①The Agency is to, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, prepare an Individual Number Card for a person recorded in the basic resident register or a person recorded in a family register supplement (limited to a person who has moved out of Japan; the same applies in paragraph (4)), based on the application of that person.

②The application referred to in the preceding paragraph is to be filed with the Agency either directly or via the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register (for a person who has moved out of Japan, the family register supplement; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph and paragraph (5)) in which the person seeking to receive the Individual Number Card is recorded (or, if there are circumstances specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in which filing the application via the mayor of a municipality other than that municipality contributes to the convenience of the person seeking to receive the Individual Number Card and to the prompt delivery of the Individual Number Card, via the mayor of that other municipality or of the municipality that maintains said basic resident register).

③A person recorded in the basic resident register who files the application referred to in paragraph (1) via the mayor of a municipality pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (limited to a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii) of the following Article has been taken by the mayor of that municipality) and who falls under the persons specified by Cabinet Order as persons who need to receive an Individual Number Card promptly may, together with that application, make a request to the effect that the person wishes to have the Individual Number Card sent to them by the Agency.

④A person recorded in a family register supplement may, together with the application referred to in paragraph (1), make a request to the effect that the person wishes to receive the handover of the Individual Number Card from a consular officer (including the head of an embassy or legation performing the duties of a consular officer and other persons specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a person acting on their behalf in those duties; the same applies hereinafter) or from the mayor of a municipality other than the municipality that maintains said family register supplement.

⑤If the Agency has prepared an Individual Number Card (excluding one pertaining to a person who has made a request referred to in the preceding two paragraphs; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) based on the application referred to in paragraph (1), the Agency is to send said Individual Number Card to the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which the person who filed that application is recorded.

⑥If the Agency has prepared, based on the application referred to in paragraph (1), an Individual Number Card pertaining to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (3) (limited to cases in which the mayor of the municipality referred to in that paragraph has notified the Agency that the measure provided for in that paragraph has been taken for that person), the Agency is to notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which that person is recorded that it has prepared said Individual Number Card.

⑦If the Agency has prepared, based on the application referred to in paragraph (1), an Individual Number Card pertaining to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (4), the Agency is to notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the family register supplement in which that person is recorded that it has prepared said Individual Number Card, and is to send said Individual Number Card, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, to the consular officer or the mayor of the municipality to which that request pertains.

⑧The Agency is to conduct, with regard to Individual Number Cards, the management of the status of the preparation and sending of Individual Number Cards (referred to as "issuance of Individual Number Cards" in Article 18-6, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3), item (i)) and of the status of the operation of Individual Number Cards, and other processes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

①The mayor of the municipality is to, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, deliver to a person recorded in the basic resident register maintained by that municipality or a person recorded in a family register supplement maintained by that municipality (limited to a person who has moved out of Japan) the Individual Number Card pertaining to that person that the mayor has been sent, or of whose preparation the mayor has been notified, under the provisions of paragraphs (5) through (7) of the preceding Article, either directly or via the Agency or the consular officer or mayor of the municipality to which the request referred to in paragraph (4) of that Article pertains. In this case, the mayor of the municipality who makes that delivery (referred to as the "issuing mayor of the municipality" in the following paragraph through paragraph (5) and in Article 18-6, paragraph (3), item (i)) must take the following measures to confirm that the person is the person themselves:

②If the application referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (excluding an application pertaining to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (4) of that Article) was filed via the mayor of a municipality other than the issuing mayor of the municipality, said mayor of the municipality may, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, take the measure set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph in place of the issuing mayor of the municipality.

③The delivery of an Individual Number Card under the provisions of paragraph (1) to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article (limited to a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (i) has been taken by the issuing mayor of the municipality and of whom the issuing mayor of the municipality has notified the Agency to that effect) is effected, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, by the Agency sending said Individual Number Card to that person.

④The delivery of an Individual Number Card under the provisions of paragraph (1) to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (4) of the preceding Article (limited to a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (i) has been taken by the issuing mayor of the municipality and of whom the issuing mayor of the municipality has notified the consular officer or mayor of the municipality to which that request pertains to that effect) is effected by the consular officer or mayor of the municipality who has been sent the Individual Number Card pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (7) of that Article handing over said Individual Number Card to that person. In this case, if that person is a person other than a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii) has been taken by the issuing mayor of the municipality and of whom the issuing mayor of the municipality has notified said consular officer or mayor of the municipality to that effect, said consular officer or mayor of the municipality is to, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, take the measure set forth in that item in place of the issuing mayor of the municipality.

⑤The mayor of a municipality or consular officer who has taken the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii) in place of the issuing mayor of the municipality pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) or the preceding paragraph is to notify said issuing mayor of the municipality to that effect.

