Sony Bank for foreign residents: can you open an account and what you need

Yes, if you live in Japan. As of October 2026, Sony Bank’s Japanese ID page says foreign nationals apply by mail and must prove at least 6 months of residence with a residence card (在留カード) copy and an original resident record (住民票の写し). Phone support is Japanese only; English help is by chat and email.

Who can open an account?

Sony Bank limits accounts to individuals living in Japan, defined as residents under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. It publishes no visa-type or permanent residency (PR) condition on the pages we read.

What do you need?

For foreign nationals, the ID page lists one of two combinations:

Rules for the documents:

• The resident record must be an original issued within the last 6 months. Copies are not accepted. Mask your My Number if it appears.
• The card copy must show name, address and date of birth clearly, at A4 size without enlarging or shrinking.
• The card must be valid.

The same page says the app and smartphone routes are not available to foreign nationals. A separate English-service terms page mentions an English opening app for use inside Japan, and a provider blog from 2025 says the English application route has been stopped. Because these disagree, we treat mail as the confirmed route. Ask Sony Bank before you plan around an app.

How much Japanese do you need?

Some. The bank says it does not accept English phone inquiries. Use English live chat or email. The English site has fewer products and services than the Japanese one, and only the Japanese text is legally binding. Some Japanese input or declarations may be required. The mail application is also in Japanese.

What happens when your residence card is renewed?

Sony Bank asks you to send a copy of the renewed card, both sides, whenever your period of stay is extended or your status changes. It mails a reminder before expiry and offers a submission form to download. If it cannot confirm the renewal before expiry, it may restrict all or part of your account afterward.

Put the date in your calendar when you renew. This applies after opening too.

What if you leave Japan?

Sony Bank accounts are for people living in Japan. If you leave for good, you must close the account. Transactions are not possible from abroad, and overseas remittance of the balance is not allowed. Move the money to your own account at a Japanese institution first. See closing a bank account when leaving Japan.

Not confirmed

We could not read Sony Bank’s English opening pages, so we do not state fees, processing time or the minimum age for the mail route. For other banks, see opening a bank account in Japan, Rakuten Bank for foreigners and Japan Post Bank.