Japan's Digital Agency to launch “Android My Number Card” on Oct 20
In short
Japan's Digital Agency said it plans to begin offering the “Android My Number Card”, which stores the national ID card in Google Wallet, on Oct. 20. The service adds an “attribute certification” function so users can confirm identity, age and residency at counters without the physical card. Compatible devices must have security chips meeting certain standards, and the agency says it will publish details by Oct. 20.
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Japan's Digital Agency said it plans to begin offering the “Android My Number Card”, a version of the national ID card held in Google Wallet, on Oct. 20. The agency announced the date on Oct. 2, saying the service replaces the existing “Android smartphone electronic certificate” service. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The new service adds an “attribute certification” function that certifies a user's name, address and date of birth, allowing identity, age and residency checks at participating counters and stores without presenting the physical card. The agency said the same function has been available on the “iPhone My Number Card” since June 24, 2025. Existing functions remain, including checking medication, medical expense and pension information in Myna Portal, filing tax returns and moving notices online, and obtaining copies of residence and seal registration certificates at convenience stores. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The service works only on Android phones carrying a security chip that meets certain standards. The agency said it will publish compatible devices and other details on its official site by Oct. 20. It is asking government offices and businesses that perform identity checks to support reading the card, which they can do by downloading the free “My Number Card face-to-face confirmation app” it provides. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Impress Watch reported that as of the end of August, 104,525,120 My Number Cards had been issued, equal to 84.3% of the population. About 8.5 million people use the iPhone My Number Card and about 800,000 use the Android electronic certificate service, it said. Digital Minister Furukawa said “situations in which the physical card is unnecessary will increase, and biometric authentication can be used instead of entering a PIN”, and encouraged people to use the service, according to the report. [ 1 ]
ITmedia News reported that the agency may change the start date if final testing requires additional checks. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
Putting the national ID card on Android phones extends to a second major platform the function already offered on iPhone since June 2025, and the agency is asking government offices and businesses to prepare readers. If widely adopted, more face-to-face procedures could be handled by phone without a physical card, though the documents give no figures on expected use.
Key facts
- The Digital Agency announced on Oct. 2 that it plans to start offering the “Android My Number Card” on Oct. 20. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The service is used by adding the My Number Card to Google Wallet on Android devices. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A new “attribute certification” function lets users prove name, address and date of birth for identity, age and residency confirmation without the physical card. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Existing functions remain, including checking medication, medical expense and pension information in Myna Portal, filing tax returns and moving notices online, and obtaining residence and seal registration certificates at convenience stores. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Only Android phones carrying a security chip meeting certain standards can use the service, with compatible devices and other details to be published by Oct. 20. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Businesses and offices that check identities need to support reading the card, using the free “My Number Card face-to-face confirmation app” provided by the agency. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- As of the end of August, 104,525,120 My Number Cards had been issued, 84.3% of the population, with about 8.5 million iPhone My Number Card users and about 800,000 users of the Android electronic certificate service, Impress Watch reported. [ 1 ]
- ITmedia News reported that the start date could be changed if final testing requires additional checks. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Digital Agency announced the “Android My Number Card” will start on Oct. 20 (planned). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The new attribute certification function enables identity, age and residency confirmation without presenting the physical card. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The service requires an Android device with a security chip meeting certain standards, and details are to be published by Oct. 20. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Businesses reading the card need the free “My Number Card face-to-face confirmation app” provided by the Digital Agency. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The equivalent “iPhone My Number Card” has been available since June 2025. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Oct. 20 start date is final. ITmedia News says the agency may change the start date if final testing requires additional checks, while the other documents present Oct. 20 as the scheduled date without that caveat.
- Which Android models will be compatible. All documents say the list of supported devices and other details will only be published by Oct. 20.
- How many people are expected to use the new service and current take-up of related services. Only Impress Watch gives adoption figures (about 8.5 million iPhone users, about 800,000 Android electronic certificate users); no other document reports them.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Impress Watch reports the Digital Agency's plan to start the “Android My Number Card” on Oct. 20. [ 1 ]
- Keitai Watch reports the same Oct. 20 start and the addition of the attribute certification function. [ 2 ]
- ITmedia corrects an error in the service name in its headline. [ 3 ]
- ITmedia News reports the launch and notes the start date could change if final testing requires additional checks. [ 3 ]
- ITmedia Mobile publishes an explainer on how the service differs from the existing smartphone electronic certificate. [ 4 ]