Rakuten Mobile Employee Referral Guide日本語
By Mirai, Rakuten Mobile employee · Not the official Rakuten Mobile website
Do you live in Japan as a student or worker? Choosing a phone plan here can feel hard.
This guide explains Rakuten Mobile for foreigners in simple English. You will learn the good points and the things to check before you apply.
This is a personal guide by Mirai, a Rakuten Mobile employee. It is not an official Rakuten website.
Good points for people from other countries
1. English support online and in shops
Rakuten Mobile has English pages on its website. You can also apply online in English.
Shops say they offer English support from the application to the first setup. So you can go to a shop if you feel unsure.
One note: applying by phone is in Japanese only. Also, people under 18 cannot apply by phone.
2. Free domestic calls with the Rakuten Link app
Rakuten Link (a free calling and message app from Rakuten Mobile) lets you call Japanese numbers for free. Some numbers are not free, such as numbers starting with 0180 or 0570, and some special numbers like 188.
If you call without the Rakuten Link app, the price is 22 yen per 30 seconds (tax included, as of October 2026). Messages from Rakuten Link to Rakuten Link are free. Normal domestic SMS costs 3.3 yen per message of 70 characters (tax included, as of October 2026).
3. Dual SIM: keep your home country number
Rakuten Mobile supports dual SIM (using two phone lines on one phone). You can keep your home country number active and also have a Japanese number.
Your phone must support dual SIM. An eSIM (a SIM you download, with no plastic card) makes this easier.
Important: if you want free Rakuten Link calls, set Rakuten Mobile as the line for mobile data and calls. Rakuten Link may not work well when another company’s SIM is set for data, calls, or voice.
4. 2GB of free data when you travel
Each month you get 2GB of data in more than 100 countries and regions, with no extra fee. This data counts as part of your plan data.
This is useful when you go home for a holiday. You can still use maps and messages.
5. Simple price, one plan
Rakuten SAIKYO Plan has one price list. The price changes with the data you use.
| Up to 3GB | 1,078 yen |
| 3GB to 20GB | 2,178 yen |
| Over 20GB (unlimited) | 3,278 yen |
All prices include tax, as of October 2026. With the SAIKYO FAMILY Discount (110 yen off), the prices are 968 yen, 2,068 yen and 3,168 yen (tax included, as of October 2026).
Rakuten SAIKYO U-NEXT is 4,378 yen per month (tax included, as of October 2026). Prices may change, so please check the Rakuten Mobile website.
Things to know before you apply
Phones bought in another country
A phone you bought outside Japan may not work. Even if the model is on the compatible list, an overseas model may not connect.
Japan needs the Technical Regulations Compliance mark on the device. Without it, the connection may be refused.
Also, a phone bought before October 2021 may need a SIM unlock. On an iPhone with iOS 14 or newer, check Settings → General → About → “SIM Lock”. It should say “No SIM restrictions”.
Phones bought at Rakuten Mobile are SIM-free. If you are not sure about your phone, use the compatibility checker on the website or ask at a shop.
Your residence card and address
For identity verification documents (papers that prove who you are), foreign nationals can use a residence card or a special permanent resident certificate.
Make sure your card information is correct and up to date. If your address or status changed, please check the rules on the Rakuten Mobile website or at a shop before you apply.
Payment method
Payment methods are not the same for everyone, so check them on the website or at a shop. If you pay by bank account transfer, there is a fee of 110 yen per month (tax included, as of October 2026).
Other fees to remember
- Contract fee: 0 yen up to the 4th line. From the 5th line under the same name, 3,850 yen per line (tax included, as of October 2026).
- SIM card reissue: 3,300 yen (tax included, as of October 2026). eSIM reissue: 0 yen.
- Cancellation within 1 year of your plan usage start date: up to 1,078 yen. After 1 year: 0 yen (as of October 2026).
- Options: 15-minute unlimited calls with the standard phone app, 1,100 yen per month. International unlimited calls, 980 yen per month (as of October 2026).
Please note: new applications for Rakuten SAIKYO Plan (Data Type) have been temporarily suspended since March 5, 2026.
How to apply, step by step
- Get your identity verification documents ready.
- Choose your smartphone, or use the one you have.
- Choose a SIM card or an eSIM. SIM cards come in nano, micro and standard sizes.
- Apply online, at a shop, or by phone (Japanese only).
- Finish the first setup and install Rakuten Link.
With an eSIM and simple mobile ID verification in the app, screening can finish in as little as 3 minutes. A SIM card ordered online usually arrives within 2 days, but it can take longer.
After you apply, you can check your status in my Rakuten Mobile (your account app and page). From July 2026, these features are moving into the Rakuten Link app.
Get Rakuten Points with an employee referral
There is an employee referral campaign for the Rakuten SAIKYO Plan and Rakuten SAIKYO U-NEXT.
- 14,000 points per line with an MNP transfer (keeping your phone number when you switch).
- 13,000 points in other cases, for example a new number.
Points come in three parts. They start 4 months after the month of your referral login (the free entry from the referral link). They are Rakuten Points (time-limited points), valid for 6 months including the day you get them.
Please do the referral login before you apply. Use the same Rakuten ID for the entry and the application.
After the entry, you must finish three things by 23:59 on the last day of the second month after your entry day:
- Apply for the plan.
- Start using the line.
- Make one call of 10 seconds or more with Rakuten Link.
You can call a family member or your own other number. Calls to 0570 numbers, # numbers, special numbers like 188, and calls with a prefix number do not count.
The campaign may change or end without notice. Please check the latest conditions after you finish your entry.
Summary
- Rakuten Mobile offers English pages, English support in shops, and one simple price plan.
- Free domestic calls with Rakuten Link, dual SIM, and 2GB of overseas data help people from other countries.
- Check your phone (overseas model, SIM lock), your residence card, and your payment method before you apply.
- Do the referral login first, then apply, start the line, and make a 10-second Rakuten Link call.
Get 14,000 points with the employee referral
Enter for free before you apply. Entering does not sign you up for a plan.
Enter free with your Rakuten ID ▶13,000 points for other cases (e.g. a new number). You need to start using the line and make a 10+ second call with Rakuten Link by the deadline. Check the latest conditions after entering the campaign.