⑥If a person who has received an Individual Number Card submits the notification under Article 22, paragraph (1) of the Residential Basic Book Act or a notification of moving out of Japan, the person must submit said Individual Number Card to the mayor of the municipality at the same time as submitting those notifications.

⑦The mayor of the municipality who receives an Individual Number Card pursuant to the preceding paragraph must change Card Information, take the necessary measures to ensure the appropriate use of said Individual Number Card, and return it.

⑧If a person who has received an Individual Number Card makes a change to Card Information, the person must notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which the person is recorded (referred to as the "mayor of the municipality of domicile" in the following paragraph and paragraph (11)) thereof and submit said Individual Number Card within fourteen days from the day of the change, except in the cases prescribed in paragraph (6). In this case, the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis.

⑨If a person who has received an Individual Number Card loses said Individual Number Card, the person must notify the Mayor of the Municipality of the Place of Domicile thereof immediately.

⑩When an Individual Number Card expires or in other cases provided for by Cabinet Order, it ceases to be effective.

⑪When an Individual Number Card expires or in other cases provided for by Cabinet Order, the person who had said Individual Number Card issued must return said Individual Number Card to the Mayor of the Municipality of the Place of Domicile pursuant to Cabinet Orders.

⑫With regard to the application of the provisions of paragraph (8), paragraph (9) and the preceding paragraph to a person who has moved out of Japan, the phrase "within fourteen days from the day of the change" in paragraph (8) is deemed to be replaced with "promptly, either directly or via a consular officer"; the phrase "basic resident register" with "family register supplement"; the phrase "mayor of the municipality of domicile" with "mayor of the municipality administering the family register supplement"; and the phrase "mayor of the municipality of domicile" in paragraph (9) and the preceding paragraph with ", either directly or via a consular officer, the mayor of the municipality administering the family register supplement".

⑬In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the necessary matters concerning the procedures for the reissuance of an Individual Number Card and other procedures that the mayor of the municipality and a person who has received an Individual Number Card carry out with regard to Individual Number Cards (referred to as "matters concerning reissuance, etc." in this paragraph) are specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the form of Individual Number Cards, the period until an Individual Number Card expires and other necessary matters concerning Individual Number Cards (excluding matters concerning reissuance, etc.) are specified by order of the competent ministry.

An Individual Number Card may be used in measures of identity verification under the provisions of Article 16 of this Act and any person listed in the following items may use an Individual Number Card by recording information necessary for handling the processes specified in said items in part of Individual Number Card that is segmented from the part where Card Information is recorded by electronic or magnetic means pursuant to the provisions of Municipal Ordinance (in the cases set forth in item (ii), Cabinet Order). In this case, these persons must handle the Individual Number Card in accordance with the standards specified by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (referred to as the "competent ministers" in Articles 38-8 through 38-11 and Article 38-13) as necessary for the safe management of Card Information, such as preventing leakage, loss, or damage of Card Information:

①A person who has received an Individual Number Card (limited to a person who has been issued an Individual Number Card signature certificate (meaning an Individual Number Card signature certificate as set forth in Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Act on Certification Business of the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems in Relation to Electronic Signatures, etc. (Act No. 153 of 2002; referred to as the "Public Personal Authentication Act" in this Article and Article 38-8, paragraph (1)); hereinafter the same applies in this Article) that has not become invalid, and excluding a person who has already been issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to themselves pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) or (11) that has not become invalid) may, upon that person's application, be issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to themselves in order to record it on, and use it from, an electronic or magnetic recording medium (meaning a recording medium for electronic or magnetic records; hereinafter the same applies in this Article) specified by order of the competent ministry that is built into mobile terminal equipment (meaning mobile terminal equipment as set forth in Article 12-2, paragraph (4), item (iii), (b) of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984); hereinafter the same applies in this Article and paragraph (1) of the following Article) used by that person.

②The application referred to in the preceding paragraph is to be made by the person making that application (referred to as the "applicant" in this paragraph through paragraph (4)) transmitting to the Agency, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry and using the mobile terminal equipment referred to in the preceding paragraph, the electronic or magnetic record pertaining to the Card Substitute Information recorded on the applicant's Individual Number Card. In this case, the applicant must perform an electronic signature using the signature user code (meaning a signature user code as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Public Personal Authentication Act; the same applies in the following paragraph) pertaining to the applicant's Individual Number Card signature certificate.

③When the Agency, having received the transmission under the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, has confirmed that the Individual Number Card signature certificate pertaining to the electronic signature referred to in the second sentence of that paragraph made by the applicant has not become invalid pursuant to the provisions of Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Public Personal Authentication Act, and that the electronic signature was performed using the signature user code corresponding to the signature user verification code (meaning a signature user verification code as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Public Personal Authentication Act) recorded in said Individual Number Card signature certificate, the Agency is to, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, issue the Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to that application and transmit it to the mobile terminal equipment referred to in paragraph (1) pertaining to the applicant.

