Banking and Insurance
Opening a Bank Account
Once you have a bank account with a Japanese bank or Japan Post Bank (Yucho Bank), you can receive your salary or honorarium and pay bills such as utilities and rent by direct debit. If you are to be paid by IMS, you will need a Japanese bank account.
Who Can Open an Account
In principle, only those who have been issued a residence card—that is, those staying in Japan for more than three months—can open a bank account. If you entered Japan as a "Temporary Visitor" (a stay of up to 90 days), you cannot open an account.
Please note
• Apply to open a bank account after your address has been printed on your residence card—that is, after you have registered your address at the municipal office.
• If less than three months remain before your period of stay expires, you may not be able to open an account (Japan Post Bank will not open one). Please renew your period of stay first and then apply.
Documents Required
|
Required documents |
(1) Residence card (with your address printed on it)
(2) Passport
(3) Personal seal (inkan or hanko) — some banks will open an account with your signature instead |
The required documents vary from bank to bank. You may also be asked to show proof of your workplace or school, such as a staff ID card or student ID card, so please check with the bank in advance.
Japan Post Bank, "To foreign customers opening an account" (the page is in Japanese; the online application form it links to is available in several languages)
https://www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/kaisetu/kat_gaikokujin.html
Opening Hours
Bank counters are usually open on weekdays from 9:00 to 15:00 and are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Japan Post Bank counters are located inside post offices and are usually open on weekdays from 9:00 to 16:00. ATM operating hours vary depending on the location.
When You Return Home
Please close your account before you leave Japan. Giving or selling your passbook or cash card to another person is prohibited by law.
Insurance
If you stay in Japan for more than three months, you are in principle required to enrol in the
National Health Insurance (this does not apply if you are employed by the National Institutes of Natural Sciences and are covered by the MEXT Mutual Aid Association or Employees' Health Insurance). For how to enrol, and for what to bring when you visit a hospital or clinic, see
"Legal Procedures".
If you are not eligible to enrol in the National Health Insurance—for example, because you are staying in Japan for less than three months—you will have to pay the full cost of any medical treatment in Japan, which can be very expensive.
We therefore recommend that you take out overseas travel insurance before you leave your country.
