PayPay: What it is and how to open an account

If you’ve been living in Japan, chances are you have seen those PayPay signs around cashiers or at the entrance of some shops and restaurants:

PayPay was launched by SoftBank and Yahoo Japan, riding the wave of QR code payments in Asia. I was hesitant to use mobile payments after hearing about issues with other services (the linked 7pay incident was not a PayPay incident), but its growth convinced me. Now, many major companies and even some small shops accept PayPay, with some accepting only cash or PayPay.

You can think of the PayPay application as some kind of e-wallet you can top up and use to pay, but also to send money to friends (and many other growing features I will skip for now).

To use it is very simple: you scan the QR code of the shop and either the amount will be set automatically, or you will have to input it, confirm with the store clerk and send the money (with a “PayPay” noise you cannot mute).

How to open a PayPay account

First off, you will have to download the PayPay application. Here are the links for the App Store and for Google Play. If the links don’t work or if you cannot find the application on the stores by searching for it, it may be that it hasn’t been released in your country – but you will be able to find it using a Japanese account. Unfortunately, there are plenty of applications in Japan that have not been released in other countries – I personally switch between my Japanese and my home country Apple accounts fairly often.

You will then need to follow these four steps:

1. Input your phone number (it has to be a Japanese number) and set a password of your choice.
2. You will receive a one-time password by text message.
3. Input it back in the app.
4. You’re done!

Well, not exactly done. But as far as your account, it is now open!

To be able to unlock its full potential, you will have to deal with another part that may be a bit more tricky: your identity check (本人確認, honnin kakunin) to enable linking your bank account to the application.

Identity verification

To do your identity verification as a foreign resident, you are no longer limited to a My Number Card. PayPay also accepts eligible residence cards and special permanent resident certificates. If your stay has an expiry date, use a document that lets PayPay check it. Foreign nationals under 16 can only use a My Number Card. The paper notification card is not accepted. Check PayPay’s identity-verification FAQ (in Japanese) for your situation.

The My Number route can use an IC-chip scan or another verification method offered in the app. For the residence-card route, PayPay requires at least 90 days of remaining validity and an NFC-compatible phone. Important as of 10 October 2026: its guide still says residence cards and special permanent resident certificates issued on or after 14 June 2026 are not yet supported; use the My Number route instead. See the current official steps (in Japanese).

About the screenshots: the images and numbered steps below show my My Number Card experience in September 2024. They are useful examples, but the buttons, order and available methods have changed. Follow the prompts in your current app and the official guide above.

1. Go into your account.

2. Tap on the message saying your identity verification hasn’t been done (in Japanese 本人確認が完了していません).

3. In this My Number example, pick マイナンバーカード. Do not assume a Japanese driver’s license is accepted for every foreign resident: the available document depends on your residence status.

4. Pick your nationality from the list.

5. Select the verification method offered by your current app. The scan can be quicker, but follow PayPay’s troubleshooting instructions if it does not work.

In my 2024 scan example, the screens were as follows (your current app may use a different sequence):

In my 2024 photo example, the screens were as follows. Use the alternative method currently offered in the app rather than expecting these exact screens:

6. Some explanations of the next steps to come.

7 – 8 – 9. Various angles to take a picture of your ID with.

10 – 11. A blinking test to ensure you’re human.

12. Input your name – as close as possible to the way it’s written on your card!

13. Input your birthday.

14. Select your profession.

15. Enter your address – again, as close as possible to the way it is on your ID.

16. Select the usage you’re planning for PayPay (private, business, both, other).

17. Confirm the information you’ve input so far.

18. Last screen! – saying your request for identity verification has been received.

Regardless of how you proceeded to request your identity verification, you will receive a notification after a little while saying you are now verified – if it went through.

There’s been a few difficulties I have experienced myself or seen online: please make sure to enter every piece of information as close as possible to the way it is written on the card. For example, you may want to make sure you input your address using the “complex” way (for example fully typing in 1丁目１番１ if that is the way it is on your card, and not just 1-1-1). For the eye blinking test, if it doesn’t go through, try with your phone closer or further away from your face.

If all else fails, well, luckily, it doesn’t necessarily mean you cannot use PayPay. Some features still work without identity verification, but bank-account registration and other functions will be restricted. Check the message in your app and PayPay’s troubleshooting guide (in Japanese).

Hopefully that was helpful! And if you have any tips on how to make the opening of a PayPay account even smoother, feel free to let us know in the comments.

Note on LINE Pay: Some of you may remember one of PayPay’s “competitors”, LINE Pay. Its service in Japan ended on 30 April 2025 (official notice, in Japanese), so it is no longer an option for paying at Japanese PayPay QR codes.

Information last checked: 10 October 2026 against PayPay’s official guidance. Screenshots show the author’s September 2024 experience; app screens and eligibility rules may change. For the next step, see how to top up your PayPay account.