Rakuten Mobile Required Documents: Foreign Residents (2026)

Verified July 21, 2026 Foreign residents in Japan

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Quick answer: what do foreign residents need?

Most foreign residents need a valid Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate whose legal name, date of birth, and complete Japanese address match the application. A foreign passport alone is not listed as a primary identity document for a foreign-national Rakuten Mobile application.

Online IC verification works only with a supported standard card, the correct IC-chip address, and an NFC-compatible phone. The postal route uses an eligible residence certificate when offered. Use a shop if the IC address is missing or outdated, or for a Specified or second-generation card covered by the June 14, 2026 change.

Before applying, check the document type, expiry date, exact name, full address, Rakuten ID, MNP name, and payment method.

For: Foreign residents in Japan preparing to apply for a Rakuten Mobile voice plan. Not for: Short-term visitors or readers seeking a complete screen-by-screen application guide.

Privacy note: This website does not collect identity documents. Never send your Residence Card, Special Permanent Resident Certificate, passport, My Number, or payment details to an unofficial website.

Find the correct application route first

Route A: Apply online with Simple Mobile ID Verification

This is normally the most direct route when all of the following are true:

You have a standard, face-photo Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate.
The card is valid.
Your current address is correctly stored in the card’s IC chip.
Your smartphone can read NFC identity documents.
The name, date of birth, and full address entered in the application match the card.

Route B: Apply online and mail a residence certificate

Rakuten Mobile also publishes a verification route using either:

a Copy of Residence Certificate; or
a Certificate of Matters Stated in the Residence Certificate.

The option must be available in your application flow. The municipal document must be an original, must have been issued within six months of the identity-verification screening date, and must not show your My Number or Residence Certificate Code.

Route C: Apply at a Rakuten Mobile shop

Use the shop route when any of the following applies:

Your card’s IC chip does not contain your correct current address.
Your address changed after the card was issued and the IC information was not updated.
You have a Specified Residence Card or Specified Special Permanent Resident Certificate.
You have an eligible second-generation card issued on or after June 14, 2026.
Your smartphone cannot complete the IC-chip scan.
You use an eligible diplomatic or Ministry of Foreign Affairs identification document.
You want staff to check the original documents before the application is submitted.

Bring the original document. A photocopy or a picture stored on your phone is not a substitute for the original at a shop.

Find a Rakuten Mobile shop

Rakuten Mobile document decision table

Rakuten Mobile document decision table
Your situation	Main document	Recommended route	What to check before applying
Standard mid- or long-term resident	Residence Card	Online IC verification or shop	Valid card, face photo, matching name/address/date of birth, correct IC-chip address
Special permanent resident	Special Permanent Resident Certificate	Online IC verification or shop	Valid certificate, matching details, correct IC-chip address
Specified Residence Card holder	Specified Residence Card	Shop	Online Simple Mobile ID Verification is not currently available
Specified special permanent resident	Specified Special Permanent Resident Certificate	Shop	Online Simple Mobile ID Verification is not currently available
Eligible second-generation card holder	Second-generation Residence Card or certificate	Shop	Cards issued on or after June 14, 2026 are currently handled at shops
Postal verification applicant	Residence Certificate or Certificate of Matters Stated	Postal route when offered	Municipal original, issued within six months, no My Number or Residence Certificate Code
Eligible diplomatic-status applicant	Eligible diplomatic or Ministry of Foreign Affairs ID	Shop	Proof of a Japanese residential address may also be required
Applicant with only a foreign passport	Foreign passport	Stop and confirm another eligible document	A foreign passport alone is not listed as the primary ID for foreign-national applications

What to prepare before starting

Most adult applicants should prepare these six items:

An accepted and valid identity document
Usually a Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate.
A complete and current Japanese address
Include the building name and apartment or room number when they form part of the registered address.
A Rakuten ID with consistent personal information
Check the name, date of birth, and other account details before applying.
A payment method
Prepare a credit card or eligible Japanese bank account.
A compatible smartphone for online IC verification
The device must be able to read the card’s IC chip and complete the on-screen identity check.
MNP information when keeping a Japanese phone number
MNP (Mobile Number Portability) is the process used to keep your current Japanese phone number when switching carriers. The exact MNP process belongs in the application guide, not this document guide.

Additional documents may be required for minors, legal representatives, another person’s payment method, diplomatic-document holders, or the postal route.

Which document works with each verification method?

