PayPay, Suica and cashless payments in Japan for foreign residents

Yes, a foreigner living in Japan can use PayPay, but you need a Japanese mobile number that can receive SMS. PayPay does not accept overseas numbers. To link a bank account or withdraw money, you also need to pass PayPay’s ID check (本人確認, eKYC). With a residence card (在留カード), the card needs at least 90 days left when you apply. These are PayPay’s own rules as of October 2026. Suica and PASMO, the train cards, also work in Apple Wallet on an iPhone.

Can foreigners use PayPay?

Yes. PayPay’s help pages list only two things you need: the PayPay app and a smartphone that can receive SMS. An iPad or tablet won’t work. Registration is free, but data charges apply.

The catch is the phone number. PayPay says overseas mobile numbers can’t be used, so you need a Japanese number first. PayPay normally checks the number with a phone call from the app. On a data-only SIM, tap ‘データ通信専用SIMを使っている場合’ (I use a data-only SIM) on that screen to verify by SMS instead, so the SIM still needs a number that receives SMS. See SIM cards for foreigners if you don’t have a Japanese number yet.

You can sign up with your mobile number, a Yahoo! JAPAN ID, a SoftBank, Y!mobile or LINEMO line, a Google account or an Apple account. Every route ends with checking your phone number. If you close an account, you can’t use the same number again for 180 days.

Do I need the ID check (eKYC)?

You can pay in shops without it, but the ID check decides which kind of balance you hold. PayPay has two main balance types:

You also need the ID check to register a bank account. Money Lite you already hold does not turn into PayPay Money after the check. Only new top-ups do. So if you plan to link a bank or pay taxes, do the ID check first.

Which documents does PayPay accept from foreigners?

If your period of stay (在留期間) is not indefinite, PayPay needs one of three documents so it can see when your stay ends:

• a residence card
• a special permanent resident certificate (特別永住者証明書)
• a My Number card (マイナンバーカード), read by its chip or with a face check. The method using the 6 to 16-digit signature PIN is not available to you, even though PayPay’s general guide offers it to others.

Passports and health insurance cards are not accepted. Student ID cards and the old paper notification card (通知カード) aren’t accepted either. If you are under 16, only a My Number card works.

How do I do the PayPay ID check with a residence card?

You need app version 4.55.0 or later and at least 90 days left on your card when you apply. Type your name exactly as it is on the card. The katakana reading (フリガナ) should match the bank account you plan to link.

Taking off glasses helps if the face check fails. You can’t use details that are already verified on another account, such as an old account on a previous phone number. Politically exposed persons from foreign governments and their families can’t complete the check.

How do I link a bank account and add money?

Once the ID check is done, go to Home > すべて (All) > 銀行口座登録 (register bank account). The account must be in your own name, and company accounts aren’t allowed. Depending on the bank, you’ll need your passbook, cash card, PIN or a one-time password. PayPay lists the banks it supports at paypay.ne.jp/guide/bank-list. Top-ups from a bank account can’t be cancelled. If you don’t have a Japanese account yet, see bank accounts for foreigners.

No bank? You can add cash free at Seven Bank and Lawson Bank ATMs, without an account at either bank. Choose the smartphone or charge option on the ATM. In the app, tap + > ATMチャージ (ATM top-up), scan the QR code on the screen, enter the number shown, then insert cash within 10 minutes.

What happens to PayPay when my visa is renewed or I leave Japan?

As your period of stay nears its end, PayPay asks you to update your ID details. If you don’t update in time, it may restrict your account. You have to update even if nothing has changed. Do it under Account > details > identity check > update all items.

If you have applied to renew your visa, PayPay lets you keep using the account for up to 2 months after the expiry date. It must be able to confirm the application from the stamp on the back of your card or from the immigration bureau’s online application email. You arrange this through PayPay customer support. If you are leaving Japan for good, PayPay says to close your account; add it to your leaving Japan checklist. PayPay also says you can’t do the ID check from abroad.

Is the PayPay app in English?

The App Store lists Japanese and English for the PayPay app. PayPay’s help pages can be shown in English, but PayPay notes that the English text is AI machine translation.

Can I use Suica or PASMO on my phone as a foreigner?

Yes. Suica and PASMO are prepaid transit IC cards for trains, buses and shopping at stores that show their logo. PASMO says 10 transit IC cards, including Suica and PASMO, work across Japan wherever the shared logo is shown.

iPhone. Apple’s page says Suica, PASMO and ICOCA can be added to Wallet. Suica needs an iPhone 7 or later and PASMO an iPhone 8 or later. In Wallet, tap + > Transit Card, choose the card and set a starting balance. You can also move an existing plastic card, its balance and its commuter pass into Wallet. After that, the plastic card stops working. Express Mode turns on automatically for your first transit card, so you pay for rides and purchases with just a tap.

Android. PASMO says Android phones bought outside Japan generally don’t work with Mobile PASMO, and that its Mobile PASMO support is in Japanese only. A phone bought in Japan is the safer choice if you want a transit card on Android. Otherwise, use a plastic card.

Plastic card. A new PASMO costs a ¥500 deposit on top of the value you load. You get the deposit back with your balance when you return the card. PASMO says you can’t pay for a new card with a credit card. A personalized card has your name, gender, birth date and phone number on record, so it can be reissued if you lose it. A blank card needs no registration, but it can’t be reissued.

Commuter pass (定期券). On a plastic card, a commuter pass sits on a personalized PASMO. On iPhone, PASMO says you need the PASMO app for some services, such as commuter passes.

What about Rakuten Pay, d払い and au PAY?

They are other code (QR) payment apps. Rakuten Pay can also pay tax and utility bills by scanning the QR code or barcode on the bill. d払い is docomo’s payment app, which earns and uses d POINT. None of these providers’ public pages we checked state rules for foreign residents, such as which residence cards they accept. Check the app’s ID check screen before you rely on one.

Is Japan cashless now?

Mostly, but not fully. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (経済産業省, METI) counted 58.0% of 2025 spending as cashless on its domestic measure. QR code payments made up 10.2% of the cashless total and e-money such as Suica made up 3.7%. Credit cards are still by far the largest share. Why cash, fax and seals still hang on is covered in why Japan still uses fax, hanko and cash. Keep some cash on you.

Be careful with messages that claim to come from PayPay. PayPay’s help center warns about fake refund messages and phishing emails. See scams in Japan.

More guides: Credit cards for foreigners · Debit cards in Japan · Bank accounts for foreigners · My Number card