Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures
行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律
The individual number (個人番号) given to each person on a municipal resident register, the Individual Number Card (個人番号カード) that proves it, and the limits on who may use, ask for, share and keep the number, which public bodies use in social security, tax, disaster response and other areas of administration.
- Text in force since
- Promulgated
- Articles
- 87
- Amendments on the way
- 6
What this law does
- When the mayor of a municipality (市町村長) records a residence certificate code (住民票コード) on the residence record (住民票) of someone never before recorded in any municipality's register, under the Residential Basic Book Act, the mayor must promptly designate as that person's individual number a number the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (地方公共団体情報システム機構) generates from that code, and notify them of it. People already on a municipality's resident register on the day the Act took effect were given numbers the same way. If a person's number has leaked and may be misused, the mayor gives them a new one, at their request or on the mayor's own initiative.(Art. 7(1), Art. 8(1), Art. 8(2), Art. 2(5), Residential Basic Book Act Art. 30-3(2), Suppl. Prov. Art. 3(1), Art. 7(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Read the full overview
- Anyone recorded in a municipality's basic resident register (住民基本台帳) can apply for an Individual Number Card (個人番号カード): the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems makes it, and the mayor hands it over after checking the applicant's identity. The card lapses when its period of validity, which an Order of the Digital Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (主務省令) sets, runs out, and in other cases a Cabinet Order (政令) sets. The Agency may charge a fee for issuing the card, its substitute on a mobile device and the card functions added to a residence card, at an amount the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications approves, and may have the mayor, or for a residence card the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency, collect the fee for the card and for the residence card functions; the fee for the mobile substitute it collects itself.(Art. 16-2(1), Art. 16-2(5), Art. 17(1), Art. 17(10), Art. 17(13), Art. 46(1), Art. 18-6(1), Art. 18-6(2), Art. 18-6(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
- A holder whose card carries a valid signature certificate (署名用電子証明書), which a separate Act governs, can also have a substitute for the card (カード代替電磁的記録) issued to their mobile device, valid for up to three months as an Order of the Digital Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications sets, and the Agency issues a new one when it expires unless the card or certificate has lapsed. Beyond identity checks, municipal bodies, for processes a local ordinance (条例) sets, and government bodies, local governments, private businesses and others a Cabinet Order names, for their own processes, may record data in a part of the card kept separate from its card details and use it, handling the card to standards the Prime Minister and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications set.(Art. 18-2(1), Art. 18-2(5), Art. 18-2(9), Art. 18-2(11), Art. 18(1), Art. 18(1)(i), Art. 18(1)(ii)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Until the change takes effect, 6 June 2029 at the latest: The card shows the holder's name, address, date of birth, sex, individual number and other details a Cabinet Order sets, and, except for foreign residents (外国人住民), the reading of the name. It carries a photo unless the holder was under an age an Order of the Digital Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications sets on the day of applying, and records these details electronically.(Art. 2(7), Art. 2(7)(i), Art. 2(7)(ii), Art. 2(7)(v), Art. 2(7)(vi)) (the provisions it rests on)
- From a day still to be set, 6 June 2029 at the latest: On a day a Cabinet Order sets, no later than 6 June 2029, sex stops being shown on the card: it shows the holder's name, address, date of birth, individual number and other details a Cabinet Order sets and, except for foreign residents (外国人住民), the reading of the name, with a photo unless the holder was under an age an Order of the Digital Agency and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications sets, and records these, the photo and the holder's sex electronically. Someone checking identity by having the card shown, for a process an Order lists as using information on sex, must also check the sex recorded on it electronically. Cards already issued on that day keep what they show, and checking them follows the earlier rules (Article 2 of the Supplementary Provisions (附則) of Act No. 46 of 2024).