Japan's 'My Number' ID cards to serve as driver's licenses from March

Oct 30 (NHK) - People in Japan will be able to use "My Number" national identification cards as driver's licenses from next March.

At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the government approved an ordinance to integrate driver's licenses with the My Number national ID system from March 24.

The government has been promoting digitalization of administrative procedures using the My Number system.

The revised Road Traffic Act enacted in 2022 allows people to register their driver's license information on their My Number cards.

The National Police Agency has been examining a new driver's license system that stores relevant information in My Number card IC chips.

The agency has solicited comments from the public since September.

My Number cards can function as driver's licenses if users register information including license number, expiration date, type of license, use of glasses or corrective lenses, and a face photo.

People can choose between a My Number driver's license and a conventional one. They can also use both, as driving overseas may require the regular one.

The fee for acquiring a new My Number driver's license will be 1,550 yen, or about 10 dollars. That's about 3 dollars lower than the regular license fee, which will go up to about 15 dollars.

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