JAPANLIFE GUIDE
Banking and Money/Check soonUsually essential

Open a Bank Account

Prepare residence card, address, and employer or school details.

Procedure at a glance

Who this is for
Residents needing a personal account for salary or daily payments
Deadline
Check bank booking and added-document deadlines

Do this todayPrepare a one-sentence account purpose

If the deadline is near or passedIf the account will not be ready for payroll or another deadline, contact the payer today about a temporary method, and ask the bank about status and missing documents.

Where to goSelected bank's official online channel or supported branch

bankaccountresidence card
Official information checked: 2026-07-18Review status: Reviewed

Step-by-step guide

Follow these steps

Progress: 0/3 completed

1Confirm your case and deadlineChoose a bank and application method / Align identity information

What to do

  1. 1Choose the purpose, such as salary, rent and utilities, or remittance, then compare official bank conditions for branches, online applications, and residence period
  2. 2Match the name and address on your residence card, resident record, passport, phone account, and employer or school; update differences before applying

Check before you start

  • Prepare a one-sentence account purpose
  • Match spelling across card, residence record, phone, employer/school
  • Check booking, language, documents, and stay-period rules on bank site

If the deadline is near or passed

  • If the account will not be ready for payroll or another deadline, contact the payer today about a temporary method, and ask the bank about status and missing documents.
2Prepare the office and documentsCheck documents and booking / Explain the account purpose

What to do

  1. 1Save the bank's official document list and, when booking is required, record the reservation number, date, branch, and language support
  2. 2During the application, explain the account purpose, employer or school, expected transactions, and source of funds specifically; record submitted documents

Basic items to bring

  • Residence card
  • Address evidence such as residence record
  • Passport, student or employee ID
  • Your mobile number
  • Seal/signature, initial deposit, My Number, if requested

Fees

  • Account opening, card, transfer, ATM, and maintenance fees vary by bank and account. Review the fee table before agreeing.

Online options

  • Online eligibility, identity verification, residence-period, address, and employment requirements differ by bank.

If you cannot go

  • Because identity verification is required, proxy opening is generally unavailable. Ask the bank about exceptions such as minors or organizations.

If documents are missing

  • If a document is missing, do not guess or substitute it. Tell the office its exact name and ask whether you can consult first, submit it later, and where to obtain it.
3Confirm completion and the next deadlineRespond to extra document requests / Save setup and account conditions

What to do

  1. 1If more documents are requested, note their names and deadline. If the account is not opened, do not assume the reason; compare your documents with another bank's published conditions
  2. 2After opening, set the PIN and authentication, then save the account number, fees, transfer and withdrawal limits, and update procedures for address or residence period

Confirm at completion

  • The personal account works and PIN/authentication are secure
  • Fees, limits, and change-reporting rules are saved

What you receive

  • Confirm the account number, registered name, activation date, card and PIN delivery, and transfer or ATM restrictions.

Check before leaving

  • Before leaving, check your name, address, covered period, and procedure type, then ask about the next deadline and contact method.

Records to keep

  • Keep the reference number, filing date, office, copies of submitted documents, and next contact date. Save confirmation screens and emails for online filings.

Next action

  • Give the payer the exact registered name and account, and check how to report later changes or handle the account when leaving Japan.

Confirm with the official office

  • This page cannot determine the latest form, appointment and hours, municipality-specific additions, individual review, or same-day handling. Confirm these immediately before filing.
  • Bank screening, stay period, address, purpose, ID, seal/signature
Important cautions
  • Approval is the bank's decision and cannot be guaranteed
  • Never give or sell passbook, card, PIN, codes, or account
  • Failure to report departure, address, or status updates can restrict use
Find where to go

Useful Japanese phrases

Open a Bank Account

この件について相談したいです。必要なものと次に行く場所を教えてください。

Kono ken ni tsuite sodan shitai desu. Hitsuyo na mono to tsugi ni iku basho o oshiete kudasai.

I would like to ask about this issue. Please tell me what I need and where I should go next.

Counter

この手続きに必要なものを教えてください。

Kono tetsuzuki ni hitsuyo na mono o oshiete kudasai.

Please tell me what I need for this procedure.

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