Trying to get a credit card after 1 month

[norburn]

So i opened a bank account on JP bank as other thread recommended but i realized that i dont get a credit card not even a debit card! I came from Argentina and whenever you open a bank account it comes with a debit card, but this JP just gave me a cash card? Just to take out or put in money, and a notebook to check my balance? Im was like wtf i thought that i just have to download some kind of app to check balance, transfer, pay bills...

Anyways, im trying to get my hands on a proper credit card to pay for things (few days ago i tried to purchase ticket for a event in l-tike.com and it reject my 3 credit cards from Argentina whether Visa or Mastercard) what bank do you recommend to open account for a foreigner with working holiday visa? I just want to use it to purchase tickets, shopping if possible with a app for ease of use or online application because my Japanese is not very good.

I saw a lot of points cards and % cashback here in Japan, especially points cards so... if the credit card you recommend provide this benefits the better!

 

[ibeleive1982]

@norburn If you just need the credit card to buy thing SMBC might be good. When you make a Prestia account you get the one. But it’s not credit, just lets you buy stuff if you have cash in your account.

Something else to be careful of, people say if you get declined you have to wait 6 months to apply for another card.

Good luck, can be difficult when you first arrive here.

 

[weismonger]

@norburn Getting a credit card with such a short time in Japan without credit history will not be easy. The alternative is think about those cashless app based payment like PayPay Rakuten Pay. You can put cash through ATM to charge the cashless wallets. There are shops right now accepting PayPay but no card at all!

 

[resjudicata]

@norburn Latino person here.

Go to a bank directly with documents. My experience was terrible because all smaller companies rejected me and didn't even look at my application. I went to Shinsei with all my paperwork, and the agent told me that each bank or institution is free to decide arbitrarily. Shinsei issued a card with an obscene credit line and while this happened, Rakuten told me I didn't have enough income for the crappiest card they had. It's a bit random. Go directly to the bank and operate with an institution that is used to foreigners.

Shinsei is good, as they have their own acquirer. SMBC is also good. Stay away from independent companies. They don't understand that we have longer names and assume we won't pay without even looking at the application. If you're fluent in Japanese, that gives you extra points somehow.

 

[norburn]

@resjudicata Holaa!

Unfortunately, my japanese its pretty basic so my hopes arent what high but i will try these "foreign-friendly" banks. Its so hard to just get a credit card?! thanks for your response btw.

Saludos!

 

[jandolphrohnson]

@norburn Aeon Bank was the most supportive of me as a foreigner, and they do a thing where you get an integrated credit card with your cash card if you pass their credit checks, or an integrated debit card if not. (Also does Waon and points). I don't know if they can deal with working holiday status, but they'd be my top recommendation in general. They're also the only Japanese bank I know where most branches are open on evenings and weekends.

 

[crosswalk1991]

@norburn Shinsei has an office that speaks English

 

[resjudicata]

@norburn Hola

It depends on several factors. I was beyond the threshold, but Rakuten, Seven, and EPOS rejected me. Then Shinsei approved it, and they told me they used a different acquirer. Since I tend to ask many questions just out of curiosity, the clerk at Shinsei told me that basically, the companies decide based on how my debt you could get into, so if you are a good payer, it may not be good business for the acquirers that rely on revolving payments—like Falabella or any other typical South American card.
If you need a card for transactions, get one with Seven Bank or Aeon, but if it's for credit, then go directly to a bank and get the clerks to help you sort out the bureaucracy. My bank always changes my name because someone doesn't seem to stomach the fact we may have two or more given names.

Good luck!

 

[tet1982]

@norburn I’m not latina but in the experiences of me and other friends from major English speaking countries, it’s usually recommended to wait until ~6 months before trying to apply for a card. I was rejected once by Rakuten around that time but applied a second time a couple months after that and got approved

 

[mary44]

@norburn The Amazon SMBC is easy to apply for and said to have high foreigner application approval rate. You can easily link it to your JP or Shinsei account. Next best are Rakuten and AEON.

Amazon also doesn't ask since when you are here, I think Rakuten took that into consideration. If you have a steady income and your residency permit doesn't expire in three months, you should be fine.

My guess is after using amazon.jp for several months with some orders, this will increase chances vs. opening a new Amazon account without orders and applying for the credit card right away. If you got rejected, wait at least six months, otherwise you will get instant rejections everywhere due to shared credit application history.

 

[armageddun]

@mary44 amazon.co.jp

 

[mary44]

@armageddun same

 

[lamaj2]

@norburn I've actually having a somewhat similar situation here, although I've been in Japan for 10 years now as a graduate student.

I started working as a state bureaucrat (legal status) this April, and asides from my salary I have a grant to spend until next March of several Million Yen. I have used Rakuten Card for private payments for close to 6 years now, and have never been late on a payment. As with the poster, I've also have had a JP Bank account for close to 12 years now, and I have a substantial sum of money in there. Besides, my Japanese is fluent to the point that I work in copy-editing Japanese academic journals.

So I thought it might be easy to apply for a second bank account and a credit card, but oh no... not online. I failed the obligatory check at Rakuten Bank, SMBC, and even Yodobashi+. Apparently if you get a new Residence Card, there's no date whatsoever stating how long you've been here, and most online applications do not let you add any additional documents such as work contract, pay slips, etc.

Then, and that's what's really going on my nerves here, is the 6 month rule that pops up. I am not really in a position to wait for 6 months, as I have business trips to make utilizing the grant money. All that preferrably before December. As it's government money, I can't pay with the card of my partner (not wife). And Rakuten Card comes with a ridiculously low limit that isn't helpful when going on an overseas trip in days of 1JPY:160USD/1JPY:170EUR.

I will try MUFG tomorrow in person, taking along all relevant documents and explain that I can't really wait 6 months. SMBC only has one physical location where I live, the waiting time last time was 4h+ (with reservation unavailable until 2025, wth...).

Technically, I have a salary that should give me Platinum Cards easily, but the whole "you're a foreigner" thing is really something I haven't experienced in over a decade. You sometimes think you've come quite far in this country, only for the banks reminding you that you've not.

Really curious where this will take me.

 

[kipprue17]

@lamaj2 Just get revolut or wise for overseas use. The card rates are kinda shit anyway even the points you get won't make any difference. Revolut has a monthly 750k fee free conversion during weekdays so you can just convert some funds before your trip then just withdraw cash on the destination.

 

[alliah]

@lamaj2 The funny thing is, as someone on the JET program I also technically have the status of "state bureaucrat" but a salary of only 3.36 million starting, and SMBC was happy to give me a Gold card with 500k limit two weeks after arriving. The only reason I can think of for being so "lucky" was that they had just introduced the Olive account/credit card at that point and might have loosened the criteria on that so they can make it look more popular?