(Art. 2(7), Art. 2(7)(v), Art. 16(1), Suppl. Prov. Art. 2(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Article 9 sets the scope of use (利用範囲): the government bodies and other organizations in the Appended Table (別表) may use the number, as far as needed, for the processes listed beside them, among them national and local taxes, health insurance, pensions, employment insurance, child allowance, public assistance and immigration and residence control, and local governments may use it for social security, local tax, disaster prevention and other processes their local ordinances (条例) set. Anyone whom another law or a local ordinance requires to handle other people's numbers for those processes, such as by putting them on documents they submit, may use the numbers as far as needed for that, as may anyone they entrust the work to; the provisions Article 9 names include ones in the Income Tax Act, the Health Insurance Act, the Employees' Pension Insurance Act and the Employment Insurance Act, which separate Acts govern.(Art. 9(1), Art. 9(2), Art. 9(4), Appended Table 1) (the provisions it rests on)
- No one may ask another person outside their own household for that person's individual number unless one of the cases in Article 19 lets the asker receive it. Those who handle number processes may ask the person, or another such handler, for it when that work needs it, and when the person gives it they must check identity: by having the Individual Number Card shown, by receiving and verifying the card's substitute from the person's mobile device, or by another measure a Cabinet Order sets.(Art. 15(1), Art. 14(1), Art. 16(1), Art. 16(1)(i), Art. 16(1)(ii), Art. 16(1)(iii)) (the provisions it rests on)
- No one may provide specific personal information (特定個人情報), meaning personal information that contains an individual number, except in the cases Article 19 lists, and no one may collect or keep information containing another person's number outside those cases. The cases include a person giving their own number to someone handling number processes, a handler providing it as far as its number work needs, an employer passing a worker's number to the worker's new employer with the worker's consent, exchanges over the information network between the bodies the Act lists, and court proceedings and criminal investigations. Handlers may not make files of such information beyond what their number work needs, except where they may provide or receive it in the cases of Article 19, items (xiii) to (xvii) — a request from the Personal Information Protection Commission, an examination by either House of the Diet, court proceedings or a criminal investigation, and the like.(Art. 2(9), Art. 19(1), Art. 19(1)(i), Art. 19(1)(ii), Art. 19(1)(iii), Art. 19(1)(iv), Art. 19(1)(viii), Art. 19(1)(xiii), Art. 19(1)(xiv), Art. 19(1)(xv), Art. 19(1)(xvi), Art. 19(1)(xvii), Art. 20(1), Art. 29(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Contents
87 429 207 76 137
- Chapter I General Provisions第一章 総則Articles 1–6-2 · 7
- Chapter II Individual Number第二章 個人番号Articles 7–16 · 10
- Chapter III Individual Number Card第三章 個人番号カードArticles 16-2–18-6 · 8
- Chapter IV Provisions of Specific Personal Information第四章 特定個人情報の提供Articles 19–26 · 9
- Section 1 Restrictions on Provision of Specific Personal Information, etc.第一節 特定個人情報の提供の制限等Articles 19–20 · 2
- Section 2 Provision of Specific Personal Information for Use via the Information Providing Network System第二節 情報提供ネットワークシステムによる利用特定個人情報の提供Articles 21–26 · 7
- Chapter V Specific Personal Information Protection第五章 特定個人情報の保護Articles 27–32 · 9
- Section 1 Specific Personal Information Protection Assessment, etc.第一節 特定個人情報保護評価等Articles 27–29-4 · 6
- Section 2 Special Provisions, etc. to the Personal Information Protection Act第二節 個人情報保護法の特例等Articles 30–32 · 3
- Chapter VI Supervision, etc. of the Handling of Specific Personal Information第六章 特定個人情報の取扱いに関する監督等Articles 33–38 · 6
- Chapter VI-2 Measures Concerning the Implementation of Processes Handled by the Agency, etc.第六章の二 機構処理事務等の実施に関する措置Articles 38-2–38-13 · 13
- Chapter VII Corporation Number第七章 法人番号Articles 39–42 · 4
- Chapter VIII Miscellaneous Provisions第八章 雑則Articles 43–47 · 6
- Chapter IX Penal Provisions第九章 罰則Articles 48–57 · 15
Amendments
A Japanese law is changed by another law or order that rewrites it — an . This law has 6 amendments on the way — , but . Its amendment history is below. The amendments this site has read the changes of are on this law's amendments page, provision by provision, in Japanese and English.
