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日本語版はこちら / Japanese version → 外国人でも作れるクレジットカード｜審査に1回で通す完全ガイド
Summary
- Foreigners do get rejected more often — but for just three reasons, and all of them can be fixed.
- The best first card is the Rakuten Card: free forever, 1% points, and a relatively flexible screening.
- If you’re rejected, the usual advice is to wait 6 months before applying again — so getting it right the first time is everything.
- Go through the 5-point checklist below before you apply.
- Cash-only living quietly costs you money
- “They rejected me when I showed my residence card” — it’s not your fault
- Why the Rakuten Card is the right first card
- Check your situation first — because rejection means a 6-month wait
- How to apply (about 10 minutes)
- Worried about screening? A debit card is a valid path
- Rules once you have a card
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
- Related guides
Cash-only living quietly costs you money
Cash still works in Japan, so you might think you don’t need a card. But going without one costs you a little every month.
- Zero points: purchases that would earn 1% back, paid entirely in cash
- Stuck online: SIM contracts, flights, online sales — fewer options, or higher prices, without a card
- No credit history: your payment record in Japan is the foundation for future rentals, loans, and even permanent residence. Cash leaves no record.
“They rejected me when I showed my residence card” — it’s not your fault
You feel uneasy the moment you enter your nationality. The mood changes when you hand over your residence card in a shop. You get rejected and no one tells you why. Many foreigners share this experience.
There are three clear reasons foreigners get rejected — and all three can be handled.
Why the Rakuten Card is the right first card
Cards fall into types (“bank” cards, “retail” cards) with different screening. For a first card, choose a retail-type card, which tends to screen more flexibly — and the flagship is the Rakuten Card.
| Rakuten Card | Bank card | Debit card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Free forever | often paid | usually free |
| Points | 1% (¥100 = 1pt) | ~0.5% | 0.2–1% |
| Screening | relatively flexible | stricter | none |
| Builds credit | Yes | Yes | No |
| Students / part-time | OK from age 18 | can be hard | anyone |
- Free for life — holding it costs nothing
- 1% points — 3%+ in the Rakuten shop; stacks with Rakuten Mobile
- Online, ~10 minutes — no awkward in-store moment
- Students and part-timers can apply from age 18 — write your income honestly (exaggerating is more dangerous than a low figure)
Sign-up bonus (as of July 2026)
A new-card-plus-use campaign gives several thousand yen in Rakuten points (sometimes 5,000+). Since there’s no annual fee, that bonus is pure gain. Check the current amount on the official site.
Check your situation first — because rejection means a 6-month wait
This is the most important part. A rejection stays on your credit record for about 6 months. Re-applying right away usually fails, and repeated rejections make it worse. So don’t “just try.” Go through these 5 points and pass the first time.
How to apply (about 10 minutes)
Worried about screening? A debit card is a valid path
If your residence period is short or your income is unstable, don’t force an application (a rejection means a 6-month wait). Use a debit card meanwhile — instant deduction from your bank account, no screening. Most online payments and SIM contracts accept debit. Once you renew and your income is steady, try a credit card again.
Rules once you have a card
- Always pay in full (“一括”). Revolving payment (リボ) charges about 15% a year. However tempting the offer, never switch to revolving.
- Check your balance before the payment date. Missed payments stay on your record and can hurt future rentals, loans, and residence applications.
- When you leave Japan, close your bank account only after the final payment clears.
Frequently asked questions
Can students and part-timers get a card?
Yes. The Rakuten Card is open to students and part-timers from age 18. Write your income honestly, even if it’s small.
My residence period is short — should I apply?
If under 6 months remain, apply after renewing. Use a debit card until then.
I was rejected. Can I re-apply right away?
No. The record stays about 6 months, so an immediate re-application usually fails. Wait 6 months and check the list first.
Do I need a Japanese bank account?
Yes, for payments. Open one first if you haven’t.
What’s the difference between credit and debit?
Credit is “pay later” and builds your history. Debit deducts instantly with no screening. If screening worries you, starting with debit is a good choice.
Summary
- The three reasons foreigners fail are all fixable
- First card: the free, 1%-points Rakuten Card
- Run the 5-point checklist and pass the first time
- Still unsure? Waiting with a debit card is a smart move too
- After you get it: pay in full, never miss a payment. A card is a tool for building trust.
