Hi! It’s Sensei.
“I got my new Residence Card (Zairyu Card / 在留カード)! Now I can relax!”
For those of you thinking that…
If you leave it as it is, you might not be able to withdraw your money next month.
“I put my ATM card in, but it keeps coming back out…”
“An error saying ‘Transaction not available’ appears…”
This is not a machine failure. The bank has stopped (frozen) your account.
Today, I (Sensei) will teach you “what you must absolutely do after renewing your Residence Card” to prevent this from happening.
Why does the account stop?
Japanese banks (especially Yucho Bank) have very strict rules to prevent money laundering.
The bank knows your “Period of Stay (Zairyu Kigen / 在留期限).”
The day your visa expires = The day your bank account becomes unusable
Even if you have a new card, if you don’t show it to the bank, they will misunderstand and think “this person’s visa has expired (illegal stay).”
That is why your account gets locked.
What should I do? (Update Procedure)
Once you receive your new Residence Card, try to complete the procedure within that week.
There are two ways to do it.
A. Go to the Post Office counter (Most reliable)
This is the easiest way.
Go to the nearby Post Office (Yubinkyoku / 郵便局) bank counter and say this:
(Zairyu card ga atarashiku natta node, koushin wo onegaishimasu)
“My residence card has been renewed, so please update my information.”
What to bring:
- New Residence Card (New Zairyu Card / 在留カード)
- Passbook (Tsucho / 通帳)
- ATM Card (Kyasshu Kaado / キャッシュカード)
- Registered Stamp (Hanko / 判子)
B. Use the “Yucho Direct” App
If you cannot go during the counter hours (Weekdays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM), you can also complete the procedure through the smartphone app or a dedicated website.
Try searching for “Yucho Bank Residence Card Web.”
【Emergency】What if the ATM stops working?
“It’s too late! I can’t withdraw money!” If you are in this situation, don’t worry.
Your money has not disappeared.
If you take your new Residence Card to the counter immediately, they can unlock it for you.
However, it may take some time before it is unlocked, so it is best to do it as early as possible.
Summary: Visa renewal and Bank update go together!
It doesn’t end just by going to Immigration (Nyukan / 入管).
Remember that “Immigration” → “City Hall (Shiyakusho / 市役所) for address change” → “Bank (Ginko / 銀行)” are a set.
After finishing these troublesome procedures, why not review your smartphone bill?
If your bank account is working properly, it will be easier to pass the screening for a cheap SIM!
