visa — useful for the rest of your household too.
You'll need to go in person — online won't work — for the following:
Many municipalities require an appointment for renewal — check ahead of time.
For shooting details, see the complete My Number Card photo guide. For common rejection reasons, see good vs bad ID photos.
Renew in 5 minutes with your phone
Take a photo on your smartphone and upload it. Automatic background removal, sizing, and official spec verification.
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This article is based on requirements current as of May 2026. Procedures and specifications may change. Please verify the latest information on the My Number Card site or at your municipal office.
Yes, for the 10-year card-body renewal. The 5-year electronic certificate renewal only rewrites the card's IC chip at the municipal counter and requires no photo.
The 10-year renewal replaces the physical card and requires a new photo and application. The 5-year renewal updates only the electronic certificates inside the card — no photo needed.
That's fine. You just need a photo taken within the last 6 months that reflects your current appearance. The 10-year-old photo cannot be reused.
From the date 3 months before your card's expiration. Your municipality will send an Expiration Notice (有効期限通知書) 2-3 months before the expiry date.
No. Renewal procedures are free. Re-issuance due to loss or damage may incur a fee.
Yes. Just like the initial application, a smartphone photo is valid if it meets the official specifications. Upload to mynaphoto.jp and we handle the background removal, sizing, and spec verification automatically.