1 January 2027
in 3 months
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
17 January 2027
in 3 months
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, etc.
個人情報の保護に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
By 4 June 2028
at the latest, in 2 years
Act Partially Amending the Health Insurance Act, etc.
健康保険法等の一部を改正する法律
On a day set by , no later than 4 June 2028 — the amending law allows up to two years from . The exact day is not fixed yet.
By 16 July 2028
at the latest, in 2 years
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, etc.
個人情報の保護に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
On a day set by , no later than 16 July 2028 — the amending law allows up to two years from . The exact day is not fixed yet.
By 6 June 2029
at the latest, in 3 years
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Improve Convenience for Persons Concerned in Administrative Procedures, etc. and to Simplify and Streamline Administrative Operations through the Use of Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の活用による行政手続等に係る関係者の利便性の向上並びに行政運営の簡素化及び効率化を図るためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
On a day set by , no later than 6 June 2029 — the amending law allows up to five years from . The exact day is not fixed yet.
By 19 June 2030
at the latest, in 4 years
Act Partially Amending the National Pension Act, etc., and Other Matters, to Strengthen the Functions of the Pension System in Light of Socioeconomic Changes
社会経済の変化を踏まえた年金制度の機能強化のための国民年金法等の一部を改正する等の法律
On a day set by , no later than 19 June 2030 — the amending law allows up to five years from . The exact day is not fixed yet.
99 amendments already in force
1 October 2026
The text on this site
Act Partially Amending the Medical Care Act, etc.
医療法等の一部を改正する法律
17 July 2026
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, etc.
個人情報の保護に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
14 June 2026
Act Partially Amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, etc.
出入国管理及び難民認定法等の一部を改正する法律
1 June 2026
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures and the Residential Basic Book Act
行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律及び住民基本台帳法の一部を改正する法律
27 May 2026
Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, etc.
電気通信事業法及び日本電信電話株式会社等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
26 May 2026
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures, etc.
行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2026
Act Partially Amending the Act on Support for Children and Child-rearing, etc.
子ども・子育て支援法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2026
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
14 February 2026
12 December 2025
Act Partially Amending the Medical Care Act, etc.
医療法等の一部を改正する法律
1 October 2025
Act Partially Amending the Child Welfare Act, etc.
児童福祉法等の一部を改正する法律
16 August 2025
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
20 June 2025
Act Partially Amending the National Pension Act, etc., and Other Matters, to Strengthen the Functions of the Pension System in Light of Socioeconomic Changes
社会経済の変化を踏まえた年金制度の機能強化のための国民年金法等の一部を改正する等の法律
1 June 2025
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Penal Code, etc. (extract)
刑法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整理等に関する法律 抄
23 May 2025
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures and the Residential Basic Book Act
行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律及び住民基本台帳法の一部を改正する法律
14 May 2025
25 April 2025
Act Partially Amending the Child Welfare Act, etc.
児童福祉法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2025
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Improve Convenience for Persons Concerned in Administrative Procedures, etc. and to Simplify and Streamline Administrative Operations through the Use of Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の活用による行政手続等に係る関係者の利便性の向上並びに行政運営の簡素化及び効率化を図るためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2025
Act Partially Amending the Act on Support for Children and Child-rearing, etc.
子ども・子育て支援法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2025
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
2 December 2024
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures, etc.
行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
1 October 2024
Act Partially Amending the Act on Support for Children and Child-rearing, etc.
子ども・子育て支援法等の一部を改正する法律
19 September 2024
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
21 June 2024
Act Partially Amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, etc.
出入国管理及び難民認定法等の一部を改正する法律
12 June 2024
Act Partially Amending the Act on Support for Children and Child-rearing, etc.
