# Phone contract in Japan as a foreigner: documents, payment and installments

URL: https://japanhow.com/phone-internet/mobile/phone-contract-japan-foreigner/
Author: japanhow editors
Updated: Oct 20, 2026

## Summary

As of October 2026, a foreigner signing a phone contract in Japan needs a residence card, and docomo, au, SoftBank and LINEMO also ask for a foreign passport unless you are a permanent resident. With less than 3 months (docomo) or 90 days (au) left on your stay, you must pay by credit card in your own name. You can only buy a phone on installments if your period of stay outlasts the installment term. Sakura Mobile and Mobal accept a passport and foreign or debit cards.

## Key facts

- Documents: Residence card + passport
- docomo credit-card rule: Under 3 months of stay left
- au credit-card rule: Under 90 days left
- Phone installments: Only within your stay

To sign a phone contract in Japan as a foreigner, bring your **residence card (在留カード)** and **passport**: docomo, au, SoftBank and LINEMO ask for both unless you are a permanent resident. With less than **3 months** of stay left at docomo, or **90 days** at au, you must pay by credit card in your own name. Phone installments must end before your period of stay does. Rules are from carrier pages, as of October 2026.

## What documents do I need for a phone contract?

Every voice contract in Japan needs an identity check by law. Since April 1, 2026, online sign-ups must in principle read the IC chip on your card, and in-person contracts follow from April 2027, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省). Uploading a photo of your ID or mailing a copy is being phased out.

What each carrier asks foreign residents for:

| Carrier | Documents | Permanent residents |
|---|---|---|
| docomo | Residence card + foreign passport | Residence card only |
| au | Residence card + foreign passport | Not stated separately |
| SoftBank | Residence card + foreign passport | Residence card only (also Highly Skilled Professional (ii)) |
| LINEMO | Residence card + foreign passport | Residence card only |
| povo | Residence card with 90+ days of stay left | Same rule |
| Rakuten Mobile | Residence card, IC chip must hold your correct address | Same rule |
| Sakura Mobile | Passport at pickup; residence card at current address for delivery | Same rule |
| Mobal | Valid passport (original, not a copy) | Same rule |

SoftBank won't sign anyone whose card shows no status of residence (在留資格) (資格なし), and asks for originals only. If the address on your card is different from where you live, SoftBank wants a 住民票 (residence record) or a utility receipt showing your address, issued within the last 3 months. au asks for extra documents if your card's address says 未定 (not decided).

**Register your address first:** Most problems come from the address on your residence card. povo stops the process if the address is 未定 or the back of the card shows an update; it suggests using a My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) instead or getting the card reissued. Rakuten Mobile's online check fails if the IC chip doesn't hold your correct address, and its home-delivery ID check isn't open to foreign nationals. Make sure the address on your card is up to date before you apply.

### What about the new residence cards?

Residence cards issued since June 14, 2026 no longer print the period of stay; it's stored only on the IC chip, according to the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁). Getting the combined residence and My Number card (特定在留カード) is optional, and old-style cards remain valid. LINEMO says its app can't read the new cards yet and asks you to choose ID check at delivery (配達時に本人確認).

## How much time must be left on my residence card?

There is no single rule. These are the limits carriers publish:

- **docomo:** less than **3 months** until your period of stay ends, or no residence card shown, means you must pay by credit card in your own name.
- **au:** less than **90 days** left means monthly fees can only be paid by credit card in your own name.
- **povo:** your period of stay must have **at least 90 days** left to use the residence card.
- **Installments at docomo, au and SoftBank:** your period of stay must last past the end of the installment term.

If your renewal (在留期間更新) is in progress, finish it and bring the new card. Our [visa renewal guide](/visa/visas/visa-renewal-japan/) explains the process.

## How can I pay without a Japanese credit card?

| Option | Who accepts it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese bank account (口座振替) | ahamo, LINEMO, Rakuten Mobile, au | Rakuten charges ¥110 a month. au needs your cash card, or passbook and registered seal |
| Payment slip at a counter | au | Extra handling fee |
| Paidy (pay later) | povo | Can be set up without a credit card; povo doesn't accept debit cards |
| Foreign card or debit card | Sakura Mobile, Mobal | Mobal also takes PayPal |
| Convenience-store cash | Sakura Mobile, GTN Mobile | GTN also takes payment at its branches |

The bank account route only works once your account is open; see [bank accounts for foreigners](/money/banking/bank-account-for-foreigners-japan/). A credit card in your own name avoids the short-stay limits above; our [credit card guide](/money/cards/credit-card-for-foreigners-japan/) covers which issuers accept newcomers.

## Can I buy a phone on installments?

Yes, but the installment term must fit inside your period of stay.

- **docomo** says installments may not be available if the period on your residence card is shorter than the installment contract.
- **au** asks non-Japanese customers with a period of stay for a document showing it **and a credit card**. It may refuse if your stay is shorter than the payment period, and foreign residents can't use its 60- or 72-payment plans.
- **SoftBank** won't sign an installment contract if your period of stay ends before the installment period.
- **Rakuten Mobile** won't let you pay for a phone by bank transfer at all, whether one-time, 24 or 48 installments. Cash on delivery is the alternative.

