We need to verify your identity before you can send Japanese Yen (JPY) for the first time. This helps us keep your money safe and comply with regulations. Once you set up your first transfer from JPY, you'll see steps you should follow to get verified.
Once you’re verified to send money from Japan, you can pay for transfers from other currencies using bank transfer or debit or credit card and send from your Balances.
If you don't live in Japan, but want to send from JPY, you'll need to submit an ID and proof of address.
If you live in Japan, the process to get verified can be confusing, so we’ve listed out step-by-step instructions and common mistakes.
Step-by-step instructions
It’s easiest to get verified on the app, but you can also use our website. Here are the steps to get verified:
Step 1: Tell us your residency status in Japan.
Because of regulations, we have to collect your current residency status.
Japanese National – if you have Japanese citizenship or a Japanese passport.
Permanent Resident – if you hold permanent residency in Japan.
Long-term stay visa – if you hold a Working visa, any Professional visa, a Student visa, a Startup visa, a Spouse visa, or any other specific visa with an expiration date.
Step 2: Choose the ID you want to use for your Wise identity verification.
| Residency status | Acceptable ID |
|---|---|
| Japanese National | • Your My Number card |
| • Japanese drivers’ licence | |
| • Japanese passport issued before February 2020 | |
| Permanent Resident | • Your My Number card |
| • Japanese driver's licence | |
| • Residence card (Zairyu card) | |
| Long-term stay visa holder | • Your My Number card |
| • A Residence card (Zairyu card) |
Note: We can't accept returned My Number cards.
Step 3: Write down the 4-digit code we give you.
The code we show you is made only for you, and expires after 30 minutes. So quickly write it down on a small piece of paper.
You’ll need the code later for some pictures — write it down largely and clearly.
Step 4: Take three pictures of your ID.
Take a picture of the front of your ID, with the code you’ve written down directly below it.
Tilt the ID so we can see the thickness of the document. Please make sure you can still see the details on the ID while tilting it. You don’t need the code for this one.
Take a picture of the back of your ID. You don’t need the code for this one (This is not applicable for passport submissions).
Keep a hold of your code for the next step.
Step 5: Take a picture of yourself holding the code.
Now we need to see a picture of you holding the code, which you wrote down earlier, next to your face.
Step 6: Show us your My Number.
(If you chose to use a My Number card in step 1, you can skip this step.)
We accept any of these documents that have your My Number (個人番号) and current address on them:
Notification card (通知カード)
My Number card
Juminhyo (住民票), aka residence certificate. The document has to be issued within the last 6 months and should include your 12-digit My Number. You can get this on the spot at your local city hall. You must ask for a Juminhyo without Honseki (本籍), or mask out the Honseki before submitting the document to us
You’re all done!
It usually takes our team a couple of working days to review your pictures. In the meantime, you can finish and pay for your transfer — it’ll help speed up your verification.
Common mistakes when getting verified
Here's what you can do if you're having trouble.
There was an address issue
The address on your Wise account and ID has to be your current one.
Change your address to your current one before getting verified.
Your 4–digit code wasn’t in your pictures
The first picture you take must have your 4–digit code below your front-facing ID
The last picture you take is a selfie. We need to see your 4–digit code next to your face in this picture
Your pictures were blurry
If you can’t read the ID in your picture — our team can’t either
Your tilted picture wasn’t taken correctly
We need to see the thickness of your ID and some details of your front-facing ID