Sony Bank - How to confirm your documents

The documents required for your application will be different based on how much time has passed since the issuance date on your residence card or the effective date on your health insurance card.

Step 1:
Check your residence card

Q:: Have at least six months passed since the issuance date [許可年月日] on your residence card?

Residence card sample

A:: Yes, the issuance date [許可年月日] on your residence card has passed six months; Please proceed to "Category A" of Step 3; No, the issuance date [許可年月日] on your residence card has not passed six months; Please proceed to Step 2

Step 2:
Check your Japanese health insurance card

Q:: Have at least six months passed since the effective date [資格取得年月日 or 適用開始年月日] on your health insurance card?

Social Health Insurance card（社会保険証） sample

National Health Insurance card（国民健康保険証）sample

How to read the effective date [資格取得年月日 or 適用開始年月日]
平成 (Heisei) and 令和 (Reiwa) represent the names of Japanese era.

For example:
平成30年 = 2018
平成31年 or 令和元年 = 2019
令和2年 = 2020

A:: Yes, the effective date [資格取得年月日 or 適用開始年月日] on your health insurance card has passed six months; Please proceed to "Category B" of Step 3; No, the effective date [資格取得年月日 or 適用開始年月日] on your health insurance card has not passed six months; Please proceed to "Category C" of Step 3

Step 3:
Make sure you have all the documents you need

For Step 3, there are three different procedures, depending on which of the following categories you fall into:

Before submitting your application to open an account, please click on the following links to confirm points to note with regard to each of your personal identity document.

For those in Category A: You are in Category A if at least six months have passed since the issuance date on your residence card.; Residence card; Japanese health insurance card or Japan-issued driver's license or Individual Number Card (My Number Card); Document that shows your name in Katakana

For those in Category B: You are in Category B if at least six months have passed since the effective date on your health insurance card.; Residence card; Japanese National Health Insurance card or Japanese Social Health Insurance card; Document that shows your name in Katakana

For those in Category C: You are in Category C if six months have not yet passed since both the issuance date on your residence card and the effective date in your health insurance card.; Residence card; Japanese Social Health Insurance card; Proof of employment

Note

If both the issuance date [許可年月日] on your residence card and the effective date [資格取得年月日 or 適用開始年月日] on your health insurance card have not passed six months, you need a Japanese Social Health Insurance card and proof of employment to verify that you are employed at a Japanese workplace.

Why does it matter how much time has passed since the issuance date on your residence card or the effective date on your health insurance card?: Under Japanese law (Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act), if less than six months have passed since the issuance/effective date of your residence card/health insurance card, you must be able to verify that you are employed at a Japanese workplace in order to be considered a "resident" of Japan.
If you are not considered a resident of Japan according to this legal standard, Sony Bank regretfully is not able to offer you our English online banking service.

How to determine what type of health insurance card you have:

You can determine what type of health insurance card you have by looking at the insurer number [保険者番号] on the front of the card.

Social Health Insurance card:

The insurer number is eight digits, with the first two digits being any of the following: 01 02 06 31 32 33 34

National Health Insurance card:

The insurer number is six digits (some National Health Insurance insurer numbers have eight digits).

Why do I need two different forms of documentation?: Under Japanese law, when using scans (or photocopies) of documents to verify a person's identity for online banking, two different forms of documentation that show your name, date of birth, and address are required.

Why do I need to submit my name in Katakana?: Certain Japanese banking transactions, including sending and receiving fund transfers, require the use of your name in Katakana.

Download our Open Account app now

Download and install the free Open Account app on your smartphone.

This Open Account app can be downloaded from Apple Stores and Google Play in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Brazil, Mainland China, South Africa, Sweden, India, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia.
If your Apple ID is registered in a country or region other than those listed above, please create a new Apple ID or change your Apple ID country or region to Japan. For further details, please refer to Apple Support.
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Making sure that you have all the necessary documents to open an account

Step 1:Check your residence card

Step 2:Check your Japanese health insurance card

Step 3:Make sure you have all the documents you need

Note

Download our Open Account app now

Step 1:
Check your residence card

Step 2:
Check your Japanese health insurance card

Step 3:
Make sure you have all the documents you need