Easiest Credit Card to Get for Foreigners living less than a month in Japan

9 comments

1. Hi there,

   Rakuten cards will probably be the easiest to get. Even though I cannot unsure that you will be able to get one as you don’t have a job yet.

   You can however get a cash card at any bank to withdraw/put cash on your bank account

2. If you have an American Express from your home country and your account is in good standing, you might be able to get an AMEX.

   Otherwise? You’re almost certainly not getting a credit card. Another commenter mentioned Rakuten, but even when I had been here six months working a job at a significantly higher-than-national-averagr salary, I was still denied, and then denied again six months after that, before finally getting approved.

   Aside from the AMEX pathway I mentioned, there _is_ no credit card with a “high chance of getting approved” for someone in your situation.

3. I managed to get GTN EPOS and Rakuten within my first month living here as a JET (so salary of 3.36M). GTN EPOS was kind of guaranteed as I have housing through GTN, so I guess you could say Rakuten was the first one I got.

   Was declined for Amazon Prime the following month, but reapplied recently (after being here for 1.5 years) and got it.

4. You haven’t even started your job? I doubt you’re getting a credit card.

5. Okay, to avoid the mods removing your post, if you chose to specify from now on you’re a foreigner who recently moved here less than a month ago.

   You’re going to be living here longer than a month.

6. Rakuten

7. As everyone has said, Rakuten is probably the easiest, but having arrived only a couple weeks ago and not even started your job, you almost certainly will be denied (and that denial will make it harder to get another card for awhile). You’d be better off waiting.

8. I was able to get a credit card as I had proof of a job offer in japan as I was going to start a new job. I just moved here a few weeks ago and I’ve never lived/worked here as an adult but I am a Japanese citizen so it might be different for foreigners though…

9. If your company will help you open a bank account, do mention to the bank that you want to get a credit card too (or at least a debt card).

   However, as others mentioned, I think you’ll be out of luck if you apply before starting working here. And I’d argue it’s better not even to try applying as you will be most likely rejected. The rejection history may remain, and even shared with other cc companies (I’m not entirely sure about this, so take it with a pinch of salt).

   Good luck!