Hello. I’ve been in Japan for a month now (and will be here for next 17 months) and thinking abt opening a bank account / getting debit/credit card for both online and offline shopping. I’ve been doing lots of searching and reading, and know abt the 6 months rule, but I wonder if the same rule applies to Rakuten and Line cards?
Since I’m scholarship student, the university already opened a post bank (yuucho) account for me with the cash card. I have Revolut and Line prepaid card with limits (everytime I try to pass the personality verification, it randomly gives error and quits halfway).
So, in short, is there any bank that would open an account for me? And what are the requirements for applications?
5 comments
What six month rule? I opened a UFJ account in my third week.
Youre talking about different things here.
1. Do you need a bank account? If so you might be able to open one, but I doubt it.
2. Do you want a credit/debit card? If so then no, you wont pass screening for one. You are a risk to any credit company and wont reside long enough to pass anti money laundering checks.
I don’t know for sure, but I think you’ll be able to get an EPOS card through GTN if you use their phone service or use them as a rent guarantor or whatever.
You can also open a bank account with Resona right now (with restrictions—I’m not actually sure those restrictions are and have been meaning to look into it).
Also, the 6 month residency thing is for bank accounts—I wasn’t aware that it also applied to credit cards…do you have a source for that?
1.if you already have a japan post bank account. simply apply for their visa debit card. I think it’s better to go to a bank and ask for their assistance for applying ( for some unknown reason debit card also goes through a screening process so don’t get your hopes up, my friend got rejected ).
[Japan Post bank debit card ](https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/kojin/cashless/yuchodebit/kj_cl_yd_index.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwnOipBhBQEiwACyGLusD_qZoumDoDpYeYJQxNS0TS9czsftLjYjOk0wAAMIxkuUzYvWd_LRoCtYYQAvD_BwE)
2. if you want a credit card try applying for rakuten credit card. I got it when I was in language school. better to get some japanese friend’s help because the application in Japanese.
[Rakuten Credit Card ](https://www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/)
3. you can get a virtual visa prepaid card instantly with vandle card (バンドルカード）( no screening whatsoever)wich can be linked with Google pay too. it can be charged from bank accounts to convenience stores. you can get an actual physical card deliverdy for few hundred yen.
[vandle card バンドルカード](https://vandle.jp/)
I used this card for an year when I didn’t had any credit card here. even works for overseas online stores.
recently saw another prepaid visa debit card too. b43 their physical card is free ( no screening for this too)
[b43](https://b43.jp/)
docomo issuing prepaid Mastercard
[d card prepaid ](https://dcard.docomo.ne.jp/prepaid/index.html)
hope this helps.
You said you had a revolut card, so continue using it.
If your revolut account is not a Japan account , create a new one, and use it.