子ども・子育て支援法等の一部を改正する法律
7 June 2024
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc. to Improve Convenience for Persons Concerned in Administrative Procedures, etc. and to Simplify and Streamline Administrative Operations through the Use of Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の活用による行政手続等に係る関係者の利便性の向上並びに行政運営の簡素化及び効率化を図るためのデジタル社会形成基本法等の一部を改正する法律
27 May 2024
Act Partially Amending the Act on Use of Information and Communications Technology in Administrative Procedures, etc., and Other Acts to Improve Convenience for Persons Concerned in Administrative Procedures, etc. and to Simplify and Streamline Administrative Operations through the Use of Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の活用による行政手続等に係る関係者の利便性の向上並びに行政運営の簡素化及び効率化を図るための行政手続等における情報通信の技術の利用に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
27 May 2024
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
27 May 2024
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures, etc.
行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
24 April 2024
Act Partially Amending the Act on Self-Reliance Support for Persons in Need, etc.
生活困窮者自立支援法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2024
Act on the Management, etc. of Deposit and Savings Accounts through the Use of Individual Numbers Based on the Intent of Depositors and Savers
預貯金者の意思に基づく個人番号の利用による預貯金口座の管理等に関する法律
1 April 2024
Act Partially Amending the Child Welfare Act, etc.
児童福祉法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2024
Act Partially Amending the Act on Providing Comprehensive Support for the Daily Life and Life in Society of Persons with Disabilities, etc.
障害者の日常生活及び社会生活を総合的に支援するための法律等の一部を改正する法律
1 March 2024
1 March 2024
Act Partially Amending the National Pension Act, etc. to Strengthen the Functions of the Pension System
年金制度の機能強化のための国民年金法等の一部を改正する法律
1 March 2024
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
1 January 2024
Act on the Forest Environment Tax and the Forest Environment Transfer Tax
森林環境税及び森林環境譲与税に関する法律
9 June 2023
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures, etc.
行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2023
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
1 April 2023
Act Partially Amending the Act for Establishment of the Ministry of Defense, etc.
防衛省設置法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2023
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
16 December 2022
Act Partially Amending the Act on Providing Comprehensive Support for the Daily Life and Life in Society of Persons with Disabilities, etc.
障害者の日常生活及び社会生活を総合的に支援するための法律等の一部を改正する法律
17 June 2022
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Penal Code, etc.
刑法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整理等に関する法律
1 April 2022
Act Partially Amending the National Pension Act, etc. to Strengthen the Functions of the Pension System
年金制度の機能強化のための国民年金法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2022
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, etc.
個人情報の保護に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2022
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
11 January 2022
1 January 2022
Act on the Registration, etc. of Deposit and Savings Accounts for the Prompt and Reliable Provision of Public Benefits, etc.
公的給付の支給等の迅速かつ確実な実施のための預貯金口座の登録等に関する法律
13 September 2021
13 September 2021
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
1 September 2021
1 September 2021
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
11 June 2021
Act Partially Amending the Health Insurance Act, etc. to Establish a Social Security System for All Generations
全世代対応型の社会保障制度を構築するための健康保険法等の一部を改正する法律
20 May 2021
Act Partially Amending the Basic Act on Disaster Management, etc.
災害対策基本法等の一部を改正する法律
19 May 2021
19 May 2021
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
19 May 2021
Act on the Registration, etc. of Deposit and Savings Accounts for the Prompt and Reliable Provision of Public Benefits, etc.
公的給付の支給等の迅速かつ確実な実施のための預貯金口座の登録等に関する法律
1 April 2021
Act Partially Amending the Health Insurance Act, etc. to Ensure the Proper and Efficient Administration of the Medical Insurance System
医療保険制度の適正かつ効率的な運営を図るための健康保険法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2021
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2021
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
12 December 2020
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, etc.
個人情報の保護に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
12 June 2020
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, etc.
個人情報の保護に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
5 June 2020
Act Partially Amending the National Pension Act, etc. to Strengthen the Functions of the Pension System
年金制度の機能強化のための国民年金法等の一部を改正する法律
25 May 2020
Act Partially Amending the Act on Use of Information and Communications Technology in Administrative Procedures, etc., and Other Acts to Improve Convenience for Persons Concerned in Administrative Procedures, etc. and to Simplify and Streamline Administrative Operations through the Use of Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の活用による行政手続等に係る関係者の利便性の向上並びに行政運営の簡素化及び効率化を図るための行政手続等における情報通信の技術の利用に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2020
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2020
Act Partially Amending the Health Insurance Act, etc. to Ensure the Proper and Efficient Administration of the Medical Insurance System
医療保険制度の適正かつ効率的な運営を図るための健康保険法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2020
Act Partially Amending the Employment Insurance Act, etc.
