Pro GaijinOpening a bank account in Japan as a foreigner
Which bank will actually say yes in your first months, what to bring, the six-month rule nobody explains, and what to do when you're turned away.
Last updated 4 October 2026
Before you go: three things you need
- Your residence card with your address on the back. Register at the ward office first. Your first two weeks in Japan.
- A Japanese phone number that can receive calls and texts. Banks text you codes and may call to confirm.
- Your passport. Some branches ask for it as well.
Sometimes also: proof of work or study (your employment contract, or a student card), and a personal seal (印鑑, inkan). More and more banks accept a signature instead, but ask before you go.
The six-month rule
Under Japan's foreign exchange rules, someone who has been in Japan less than six months is usually treated as a non-resident for banking, unless they're working for a company here. Many banks simply won't open a normal account for non-residents. That's why one branch says no while another says yes: it's each bank's policy, not one law for everyone.
If you came to work, you usually count as a resident from day one. Bring your employment contract or a letter from your employer. If you came to study or on another status, you may have to start with the banks that accept newer arrivals.
Which bank to try first
| Bank | Why people pick it |
|---|---|
| Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) | Branches and ATMs at almost every post office. Usually the easiest first account for new arrivals; some accounts have limits for the first six months. |
| The big banks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho) | Common for salaries. Stricter with new arrivals; usually easier once you're a resident and working. |
| Online banks (Sony Bank, Rakuten Bank, SBI Shinsei and others) | Apply in an app. Some offer English. Rules on how long you need to have been here vary, so check before applying. |
| Your employer's or school's bank | If they have an arrangement with a branch, that branch is used to people like you. Ask HR or the international office. |
Accounts and rules change often, so check the bank's English page or ask at the branch before you go. A bank that refused your friend last year may say yes to you now.
At the branch
- 1Go on a weekday. Bank branches usually close their counters at 3 pm. Avoid lunchtime and the 25th (payday).
- 2Take a ticket and say 口座を開設したいです (kōza o kaisetsu shitai desu: I'd like to open an account).
- 3Fill in the form. They'll ask about your job, your income, and why you want the account: salary (給与受取) and daily expenses (生活費) are good answers. Vague answers can get you refused.
- 4Your cash card (キャッシュカード) comes by post in one to two weeks. It can't be forwarded, so make sure your name is on your mailbox.
Turned away? What to do
- Ask why, politely: 理由を教えていただけますか? (Could you tell me the reason?) It's usually the six-month rule, a missing document, or a data-only phone number.
- Try Japan Post Bank, or a different branch of the same bank.
- Get a letter from your employer or school confirming who you are and why you're here.
- In the meantime, a card from abroad and a multi-currency account can cover daily spending until you're in.
After you have it
- Tell your employer the account details for your salary.
- Set up direct debit (口座振替, kōza furikae) for rent, utilities, pension and health insurance. It saves trips to the convenience store with paper bills.
- Keep your address and residence card details up to date with the bank. They may freeze an account if your card has expired and they haven't seen the new one.
- Leaving Japan? Tell the bank before you go. Most accounts have to be closed or changed once you're no longer a resident. Moving out of Japan.
Keep reading
Facts checked against these official sources. Rules change and differ by city: if something here looks out of date, tell us at support@progaijin.com.