So if you have a 1-year visa, a 24- or 48-month plan will likely be refused. The simpler route is to buy the phone outright (一括払い, ikkatsu barai) or bring a phone from home and get a SIM only. ahamo, for example, offers both one-time payment and 24 installments for phones.

## How do I get a Japanese number before I have a bank account?

Two providers sell voice SIMs without a Japanese bank account or card:

- **Sakura Mobile:** pick up the SIM with your passport, or get it delivered in 1 to 3 days once you have a registered address. Pay by international credit or debit card, or cash at Lawson, FamilyMart or MiniStop.
- **Mobal:** voice SIMs with a 070, 080 or 090 number for passport holders aged 18 or over. Pay by debit or credit card, or PayPal.

GTN Mobile also takes convenience-store payment. Compare prices and our scores in [SIM cards for foreigners](/phone-internet/mobile/sim-card-for-foreigners-japan/).

## What to say at the shop

The big carriers have English help. docomo's information line (0120-005-250, 9am to 8pm) takes calls in English, Portuguese, Chinese and Spanish, and every docomo shop offers a phone interpreter. au has toll-free lines in English, Nepali, Vietnamese, Tagalog and four other languages. SoftBank's English line is 157 then 8 from a SoftBank phone.

Useful phrases:

- "I want a SIM only": SIMだけお願いします (SIM dake onegai shimasu).
- "I'll pay for the phone in one go": 一括払いでお願いします (ikkatsu barai de onegai shimasu).
- "I want to pay from my bank account": 口座振替でお願いします (kōza furikae de onegai shimasu).

Already have a number and want to move it? Read [how MNP works](/phone-internet/mobile/mnp-keep-number-japan/).

## Questions people ask

### Can a foreigner get a phone contract in Japan?

Yes. You need a residence card (在留カード) with your current address. docomo, au, SoftBank and LINEMO also ask for your foreign passport, except docomo, SoftBank and LINEMO for permanent residents. SoftBank won't sign anyone without a status of residence.

### Can I get a phone contract in Japan without a credit card?

Yes. ahamo, LINEMO, Rakuten Mobile and au accept a Japanese bank account, and au also takes payment slips for a fee. Without a bank account, Sakura Mobile takes foreign cards or convenience-store cash and GTN Mobile takes convenience-store payment. If your stay ends within 3 months (docomo) or 90 days (au), you must use your own credit card.

### How do I get a Japanese phone number before I have a bank account?

Sakura Mobile hands over a voice SIM at pickup with a passport and accepts foreign cards or convenience-store cash. Mobal sells voice SIMs with a Japanese 070, 080 or 090 number to passport holders and takes debit cards and PayPal.

### Can I buy an iPhone on installments in Japan as a foreigner?

Only if your period of stay lasts longer than the installment term. docomo, au and SoftBank all say they may refuse installments otherwise, au asks for a credit card, and foreign residents can't use au's 60- or 72-payment plans.

## Sources

- [ご来店時の本人確認書類](https://www.docomo.ne.jp/support/identification/), NTT docomo (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [Documents Verifying Identity](https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/support/procedure/identification/), NTT docomo (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [au携帯電話お申し込みに必要なもの](https://www.au.com/support/service/mobile/procedure/preparation/), KDDI (au) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [本人確認書類](https://www.softbank.jp/shop/buy/id/), SoftBank (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [本人確認書類](https://www.linemo.jp/process/necessary/), SoftBank (LINEMO) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [ご本人さま確認について](https://povo.jp/procedure/identification/), KDDI (povo) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [本人確認書類](https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/guide/verify/), Rakuten Mobile (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [口座振替でのお支払い方法](https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/guide/payment/autopay/), Rakuten Mobile (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [ahamo payment methods (FAQ)](https://faq.ahamo.com/faq/show/123?category_id=22&site_domain=default), NTT docomo (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [ahamo plan](https://ahamo.com/plan/), NTT docomo (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [LINEMO plan](https://www.linemo.jp/plan/), SoftBank (LINEMO) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [povo2.0 payment methods (FAQ)](https://faq.povo.jp/faq/show/739?category_id=6&site_domain=default), KDDI (povo) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [Voice and Data SIM guide](https://www.sakuramobile.jp/blog/plan-guides/sakura-mobile-japan-voice-and-data-sim-guide-the-essential-resident-plan-for-expats-students/), Sakura Mobile (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [Japan SIM card](https://www.mobal.com/japan-sim-card/), Mobal (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [Inquiries](https://www.docomo.ne.jp/english/support/inquiry/), NTT docomo (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [au Customer Center](https://www.au.com/english/support/faq/customer-center/), KDDI (au) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [SoftBank Customer Support](https://www.softbank.jp/en/mobile/support/contact/), SoftBank (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [Paying Bills](https://www.gtn-mobile.com/s/support/paying-bills?language=en_US), GTN Mobile (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [携帯電話の本人確認ルール](https://www.soumu.go.jp/tokushusagi/id-check/), 総務省 (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [特定在留カード等交付申請について](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/tokutei.html), 出入国在留管理庁 (accessed Oct 20, 2026)