On the new-format residence card and the Specified Residence Card, issuance of which began on 14 June 2026, three items — "period of stay", "type of permission" and "date of permission" — are no longer printed on the face of the card. In response, the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) updated the residence card reader application on 19 August 2026 so that these items can now be checked within the app.
- Background to the update: 「本アプリケーションで新様式の在留カード及び特定在留カードを読み取った際、券面に記載されなくなった『在留期間』、『許可の種類』及び『許可年月日』を確認することができませんでした。そこで、令和８年８月１９日にこれらの項目を表示できるよう再度改修しておりますので、アプリケーションを新しいバージョンへ更新してください。」("When this application read a new-format residence card or Specified Residence Card, it was not possible to check the 'period of stay', 'type of permission' and 'date of permission', which are no longer printed on the card face. We have therefore updated the application again, on 19 August 2026, so that these items can be displayed — please update the application to the new version.")
- Practical implications: for new-format cards, these three items must now be checked from the app's reading result rather than from the card face itself, including when hiring staff or checking the expiry of their period of stay
We have also covered the new-format card previously (Residence Card and My Number Card Combined — "Specified Residence Card" Launches (14 June)).
If you have questions on hiring or checking status of residence, our recruitment support services may also help.
Source: On the Residence Card Reader Application (Immigration Services Agency)