Which document works with each verification method?
Document or condition	Online IC verification	Postal residence-certificate route	Rakuten Mobile shop
Standard Residence Card with the correct IC-chip address	Usually available	Alternative when shown	Available
Standard Special Permanent Resident Certificate with the correct IC-chip address	Usually available	Alternative when shown	Available
Specified Residence Card or Specified Special Permanent Resident Certificate	Not available	Separate eligible residence certificate may be usable when shown	Available
Second-generation card issued on or after June 14, 2026	Not available	Separate eligible residence certificate may be usable when shown	Available
Printed address is current but the IC-chip address is not	Not available	Possible alternative when shown	Recommended
Eligible diplomatic identification document	Not listed for this method	Not confirmed for every applicant	Available when official conditions are met
Foreign passport alone	Not available	Not an eligible postal document	Not listed as the primary foreign-national ID

“Available” does not mean automatic approval. Rakuten Mobile may request additional information or cancel an application during screening.

Five-step online verification self-check

Use this check before selecting Simple Mobile ID Verification.

Do you have a face-photo Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate?
If not, check the postal route or a shop.
Is it a Specified or second-generation card?
If yes, use a Rakuten Mobile shop.
Is your current address correctly stored in the IC chip?
If no or uncertain, use a shop or complete the official IC-information update procedure first.
Can your smartphone read the card?
If the device is incompatible or the scan repeatedly fails, use another available route.
Do the legal name, date of birth, and full address match exactly?
If yes, you can proceed to the application process. If not, correct the source information before submitting.

Residence Card IC-chip and address rules

Simple Mobile ID Verification reads electronic information from the card’s IC chip. The address printed on the card and the address stored electronically must therefore be considered separately.

When online verification will not work

Rakuten Mobile states that online IC verification cannot be used when the correct address is not registered in the IC chip. This can occur when:

no address was registered when the card was issued;
you changed address after the card was issued; or
the printed and electronic address information is inconsistent.

A utility receipt or other supporting document does not overwrite an incorrect IC-chip address during Simple Mobile ID Verification. Use a shop when the IC-chip address is the problem.

Cards requiring shop verification

Rakuten Mobile currently directs holders of the following documents to a shop:

Specified Residence Card;
Specified Special Permanent Resident Certificate;
second-generation Residence Card issued on or after June 14, 2026; and
second-generation Special Permanent Resident Certificate issued on or after June 14, 2026.

These cards may be accepted at a shop even though they are not currently supported by Simple Mobile ID Verification.

Name, middle name, and romanization rules

Name mismatches are a preventable cause of incomplete identity verification. Use the legal name shown on the Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate.

How to enter a middle name

Rakuten Mobile’s published guidance divides the name at the first space.

Fictional card name:

SMITH JOHN DAVID

Application fields:

Last Name: SMITH
First Name: JOHN DAVID

Keep the remaining names in the order printed on the card. Do not omit a middle name merely because a Japanese form feels too short.

When both kanji and romaji are shown

When the identity document displays both kanji and romaji, Rakuten Mobile instructs foreign applicants to register the name entirely in romaji.

Fictional example:

Printed name: 山田ジョン / YAMADA JOHN
Enter: YAMADA JOHN
Do not mix kanji and romaji across the application fields.

If you have only one legal name

Rakuten Mobile currently publishes a system-specific field split for applicants who have only one legal name. Because this is unusual and the interface may change, verify the current official FAQ immediately before submitting.

Match the MNP contract name too

When keeping a number through MNP, the name registered with the previous carrier must be consistent with the new Rakuten Mobile application. Correct a mismatch before the transfer rather than expecting the identity document to override it.

Full-address matching rules

Enter every element required to identify the registered residence:

prefecture;
city, ward, town, or village;
block and building number;
building name; and
apartment or room number.

A missing building name or room number can cause a mismatch even when the main street address is correct.

Fictional example:

Document: 1-2-3 Sakura, Sakura Heights 305, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Incomplete: 1-2-3 Sakura, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Correct: Include Sakura Heights 305 when it forms part of the registered address.

If the legal name or registered address itself is outdated, complete the appropriate change procedure before applying. A supporting document does not correct every type of identity mismatch.

Supporting documents and postal verification

Postal residence-certificate verification

Prepare one of the municipal documents displayed in the official application instructions:

Copy of Residence Certificate; or
Certificate of Matters Stated in the Residence Certificate.

The document must:

be an original municipal document rather than a home photocopy;
have been issued within six months of the screening date;
exclude My Number; and
exclude the Residence Certificate Code.

Follow the mailing destination and deadline shown after the application. Do not mail identity documents to an address copied from an unofficial website.

Expiration date and remaining period of stay

The identity document must be valid when Rakuten Mobile checks it. An expired Residence Card or Special Permanent Resident Certificate cannot be used.

