LINEMO for Foreign Residents (2026): Eligibility, eSIM & Prices

Advertising disclosure: This article contains advertising links. We may receive compensation if you apply through them. Compensation does not affect our eligibility explanations, cautions or editorial conclusions.

The answer in one minute

Foreign residents can apply for LINEMO if they have a registered Japanese address, accepted identity documents, a payment method in the subscriber’s name and a compatible unlocked phone. Residence status determines the safest SIM route: Permanent Residents and Special Permanent Residents may use the published eSIM route, while most other residents should choose a physical SIM and submit both a residence card and the photo page of a foreign passport. LINEMO is online-only, with no live English telephone or chat support. Current base prices start at ¥990 per month, and a standard ¥3,850 contract administration fee normally applies.

Bottom line by residence status

Permanent Resident: physical SIM or the published eSIM route, subject to identity verification and device compatibility.
Special Permanent Resident: physical SIM or the published eSIM route using the correct certificate category.
Other foreign resident: choose a physical SIM and prepare a residence card plus the passport photo page.
Visitor without a Japanese resident address: LINEMO’s resident contract is not the appropriate route; compare travel SIM or travel eSIM options.

Last verifiedJuly 21, 2026

Reading timeAbout 17 minutes

ForForeign residents living in Japan who want to confirm LINEMO eligibility before applying

Not forShort-term visitors without a registered Japanese address, or anyone who requires in-store or fully English-speaking support

Research methodCurrent Japanese plan, fee and procedure pages were prioritized when translated pages were outdated or inconsistent.

Editorial ruleThe stricter published eligibility route is used when official pages are not synchronized.

Important: Accepted documents do not guarantee approval. A wrong SIM route, a name or address mismatch, incorrect masking or unreadable images can cause correction requests or cancellation.

LINEMO eligibility for foreign residents by residence status

LINEMO is most practical for people who are comfortable applying online, already own a compatible phone and can manage at least some Japanese if a translated page or guide is incomplete.

Residence status, required documents and SIM route
Residence category	Main documents	Physical SIM	New eSIM	Key caution
Permanent Resident	Valid residence card	Available	Listed as available	Application details must match the card.
Special Permanent Resident	Valid Special Permanent Resident Certificate	Available	Listed as available	Select the correct document category.
Work, student, dependent, spouse or another non-permanent status	Residence card plus foreign passport photo page	Use this route	Not listed as eligible on the multilingual page	Do not select eSIM only because your phone supports it.
Visitor without a registered Japanese address	Resident-contract documents unavailable	Outside this guide	Outside this guide	Use a travel SIM or travel eSIM instead.

LINEMO’s multilingual page expressly states that, because of the limited identity documents accepted for the eSIM route, only Permanent Residents and Special Permanent Residents can sign up with eSIM. For other statuses, the published document route is a residence card plus the photo page of a foreign passport.

Official check: Review LINEMO’s multilingual eligibility and document page before choosing a SIM type.

LINEMO prices and first-year cost in 2026

Current LINEMO base plans
Plan	Data	Monthly base price	Domestic calls	After the main allowance
LINEMO Best Plan	Up to 3GB	¥990	¥22 per 30 seconds	10–15GB: up to 300kbps; over 15GB: up to 128kbps
LINEMO Best Plan	Over 3GB to 10GB	¥2,090	¥22 per 30 seconds	10–15GB: up to 300kbps; over 15GB: up to 128kbps
LINEMO Best Plan V	Up to 30GB	¥2,970	Calls of up to five minutes included, with exclusions	30–45GB: up to 1Mbps; over 45GB: up to 128kbps

Prices are tax-inclusive. Additional data costs ¥550 per 1GB. Purchased additional data is valid only through the end of the current billing month, and unused monthly data does not roll over. Calls to certain services, including some numbers beginning with 0570, are excluded from the five-minute call benefit.

Official check: Confirm the current LINEMO plans and data-speed conditions on the publication or application date.

The official English page still shows old Best Plan V pricing

At the time of checking, LINEMO’s multilingual English page still described Best Plan V as 20GB for ¥2,700 before tax and 30GB for ¥3,600 before tax. The current Japanese plan page lists a single 30GB tier at ¥2,970 including tax. This article uses the current Japanese plan page.

