Best Digital Banks for International Students in Japan

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The best digital banks for international students in Japan combine online account management, convenient ATM access, low everyday fees, and an application process that accepts foreign residents.

However, opening a digital bank account in Japan can be more difficult for a newly arrived student. Banks may require a residence card, registered Japanese address, local tax-residency information, and sufficient time remaining on your permitted stay. Some also require six months of residence or evidence of employment.

For most eligible foreign students, Seven Bank is the strongest overall digital option. Rakuten Bank offers a broad online-banking ecosystem, PayPay Bank is useful for mobile payments, and SBI Shinsei Bank provides stronger English and international banking services for established residents.

1. Seven Bank — Best Overall for International Students

Seven Bank is one of the most accessible digital banking options for foreign residents because it combines online banking with an extensive network of ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores and other locations.

Eligible foreign nationals can apply online or through selected Seven Bank ATMs. Online applicants generally need:

Residence card or special permanent resident certificate
My Number card or residence certificate
Registered Japanese address
At least three months remaining on their residence period
Proof of employment when they have been in Japan for less than six months

Seven Bank provides multilingual account guidance and ATM services in several languages. Its cash card may also include JCB debit functionality for eligible customers.

Why Seven Bank is suitable for students

Online and ATM-based applications
Convenient ATM network
English and multilingual support
Debit-card option
Mobile and direct banking
International remittance services
No Japanese credit history normally required for the deposit account

Seven Bank states that withdrawals from its ATMs are free between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., although fees and conditions can differ by transaction and service.

Important 2026 restriction

Seven Bank temporarily stopped accepting the new residence-card formats issued from June 14, 2026 for several procedures, including online and ATM account opening, while it updates its systems. Students holding a newly issued card should check whether this restriction has been lifted before applying.

2. Rakuten Bank — Best for a Broad Online-Banking Ecosystem

Rakuten Bank is a major Japanese internet bank offering online account management, debit cards, domestic transfers, ATM access, savings products, and international payment services.

Foreign nationals residing in Japan may apply using identification such as:

Residence card
Special permanent resident certificate
Registered Japanese address
Additional verification documents when requested

Applicants must be residents of Japan, and each customer can generally hold only one personal Rakuten Bank account.

Why Rakuten Bank may suit students

Online application through the website or application
Debit-card options
Access to partner ATMs
Domestic transfer services
Savings and foreign-currency products
Integration with other Rakuten services
Up to a limited number of free ATM transactions based on the customer’s Happy Program status

Rakuten Bank advertises as many as seven free ATM transactions per month under applicable program conditions. Students should check how their membership level is calculated before relying on this benefit.

Possible disadvantages

Automated identity verification may delay foreign applications.
The applicant’s name and address must exactly match the identification documents.
Some account features, instructions, and customer-service procedures may be easier to navigate in Japanese.
Nonresidents of Japan are not eligible to open the standard personal account.

Rakuten Bank may work best for students who are comfortable using Japanese digital services and already use the wider Rakuten ecosystem.

3. PayPay Bank — Best for Mobile-Payment Users

PayPay Bank is an online bank closely connected to Japan’s PayPay payment ecosystem. It can be useful for students who want mobile account management and frequently use PayPay for everyday purchases.

Foreign nationals aged 12 or older may apply when they:

Reside in Japan
Qualify as residents under Japanese foreign-exchange rules
Have Japan as their only country of tax residence
Provide a residence card or special permanent resident certificate
Complete smartphone-based identity verification

The application may involve scanning the card’s IC chip and taking a facial photograph.

Why PayPay Bank may suit students

Smartphone account opening
Integration with PayPay
Online transfers and account management
Debit-card and cash-card services
No need to visit a conventional bank branch in standard cases

Possible disadvantages

Applicants with tax residence in another country may not meet the published eligibility rule.
English support may rely on translated web content or translation tools.
Certain new residence cards issued from June 14, 2026 may require document submission by mail instead of entirely digital verification.

The tax-residence condition is particularly important for international students who remain tax residents of their home country.

4. SBI Shinsei Bank — Best for English and International Banking

SBI Shinsei Bank is not a digital-only bank, but its PowerFlex account provides strong online features for foreign residents, including:

English internet banking
English customer support
Yen and foreign-currency accounts
Partner ATM access
Domestic transfers
International remittance services

Foreign applicants must normally have lived in Japan for more than six months or work for a company with an office in Japan. They must also be residents of Japan and able to understand either English or Japanese.

Standard-stage customers currently receive up to five free withdrawals per month at certain partner ATMs, while at least one domestic online transfer may be free depending on the Step Up Program level.

Important July 2026 change

From July 2026, SBI Shinsei Bank discontinued in-branch account opening for most non-Japanese customers and moved them to a mail-application procedure. Applicants can begin the process from within Japan, but opening the account is not completely digital because documents must be mailed.

Best for

Students who have lived in Japan for at least six months
Students with qualifying employment
English-speaking customers
People receiving money from overseas
Customers holding or exchanging foreign currencies

Documents Needed for a Digital Bank Account

International students should prepare:

Valid residence card
Registered Japanese address
Passport
Student ID or enrollment certificate
My Number card or residence certificate
Japanese mobile phone number
Email address
Proof of employment when required
Tax-residency information
Smartphone with NFC and a working camera

Make sure the name, address, and date of birth entered online exactly match your official documents.

Which Digital Bank Is Best?

Choose Seven Bank when you want the easiest combination of ATMs, multilingual support, and digital account management.

Choose Rakuten Bank when you already use Rakuten services and are comfortable managing a primarily Japanese online account.

Choose PayPay Bank when PayPay is central to your daily spending and Japan is your only country of tax residence.

Choose SBI Shinsei Bank when you have lived in Japan longer and need English banking, foreign currencies, or international transfers.

Many newly arrived students may still find Japan Post Bank easier than a digital-only provider, especially when their university helps with the application.

Final Takeaway

Seven Bank is generally the best digital bank for international students in Japan because of its multilingual services and convenient ATM network. Rakuten Bank and PayPay Bank provide strong mobile features but may involve stricter digital verification or Japanese-language procedures.

SBI Shinsei Bank is a stronger choice for established foreign residents needing English and international banking, although its July 2026 application process requires documents by mail.

Always verify current residence-card compatibility, tax-residency rules, ATM fees, and application requirements on the bank’s official website before applying.

Best Digital Banks for International Students in Japan