Did you know that foreigners living in Japan can apply for Japan-issued credit cards, too? Applying for one in your home country or native language probably is a breeze, but when you’re living in a foreign country, things can get complicated.
For one, there’s a difference in how names are spelled. Your application also doesn’t depend on your annual salary alone, your visa status has to be taken into consideration as well. It’s no wonder many people give up even before going through the process.
Not to worry, though, this post is here to help! This post is here to tell you what you’ll need to apply, how to file your application, which companies to consider, as well as how your application is getting evaluated. So read through and get that credit card you’ve always wanted.
Contents
Credit Card Requirements for Foreigners in Japan
Your residence card or permanent resident certificate is required to apply.
For foreigners coming to Japan to study, the school you are enrolled in will explain the process for getting one. Foreigners coming to Japan for other purposes must visit the Immigration Bureau and apply in person.
The Tricky Evaluation Process
Anyone who has applied for a credit card would know that one’s annual salary is an important factor in getting your application approved. But for foreigners living in Japan, one other factor is crucial: the length of stay that appears on your visa.
Permanent residents won’t have so much of a problem as they can stay in the country indefinitely, however, the case is different for students and regular company employees. Whether your application will go through depends on the payment type you apply for as well as your credit limit. For example, if you have a 2-year (24 months) visa, an application for a credit card with revolving payment of 27 months will have a hard time getting through.
Called “ribobarai” in Japanese, revolving payment refers to monthly payment of credit with a fixed price plus interest.
This means that even if you use up a large amount of credit, the payment you will make the next month will only be that of the fixed price you have set up. For this reason, many students and people choose to pay their credit using this option. One thing to be careful about, however, is that interest runs high for revolving payment.
The evaluation criteria for credit card applications that do not have the revolving payment option very per company, so if there’s a particular one you wish to apply to, it’s better to try and send your application. Some people have the notion that getting rejected for a credit card once will have a negative effect on your future applications, but please rest assured that there’s no such thing.
Things You Need to Know to Get Approved for a Japanese Credit Card
So does that mean there’s no point in applying if you’ve got only one year left on your visa? No worries. As long as you meet the requirements below, you’ll still have a good chance of getting one.
Prepare plenty of identification.
Some may not be aware of this, but receipts for public utility fees can be used for identification.
While the My Number card was issued out some years ago, not everyone has registered for it is still yet to be systematized.
Other than your residence card, having a Japanese mobile number, health insurance card, driver’s license and other similar identification would prove useful in applying for a credit card in Japan.
Write your company information properly.
If you work for a Japanese company, you get a higher chance of passing the evaluation process. When you apply for a credit card online, make sure you fill in the information about your company properly, otherwise, your chances of getting approved will get lower, even if you have a high annual salary.
Residence registration is required!
International students coming to Japan often stay in dorms and in the process forget to register in their local municipality. This makes it hard for the credit card company to verify your address, so make sure you’re properly registered before you apply for a credit card.
For foreigners in living in Japan for other purposes, city halls often issue certificates of residence upon request. Having one makes it easier to confirm that the information you registered is true.
Now that we’ve gone through basic requirements, let’s take a look at the evaluation process itself.
Necessary Conditions When Applying for Japanese Credit Cards
There are 3 conditions one has to meet when applying for a Japanese credit card.
Payments for credit cards in Japan are usually done through automatic transfers that deducts the amount needed to be paid from a user’s registered bank account. Take note, however, that there may be financial institutions that reject this kind of automatic payment so it’s best to have bank account with well-established banks like Japan Post, Mitsubishi UFJ, SMBC, etc.
One’s mobile phone number is necessary in filling out applications not just for credit cards but for important matters like renting an apartment.
Among Japanese carriers, the three biggest companies are au, Docomo and Softbank. Oftentimes these companies offer package plans that include home internet and/or pocket Wi-Fi. Check out Life Zipang’s posts about ISP’s and pocket Wi-Fi for more information.