First-year base-cost estimate

Estimated 12-month base cost including the standard contract fee
Usage pattern	12 months of base fees	Plus ¥3,850 standard contract fee
3GB or less every month	¥11,880	¥15,730
Over 3GB to 10GB every month	¥25,080	¥28,930
Best Plan V, 30GB	¥35,640	¥39,490

These estimates exclude call charges, optional services, universal-service charges and campaign benefits. New contracts, MNP transfers and number transfers normally incur a ¥3,850 administration fee.

Early cancellation fee for contracts started from July 1, 2026

For customers who joined through a new contract, MNP or number transfer on or after July 1, 2026, requesting cancellation within 12 months of the service-start month normally triggers a ¥990 fee on Best Plan or a ¥1,100 fee on Best Plan V. LINEMO lists exceptions, including transfers from LINEMO to SoftBank or Y!mobile and qualifying eight-day cancellations.

Time-limited offer checked July 21, 2026

Best Plan V base fee: two months at ¥0

Applications from July 20 through July 26, 2026 may receive two months of Best Plan V base-fee discounts after the applicable start month. Entry, activation and other official conditions apply. The normal 30GB base price is ¥2,970 after the discount period.

Read the official campaign conditions

Required documents and common application problems

Permanent Residents

Prepare a valid residence card. The name, address and date of birth entered in the application must match the card. Keep the facial photograph visible and cover only the fields that LINEMO instructs you to mask.

Special Permanent Residents

Prepare a valid Special Permanent Resident Certificate and select the dedicated document category during the application.

Other foreign residents

Prepare both of the following:

The front and back of a valid residence card.
The photo page of a valid foreign passport. Other passport pages and visa pages do not replace the photo page.

Supporting documents for an old surname or address

If the surname or address on the main identity document is not current, LINEMO may require a supporting document issued within the last three months, such as a certificate of residence or an eligible electricity, gas, water or NHK receipt. The name and current address must match the applicant, and a family member’s receipt is not accepted for this purpose.

New-format residence cards issued from June 14, 2026

LINEMO states that identity verification differs for residence cards and Special Permanent Resident Certificates issued from June 14, 2026. Some new-format cards are not yet supported by the app-based card-reading route. The official document page advises applicants who are unsure to choose identity verification upon delivery. This can add a delivery step even when the order involves eSIM, so do not assume that every eSIM application is instant.

Masking rules that can cancel an application

Cover the gender field when the current upload instructions require it.
Cover My Number and permanent domicile on supporting residence records when instructed.
Do not cover the facial photograph.
Use clear, well-lit images without blur, glare or cropped edges.
Check the current upload examples because document formats and verification methods can change.

Common application problems and how to avoid them

Application-risk checklist for foreign residents
Problem	Why it causes trouble	Safer action
Choosing eSIM with a non-permanent residence status	The multilingual page limits the published eSIM route to Permanent Residents and Special Permanent Residents.	Choose a physical SIM unless the current official application explicitly accepts your documents for another route.
Submitting only a residence card as a non-permanent resident	The published route requires the passport photo page as well.	Prepare both sides of the valid residence card and the passport photo page.
Name, address or date-of-birth mismatch	Application details must match the identity documents, payment method and MNP contract where relevant.	Compare spelling, order, spaces, middle names and the current registered address before submission.
Incorrect masking	Failing to cover a required sensitive field, or covering the face photo, can cancel the application.	Follow the current upload example and mask only the specified fields.
Blurred, dark or cropped images	The document and facial photograph must be readable.	Use even lighting, show all edges and check the image before uploading.
Using the wrong route for a new-format residence card	Cards issued from June 14, 2026 can use different verification methods.	Check the issue date and choose delivery-time identity verification when the official page recommends it.
Payment name mismatch	The payment method must belong to the subscriber.	Confirm the card or bank-account holder name before applying.
Unverified overseas phone model	Overseas variants can differ even when the model family has the same name.	Check the exact model and each required function on the compatibility list.

Official check: Use the current LINEMO identity-document page for upload examples and new-format residence-card instructions.

eSIM or physical SIM: which route should you choose?

An eSIM is a digital SIM profile installed on a compatible device. Device support alone is not enough: the identity documents accepted for the application route also matter.

Safe decision rule

Permanent Resident or Special Permanent Resident: eSIM is listed as an application option, subject to device and identity-verification requirements.

