Incoming international transfer fees at Japanese banks
What it costs to receive money from abroad — incoming handling fees, conversion charges, same-currency and lifting fees, and intermediary deductions — compared across major banks.
Receiving a foreign transfer usually costs an incoming handling fee (roughly ¥1,500–¥2,500 at major banks) plus possible conversion or lifting charges and intermediary deductions the sender’s bank cannot see — so confirm the accepted currency and expect the credited amount to be a little less than sent.
Key points
- Major banks charge an incoming handling fee: SMBC generally ¥1,500 for foreign-to-yen; Mizuho generally ¥2,500; SBI Shinsei around ¥2,000.
- Same-currency or yen receipts can attract a lifting charge of about 0.05% (minimum ~¥2,500) depending on the route.
- Intermediary banks may deduct fees the sender cannot see; Japan Post discloses $10 (USD) and €5 (EUR).
- Confirm the accepted currency — Japan Post Bank incoming English instructions support USD and EUR only.
What you pay to receive
Receiving an international transfer is not free. Major banks charge an incoming handling fee — SMBC generally ¥1,500 for a foreign-currency-to-yen receipt, Mizuho generally ¥2,500, and SBI Shinsei around a ¥2,000 equivalent (with a later rebate for Silver and higher Step Up tiers under the cited schedule). Same-currency or yen international receipts can also attract a lifting charge of about 0.05% with a minimum near ¥2,500, depending on the route.
On top of the receiving bank’s fee, intermediary (correspondent) banks may deduct charges the sender’s bank cannot see in advance. Japan Post Bank discloses fixed correspondent deductions of $10 on qualifying USD receipts and €5 on qualifying EUR receipts, and warns more may apply — which is why a credited amount can be a little less than what was sent.
Reducing incoming cost
Confirm the accepted currency before directing a payment — Japan Post Bank incoming English instructions support only USD and EUR, and a mismatch can cause a return. Where you can, receive in a currency your account supports to avoid a forced conversion, or use a platform’s local receiving details (Wise, Payoneer) to sidestep some correspondent deductions.
For a salary or pension you will receive repeatedly, check the current incoming-fee page and any tier rebate, and re-verify figures at receipt time — some banks (for example Rakuten Bank’s cited individual incoming fee) publish figures that should be rechecked on the transaction date.
Who this is for
- People receiving salary, pensions, or family support from abroad
- Anyone whose receipt arrived short
What this is not
- Determining an exact quote — confirm the current schedule at receipt time
- Published incoming fees change and intermediary deductions vary — reverify before directing a recurring payment.