From 1 April 2027 You Open a Bank Account in Japan by Chip, Not by Photo, and Some Banks Have Already Switched
According to Japan’s Financial Services Agency, from 1 April 2027 you can no longer open a bank account in Japan by sending a photo of your ID plus a selfie: under the amended Ordinance of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds, online sign-ups move to reading the IC chip in your ID, and branches must read the chip too. For foreign residents, that means a chip-enabled residence card and a way to read it.
On 20 October 2026, NHK reported that, after a run of personal data leaks at Japanese companies, financial institutions are increasingly switching identity checks to IC chip reading to stop fraudulent account openings. Jiji Press reported on 21 October that Mizuho Bank (みずほ銀行) stopped accepting photographed ID on 19 October. The push started with a request from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) on 9 October.
This guide uses that news as a starting point to explain what foreigners need to open a bank account in Japan, how identity checks work now and after April 2027, and where newcomers most often get stuck.
Key Points
- Who should pay attention: students, employees and Business Manager visa holders who have just arrived in or are about to move to Japan, and foreign residents planning to switch banks or open a second account.
- What is already fixed: from 1 April 2027, non-face-to-face account opening moves in principle to IC chip reading, and branches must read the chip and match it against the card; accounts opened before then do not need a new check.
- Bank timelines differ: the FSA has asked banks to act without waiting, and media reports say some major banks have already switched; which documents and methods each bank accepts is set out on its own website.
- Most newcomers get stuck not on the chip itself but on proof of address, the 6-month residency test, a permitted stay that is about to end, or a phone that cannot read the card.
What Is Already Fixed: How Identity Checks Work When You Open a Bank Account in Japan From 1 April 2027
The FSA’s notice of 9 October 2026 states that, under the amended Ordinance, the method of receiving images of identity documents will be abolished from the effective date of 1 April 2027 and that checks will in principle move to reading IC chip data. It asks institutions not to wait for that date but to act as soon as possible, and to recheck submitted ID images and face images for anything unnatural.
The National Police Agency’s Q&As on the amendments give more detail. Everything in the table below comes from its Q&As on the amended Ordinance published on 24 June 2025 and 6 March 2026:
| Item | From 1 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| Online or app account opening (non-face-to-face) | The “photo of ID plus photo of your face” method ends; checks move in principle to reading the ID’s IC chip |
| Branch account opening (face-to-face) | Chip IDs (My Number Card, driving licence, residence card, special permanent resident certificate, passport and others) must be read and matched against the card |
| People without a chip ID | Methods such as posting certain original documents remain, so they are not shut out |
| Accounts opened before the change | Customers checked under the old rules do not need to be checked again |
| Which methods a bank accepts | Each bank chooses; it does not have to accept every document the law allows |
In other words, after 1 April 2027 simply showing an ID will not be enough: the ID needs a readable chip, and the bank will check that the chip data matches the card.
Bank-by-Bank Timelines: Media Reports Say Some Major Banks Have Already Switched
The legal deadline is 1 April 2027, but because the FSA asked banks to move early, timelines vary. The table below is based on a Jiji Press report of 21 October 2026; it is a media report, and each bank’s own announcements take precedence:
| Bank | Reported timeline |
|---|---|
| Mizuho Bank | Stopped photographed ID such as driving licences from 19 October; switched to IC chip reading |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank | Ended the photo method in March 2026 |
| MUFG Bank | Switched to IC chip reading in May 2026 |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation | Plans to end the photo method |
| Resona Group | Still considering, including an earlier switch |
In practice, in October 2026 some banks already accept only chip reading for online sign-ups while others still accept photos. Before you apply, check the “identity documents” or “account opening” page on the bank’s website.
