Opening a bank account in Japan as a foreigner? How to do so, and some recommended banks.

“How do I open a bank account for my salary when I work in Japan?”

“How do I open a bank account?”

When working in Japan, whether you are a full-time or part-time employee, it’s common to have your salary transferred to your bank account.

In addition to receiving your salary, you also need to pay your rent and utility bills such as electricity, gas, and water by withdrawing money from your account.

This article is written for foreigners who are about to find a job and start a new life in Japan, as well as their families and other related people.

We hope that this article will help you to open a bank account at the most suitable bank for you.

Now, let’s go over the points in order!

Conditions for foreigners to open a bank account in Japan

There are two main requirements for foreigners to open a bank account in Japan.

　・Residence card

　・Certificate of residence

A residence card and a certificate of residence are required.

If you are a foreigner with a tourist visa or a period of stay of less than 3 months, you will not be issued a residence card and you will not be able to obtain a certificate of residence.

Inevitably, the first condition for foreigners to open a bank account in Japan is to stay in Japan for at least three months! 

Secondly, those who have been in Japan for more than 3 months but less than 6 months will be treated as “non-residents”. You can open a “non-resident account,” which is one of the categories of bank accounts. However, you will not be able to open an ordinary account, which many foreigners wish to use for remittance to their home country or for direct debit.

There are some banks, such as Japan Post Bank, that will allow you to open an ordinary account if you have been in Japan for more than three months. So, If you have been in Japan for more than 3 months but less than 6, please make sure that the bank can meet your requirements.

What is required for foreigners to open a bank account in Japan? 【Things to submit to the bank】

The following four items are required for foreign nationals to open a bank account in Japan.

① Documents to verify your identity

Passport, special permanent resident certificate, residence card, copy of driver’s license, or copy of resident certificate.

② Proof of address

Proof of your current place of residence.

For example, water, telephone, electricity, and gas bills.

③ Personal seal (印鑑”Inkan”)

A seal is required. Please note that Shachihata or rubber seals cannot be used.

Some banks allow foreign nationals to open an account with only their signature, but if you are going to live in Japan, it is recommended that you prepare a seal as it may be required for rental contracts and company contracts.

 ④ Phone number

A cell phone is OK. Use a phone number where you can be reached during the day.

The above items ① through ④ are basically required, but the items required to open a bank account may differ slightly depending on the bank you choose.

Once you have decided on the bank you want to open a bank account with, you should check the bank’s website in advance.

The recommended banks for foreigners to open a bank account!

Next, I will introduce some recommended banks for foreigners who want to open a bank account in Japan.

There are many banks that foreigners can open an account with, but I will focus on the major banks. This is because major banks are more convenient in many ways than medium-sized or regional banks, as they have branches and ATMs everywhere in Japan.

Japan Post Bank

Japan Post Bank was established as the holding company of the Japan Post Group.

・It has about 25,000 tellers and 31,000 ATMs nationwide, making it one of the largest banks in Japan.

・As mentioned above, if you have been in Japan for more than 3 months, you can open a regular account.

・There are no fees for using Japan Post Bank ATMs, even on weekends.

Mitsubishi UFJ Bank (MUFJ)

MUFJ Bank is one of the largest banks in Japan, so it is highly reliable and stable.

・You don’t need your personal seal (“inkan”) when you create an account.

・There are about 80,000 ATMs nationwide.

Mizuho Bank

It is possible to send money to foreign countries.

・It is one of the three major banks in Japan, with about 50,000 ATMs and 800 branches nationwide.

・It has a strong overseas presence, with 120 offices in about 40 countries and regions.

SBI Sumishin Net Bank

It is the only online bank among the companies introduced here, so it has lower fees than the other companies introduced here.

・ATM withdrawal fees are waived up to 15 times per month depending on your rank.

Resona Bank

The advantage of Resona Bank is that you do not need your personal seal (“inkan”) to open an account.

・There are about 5,000 ATMs in Japan.

・There are no ATM fees when using the four banks in the Resona Group (Resona Bank, Kansai Mirai Bank, Saitama Resona Bank, and Minato Bank).

Summary

A bank account is one of the essential items for living in Japan.

This is because most of the payments such as salary, rent, utility bills, etc. will be transferred to or deducted from your account.

As we explained in this article:

・The conditions for foreigners to open a bank account in Japan

・What is required for foreigners to open a bank account in Japan?

・Recommended banks for foreigners opening bank accounts in Japan

Thank you all for reading this article! I hope this article will be helpful for foreigners who want to open a bank account in Japan.

・You may also like>>A step-by-step guide to finding and renting houses and apartments in Japan