Maina driver's licence — My Number Card and driver's licence combined, in use nationwide from 24 March 2025
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
Since 24 March 2025 the 'Maina driver's licence', which records driver's licence information on the My Number Card, has been in use across Japan, so a single My Number Card can serve as a driver's licence.
Key facts
| In use from | Nationwide from 24 March 2025 (Reiwa 7) |
|---|---|
| Responsible body and basis | National Police Agency Traffic Bureau / 2022 (Reiwa 4) amendment of the Road Traffic Act |
| 3 ways to hold it | Choose between (1) Maina driver's licence only, (2) Maina driver's licence plus conventional licence (2 cards) and (3) conventional licence only |
| Information recorded on the IC chip | Licence number, date of licence, last day of validity, licence type, licence conditions, licence photo (black and white) and colour classification (violation information is not recorded and nothing is printed on the face of the card) |
| Renewal fee (standard amount) | Maina driver's licence only 2,100 yen / Maina driver's licence plus IC licence (2 cards) 2,950 yen |
| Online renewal course | For excellent and ordinary driver courses, standard course fee 200 yen, Maina driver's licence required (in use from 24 March 2025) |
| Driving abroad | You cannot drive a car abroad with the Maina driver's licence alone (licence information is not printed on the face of the card) — follow each country's rules as before |
Last checked:
Following the 2022 (Reiwa 4) amendment of the Road Traffic Act, Japan's National Police Agency (Traffic Bureau) has run the 'Maina driver's licence', which combines the My Number Card and the driver's licence, nationwide since 24 March 2025. Licence holders can choose between (1) the Maina driver's licence only, (2) holding both the Maina driver's licence and a conventional licence (2 cards) or (3) a conventional licence only. Licence information is recorded on the IC chip rather than printed on the face of the card (violation information is not recorded). The scheme offers one-stop notification of changes of address or name, the option to take the excellent-driver and ordinary-driver courses online at renewal (standard course fee 200 yen), and lower renewal fees than for a conventional licence.
Background — why this change
The 2022 (Reiwa 4) amendment of the Road Traffic Act made it possible to combine the My Number Card and the driver's licence in order to make things easier for licence holders. The aims include one-stop notification of changes of address or name, so that notifying your municipality removes the need to notify the police; taking excellent and ordinary driver courses online at renewal; faster renewal when applying via another location (経由地更新) and a longer application window; and lower renewal fees than for a conventional licence.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
Can I drive abroad with just the Maina driver's licence?
Because licence information is not printed on the face of the card, the guidance is to avoid driving a car abroad while holding only the Maina driver's licence, and to drive by the methods each country's rules require, as before.
Is violation information recorded on the My Number Card?
No. Violation information is not recorded. As with the details printed on the face of a conventional licence, only the licence information needed for checks when driving is recorded on the IC chip.
Is licence information shown on the face of the card?
No. Licence information is not printed on the face of the My Number Card; it is recorded on the card's IC chip.