④An applicant who has received the transmission under the preceding paragraph is to, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, record the Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to that transmission on the electronic or magnetic recording medium referred to in paragraph (1).

⑤A Card Substitute Electronic Record expires at the end of a period, not exceeding three months, specified by order of the competent ministry (for one pertaining to a person whose Individual Number Card expires within that period, the period until the day on which it expires).

⑥When a Card Substitute Electronic Record User (meaning a person who has been issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record; hereinafter the same applies in this Article through Article 18-4) provides the Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to themselves as one capable of being verified under the provisions of the following paragraph, the Card Substitute Electronic Record User must transmit said Card Substitute Electronic Record using a program (meaning a program as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (2) of the Act on Facilitation of Information Processing (Act No. 90 of 1970); hereinafter the same applies in this Article through Article 18-4) that has received the certification referred to in paragraph (1) of the following Article.

⑦A person who has received the transmission of a Card Substitute Electronic Record under the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to verify that said Card Substitute Electronic Record belongs to the person who made that transmission by using the program that the Prime Minister provides pursuant to the provisions of Article 18-4, paragraph (1) or a program that has received the certification referred to in paragraph (2) of that Article.

⑧If the electronic or magnetic recording medium referred to in paragraph (1) on which the Card Substitute Electronic Record is recorded can no longer be used, or in other cases specified by order of the competent ministry as cases in which the Card Substitute Electronic Record should be made invalid, the Card Substitute Electronic Record User must, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, promptly notify the Agency to that effect.

⑨A Card Substitute Electronic Record is to become invalid when any of the grounds set forth in the following items applies:

⑩When a Card Substitute Electronic Record has become invalid pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Agency must, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, immediately take measures to transmit a notice to that effect through a telecommunications line to the mobile terminal equipment into which the electronic or magnetic recording medium on which said Card Substitute Electronic Record is recorded is built. In this case, the Agency must continue those measures until it confirms that said mobile terminal equipment has received that notice.

⑪If a Card Substitute Electronic Record has become invalid on the ground set forth in item (ii) of paragraph (9) or other grounds specified by order of the competent ministry, except where the ground set forth in item (i) of that paragraph applies, the Agency is to promptly issue a new Card Substitute Electronic Record to the person to whom said Card Substitute Electronic Record had been issued, and transmit it to that person's mobile terminal equipment referred to in paragraph (1).

⑫If the Agency has issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) or the preceding paragraph, or if a Card Substitute Electronic Record has become invalid pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (9), the Agency is to, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register (for a person who has moved out of Japan, the family register supplement) in which the Card Substitute Electronic Record User pertaining to said Card Substitute Electronic Record is recorded of the matters specified by order of the competent ministry.

⑬The Agency is to conduct, with regard to Card Substitute Electronic Records, the management of the status of the issuance and operation of Card Substitute Electronic Records and other processes specified by order of the competent ministry.

⑭In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the procedures for the issuance and transmission of Card Substitute Electronic Records under the provisions of paragraph (11) and other necessary matters concerning Card Substitute Electronic Records are specified by order of the competent ministry.

①The Prime Minister may, upon the application of a person who provides a program for transmitting Card Substitute Electronic Records from mobile terminal equipment, certify that the program meets the following standards:

②When the Prime Minister has granted the certification referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister is to give public notice to that effect pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry.

③The Prime Minister is to take the necessary measures so that a Card Substitute Electronic Record User who intends to transmit a Card Substitute Electronic Record under the provisions of paragraph (6) of the preceding Article can readily use a program that has received the certification referred to in paragraph (1).

④In addition to what is provided for in the preceding three paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the certification referred to in paragraph (1) are specified by order of the competent ministry.

①The Prime Minister is to provide to the public, by a means using the internet, a program that has the following functions, for use in the verification under the provisions of Article 18-2, paragraph (7) that a person who has received the transmission of a Card Substitute Electronic Record carries out:

②The Prime Minister may, upon the application of a person who provides a program for a person who has received the transmission of a Card Substitute Electronic Record to carry out the verification under the provisions of Article 18-2, paragraph (7) (excluding the program provided pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph), certify that the program has the functions set forth in the items of the preceding paragraph.

③When the Prime Minister has granted the certification referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister is to give public notice to that effect pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry.

④In addition to what is provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the certification referred to in paragraph (2) are specified by order of the competent ministry.

①If an application for the issuance of a specified residence card as set forth in Article 19-15-2, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951; referred to as the "Immigration Control Act" in this Article) or a specified special permanent resident certificate as set forth in Article 16-2, paragraph (1) of the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, inter alia, those who have lost Japanese Nationality pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan (Act No. 71 of 1991; referred to as the "Immigration Control Special Act" in this Article) (referred to as a "specified residence card, etc." in this Article) has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (1) through (3) of the Immigration Control Special Act (referred to as an "application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc." in this Article), the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency is to notify the Agency that the application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. has been filed.

