Many countries are currently rolling out mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) and other forms of mobile digital identity, often delivered through ID wallets. However, nearly half of Japan’s population has had access to smartphone-based digital identity since 2023. This mobile digital identity is actively used across both public and private sectors, supporting a wide range of use cases.
Looking ahead, the Japanese government plans to begin issuing national digital identities in the mDoc format to iPhone users starting in 2025.
This session will explore the evolution of Japan’s digital identity ecosystem, highlight how mobile identities are integrated into smartphones, and examine how Japan’s approach differs from implementations in other parts of the world.