What to Bring to Open a Bank Account in Japan: A Checklist
The list below covers what foreign residents are commonly asked for. Banks choose which documents and methods to accept, so treat it as a starting point rather than a rule for every bank; the Japan Post Bank details come from its website:
| What to bring | Why | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residence card | The main ID for foreign residents, with an IC chip | National Police Agency Q&A; Japan Post Bank |
| My Number Card | Also chip-enabled; some online sign-ups read it or use public key authentication (JPKI) | National Police Agency Q&A |
| Proof of address (for example a residence certificate, jūminhyō) | Needed when your ID shows no address, or your residence card chip still holds an old one | National Police Agency Q&A |
| An NFC-enabled smartphone | Reads the ID chip when you apply by app | Japan Post Bank |
| Personal seal (inkan) | Japan Post Bank asks for a seal and ID when you open an account at a counter | Japan Post Bank |
| Student or employee ID, and passport | Japan Post Bank asks for these for some statuses of residence | Japan Post Bank |
Since 14 June 2026 Japan has also issued a new “specified residence card” that combines the residence card and My Number Card; see Zagdim’s Chinese-language explainer in the references.
Students, Employees and Business Manager Visa Holders: What Each Should Watch
Students: Under the foreign exchange rules, foreign nationals are treated as non-residents in principle, and are presumed to be residents only if they work for an office in Japan or have been in Japan for 6 months or more (Ministry of Finance guidance on the Foreign Exchange Act). A newly arrived student may therefore be treated as a non-resident, and what the account can do depends on the bank. Japan Post Bank asks for a student ID for some statuses of residence, so check before you go.
Employees: Foreign nationals who work for an office in Japan are presumed to be residents under the forex rules without waiting 6 months. Banks may want to confirm your job, so keep your employee ID or employment papers to hand, and bring a residence certificate if you have only just registered your address.
Business Manager visa holders: People who come to Japan to set up a company often need both a personal and a company account. This guide covers identity checks for personal accounts only; company accounts are screened separately. If you do not yet work for an office in Japan and have been in the country for less than 6 months, your personal account may also be handled as a non-resident account at first.
Where People Get Stuck: Six Issues Backed by Official or Bank Sources
1. The address on your residence card chip is out of date. The National Police Agency Q&A explains that after you change your address, the new one is written on the back of the residence card but may not be recorded on the IC chip, so the bank must confirm your current address separately or check that the old address on the chip matches the old one on the card. If you have moved recently, bring a residence certificate.
2. Your passport has no address. Japanese passports issued from 4 February 2020 have no address field, and the Q&A says another document showing your current address is then needed; foreign passports generally show no Japanese address either, so bring proof of address if you use a passport.
3. Your permitted stay is about to end. Japan Post Bank says it will not open an account if your period of stay expires within 3 months of the application date, or if your stay was set at 3 months or less and you have no residence card.
4. You have been in Japan for less than 6 months. This is the forex residency test, not a ban on opening an account. If you have been in Japan for under 6 months and do not work for an office in Japan, the bank may treat you as a non-resident, with account features set by the bank.
5. A new residence card does not yet work in some apps. Japan Post Bank announced on 1 October 2026 that residence cards issued from 14 June 2026, including specified residence cards, cannot for now be used for document eKYC in its Passbook app and Authentication app; its Procedures app, used to open accounts, accepts all residence cards from the same day.
6. Your phone cannot read the card. Japan Post Bank says its app reads the chip in your ID, so your phone needs a camera and NFC; if it does not, apply at a post office or bank counter.
Claims that you must have a Japanese mobile number have no single rule in official or bank sources we could find, so this guide does not list it as a requirement; check the bank’s website.
Common Misconceptions About Opening a Bank Account in Japan Under the New Rules
- Misconception: residence cards cannot be used to open accounts after April 2027. The residence card already has an IC chip; the new rule is about reading it, not banning it. Tip: have a way to read the card, or apply at a branch.
- Misconception: existing accounts must be checked again. The National Police Agency Q&A says customers checked under the old rules before the change do not need a new check. Tip: keep using your account and follow any notice your bank sends.
- Misconception: you cannot open an account in your first 6 months. Six months is the forex test for residency; employees of an office in Japan do not wait, and others may be handled as non-residents. Tip: ask which type of account you are opening.
- Misconception: every bank asks for the same things. The Q&A says banks choose which methods to accept, and their timelines differ. Tip: go by the website of the bank you are applying to.
- Misconception: no My Number Card means no online account. Some banks use the My Number Card online, while others also read residence cards and other chip IDs. Tip: check the accepted documents before you start.
