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You can open a Japanese bank account with your residence card, but the bank you pick matters. Some banks let you apply in an app. Others ask you to visit a branch, and some refuse people who arrived less than 6 months ago. Here is how the main banks compare as of October 2026.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- Who can open one: Foreign residents with a residence card (zairyu card, 在留カード) and an address in Japan. Banks check every application and can refuse.
- What to bring: Your residence card. Some banks also ask for My Number, a hanko (personal seal) or signature, a phone number, or a student or employee ID.
- The 6-month rule: Under Japanese law, a foreigner is a “non-resident” until they work at an office in Japan or have been here 6 months. Some banks refuse or limit non-residents.
- Online options: Japan Post Bank, SMBC, Seven Bank, PRESTIA, and Rakuten Bank accept residence cards online. MUFG and AEON Bank need a branch visit.
Which bank fits you?
Pick by two things: how long you have been in Japan, and whether you want to apply from your phone. The table sums up each bank’s official pages.
| Bank | How foreigners apply | English | Under 6 months in Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Post Bank | Yucho Tetsuzuki app or post office counter (Japan Post Bank) | App menus in English, but you type in Japanese (Japan Post Bank) | No 6-month rule stated |
| SMBC | SMBC app (Olive) with your residence card, or a branch (SMBC) | English form guide (SMBC) | Web form is for residents only (SMBC) |
| MUFG | Branch only. The app is for Japanese nationals (MUFG) | English guide page (MUFG) | Allowed, with limits on online banking and cards |
| Mizuho | Online or branch, both in Japanese (Mizuho) | App can switch to English (Mizuho) | Limited account type |
| SBI Shinsei | Apply online, then mail a paper form (SBI Shinsei) | Services in Japanese or English | Only if you work or study in Japan (SBI Shinsei) |
| PRESTIA (SMBC Trust) | Online (PRESTIA) | English branches and phone banking (PRESTIA) | Only if employed at an office in Japan |
| Seven Bank | Seven Bank ATM or online (Seven Bank) | ATM in English, multilingual call center | Online needs proof of employment |
| Rakuten Bank | English online form (Rakuten Bank) | Japanese only after you apply | Non-residents can’t apply |
| Sony Bank | By mail only (Sony Bank) | English chat and email help desk | Not eligible (Sony Bank) |
| AEON Bank | Branch only (AEON Bank) | English ATM guide | Not eligible unless you work at an office in Japan |
A few points the table can’t show:
- PRESTIA charges a monthly fee of ¥2,200 unless you meet its conditions. (PRESTIA)
- Sony Bank stopped English account applications on June 30, 2025. Its English online banking ended in late March 2026. (Sony Bank, Sony Bank)
- AEON Bank does not handle transfers to or from overseas bank accounts. (AEON Bank)
If you just arrived, Japan Post Bank or a bank that accepts proof of work or study is usually the easier start.
What documents do you need?
Your residence card is the one document every bank asks for. Banks use it to check your period of stay and status of residence. (Japan Post Bank)
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) lists these items as typical. Each bank decides the exact list. (FSA)
- Residence card. The address on it must be your current address.
- Passport. Some banks ask to see it.
- Hanko (personal seal) or signature. Some banks accept a signature.
- Student ID or employee ID. Without one, the FSA suggests going with someone from your school or company.
Banks add their own requirements. MUFG asks for a hanko and a My Number document. (MUFG) Japan Post Bank and Mizuho ask “Student” and “Technical Intern Training” visa holders for a student or employee ID. (Japan Post Bank, Mizuho)
Check your card’s expiry date too. Japan Post Bank, Mizuho, and AEON Bank won’t accept a card that expires within 3 months. Renew it first. (Japan Post Bank, Mizuho, AEON Bank)
Got a new residence card after June 14, 2026?
Japan started issuing a “specified residence card” (tokutei zairyu card, 特定在留カード) combined with the My Number Card on June 14, 2026. (Japan Post Bank) Banks treat it differently for now.
- Japan Post Bank accepts it at the counter and in the app.
- MUFG and Mizuho may ask for your passport or a certificate of residence as well. (MUFG, Mizuho)
- Seven Bank says it cannot accept the new card yet. (Seven Bank)
Why do some banks turn away people here less than 6 months?
The rule comes from foreign exchange law, not from each bank. Under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (gaitame-ho, 外為法), the Ministry of Finance treats foreigners as non-residents by default. (MOF)
You become a resident in one of two ways. You work at an office in Japan, or 6 months pass since you entered Japan. MUFG adds that part-time and temporary work don’t count. (MOF, MUFG)
Banks then choose how to treat non-residents. AEON Bank and Sony Bank don’t accept them. MUFG opens an account but limits internet banking, debit cards, and credit cards. (AEON Bank, Sony Bank, MUFG)
The FSA asks banks to tell non-resident foreigners about switching. You can switch to a resident account once you work at an office in Japan or reach 6 months. (FSA) The bank pages we checked don’t explain why the line is 6 months. They simply apply the legal definition.
