Complete the process as soon as possible, once you have moved here. But, why? What is the My Number Card? Why should I make it? What purpose does it serve?
The My Number Card is similar to the SIN card (Canada), Social Security number (America), National Insurance number (UK) and can be used as a photo identification card, when needed.
In this post we will discuss 6 reasons having a My Number card is useful;
- Visa Extensions
- Paypay
- Personal Identification Card
- Health Insurance
- Moving notifications
- Tax returns
Visa Extensions
Before we had to go to immigration, bring all the paperwork, submit the forms, wait for the staff to look at the paperwork and then we go home, wait for a letter, buy a stamp and return to receive our Residence card and they add an extension to your passport.
However, with a My Number Card, we can do the first half of the submission online, and the applications can be completed with limited Japanese ability with browser translation extensions. No more waiting at the immigration office.
Moving notifications
As previously mentioned, there may be a case where you are moving to another prefecture. When moving you must go to the ward office to submit a notification that you are moving. However, with the hassles of moving, the busyness of packing and maybe trying to do all the things in your current city that you have been putting off. At least you do not have to go to the city ward office! You can submit your notification online with your My Number Card.
PayPay
Becoming cashless is incredibly convenient, your life in your home country could have been completely cashless. However, there still are some difficulties getting a credit card without any credit history. So what is the next best option? Companies like Paypay, Rakuten Pay. Line Pay, etc. are available, but you need some forms of identification, etc. This is where having your My Number card makes things easy.
Personal Identification Card
After arriving in Japan, you will have opened a bank account, gotten a phone number and you are settling in and maybe enjoying the country. As useful as being cashless might be, some of the banking systems are not very English friendly. So, one might choose to open a bank account with an online bank that has English support. Many people who come here will immediately get their drivers license but, for many who live in the city centers, getting a license is completely unnecessary. This is where using your My Number Card as a secondary identification card after your residence card can be very useful.
Health Insurance
Your My Number Card can be used as a health insurance card. There can be many situations possible when we are not feeling well, we forget things. In these cases, your My Number Card can be used. There are cases where you may move to a different area in Japan for work. After moving you will go to the ward office to request for your new health insurance card. During this in between period, you can use your My Number Card as your health insurance card at ease.
Tax Returns
Taxes, the one thing maybe everyone hates in this world. However, we cannot get away from them. The very convenient thing in Japan is that your company usually files your taxes for you. However, if you really do not like paying high taxes, learning about the tax system, learning about things like furusato nozei, available deductibles as a homeowner can be useful. With your My Number Card you can file your tax adjustments, or your taxes online.
Thank you for reading this till the end.
