transferring NISA account from MUFG to Rakuten

[nisanewbie]

I originally started my NISA account registration with Rakuten but they were quite complicated and as my bank was already MUFG, it was much simpler as I could get in-person assistance. Recently I got i touch with Retire Japan and they recommended I transfer my NISA account as well as my other investments to Rakuten. Can anybody assist me with this? Can I open a NISA account with Rakuten if I already have one with MUFG??? Any advice and suggestions will be greatly appreicated! Thank you:)

[RetireJapan]

You can't transfer a NISA account, or have more than one NISA account in the same calendar year, but you can open an account with a new provider in 2022. If you choose to do this, your current account will stay with MUFG and you will get a new account with Rakuten.

Important to be aware that each year of NISA is treated separately, so you can change types of NISA (from ordinary to tsumitate, or vice versa) as well as providers year to year.

[nisanewbie]

Once I have made my rakuten nisa account, will I be able to transfer my shares? I want to move away from MUFG as I have read their fees are higher. How can I smoothly transition to rakuten? I also have some normal stock via MUFG but would it be possible to transfer that to rakuten or somewhere else?

[zeroshiki]

You can't transfer. You're "stuck" with that NISA account in MUFJ unless you clear out your account by selling your funds (probably not a good idea).

At this point, its probably better to suck it up and accept you'll have those NISA securities in MUFJ and just start with Rakuten next year.

Basically,
until 2021: MUFJ NISA account
from 2022: Rakuten NISA account

This is perfectly fine unless you have a burning hatred of MUFJ and/or just really can't be bothered.