Tokyo: Starting next spring, Japanese citizens will be able to use their iPhones instead of the physical national identification card, known as the “My Number” card, the government announced on Thursday.
This update follows the addition of the function to Android smartphones in May 2023, as reported by Japanese news agencies.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook confirmed this new system during a teleconference, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
Also read: Google plans production of Pixel phones and drones in India
Citizens with a “My Number” will be able to use their smartphones instead of the physical card when accessing public services, such as those at municipal or tax offices.
Kishida had previously requested that iPhones be enabled to perform the functions of the “My Number” card during a December 2022 meeting with Cook, government sources revealed.
The “My Number” ID card system, launched in 2016, issues a 12-digit number to each resident of Japan to centralize personal data, including tax and social security information.
The government claims the cards simplify administrative applications for holders, allowing them to, for instance, obtain official documents at convenience stores or apply for childcare benefits online.
Additionally, the government plans to phase out current health insurance certificates and integrate them with the “My Number” cards by December, making it mandatory for everyone to obtain the cards since Japan’s health insurance system covers all residents.
Driving licenses are also set to be incorporated into the system by March 2025.
By the end of April, nearly 74 percent of Japan’s population had applied for their “My Number” card, according to the government.
Japanese iPhone