雇用保険法等の一部を改正する法律
31 March 2020
Act Partially Amending the Employment Insurance Act, etc.
雇用保険法等の一部を改正する法律
1 October 2019
Act on Payment of Benefits for Supporting the Livelihood of Pension Recipients
年金生活者支援給付金の支給に関する法律
1 October 2019
Act Partially Amending the Local Tax Act, etc., and Other Matters
地方税法等の一部を改正する等の法律
1 October 2019
Act on the Special Corporate Business Tax and the Special Corporate Business Transfer Tax
特別法人事業税及び特別法人事業譲与税に関する法律
1 October 2019
Act Partially Amending the Act on Support for Children and Child-rearing
子ども・子育て支援法の一部を改正する法律
1 October 2019
Act Partially Amending the Act on Use of Information and Communications Technology in Administrative Procedures, etc., and Other Acts to Improve Convenience for Persons Concerned in Administrative Procedures, etc. and to Simplify and Streamline Administrative Operations through the Use of Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の活用による行政手続等に係る関係者の利便性の向上並びに行政運営の簡素化及び効率化を図るための行政手続等における情報通信の技術の利用に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
16 July 2019
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
20 June 2019
1 June 2019
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
31 May 2019
Act Partially Amending the Act on Use of Information and Communications Technology in Administrative Procedures, etc., and Other Acts to Improve Convenience for Persons Concerned in Administrative Procedures, etc. and to Simplify and Streamline Administrative Operations through the Use of Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の活用による行政手続等に係る関係者の利便性の向上並びに行政運営の簡素化及び効率化を図るための行政手続等における情報通信の技術の利用に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
22 May 2019
Act Partially Amending the Health Insurance Act, etc. to Ensure the Proper and Efficient Administration of the Medical Insurance System
医療保険制度の適正かつ効率的な運営を図るための健康保険法等の一部を改正する法律
17 May 2019
Act Partially Amending the Act on Support for Children and Child-rearing
子ども・子育て支援法の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2019
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts to Promote Work Style Reform
働き方改革を推進するための関係法律の整備に関する法律
1 April 2019
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
1 January 2019
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
6 July 2018
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts to Promote Work Style Reform
働き方改革を推進するための関係法律の整備に関する法律
27 June 2018
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
8 June 2018
Act Partially Amending the Act on Self-Reliance Support for Persons in Need, etc. to Promote the Self-Reliance of Persons in Need, etc.
生活困窮者等の自立を促進するための生活困窮者自立支援法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2018
Act Partially Amending the National Health Insurance Act, etc. to Establish a Sustainable Medical Insurance System
持続可能な医療保険制度を構築するための国民健康保険法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2018
Act Partially Amending the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, etc. to Strengthen the Community-based Integrated Care System
地域包括ケアシステムの強化のための介護保険法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2018
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
1 January 2018
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
1 January 2018
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures
個人情報の保護に関する法律及び行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
2 June 2017
Act Partially Amending the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, etc. to Strengthen the Community-based Integrated Care System
地域包括ケアシステムの強化のための介護保険法等の一部を改正する法律
30 May 2017
e-Gov gives no title for this amendment
30 May 2017
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures
個人情報の保護に関する法律及び行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律の一部を改正する法律
30 May 2017
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for Contributing to the Creation of New Industries and the Realization of a Vibrant Economic Society and an Enriched Quality of Life for the People through the Proper and Effective Use of Personal Information Held by Administrative Organs, etc.
行政機関等の保有する個人情報の適正かつ効果的な活用による新たな産業の創出並びに活力ある経済社会及び豊かな国民生活の実現に資するための関係法律の整備に関する法律
29 May 2017
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems, etc.
地方公共団体情報システム機構法等の一部を改正する法律
24 May 2017
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems, etc.