The official Rakuten Mobile pages reviewed for this article do not publish one universal rule requiring every foreign applicant to have a fixed number of months remaining on their period of stay. Therefore, do not treat unofficial statements such as “three months is always enough,” “six months is mandatory,” or “one full year is required” as a guaranteed Rakuten Mobile rule.

Rakuten Mobile may apply screening criteria that are not fully published. When the card is close to expiry, the lower-risk choice is to complete the residence-status renewal first or confirm the latest handling with official support.

Current photo, scan, and original-document rules

The ordinary online document-image upload route and the former AI-based eKYC process were changed in March 2026. For current Simple Mobile ID Verification, expect to read the IC chip and complete the identity actions shown on the screen.

For online IC verification

Use a compatible NFC smartphone.
Remove a thick case if it interferes with card reading.
Hold the card at the device position shown in the instructions.
Complete the face or action check displayed on the screen.
Stop if the retrieved name or address does not match your card.

For a shop application

Bring the original document.
Do not rely on a photocopy or a phone image.
Bring any required consent or address documents.
Book a visit when possible.

If official support requests an image or resubmission

Submit only through the official Rakuten Mobile process. The entire requested document should be visible, readable, in color, free from strong reflection, and within its expiration date.

This article covers prevention. Detailed recovery after a failed identity check belongs in the separate identity-verification failure guide.

Documents for minors and representatives

Applicants under 18 can apply online or at a shop, but additional conditions apply.

Online application by a minor

Prepare the minor’s eligible identity document or the municipal document required for the chosen verification route, the minor’s Rakuten ID, required legal-representative consent information, and an accepted payment method.

A student ID is not a replacement for the required identity document.

Shop application by a minor

The minor and a parent or legal guardian normally need to visit together. Prepare:

the minor’s original identity document;
the parent or guardian’s valid identity document;
the current legal-representative consent form;
the payment-name consent form when applicable; and
any MNP document required for the shop route.

Additional condition for users under 18: Rakuten Mobile currently states that its designated child-safety service is mandatory. Check the current service name, fee, forms, and cancellation conditions in the official minor application guide before applying.

Payment information to prepare

Prepare either:

credit card information; or
eligible Japanese bank-account information for direct debit.

For a shop application, Rakuten Mobile states that when the payment method is not in the applicant’s name, the named cardholder or account holder must accompany the applicant.

Payment-method eligibility and device-installment screening are separate from identity-document acceptance. A valid Residence Card does not guarantee that every card, account, or installment request will be approved.

Seven preventable reasons an application becomes incomplete

Seven preventable reasons an application becomes incomplete
Preventable issue	What the reader may assume	Safer action before submitting
Middle name omitted or moved	“The pronunciation is the same, so it is fine.”	Copy the legal name and use Rakuten Mobile’s field-splitting rule
Kanji and romaji mixed	“Both are printed, so either form should work.”	Enter the foreign applicant name entirely in romaji when both are printed
Building or room number missing	“The street address is enough.”	Match the complete registered address
Printed address and IC address differ	“The new address is written on the card, so online verification will work.”	Confirm the IC information or use a shop
Wrong card used for online verification	“Every new Residence Card works online.”	Use a shop for Specified and eligible second-generation cards
Card is expired or close to renewal	“Submitting before the date is enough.”	Use a valid document and consider completing renewal first
Campaign opened after an unrelated application session	“The points will be added automatically later.”	Start from the designated campaign page and confirm the displayed campaign details before submitting

Advantages, limitations, and safer alternatives

Advantages

Standard Residence Cards and Special Permanent Resident Certificates can support online IC-chip verification.
A postal residence-certificate route may provide an alternative.
New Specified and second-generation card types are accepted at shops.
Rakuten Mobile publishes English identity-verification and application information.

Limitations

A foreign passport alone is not listed as sufficient.
Exact name and address matching is strict.
An outdated IC-chip address blocks Simple Mobile ID Verification.
Some newer card types currently require a shop visit.
Accepted documents do not guarantee final approval.
Some official screens, notices, or support responses may still appear in Japanese.

Use a shop instead of forcing the online route when

you are unsure which card type you hold;
you moved after the card was issued;
the IC-chip scan repeatedly fails;
your legal name has an unusual format;
the applicant is a minor and in-person help is preferable; or
you want staff to check the original documents before submission.

Final pre-application checklist

Do not open the campaign application until you can check every relevant item.

