Apple today announced that support for national My Number Card IDs in Japan will be coming to the Apple Wallet app “late next spring.” This marks the first expansion of the Digital IDs in Wallet outside of the United States
100 million plus Japanese residents currently have My Number Card IDs, allowing them to receive services at over 60,000 convenience stores around the country, through online portals, and in other settings such as hospitals and government agencies.
“The deployment of Apple Wallet’s ID feature outside the United States is an important step in our vision of replacing traditional physical wallets with easy, secure, and private mobile wallets. We will make the My Number Card available in Apple Wallet from the second half of next spring, and we will present your ID while making full use of the security and privacy protection features built into the iPhone. We are very pleased to provide a convenient and convenient way for everyone living in Japan,” said Jennifer Bailey, vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
Once added to the Wallet app, a user’s My Number Card can be accessed from the app by authenticating with Face ID or Touch ID and then presenting the ID either face-to-face or to a card reader, enabling access to designated services.
“The expansion of Apple Wallet ID outside the US marks an important step in our vision to replace physical wallets with an easy, secure and private mobile wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “We’re thrilled to be able to accept My Number cards in Apple Wallet later next spring, giving people in Japan a seamless and convenient way to present their ID while taking full advantage of the security and privacy protections built into their iPhone.”
“I am very pleased to be working with Apple, under the leadership of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Apple CEO Tim Cook, on this bold initiative to incorporate the My Number Card function into smartphones. Currently, more than 100 million citizens have applied for the My Number Card, Japan’s ID card, and it is widely used in everyday life, including access to a variety of public and private online services, as well as administrative services at over 60,000 convenience stores, and can also be used in disasters and emergencies. The Digital Agency will build a world-leading, safe and convenient digital society based on smartphones,” said Taro Kono, Minister for Digital Affairs.
Apple Wallet ID supports the ISO 18013-5 series and ISO 23220 series of standards, which provide clear guidelines for protecting consumer privacy when presenting an ID or driver’s license on a mobile device.