Opening a Japanese Bank Account for Vietnamese Residents — Yuucho, Shinsei, Rakuten, SBI
Compare 5 Japanese banks for Vietnamese residents in 2026: Yuucho is easiest for international students, Shinsei offers English support, Rakuten and SBI are online, and Sony Bank supports multiple currencies. Procedures + fees + account-opening times.
Mar 31, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 9 min read
Compare 5 Japanese banks for Vietnamese residents in 2026: Yuucho is easiest for international students, Shinsei offers English support, Rakuten and SBI are online, and Sony Bank supports multiple currencies. Procedures + fees + account-opening times.
Opening a bank account is the second thing every Vietnamese international student needs to do after registering their juminhyo—to receive part-time wages, pay rent, and receive scholarships. Unlike in Vietnam (where you can finish at the bank in 30 minutes), Japan has several hurdles for newcomers. This guide compares the 5 banks best suited to Vietnamese residents, explains the procedures in detail, and shares tips to avoid being rejected.
Why is it difficult to open a bank account in Japan?
Japan’s anti-money-laundering laws (maneelondaringu — money laundering) have been extremely strict since 2020. Banks must verify:
- A valid residence card (≥6 months remaining)
- A registered juminhyo address
- A Japanese phone number (docomo/au/Rakuten Mobile…) — TRAVEL ROAMING SIMs are NOT accepted
- My Number Card (if you have one)
International students who have just arrived are often rejected during their first 3-6 months because:
- Their residence card has <6 months remaining (some banks require ≥6)
- They do not yet have a Japanese phone number
- They do not yet have a juminhyo address (you must complete registration before opening a bank account)
Solution: choose a bank that is more “flexible” with international students—the top choice is Yuucho (Japan Post Bank).
Comparing 5 banks
1. Yuucho Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) — Easiest for international students
- Branches: any post office displaying the “ゆうちょ銀行” sign
- Requirements: residence card + Japanese phone number (Rakuten/docomo prepaid SIMs are OK)
- Not required: My Number (optional), having lived in Japan for ≥6 months
- Opening time: 30 minutes (the ATM card arrives by post 1-2 weeks later)
- Fees: FREE to open and maintain
- ATMs: 25,000+ machines throughout Japan, free during business hours from 8:45-18:00
- Pros: accepted by most employers for salary deposits
- Cons: no modern online-banking app (the old app has a poor UI), limited international money-transfer support
→ Yuucho should be the FIRST bank you open, during your first week after getting your juminhyo. Details: Complete guide to opening a Yuucho account
2. Shinsei Bank (新生銀行) — Best English support
- Features: the app and website are available in English, and staff at major branches speak English
- Requirements: residence card with ≥6 months remaining + Japanese phone number + My Number
- Opening time: 1 hour at a branch, 2-3 weeks by mail
- Fees: free to open, but withdrawals at other banks’ ATMs cost 110 yen per transaction if your balance is <30k yen
- Pros: easy international transfers, foreign-currency support (USD, EUR), good internet banking
- Cons: after merging with SBI in 2022, the name is gradually changing—some services have been discontinued
3. Rakuten Bank (楽天銀行) — 100% online
- Features: a digital bank with no physical branches
- Requirements: residence card + Japanese phone number + Rakuten ID account
- Opening time: complete the online form → upload a photo of your residence card → receive the card by post after 1 week
- Fees: free to open; 3 ATM withdrawals per month free at Seven/FamilyMart ATMs
- Pros: integrates with Rakuten Pay and Rakuten Card for generous points; savings interest rates of 0.02-0.10% (higher than traditional banks)
- Cons: the interface is primarily in Japanese, with no branch where you can ask questions in person
4. SBI Shinsei Net Bank (SBI新生銀行) — High interest rates
- Features: Shinsei + SBI merged from 2023, creating a hybrid online-and-branch bank
- Requirements: same as Shinsei
- Pros: savings interest rates of 0.30-0.50% (among the highest in Japan), with strong integration with SBI securities accounts
- Cons: the application process remains complicated for foreign residents
5. Sony Bank — Multiple currencies
- Features: an online bank specializing in foreign currencies
- Requirements: residence card with ≥6 months remaining + My Number REQUIRED
- Pros: hold 10+ foreign currencies in 1 account, low exchange fees (0.1-0.2 yen/USD), global Visa card
- Cons: not suitable for newcomers; you generally need to have lived in Japan for ≥1 year for an easier approval
Comparison table
| Bank | Minimum time in Japan | Opened at | Main advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuucho | As soon as you have a juminhyo | Post office | Easiest; accepted by every company |