地方公共団体情報システム機構法等の一部を改正する法律
26 April 2017
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
1 April 2017
Act Partially Amending the Child Welfare Act, etc.
児童福祉法等の一部を改正する法律
1 April 2017
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Japan Student Services Organization, Independent Administrative Agency
独立行政法人日本学生支援機構法の一部を改正する法律
Who it applies to
It applies to
- Everyone: the bans on asking someone outside one's household for their number, on providing specific personal information, and on collecting or keeping another person's number outside the cases Article 19 lists bind any person (何人も), not only businesses and officials, and so does the crime of obtaining a number by deceit, violence, threats, theft or other wrongful acts.(Art. 15(1), Art. 19(1), Art. 20(1), Art. 51(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- People recorded in a municipality's basic resident register, who are given an individual number, foreign residents (外国人住民) among them: foreign nationals with an address in a municipality who are mid- to long-term residents, special permanent residents, holders of a temporary refuge or provisional stay permission, or people staying on after birth in Japan or loss of Japanese nationality, as the Residential Basic Book Act defines them. A holder of an Individual Number Card must hand it to the mayor, who updates it and gives it back, when filing a moving-in notice or a notice of moving abroad under that Act, and must report any other change in its details within 14 days and present the card the same way; report its loss at once; and return it when it expires or in other cases a Cabinet Order sets.(Art. 7(1), Art. 2(7), Residential Basic Book Act Art. 30-45(1), Art. 17(6), Art. 17(7), Art. 17(8), Art. 17(9), Art. 17(11), Residential Basic Book Act Art. 22(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
4 more
- Holders of a residence card (在留カード) or special permanent resident certificate (特別永住者証明書) who apply for one that also serves as the Individual Number Card (特定在留カード等): the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁長官) tells the Agency, which adds the card's functions, including the individual number. On receiving the new card they must return their existing Individual Number Card, which then lapses, and the new card counts as the Individual Number Card under this Act and other laws on its use, apart from a few of this Act's provisions on reporting changes and loss.(Art. 18-5(1), Art. 18-5(2), Art. 18-5(8), Art. 18-5(9)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Businesses and others that handle other people's numbers because a law or local ordinance requires it for administrative processes (個人番号関係事務), and anyone they entrust that work to. They must take the measures needed to keep the numbers from leaking, being lost or being damaged; may pass the work on to a subcontractor only with the entrusting party's permission, and must supervise those they entrust it to. When a leak or other incident of a kind the Commission's rules name as likely to cause serious harm occurs, they must report it to the Commission and notify the person concerned, unless that is hard and they take other measures to protect the person; a contractor may instead notify whoever entrusted the work to it.(Art. 9(4), Art. 2(12), Art. 2(14), Art. 12(1), Art. 10(1), Art. 11(1), Art. 29-4(1), Art. 29-4(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Government bodies, local governments and other organizations that use numbers for the processes in the Appended Table (別表) or in local ordinances (個人番号利用事務). Those of them that a Ministerial Order (主務省令) names exchange number-linked information for listed processes over the Information Providing Network System (情報提供ネットワークシステム), which the Prime Minister sets up and runs in consultation with the Commission, and keep a record of each request and provision for a period a Cabinet Order sets. Before holding a file of specific personal information, apart from files the Commission's rules exempt such as staff personnel files, a national or local government body or other body Article 2(15) lists must publish an assessment of its risks (特定個人情報保護評価), seek public comment and obtain the Commission's approval.(Art. 9(1), Art. 9(2), Art. 2(11), Art. 2(15), Art. 21(1), Art. 19(1)(viii), Art. 19(1)(ix), Art. 22(1), Art. 23(1), Art. 28(1), Art. 28(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Corporations and other bodies: the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency () designates a corporate number (法人番号) for national bodies, local governments, registered corporations and other bodies that must file certain notices under the Income Tax Act, the Corporation Tax Act or the Consumption Tax Act, notifies them, and publishes their name, address and number, though for an association without legal personality only with its representative's consent. Other bodies a Cabinet Order sets may apply for one, and must then report changes.(Art. 39(1), Art. 39(2), Art. 39(3), Art. 39(4)) (the provisions it rests on)
Special rules and exceptions (5)
