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FOR FOREIGN RESIDENTS · REVIEWED 2 SEPTEMBER 2026
Three bank accounts. Choose by the job.
No bank is easiest for everyone. Compare residence conditions, Japanese contact details, salary and bill functions, English support, and whether money can actually be sent to or received from overseas.
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Start with one main account, then fill the missing function.
Account opening is always subject to the bank’s checks. “Accepts a residence card” does not mean automatic acceptance.
01Editorial recommendation · official link
Rakuten Bank
Best all-round choice when international sending and receiving matter
Opening route
Foreign nationals can apply using a valid residence card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate. Follow the bank’s document route and keep the registered Japanese address and name spelling consistent.
Send overseas
Yes. Rakuten Bank offers an outward international remittance service; country, currency, beneficiary and document checks apply.
Receive from overseas
Yes. Personal customers can receive supported yen or foreign-currency remittances after completing the required acceptance and My Number procedures.
Important limitation
Incoming transfers have a bank handling fee and may also lose intermediary-bank fees. A foreign-currency balance is not covered by Japanese deposit insurance.
Best for a smartphone-first yen account and PayPay-linked daily spending
Opening route
Its English account-opening guide explains the residence-card IC scan and face verification route for non-Japanese residents. A compatible smartphone, Japanese address and eligible residence card are important.
Send overseas
Not directly. The bank itself does not handle foreign remittance. Account holders may separately use the partner PayForex service for eligible outward transfers.
Receive from overseas
No. PayPay Bank states that it cannot receive a remittance from overseas.
Important limitation
Do not choose it as your only account if overseas income or family transfers must arrive by SWIFT. Check residence-card validity and delivery timing before applying.
Best when English banking support and incoming foreign currency are priorities
Opening route
Applicants must reside in Japan and generally have lived here for more than six months or work for a company in Japan; part-time work alone is excluded. A personal Japanese phone number is required.
Send overseas
For ordinary overseas remittance, the bank currently directs customers to the separate SBI Remit service. Treat it as a separate provider with its own registration, fees and supported corridors.
Receive from overseas
Yes. Supported yen and foreign-currency remittances can be received after My Number registration and transaction checks. The bank publishes an incoming handling fee equivalent to ¥2,000, subject to current terms.
Important limitation
Branch service is mainly Japanese even though English internet banking and support are available. Foreign-currency deposits carry exchange risk and are not deposit-insured.
Separate risk and purpose—do not collect accounts without a reason.
Two or three accounts can be sensible after the first account works. Each account should have a clear job, and every account must be kept updated and secure.
01
Everyday account
Use one account for salary, rent, utilities and normal domestic payments. Confirm that the employer and billers accept it.
02
International account
Use a separate account when you need incoming SWIFT transfers, foreign currency or an outward remittance route. Compare the final amount received, not only the sending fee.
03
Operational backup
A second bank can keep some money accessible if a card is lost, an app is locked or one bank has maintenance. Store authentication methods separately.
04
Deposit-insurance limit
Covered general deposits are protected up to ¥10 million in principal per depositor, per financial institution, plus interest if a bank fails. If covered yen deposits exceed that amount, spreading them across institutions can reduce uninsured exposure.
The ¥10 million rule is not a blanket guarantee for every product.
Qualifying payment-and-settlement deposits may be fully protected, while foreign-currency deposits and some other products are outside ordinary deposit-insurance protection. If your total covered yen deposits are well below ¥10 million, insurance alone is not a reason to open extra accounts; resilience and different functions may still be.
Register the applicable addressUse the same current address on the residence card and application. Do not apply just before moving.
Use one name formatMatch the residence card and confirm how long names, middle names and Latin characters must be entered.
Prepare a personal Japanese phone and emailKeep access to the number and Gmail account used for authentication and notices.
Explain the account purpose accuratelySalary, living expenses, rent, utilities and lawful family support are different from using an account for somebody else.
Prepare My Number for remittanceInternational transfers commonly require My Number registration plus evidence of source, purpose and beneficiary.
Update or close the accountNotify the bank about address, status-of-residence and residence-period changes, and close the account properly when leaving Japan.
NEXT DECISION
Need a card after the bank account?
First make sure the withdrawal account, address, phone and name spelling are stable. Then compare three cards without assuming approval.