Japan Post to Limit ID Checks to Four IC-Chip Cards From April 2027
# Japan Post# identity check# My Number Card# postal service
Key Points
- Rules for person-only mail change from April 1, 2027
- Accepted ID narrows to four IC-chip cards; passports no longer valid
- In some cases a smartphone My Number Card can be used
Analysis
Japan Post will tighten ID checks for person-only mail from April 1, 2027, limiting accepted identification to four IC-chip cards, dropping passports, and in some cases allowing a smartphone My Number Card. For Taiwanese living in or receiving important mail in Japan, this is practical: foreigners may not hold those four cards, so it is worth checking early which ID qualifies to avoid being turned away at pickup.