- The Commission's guidance, orders and inspections do not reach information provided or handled in an inquiry of either House of the Diet, court proceedings or the enforcement of a judgment, a criminal investigation, an investigation of a tax offence, an audit of the Board of Audit, or a procedure a Cabinet Order treats like these.(Art. 36(1), Art. 19(1)(xv)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Someone who held a notification card (通知カード), the card numbers were first notified on, when Act No. 16 of 2019 changed Article 16 is still checked under the identity-check rules that applied before that change when giving their number, as long as the card's details have not changed since; Article 6 of that Act's Supplementary Provisions (附則) keeps those rules for them. The mayor takes the notification card back when issuing them an Individual Number Card.(Suppl. Prov. Art. 6(1), Suppl. Prov. Art. 6(2), Suppl. Prov. Art. 6(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Someone who has moved abroad (国外転出者) and is recorded in the supplementary record of a family register (戸籍の附票) can also apply for an Individual Number Card and ask to receive it through a consular officer (領事官) or another municipality's mayor. A holder abroad reports changes in the card's details promptly, directly or through a consular officer, instead of within 14 days, and reports a loss or returns the card the same way.(Art. 16-2(1), Art. 16-2(4), Art. 17(4), Art. 17(12)) (the provisions it rests on)
- For specific personal information held by businesses that handle personal information (個人情報取扱事業者), the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, a separate Act, applies with changes: a business may not handle it beyond the purpose of use it specified even with the person's consent, and of that Act's exceptions few remain, among them payments under a prior contract after a disaster of extreme severity, for which certain payers the Income Tax Act lists may use numbers (Article 9(5)).(Art. 30(2), Art. 9(5)) (the provisions it rests on)
- From a day still to be set, 16 July 2028 at the latest: On a day a Cabinet Order sets, no later than 16 July 2028, for a child under 16 the consent Article 19 asks for, to pass their number to a new employer or to provide it to protect someone's life, body or property, must come from their legal representative (法定代理人), and a handler notifies a serious leak to the legal representative rather than the child. This does not apply where the provider had good reason not to know the child was under 16, where the child has no legal representative or the provider has reasonable grounds to believe so, or for information obtained in a business the legal representative allowed the child to run. Consent given before that day by the child, or by the legal representative, counts as the legal representative's consent (Article 9 of the Supplementary Provisions (附則) of Act No. 56 of 2026).(Art. 43-2(1), Art. 43-2(1)(i), Art. 43-2(1)(ii), Art. 43-2(1)(iii), Art. 43-2(2), Suppl. Prov. Art. 9(1), Suppl. Prov. Art. 9(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
How it is enforced (10)
- Until the change takes effect, 16 July 2028 at the latest: The Personal Information Protection Commission (個人情報保護委員会) oversees the handling of specific personal information: it can give guidance and advice to anyone handling number processes, recommend that someone who has broken the rules stop and put things right by a deadline, and order them to do so if they fail to follow the recommendation without good reason. Where a breach seriously harms individuals' rights and urgent action is needed, it can order corrective measures directly, without a recommendation first.(Art. 33(1), Art. 34(1), Art. 34(2), Art. 34(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
- From a day still to be set, 16 July 2028 at the latest: On a day a Cabinet Order sets, no later than 16 July 2028, and for breaches from that day on (Article 10 of the Supplementary Provisions (附則) of Act No. 56 of 2026), the Personal Information Protection Commission (個人情報保護委員会) can recommend, and then order, not only that a rule-breaker stop and put things right but also that they notify the people affected or publish the facts, and it can order measures directly where serious harm to individuals has occurred or is imminent; it keeps its power to give guidance and advice. If an order is not followed, it can ask a contractor or other provider whose service the rule-breaker uses for that handling to stop it, and where the breach is a transmission by specified telecommunications (特定電気通信) as a separate Act defines it, it can ask the service provider to stop the information spreading. A provider that does what is asked is not liable for the loss this causes the rule-breaker.(Art. 33(1), Art. 34(1), Art. 34(2), Art. 34(3), Art. 34-2(1), Art. 34-2(2), Art. 34-2(3), Art. 34-2(4), Suppl. Prov. Art. 10(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- To the extent needed to enforce the Act, the Commission can require anyone handling specific personal information, and others concerned, to report or hand over materials, and can send its staff into their offices to ask questions and inspect records; this power is not one for criminal investigation. Failing to report, reporting falsely, refusing to answer or answering falsely, or refusing or obstructing an inspection, is punishable by imprisonment () of up to one year or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.