Scenarios: How Three Kinds of Newcomers Should Prepare
Scenario 1: a language-school student who has just arrived in Tokyo. With less than 6 months in Japan and no job, the student is a non-resident in principle under the forex rules. At a Japan Post Bank counter, bring the residence card, student ID and a personal seal, plus a residence certificate if the address was only just registered. To apply by app, first check that the phone has NFC.
Scenario 2: an employee transferred to an Osaka office. Working for an office in Japan, the employee is presumed a resident without waiting 6 months. Applying online before April 2027 may mean some banks already accept only chip reading, so check first; if the residence card was issued on or after 14 June 2026, confirm that the bank’s app supports it.
Scenario 3: a Business Manager visa holder setting up a company and buying a flat to rent out. For the personal account, prepare the residence card and proof of address like any foreign resident; property bills and rent usually run through a Japanese account, so opening one early helps. Company accounts are screened separately and are outside this guide.
Opening a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreigner: Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to open a bank account in Japan as a foreigner?
Mainly your residence card, which has an IC chip, plus proof of address such as a residence certificate if your ID does not show your current address. Japan Post Bank asks for a personal seal at the counter and, for some statuses, a student or employee ID and passport. Applying by app needs an NFC phone. Accepted documents vary, so check the bank’s website.
When do the new IC chip ID checks start?
The legal start date is 1 April 2027: the photo method for online sign-ups ends, checks move in principle to chip reading, and branches must read the chip too. The FSA asked banks on 9 October 2026 to move earlier, and Jiji Press reports that Mizuho switched on 19 October, with MUFG Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust having switched earlier.
Can I open a bank account in Japan within 6 months of arriving?
Not necessarily ruled out. Under the forex rules, foreign nationals are presumed residents after 6 months in Japan or if they work for an office in Japan; before that, a bank may treat you as a non-resident, with features set by the bank. Japan Post Bank also says it will not open an account if your stay ends within 3 months.
I changed my address. Will that cause problems?
You may need extra documents. The National Police Agency Q&A says that after an address change the new address is written on the back of the residence card but the chip may not be updated, so the bank must confirm your current address separately. Bring a residence certificate if you have moved.
Do existing bank accounts need a new check after 2027?
According to the National Police Agency Q&A, accounts whose holders were checked under the rules in force at the time do not need to be checked again under the new rules. If your bank asks you to update details for other reasons, follow its notice.
What should I know about opening a Japan Post Bank account by app?
The app reads the IC chip in your ID, so your phone needs a camera and NFC. Japan Post Bank announced on 1 October 2026 that its Procedures app now accepts all residence cards, but cards issued from 14 June 2026 cannot yet be used for document eKYC in its Passbook and Authentication apps.
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Important Disclaimer
This article is general information and is not legal, tax or financial advice. It is based mainly on 2025–2026 material from the Financial Services Agency, the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Finance and bank websites, together with media reports from October 2026. Banks’ identity check methods and timelines may change at any time; rely on the latest notices from your bank and the authorities, and consult a qualified professional where needed.
The account-opening rules and bank timelines in this article are current as of 21 October 2026; the latest notices from the FSA, the National Police Agency and each bank take precedence.
References
Financial Services Agency – 現下の情勢を踏まえたサイバーセキュリティ対策の強化と各種取引申込等における対応について (9 October 2026) / National Police Agency – Q&A on the 2025 amendment to the Ordinance of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds / National Police Agency – Q&A on the 2026 amendment to the Ordinance of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds / Ministry of Finance – 外国為替法令の解釈及び運用について / Japan Post Bank – 口座を開設される外国人のお客さまへ / Japan Post Bank – 口座開設 / Japan Post Bank – Notice on residence cards in the Passbook and Authentication apps (1 October 2026) / NHK – 不正な口座開設防止へICチップ確認 金融機関で前倒しの動き (20 October 2026) / Jiji Press – 本人確認、ＩＣチップ移行を前倒し 大手行、免許証画像送信は不可に (21 October 2026) / Zagdim – Japan’s New Specified Residence Card (Chinese, 9 June 2026)