Obviously, tourists cannot apply for Japanese credit cards. A verifiable home address is needed when you make your application so in case you’re having trouble finding a room to rent, check out Life Zipang’s recommended apartments from Tanji Real Estate. Unlike traditional real estate agencies, Tanji caters to foreigners, which makes application easier and less troublesome
*Tanji Real Estate only handles phone inquiries in Japanese, but they can respond to e-mails in English,
Credit Cards for Foreigners in Japan
| Card Name |
|---|
| Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos |
| Mitsui Sumitomo Card |
| JCB |
| Sumi Trust Club |
| American Express |
| Orico Card |
| Life Card |
| Cedyna Card |
| JACCS Card |
| Aeon Card |
| SAISON Card |
| Rakuten Card |
| EPOS Card |
| VIEW Card |
| TOKYU CARD |
Lastly, here’s a list of credit cards recommended for foreign students,
Japanese Credit Cards for Foreign Students
There are three Japanese credit cards that Life Zipang recommends to international students.
VISA Debut Plus Card: Gold Rank Upon Renewal
This card is for users up tp 25 years of age and racks up twice as much points as a regular card. As long as you use it at least once a year, the annual fees are waived, so you can pretty much say that card holders pay 0 yen for annual fees.
And that’s not all. Once the card holder turns 26, the card renews automatically and becomes a prime gold member. Once the card holder turns 30, they automatically rank up to gold card member as well.
| Card Name | Mitsui Sumitomo VISA Debut Card |
|---|---|
| International Brand | VISA |
| Annual Fees | Free when used at least once a year |
| Credit Limit | Shopping JPY 300,000 |
| Special Features | Applications are not limited to students. Possible to apply as long as your age is between 18 to 25. (Guardian permission needed for minors) |
Debut Plus Card
Click to find out more.
JCB CARD EXTAGE: For card holders 18-29 years old
JCB CARD EXTAGE is for applicants aged 18 to 29 years old. It is said that among JCB cards, it’s the one with the most advantages. The annual fee is waived for the first five years, which is suitable for foreign students. Rebates are also high with and points are three times as much in the first three months (1.5% cash back). Points are also 1.5 times higher from the fourth month onwards during the first year (0.75% cash back). For the following years, you can also get points at 1.5x rate if you use JPY 200,000n or higher.
JCB is also Tokyo Disneyland’s official card, so there are special deals related to Disney from time to time. It also offers insurance for international travel, which is a plus for foreign students who like traveling.
| Card Name | JCB CARD EXTAGE |
|---|---|
| Application Terms | 18-29 years old |
| Annual Fee | Free during the first five years JPY 1,250 afterward |
| Special Feature #1 | Shopping insurance: maximum of JP Y1,000,000 (can be used in Japan and other countries) |
| Special Feature #2 | Overseas Travel Damage Insurance: maximum of JPY 2,000,000 |
| Special Feature #3 | Waived processing and annual fees for ETC Card |
| Special Feature #3 |
3x points for the first three months, 1.5x points from the fourth month onwards during the first year of use |
JCB CARD EXTAGE
Click to find out more.
Life CARD: Specifically for International Students
This card also has 0 annual fees, but what makes it different from others is that you can 1.5% rebate on your birthday. Minimum age requirement is 18 years old.
| Card Name | Life CARD |
|---|---|
| International Brand | VISA/MasterCard/JCB |
| Annual Fee | Free |
| Credit Limit | Shopping: up to JPY 300,000 |
| Special Feature | Accepts applications from 18 years old and above. Parent or guardian approval is required for minors. |
Life CARD
Click to find out more.
And that’s a wrap. We hope you find the information above useful, and that your credit card application goes smoothly.
We hope to keep bringing you useful information, so if you have any questions for us, please feel free to leave us a comment or contact us through the e-mail.
Until the next post!