| Shinsei | 6 months | Major branch | English support, international transfers |
| Rakuten | As soon as you have a juminhyo + phone number | Online | Rakuten points, good app |
| SBI Shinsei Net | 6 months | Online + branch | High interest rates, SBI securities |
| Sony Bank | 1 year | Online | Multiple currencies, cheap currency exchange |
Opening an account — detailed Yuucho procedure
Since Yuucho is the easiest option, here is the most detailed guide:
Prepare your documents
- Residence card (在留カード) — original
- Passport — original
- Juminhyo (住民票) — a printed copy from the kuyakusho, issued within the past 3 months
- Japanese phone number — a prepaid SIM is also accepted (Rakuten Mobile Unlimited at 3,278 yen/month is the cheapest)
- Personal seal (inkan) — NOT required for Yuucho, but useful to have (buy one at a 100-yen shop for 600-1,100 yen)
- Your home’s postal code (郵便番号 — yubinbango) — know it in advance so you do not have to ask
Visit the post office
- Enter and find the “ゆうちょ銀行 口座開設” counter (opening a Yuucho account)—usually counter number 2-3
- Take a number from the ticket machine and wait to be called (the 11h-14h peak period is crowded, so go at 9h30 or 15h30)
- The staff may ask “hajimete desuka?” (Is this your first time opening one?) → answer “hai” (yes)
- Fill out the 4-5-page form (they have an English version for foreign residents—ask for “英語の用紙お願いします”)
- Submit your documents + form
- Have your photo taken with their webcam (KYC verification)
- Sign your name on the tablet
- Receive your bankbook (tsuuchou — 通帳) at the counter
- Go home and wait 1-2 weeks for your cash card to arrive by post (簡易書留 — registered mail; you must sign for it)
Activate the Yuucho Direct app
After receiving your bankbook + card:
- Download the “ゆうちょ通帳アプリ” app from the App Store/Play Store
- Register using the account number in your tsuuchou bankbook
- Verify via the OTP sent to your phone
- You can check your balance, transfer money, and view your transaction history
Domestic transfer fees
Within Yuucho
- ATM: free
- App: free
- Branch: 100 yen/transaction
To another bank (Mizuho, MUFG, SMBC…)
- ATM: 220 yen
- App: 165 yen
To Rakuten / Shinsei / SBI (online banks)
- App: 220-275 yen
→ To save money: receive your salary through Yuucho, then transfer it to Rakuten for everyday spending (and earn Rakuten Pay points) at a cost of just 165 yen per transfer.
Important things to remember
1. NEVER lend your account
Under Japanese law, lending your ATM card + PIN to someone else is a criminal offense, as it may be connected to money laundering or fraud. Many Vietnamese students have been prosecuted after lending their accounts to acquaintances to receive money.
2. Do not withdraw money outside business hours
Yuucho ATMs are free from 8:45-18:00 on weekdays and charge 110-220 yen outside those hours + on weekends. Withdraw enough for your needs in 1 large transaction.
3. Update your address as soon as you move
Notify the bank of your new address within 14 days. If you do not, the account may be automatically locked after 6 months of inactivity.
4. Withdraw everything + close the account before returning to Vietnam
If you return to Vietnam without closing the account:
- The bank may continue charging maintenance fees
- Balances under 1,000 yen may be automatically collected
- If you return to Japan 2-3 years later and want to use the account again, you will have to open a new one
5. Keep your PIN safe
Japanese ATMs DO NOT allow you to reset your PIN by phone like they do in Vietnam. If you forget your PIN, you must visit a branch with your residence card + passport to reset it, then wait 2-3 weeks for a new card.
Tips for newly arrived international students
Week 1-2: Buy a temporary Rakuten Mobile SIM (the first month is free), and register your juminhyo at the kuyakusho
Week 3: Go to the post office to open a Yuucho account—bring your residence card + passport + juminhyo + SIM
Week 4-6: Receive your Yuucho card and activate the app. Apply for Rakuten online (once you have a Yuucho account + address + phone number, your approval rate is 95%)
Month 6: After 6 months, you can try opening a Shinsei or SBI account for foreign-currency services and sending money back to Vietnam
Summary
The 5 Japanese banks for Vietnamese residents have a clear order of priority: Yuucho first (open it as soon as you have your juminhyo) → Rakuten (convenient online banking) → Shinsei/SBI (after 6 months for international transfers). Bring your residence card + passport + juminhyo + Japanese phone number to the post office and you can finish the process for free in 30 minutes. Do not lend your account, avoid withdrawing money outside business hours, and remember to close the account before returning to Vietnam.
Once your account is open, your next step is finding a part-time job: guide to working 28 hours/week. Planning a trip during your vacation? Book a JR Pass directly from OlaChill, with the Exchange Order delivered to your Japanese address.
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