(Art. 35(1), Art. 35(3), Art. 54(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Breaking an order of the Commission is punishable by imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to two years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. Where a representative, employee or other worker commits that offence, or one under Article 48 or 49, in the course of the business of a corporation or individual employer, the corporation can also be fined up to 100 million yen and the individual employer the fine the article sets; for the offences under Articles 51 and 53-2 to 55-2, the corporation or individual employer faces the fine the article itself sets. A corporation here includes an association without legal personality that has a representative or manager.(Art. 53(1), Art. 57(1), Art. 57(1)(i), Art. 57(1)(ii)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Someone who works, or has worked, on number processes or on designating or generating individual numbers, and who without good reason provides a file of specific personal information containing people's secrets that they handled at work, or a copy or altered version of it, faces imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to four years, a fine of up to 2 million yen, or both.(Art. 48(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Until 16 January 2027: Such a worker who provides or steals an individual number learned at work, to gain an unlawful benefit for themselves or someone else, faces imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to three years, a fine of up to 1.5 million yen, or both.(Art. 49(1), Art. 48(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- From 17 January 2027: From 17 January 2027, such a worker who provides or steals an individual number learned at work, either to gain an unlawful benefit for themselves or someone else or to harm the person or anyone else, faces imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to three years, a fine of up to 1.5 million yen, or both.(Art. 49(1), Art. 48(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Anyone who works or has worked on requesting or providing information over the Information Providing Network System, or on running it, must not leak or misuse secrets learned in that work; doing so is punishable by imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to three years, a fine of up to 1.5 million yen, or both, also when committed outside Japan.(Art. 25(1), Art. 50(1), Art. 56(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- Obtaining someone's individual number by deceiving, assaulting or threatening a person, or by theft, breaking into premises, unauthorized computer access or other acts that undermine the holder's control of it, is punishable by imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to three years or a fine of up to 1.5 million yen. Getting an Individual Number Card or its substitute on a mobile device issued by lying or other wrongful means is punishable by imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.(Art. 51(1), Art. 55(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
- An official of a national or local government body or of the Agency, or an officer or employee of an incorporated administrative agency (独立行政法人等) or local incorporated administrative agency, including a consular officer, who abuses their authority to collect documents or records holding people's secret specific personal information for purposes other than their duties faces imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to two years or a fine of up to 1 million yen. The crimes in Articles 48 to 52-3 and 55 are punishable even when committed outside Japan.(Art. 52(1), Art. 56(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
How it connects to other laws
- Residential Basic Book Act229
- Income Tax Act24
- Act on General Rules for National Taxes13
- Family Register Act12
- Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act30
- Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act11
- National Pension Act20
- Employment Insurance Act01
- Act on Prohibition of Unauthorized Computer Access01
It also names 206 laws not yet held here.
Where the translation comes from
- 98
- 811
The Ministry of Justice's translation is shown only where the Japanese it translates matches the law in force today. Everywhere else the English is a machine translation, marked on the paragraph itself.
Only the Japanese is the law, and no lawyer has reviewed the machine translation.
Sources
Everything this page rests on
- e-Gov (Digital Agency)行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律 — the text in force from 2026-10-01Original
- e-Gov (Digital Agency)行政手続における特定の個人を識別するための番号の利用等に関する法律 — revision historyOriginal
- Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of JusticeAct on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures — Ministry of Justice translationOriginal
- Machine translation, not official
- Written for this site with AIEnglish titles of amending laws, written for this site
- Written for this site with AIDescriptions of each law, written for this site
- Written for this site with AICorrections to the Ministry of Justice's English of paragraphs
- Worked out by this site from e-Gov's text