Any other residence status: choose a physical SIM unless the current application screen and LINEMO support explicitly confirm another route for your documents.

The detailed identification page now explains smartphone card reading and identity verification upon delivery for several documents. However, the multilingual foreign-resident page still explicitly limits new eSIM applications to Permanent Residents and Special Permanent Residents. Until LINEMO aligns these pages, this guide follows the stricter published rule.

Physical SIM is often the safer route

Advantages

Uses the published residence-card-plus-passport route.
Works with compatible phones that lack eSIM.
Avoids relying on unclear eSIM document exceptions.
Can be easier to move between compatible devices.

Trade-offs

You must wait for delivery.
The delivery address must match your documents.
The contract holder may need to receive the package.
Physical SIM reissue costs ¥1,100; eSIM reissue is listed at ¥0.

Do not infer eligibility from the phone alone: SIM-format eligibility depends on both the device and the identity documents accepted for the application route.

English application pages and support limitations

SoftBank announced in March 2025 that the LINEMO application page became available in English, Simplified Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. This is useful, but it does not mean that every step and support channel is available in English.

What foreign-language users can and cannot expect
Area	Current position
Translated information	Available on the multilingual site and guides.
Multilingual application page	Four-language support was announced in March 2025.
Live chat or telephone support in English	Not currently provided.
Store application or store support	Not provided; LINEMO is online-only.
Japanese confirmation call	LINEMO may call the contact number in Japanese if there is an issue.
Financial-institution lists and some account pages	Some are Japanese-only.

Translated pages are generated using automated translation and may lag behind the Japanese source. Always compare high-risk items such as price, fees, documents and campaign conditions with the current Japanese official page.

Before applying: payment, phone compatibility and MNP

Payment methods and subscriber-name matching

LINEMO accepts a credit card or a supported Japanese financial-institution account in the same name as the subscriber.

Accepted credit-card brands listed by LINEMO: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and Diners Club.
Visa, Mastercard and JCB-branded debit cards may be used; J-Debit is not accepted.
Direct debit is available through supported Japanese financial institutions.
A listed card brand does not guarantee approval by the card issuer.
An overseas-issued card is not guaranteed to work.

Prevent name-format problems

Before applying, compare the legal name on the residence card, passport, card or bank account and current carrier contract. Roman-letter order, spaces, middle names and katakana registration can create mismatches. LINEMO says the payment method must belong to the subscriber, although the visual name format shown on the application screen may differ from the card itself.

Device compatibility, SoftBank network and LINE Giga Free

LINEMO does not sell smartphones. Prepare a SIM-free or SIM-unlocked device and check the exact model number on the official compatibility list.

Confirm voice calls, SMS, mobile data, tethering, eSIM and 5G separately.
Overseas versions of familiar phones may use different frequency bands or software.
LINEMO states that it has not verified models sold overseas.
If a device is not listed, operation is not guaranteed.
Network speed varies by location, congestion, building conditions and device.

What LINE Giga Free covers

Eligible LINE chats, voice calls, video calls and file transfers do not consume the monthly data allowance. Exclusions include certain location sharing, the sticker shop, news articles, external websites and some functions affected by technical conditions such as VPN use or iCloud Private Relay.

Keeping your Japanese phone number with MNP

MNP (Mobile Number Portability) lets you keep a Japanese phone number when switching carriers. Depending on the current provider, LINEMO supports an MNP one-stop route without a reservation number. If a reservation number is required, LINEMO says it must have at least 10 days of validity remaining for a physical SIM application or at least five days for an eSIM application.

Do not cancel the existing line before the number transfer completes.
Make sure the current carrier’s contract name matches the new LINEMO subscriber.
Prepare the current carrier’s login information for MNP one-stop.
Recheck SIM type before submitting because document eligibility differs.

Free checks before applying: confirm the exact phone model on LINEMO’s compatibility list and review the current MNP requirements.

Advantages, disadvantages and when to choose another carrier

Advantages

Base pricing starts at ¥990.
Best Plan V includes 30GB and calls of up to five minutes.
Uses the SoftBank network.
Eligible LINE functions do not consume the main allowance.
Physical SIM provides a published route for non-permanent residents.
Translated information and application guides are available.

