My Number, residence card, tax IDs, name matching, US-person declarations, visa validity, insider declarations, and rejection causes.
Opening any Japanese brokerage account requires My Number, identity evidence, a matching Japanese bank account, and tax-residency declarations; US persons add a FATCA declaration and face product restrictions, and most rejections come from name mismatches, short document validity, or a duplicate NISA.
Every applicant needs identity evidence and My Number, which is ordinarily required for securities tax administration and NISA. A My Number Card usually gives the fastest process; a residence card or other ID without it is often accepted with additional My Number and address documents. You also need a Japanese bank account in your own name for funding, and you declare Japanese and foreign tax residency.
Beyond the basics, brokers collect employment, insider, nationality, and source-of-funds information. Corporate insiders face additional declarations and trading restrictions tied to their employer and any listed company they are connected to.
Certain situations add steps. US citizenship or a green card triggers a FATCA declaration and can bring product restrictions — some brokers prohibit US persons from foreign-stock trading. Multiple tax residencies require additional tax-identification numbers and self-certification. A politically exposed person or a connection to a sanctioned country can trigger enhanced review or rejection.
Visa and residence-card validity matter even though the tax rule is residence-based: short remaining validity can delay or prevent opening. If you plan to leave Japan, confirm the non-resident continuation policy before applying, since it affects what happens to the account later.
Most rejections trace to a few causes: a name mismatch across the residence card, bank record, and application (the single most common); short document validity; an unsupported nationality or tax residence; a duplicate NISA at another institution; or a failed identity verification. If you already have NISA elsewhere, you may need transfer or abolition documents before a new NISA opening.
The fix is preparation: align your name everywhere, renew a soon-to-expire card, resolve any duplicate NISA, and confirm the broker accepts your status. Processing time ranges from same-day provisional access to several weeks, depending on documents and tax-authority confirmation.
Brokerage (NISA/iDeCo) · Rakuten Securities
A leading low-cost brokerage for NISA and index-fund investing, integrated with Rakuten points and Rakuten Bank.
Fees: Many domestic funds and trades are low- or no-commission — verify current fee schedule.
Brokerage (NISA/iDeCo) · SBI Securities
Japan’s largest online brokerage by accounts, with a very broad low-cost fund lineup and full NISA/iDeCo support.
Fees: Many trades and funds are low- or no-commission — verify current fee schedule.
Brokerage (NISA/iDeCo) · Monex
An established online brokerage often chosen for US-stock access and research tools, with NISA and iDeCo support.
Fees: Commissions vary by product; some funds/trades are low-cost — verify current schedule.
Generally yes, if you are a tax resident of Japan (with a My Number) and at least 18. NISA is tied to residency, not citizenship, so most foreign residents qualify — with two big cautions: US citizens and green-card holders face US tax complications with Japanese funds, and NISA generally cannot continue after you leave Japan. Confirm eligibility and the current rules on the FSA site and with your chosen brokerage.