I have an identity document accepted for foreign-national applications.
The document is valid.
I know whether my card is standard, Specified, or second-generation.
My legal name and every middle name match the document.
I used romaji when both kanji and romaji are printed.
My date of birth matches.
My complete address includes the building and room number.
The correct address is stored in the card’s IC chip if I plan to verify online.
My smartphone can complete the IC-chip scan, or I selected another route.
Any residence certificate is an eligible original issued within six months.
My residence certificate excludes My Number and the Residence Certificate Code.
My Rakuten ID information is current and consistent.
I prepared an accepted payment method.
The MNP contract name matches when I am keeping my phone number.
A parent, guardian, or named payer will attend when required.
I understand that complete documents do not guarantee approval.

Documents ready? Check the current English campaign before applying

PR: The primary button below is an affiliate link. If you complete an eligible application through it, this site may receive a commission. The document requirements and recommendations above are not determined by commission.

The linked English campaign page may show a Rakuten Points offer for an eligible MNP or new application. The reward amount, deadline, coupon, eligible plan, activation timing, and Rakuten Link requirement can change. Confirm every current condition on the landing page before starting the application.

Before you open the campaign page

Finish the document and route checklist above.
Use the same Rakuten ID throughout the campaign and application flow.
Confirm the current offer, coupon or entry status before submitting.
Complete identity verification, activation, and any Rakuten Link requirement by the deadlines shown on the official page.
Do not assume a campaign can be added after applying through another route.

Check the current English campaign and apply Review the official English site

Do not apply only because a reward is displayed. First confirm that Rakuten Mobile, your verification route, device, payment method, and support options fit your situation. Need in-person verification? Use the official shop finder.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign resident apply with a passport only?

A foreign passport alone is not listed as the primary identity document for a foreign-national Rakuten Mobile application. Prepare a valid Residence Card, Special Permanent Resident Certificate, or another document explicitly accepted for your situation.

Do I always need to upload the front and back of my Residence Card?

Not for every current route. Simple Mobile ID Verification uses an IC-chip scan and on-screen identity actions. At a shop, bring the original card. If Rakuten Mobile separately asks for images or resubmission, follow the exact official instructions displayed for your document type.

How many months must remain on my period of stay?

Rakuten Mobile requires a valid identity document, but the official pages reviewed for this article do not publish one universal minimum number of remaining months for every foreign applicant.

Can I use online verification after changing my address?

Only when the correct current address is stored in the card’s IC chip and the application information matches. If the IC-chip address is not current, use a shop or complete the official update procedure first.

Can I use a Residence Card issued on or after June 14, 2026?

Eligible second-generation cards are accepted at Rakuten Mobile shops. They are not currently supported by Simple Mobile ID Verification.

Are the identity-document rules different for eSIM?

Choosing eSIM does not remove identity verification. eSIM compatibility and activation are separate from the document check.

Can a working-holiday or student resident apply?

Rakuten Mobile’s published document pages focus on accepted documents and verification methods rather than promising approval by residence-status category. Use a valid accepted document and do not rely on a third-party claim that a certain visa type guarantees approval.

Does an accepted Residence Card guarantee approval?

No. Document acceptance means the document can be presented under the published process; Rakuten Mobile can still request additional information or cancel the application after screening.

What should I do if verification has already failed?

Do not repeatedly submit unchanged information. Check the exact error, then use the separate Rakuten Mobile identity-verification failure guide after it is published, or contact official support.

Important notes

This article explains published document requirements, not Rakuten Mobile’s complete screening criteria.
Campaign rewards, coupon codes, deadlines, accepted documents, and verification methods can change without notice.
The Japanese version of official terms and pages is definitive when an English translation differs.
Never send personal documents to this website or an unknown individual.
Recheck the official pages immediately before applying.

Sources, methodology, and last verified date

Last verified: July 21, 2026

Method: We reviewed Rakuten Mobile’s English and Japanese identity-verification pages, the March 2026 verification-method notice, the May and June 2026 foreign-resident notices, its application and shop guides, the minor guide, the English campaign page, and relevant Immigration Services Agency information. Published requirements were separated from conditions that Rakuten Mobile does not publicly specify.

Main official sources:

Editorial boundaries

This page owns Rakuten Mobile-specific document eligibility, document exceptions, and verification-route decisions. It intentionally does not reproduce the full application walkthrough, eSIM activation process, general cross-carrier document comparison, or detailed recovery after a failed application.

Change history

July 21, 2026: Pre-publication final review completed: tightened the opening answer, removed the top campaign jump, added the current under-18 condition, expanded first-party sources, strengthened CTA accessibility and measurement attributes, and retained volatile campaign details only on the landing page.