Hello, this is Andy.
Which side are you on — the group that’s unifying their driver’s license with their My Number Card, or the group sticking with the traditional license?
Recently, I went to renew a family member’s driver’s license.
◯ Reservation
A postcard will arrive by mail at your home. You can make a reservation using the details on that postcard.
Just scan the QR code with your smartphone camera, and it’ll take you directly to the reservation page.
◯ Reservation Confirmation Screen
Take a screenshot and save it just in case.
◯ On the Reserved Date – Head to the Police Station or License Center
Bring the QR code screen from your reservation and go to the police station or license examination center at the designated time.
Have the QR code scanned to begin the procedure — the rest follows the usual steps.
◯ Receiving the New Driver’s License After the Course
After completing the course (in our case, a 2-hour session for first-time renewal), the process varies depending on the type of license being issued:
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If you applied for a traditional license: It will be handed to you in the lecture room.
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If you applied for a My Number-linked license (MyNa License): You'll go to a designated room to have the information written onto your My Number card.
This time, my family member applied for a MyNa License and successfully received it.
For a long time, I also believed the driver's license was necessary as a primary ID and used it as such. However, now that the My Number card is officially recognized as an ID, I think integrating everything into the My Number system is a good option.
Even for my family, who are foreign nationals, the combination of a residence card and My Number card has been sufficient for opening bank and securities accounts and serving as official identification.
Also, the cost is slightly cheaper when integrating with the My Number system.
For the next license renewal, a postcard should be sent again, so it's unlikely that you'll miss the deadline or let it expire, even without the traditional physical license.
Why not consider switching to a MyNa License as well?
I had thought about doing it outside of my renewal window, but apparently, there’s a ¥1,500 fee for that — so I’ll be waiting until my next renewal.