②When the notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph has been given, the Agency is to take the measures specified by order of the competent ministry as measures for adding the functions of an Individual Number Card, such as the entry of the Individual Number and its recording by electronic or magnetic means, to the specified residence card, etc. that the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency prepares pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (4) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (5) of the Immigration Control Special Act.

③If the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency has prepared a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (4) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (5) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the Commissioner is to notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which the person seeking to receive that specified residence card, etc. is recorded (referred to as the "mayor of the municipality of domicile" in this Article and paragraph (3), item (ii) of the following Article) that the Commissioner has prepared that specified residence card, etc.

④When the notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph has been given, the mayor of the municipality of domicile must take measures to confirm the name, date of birth and other matters for identifying an individual that are entered in the residence certificate pertaining to the person seeking to receive that specified residence card, etc. and are specified by Cabinet Order, and the Individual Number entered in said residence certificate. In this case, the mayor of the municipality of domicile is to notify the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency that the mayor has taken those measures.

⑤When issuing a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraphs (5) through (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (6) through (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency must, at the time of the application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. or of the handover of the specified residence card, etc. pertaining to that application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc., take measures to receive from the person seeking to receive that specified residence card, etc. the presentation of a document specified by Cabinet Order that contains the person's name, date of birth and other matters for identifying an individual, and to confirm that the person is the person to whom that document pertains (including measures specified by order of the competent ministry as equivalent thereto).

⑥If an application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. has been filed via the mayor of the municipality of domicile (if the application referred to in Article 16-2, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Special Act has been filed via the mayor of a municipality other than the mayor of the municipality of domicile pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (11) of that Article, that mayor of the municipality; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph and paragraph (3), item (ii) of the following Article) pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (2) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the mayor of the municipality of domicile is to take the measures provided for in the preceding paragraph in place of the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency. In this case, the mayor of the municipality of domicile is to notify the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency that the mayor has taken those measures.

⑦If the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency has issued a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (5) or (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (8) or (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act; if a person who has lost possession of a specified residence card, etc. has applied, pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-12, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Act, for the reissuance of the residence card set forth in Article 19-3 of the Immigration Control Act, or has applied, pursuant to the provisions of Article 13, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Special Act, for the reissuance of the special permanent resident certificate set forth in Article 7, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Special Act (excluding cases in which that application for reissuance has been filed via the mayor of the municipality of domicile); or if a specified residence card, etc. has been returned pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15 or Article 19-15-4, paragraph (2) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16 or Article 16-3, paragraph (2) of the Immigration Control Special Act (excluding cases in which it has been returned via the mayor of the municipality of domicile pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (9) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16, paragraph (3) of the Immigration Control Special Act), the Commissioner is to notify the mayor of the municipality of domicile to that effect.

⑧If a person who has received an Individual Number Card is to receive a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraphs (5) through (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (6) through (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the person must, at the time of the application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. or of the handover of the specified residence card, etc. pertaining to that application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc., return said Individual Number Card, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, to the mayor of the municipality of domicile either directly or via the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency. In this case, said Individual Number Card ceases to be effective.

⑨A specified residence card, etc. issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraphs (5) through (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (6) through (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act is deemed to be an Individual Number Card issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (1) with regard to the application of the provisions of this Act (excluding Article 17, paragraphs (6) through (9) and paragraph (13) and the preceding paragraph), the provisions of orders based on those provisions, and the provisions of other laws and regulations concerning the use of Individual Number Cards (including Municipal Ordinances based on the provisions of Article 18).

⑩If a specified residence card, etc. ceases to be effective pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-14 of the Immigration Control Act or Article 15 of the Immigration Control Special Act, the Individual Number Card that the specified residence card, etc. is deemed, pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, to be as an Individual Number Card issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (1) also ceases to be effective.

①The Agency may collect fees in the amount that the Agency specifies with regard to the processes pertaining to the issuance of Individual Number Cards under the provisions of Article 16-2, paragraphs (1), (5) and (7) and Article 17, paragraph (3), the processes pertaining to the issuance of Card Substitute Electronic Records under the provisions of Article 18-2, paragraphs (3) and (11) (referred to as the "Card Substitute Electronic Record Issuance Process" in paragraph (3)), and the processes pertaining to the measures provided for in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article.

②When the Agency intends to specify or change the amount of the fee provided for in the preceding paragraph, it must obtain the authorization of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

③The Agency may entrust the processes of collecting the fees referred to in paragraph (1) (excluding those concerning the Card Substitute Electronic Record Issuance Process) to the persons specified in the following items according to the categories of fees set forth in those items: