Best Credit Cards in Japan for Foreigners (2026 Guide)

By Admin

Life in Japan / Banking

Getting a credit card in Japan as a foreign resident is still harder than many people expect—but it is no longer impossible. In 2026, more banks and card issuers are openly accepting foreign applicants, especially those with stable income, mid- to long-term visas, and a basic credit history in Japan.

This guide explains which credit cards foreigners realistically get approved for, why applications fail, and how to improve your chances, based on real anonymized cases from foreign residents across Japan.

Why Credit Cards Are Hard for Foreigners in Japan

Japanese credit card screening focuses heavily on risk avoidance, not just income.

Common red flags include:

Short remaining visa period (less than 1 year)
No Japanese credit history
Frequent job changes
Overseas income only
Incomplete katakana name matching bank records

Even highly paid foreigners get rejected if they do not fit the expected profile.

Anonymized case (Tokyo, IT engineer):
A software engineer earning ¥7.5M/year was rejected twice because his residence card expired in 10 months. After renewing his visa to 3 years, the same card was approved within two weeks.

Best Credit Cards for Foreigners in Japan (2026)

1. Rakuten Card (Most Beginner-Friendly)

Best for: First-time applicants, short credit history

Why it works:

Simple screening
English-friendly interface
No annual fee
Easy approval with Japanese bank account

Typical approval profile:

Resident visa: 1 year or more
Income: ¥2.5M+ annually
Japanese address registered

2. Amazon Mastercard (SMBC)

Best for: Online shoppers, salaried employees

Advantages:

Amazon point rewards
Strong acceptance rate for foreigners
No annual fee (standard card)

Caution:

SMBC checks employment stability closely
Contract workers may face rejection

3. EPOS Card (Recommended for Young & New Residents)

Best for: Students, new workers, renters

Key benefits:

Very high approval rate
No annual fee
Helpful for apartment rental guarantees

Anonymized case (Osaka, language school graduate):
A foreign graduate on a new work visa was rejected by Rakuten but approved for EPOS within 5 days with a ¥100,000 limit.

4. SMBC Olive / Prestia Cards

Best for: Professionals with stable income

Why choose it:

Strong bank backing
Good travel insurance
Integrates with Japanese banking

Downside:

More paperwork
Visa length matters a lot

5. American Express Japan (Gold / Green)

Best for: High-income professionals

Pros:

International-friendly screening
Accepts overseas credit history (sometimes)
Premium customer support

Cons:

Annual fee
Approval usually requires ¥6M+ income or strong profile

Credit Cards Foreigners Often Get Rejected From

Be cautious with:

JCB premium cards (strict screening)
Department store cards (employment-sensitive)
Cards requiring permanent residence

Rejection does not damage your score immediately, but multiple applications in a short period will.

How to Increase Approval Chances (Practical Tips)

Match your name exactly (katakana must match bank records)
Renew your visa before applying
Use one application every 2–3 months
Apply after 6+ months of employment
Start with no-fee cards
Avoid stating overseas income unless required

Debit Cards vs Credit Cards in Japan

Many foreigners use debit cards temporarily, but note:

Debit cards do not build Japanese credit history
Some online services require credit cards
Rental contracts often prefer credit cards

Credit cards are still essential for long-term life in Japan.

Final Advice from GaijinBlog

If you are new to Japan, start small. Approval today matters more than perks. Once you build 6–12 months of clean usage history, upgrading becomes much easier.

Japan’s credit system is conservative—but predictable.

Tools you can use for check:

📲 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀:
• 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸: https://www.facebook.com/gaijinblogs
• 𝗧𝗶𝗸𝗧𝗼𝗸: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaijin.blog
• 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺: https://www.instagram.com/gaijinblog/

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