QR Code in 'Resident Card'?
 

Please can you tell me what this is all about?

http://www.gov-online.go.jp/useful/a.../200906/2.html

What is a 'Resident Card'? How does the QR Code help security?

Thank you.

- Roger

It would increase security because it would be difficult to counterfeit.

Everyone who lives in Japan has a resident card. You must apply for this card at your local ward/city office, and get a new one whenever you move. This way the city knows where you live, and where you work.

New cards are being created to fight the problem of counterfeit cards. The new resident cards (and alien registration cards) will have IC card technology built into them, meaning that they carry information on them which can be read by a computer sensor. Drivers licenses in Japan already incorporate this technology.

Rumors are going about saying that police will be able to point a scanner at passers by and be able to tell if they are carrying a resident card/alien registration card.

All of this has come about after several counterfeit document rings were broken up. These rings were selling phony residency cards to people living in Japan illegally.

finger print
 

Are foreigners still required to supply their finger print on the card?

I'm guessing the IC chip will take over.

I handed my card in at the airport when I departed..

I used it once in Japan and that was when I exchanged my Ozzie licence for the local one.

You'll still get printed and photographed at the airport, even IC cards can be forged. The IC card is just an additional level of security.

no, that was removed some years ago. 98 or 99, if i don't remember incorrectly.

What information is stored in the QR Code?

I did not check the real card yet, according to the disclosed information, QR code includes the information printed on the card surface. i.e. date to expire, name, gender, address, name of the issuer(local government office) and the phone number of issuer.

Thanks Blimp..

:) Thank you everyone for your helpful posts, I posted the item here.