Hey, everyone. I would really appreciate any help or advice on this topic. I was a Japanese resident as an English teacher for 6 years, but I recently got a job on a U.S base and I'm now under SOFA status. That being said, I couldn't use my Mizuho account anymore because I was "not a resident". I was able to open an account at JP post bank, but they denied my request for a debit card for whatever stupid reason.
Does anyone know of any japanese banks that will issue a debit card to SOFA members? I need it to pay for some subs here and there.
Thanks for any advice you guys can give. I'll check with r/japanfinance too.
by Firamaster
5 comments
Talk with your SOFA coordinator but I imagine you’re going to be stuck buying pre paid visas.
I know it’s changing a bit but debit cards the way Americans think of them are quite rare in Japan. It’s really more standard to have a card from your bank to withdraw money from the ATM and then a separate card you use as a credit card that will be automatically paid monthly out of your bank account.
You were able to get the bank account in the first place, why can’t they continue to honor whatever residency status that was before and why do they even need to know you work on the base now?
Japanese spouses of base connected people technically have SOFA status but they keep access to their accounts. That’s so dumb, I’m sorry that’s happening to you.
Do you need a Japanese debit card specifically or will any debit card do? Now you have base access with a CAC you should be able to open up an account at the Navy Federal branch there. Me personally, I use my American cards anywhere and everywhere in Japan that takes plastic so I hope that would be sufficient.
Most people around our base use Bank of Yokohama. Applying at a location closest to the base helped, as they were more familiar with SOFA status applicants.
As an aside, glad you managed to move on up after English teaching. I’m hoping to pursue a similar path after I’m done with JET.