Can foreigners open a Japan Post Bank account?
Last checked: 2026-11-06
Yes. You can open a Japan Post Bank account with a residence card and a place to live in Japan, as long as your period of stay does not end within 3 months. The opening deposit is 0 yen. The bank can still refuse, and the account may not open the same day.
What you need
| Your situation | Bring |
|---|---|
| Everyone with a residence card | Residence card. The bank copies it. You may also be asked for your passport. |
| Student or Technical Intern Training status | Also a student ID or employee ID. If you have none, the bank offers a certificate form for your school or employer. |
| Residence card with no photo | Also a document such as a resident record |
| Non-resident under tax or foreign exchange law | Also a Non-Resident Notification Form |
When the bank will not open an account
- Your stay ends within 3 months of applying. Renew first, then apply with your new card.
- You have no residence card and your stay is 3 months or less.
- The review goes against you. The bank says it may decline, for example over foreign exchange rules.
Check the 3 month rule with your date
These examples are our own. Ask the bank if your date is close.
| Your stay ends | You apply | Result under the rule |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2028 | November 6, 2026 | Over 3 months left. Passes this check. |
| January 15, 2027 | November 6, 2026 | Under 3 months left. Renew first. |
Counter or app?
| Counter | Yucho Tetsuzuki App | |
|---|---|---|
| Languages | Forms can be prepared online in several languages. The bank may ask you to bring someone who understands Japanese well. | Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Nepali and Burmese |
| Residence card | Shown in person | Must show your current address. See the new card note below. |
| Passbook | May be mailed to your home | Not confirmed on the pages we read |
Common mistakes
- Applying before you register your address. The app needs your current address on the card, so register first.
- Forgetting to update. If you renew your residence card or change address, tell the bank quickly. Otherwise, transactions may be restricted.
- Keeping the account after you leave. The bank asks you to close it before you leave Japan. It also says passing or selling your passbook or card to someone else is a crime.
Why an account matters for other bills
Wise's rules say a transfer from Japan is paid from a bank in Japan in your own name, so you need an account like this to use bank payment. See our page on sending money. Your rent, deposit and tax payments may also need one, so ask early. We have no verified information on which payments need an account for your case.
New residence cards from June 14, 2026
Japan Post Bank's notice of October 1, 2026 says the Yucho Tetsuzuki App now accepts all residence cards, including a specified residence card. Its Yucho Bankbook App and Yucho Authentication App still cannot use cards issued on or after June 14, 2026 for ID checks, so some services there are limited. It says a My Number Card or driver's license works for those checks. Check the bank's latest notice if you have a new card.
What we could not confirm
- Other banks. We only checked Japan Post Bank, so this page does not compare banks or say one is easier. Each bank sets its own rules.
- Time to open. The bank says it may not be the same day, but gives no number of days.
- Fees. The page lists no account fees. Check the bank's fee list.
This page is general information. We have not opened an account with this bank, and the post office counter decides your application.
Check the live fee for your amount and currency on Wise.
See the Wise fee calculator