Disadvantages

Online-only, with no store or telephone support.
No live chat or telephone support in languages other than Japanese.
Non-permanent residents should not rely on the eSIM route.
No phone purchase with the plan.
Unused data does not roll over.
Standard contract and possible early-cancellation fees apply.
Some translated pages are not synchronized with current Japanese information.

Who should keep their current carrier or choose an alternative?

Keep your current carrier until you confirm that your exact phone works on LINEMO.
Do not switch immediately if losing a family or home-internet bundle discount would cost more than the LINEMO saving.
Choose a carrier with store or multilingual human support if you cannot manage Japanese troubleshooting.
Use a travel SIM or travel eSIM if you do not have a Japanese resident address.
Choose another eSIM provider if eSIM is essential and your residence status does not meet LINEMO’s published rule.

Advertising

Does LINEMO fit your documents, SIM route and support needs?

Review the current offer only after confirming your residence-status documents, payment name, compatible phone and ability to use an online-only service. The link opens LINEMO’s current campaign page.

Review Current LINEMO Offers and Conditions

Permanent or Special Permanent Resident: eSIM may be available. Other residence statuses: use the physical-SIM route unless LINEMO confirms otherwise.

Pre-application checklist

I have a Japanese address matching my identity document.
I can receive mail or identity-verification delivery at that address.
My residence card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate is valid.
If I am not a Permanent Resident, I have my foreign passport photo page.
I checked whether my card was issued from June 14, 2026 and which verification route it supports.
I masked only the fields specified by LINEMO and kept my face visible.
My application name, address and date of birth match my documents.
My card or bank account is in the subscriber’s name.
My exact phone model and required functions appear on the compatibility list.
I selected a physical SIM if my status does not meet the published eSIM rule.
I can manage Japanese-only pages or support if a problem occurs.
If using MNP, the contract name and reservation validity are sufficient.
I checked the current price, fees and campaign terms today.

Advertising

Documents, SIM type, payment and device confirmed?

Proceed only after every relevant checklist item is complete. Permanent and Special Permanent Residents may check the eSIM route; other foreign residents should normally choose a physical SIM. The link opens LINEMO’s current campaign page, where eligible readers can continue to the application.

Check Current LINEMO Campaign and Application Options

Not sure? Do not apply yet. Recheck the document and eSIM sections above.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign resident apply for LINEMO?

Yes, eligible foreign residents can apply when they have a registered Japanese address, accepted identity documents, a payment method in the subscriber’s name and a compatible device. Residence status affects the documents and SIM route, and approval is not guaranteed.

Does a non-permanent resident need a passport?

Yes. LINEMO lists a residence card plus the photo page of a foreign passport for residence statuses other than Permanent Resident and Special Permanent Resident.

Can a student or work-visa holder apply with eSIM?

LINEMO’s current multilingual page limits new foreign-resident eSIM applications to Permanent Residents and Special Permanent Residents. Students, work-visa holders and other non-permanent residents should choose a physical SIM unless LINEMO explicitly confirms a different current route for their documents.

Is the LINEMO application fully available in English?

Four-language application-page support was announced, and translated guides are available. However, LINEMO says live chat and telephone support are not available in languages other than Japanese, and some linked pages remain Japanese-only.

Does LINEMO charge a contract fee?

The standard fee for a new contract, MNP or number transfer is ¥3,850. Temporary campaigns may waive or offset a fee, but only when the official campaign conditions explicitly say so.

Can I use a phone bought outside Japan?

It may work, but LINEMO says overseas models have not been verified. Check the exact model, SIM lock, frequency support and each function on the compatibility page. Do not rely only on the model family name.

Sources, methodology and update history

Last checked: July 21, 2026. High-risk conditions should be checked again immediately before publication and application.

How we evaluated LINEMO for foreign residents

We separated resident voice-and-data contracts from tourist travel eSIMs.
We compared the current Japanese official pages with translated pages and used the current Japanese source for prices and fees.
Where official pages were not fully aligned, we used the more restrictive application rule to reduce the risk of an ineligible application.
Affiliate compensation was not used to decide eligibility, advantages, disadvantages or the article conclusion.
No unprovided first-hand application, speed or support experience was invented.

Update history

July 21, 2026: Added the new-format residence-card rules, current fees, status-based SIM decision matrix, common application-problem table and revised CTA qualification flow.
Next mandatory review: July 27, 2026, because the time-limited campaign shown above ends on July 26.