Rakuten and Residence Card

[adamu]

Do banks have to right to ask specifically for the residence card as part of the identity verification process? As far as I understood, only the ministry of justice and organisations it's approved can do this.

I recently had to renew my ID verification with Rakuten because my previous residency period had expired. They said thanks, they'll be in touch again next time too.

I'm guessing if I refuse, they'll close the account?

[RetireJapan]

That's a tough one. You have a legal duty to show your zairyu card to police and immigration agents performing their official duties, but not to anyone else.

Having said that, companies are free to make rules that they won't do business with you unless you show your card (Softbank, some gyms, some manga cafes, etc.). I was pleasantly surprised when opening investment accounts recently that they would ask for photo ID + My Number (but not specifically the zairyu card).

It could be a Rakuten thing. So they are specifically checking your visa duration???

[adamu]

So they are specifically checking your visa duration???

Yes, and they ask you to resubmit when it's coming up to expiry.

Here's a part of the email I got after they confirmed the new card:

お送りいただきました本人確認書類にて更新後の在留期限を確認させていただきました。
次回の在留期限の到来の際には、あらためてご案内をさせていただきますので、
あらかじめご了承くださいますよう、お願いいたします。

[RetireJapan]

Time to get PR then?

[adamu]

Working on it

[kizuki]

So they are specifically checking your visa duration???

Yes, and they ask you to resubmit when it's coming up to expiry.

Here's a part of the email I got after they confirmed the new card:

お送りいただきました本人確認書類にて更新後の在留期限を確認させていただきました。
次回の在留期限の到来の際には、あらためてご案内をさせていただきますので、
あらかじめご了承くださいますよう、お願いいたします。

This must have started recently. I have been Rakuten since Ebank days, have had to extend my residence period multiple times since then but never received any such request to validate residence permit period. In ideal scenario banks cannot provide certain services if you are not resident in Japan. Prestia and Shinsei do this check by sending postal mail which if undelivered impacts your account status with them. Similarly if you volunteer to change the residence address from Japan to somewhere outside, certain banking services like transfers etc are no longer available.