The FSA also explains why checks are strict in general. Banks must make sure accounts are not used for money laundering, so they verify every customer. (FSA)
How do you open an account at a branch?
A branch visit works at every bank that has branches. It takes longer but staff can check your papers on the spot.
- Pick the branch near your home or work. SMBC may refuse requests at other branches. (SMBC)
- Bring your documents. Bring your residence card, a hanko or pen for signing, and your student or employee ID.
- Fill in the form. Japan Post Bank lets you prepare the form online in several languages first. (Japan Post Bank)
- Answer questions about your job and how you’ll use the account. Japan Post Bank checks details such as occupation, income, and source of funds. (Japan Post Bank)
- Wait for your cash card by mail. Japan Post Bank may mail your passbook later instead of opening the account the same day. (Japan Post Bank)
Staff explain the rules in Japanese. Japan Post Bank may ask you to bring someone who understands Japanese. (Japan Post Bank) Writing your address in romaji is fine at AEON Bank. (AEON Bank)
How do you open an account online?
Online is faster if your bank allows it for foreigners. Here is the Japan Post Bank app flow as an example.
- Download the Yucho Tetsuzuki app. Choose English from the Language button. (Japan Post Bank)
- Scan your residence card. It needs more than 3 months left and your current address on it.
- Enter your details in Japanese. The menus are translated, but the input fields only take Japanese. (Japan Post Bank)
- Wait about a week. The bank emails you the result. (Japan Post Bank)
The app opens a passbook-free account, and you don’t register a hanko. (Japan Post Bank) Vague answers can lead to a refusal. For non-residents, Japan Post Bank lists “I need a bank account” as not enough. (Japan Post Bank)
Other online routes work in a similar way. SMBC, PRESTIA, and SBI Shinsei need a Japanese phone number that can receive texts or calls. (SMBC, PRESTIA, SBI Shinsei)
What problems do foreigners run into?
Most refusals and delays come from small mismatches. Check these before you apply.
| Problem | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Your name doesn’t match your residence card | SMBC’s web form won’t accept you. AEON Bank opens accounts only in the name on your card (SMBC, AEON Bank) | Type your name exactly as on the card. Rakuten Bank puts a middle name in the first name field (Rakuten Bank) |
| Your address is old | PRESTIA rejects the application. Cash cards can’t be forwarded (PRESTIA) | Update the address on your ID first (PRESTIA) |
| No Japanese phone number | SMBC and PRESTIA online forms need one | Get a Japanese number first. SBI Shinsei won’t accept a work number (SBI Shinsei) |
| No hanko | MUFG asks for one and rejects rubber stamps (MUFG) | Use a bank that accepts signatures, such as SMBC, Mizuho, or SBI Shinsei |
| Your card expires soon | Several banks won’t accept it | Renew your period of stay first |
SMBC, Mizuho, and SBI Shinsei accept a signature instead of a hanko. (SMBC, Mizuho, SBI Shinsei)
What happens after you open the account?
Tell your bank when you renew your residence card. Japan Post Bank, Mizuho, Sony Bank, and AEON Bank may limit your account if they can’t confirm the new card. (Japan Post Bank, Mizuho, Sony Bank, AEON Bank)
Never sell or lend your account. The FSA warns that giving your account to others is illegal and can affect your right to stay in Japan. (FSA) Close the account before you leave Japan for good. (Japan Post Bank, AEON Bank)
How does a bank account connect to investing later?
A bank account is the first step. Investing through NISA needs a separate brokerage account (shoken koza, 証券口座). We cover that in NISA for Foreigners in Japan.
FAQ
Can I open a bank account in Japan without a residence card?
The banks in this guide ask foreign customers for a residence card. Japan Post Bank says people with a stay of 3 months or less who get no card can’t open an account. (Japan Post Bank)
Can I open an account in my first 6 months?
Sometimes. Japan Post Bank states no 6-month rule. SBI Shinsei accepts you if you list your workplace or school. Seven Bank’s online form accepts proof of employment. (SBI Shinsei, Seven Bank)
Which bank has the most English support?
PRESTIA offers English branches and English phone banking. SBI Shinsei provides services in Japanese or English. (PRESTIA, SBI Shinsei)
Do I need a hanko?
Not always. MUFG asks for one. SMBC, Mizuho, and SBI Shinsei accept a signature. The Japan Post Bank app doesn’t register a hanko.
Can I send money overseas from my account?
It depends on the bank. Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank offer overseas transfers. MUFG takes overseas transfer forms at designated branches. AEON Bank does not offer them. (Japan Post Bank, Seven Bank, MUFG, AEON Bank)
Can a bank refuse me even if I have everything?
Yes. Banks review each application and may refuse without giving a reason. (MUFG, Japan Post Bank)
This article is general information, not financial or tax advice. Information is as of October 5, 2026. Bank rules change often, so check each bank’s official page before you apply. Sources: FSA guide for foreign residents, FSA notes for banks, MOF, and each bank’s pages linked above.