Rakuten Mobile Family Switch + Employee Referral 2-Step Strategy: Maximize Your Points [2026 Guide]
If you’re a foreign resident in Japan thinking about switching your mobile carrier, you’ve probably already noticed that Rakuten Mobile offers some of the most competitive pricing around. But here’s something that many people overlook: the way you sign up matters just as much as the decision to switch itself.
By combining two specific strategies — a family switch and an employee referral — you can dramatically increase the number of Rakuten Points you receive. This guide breaks down the full 2-step approach in plain English so you know exactly what to do, when to do it, and how many points you can realistically expect.
Why Rakuten Mobile Is Worth Considering in 2026
Before diving into the strategy, let’s quickly cover why Rakuten Mobile continues to attract attention from both Japanese residents and the growing foreign community living here.
The flagship plan costs ¥3,278 per month (tax included) and includes unlimited data. There are no tiered pricing traps — you don’t have to worry about hitting a data cap and suddenly paying more. For people who stream, navigate, work remotely, or just use their phones heavily, this flat-rate structure is genuinely useful.
Rakuten Points are another major draw. Since Rakuten operates one of Japan’s largest e-commerce ecosystems, those points can be used on everything from grocery deliveries to travel bookings. If you’re already using Rakuten services for online shopping or Rakuten Pay, accumulating points through your phone plan is a natural extension of that ecosystem.
If you’re still weighing whether to make the jump, this article on switching from Docomo to Rakuten Mobile covers the honest pros and cons in detail — definitely worth reading before committing.
The Core Idea: Why Two Steps Instead of One?
Most people sign up for Rakuten Mobile in one of two ways: through the official website, or through a referral link from a friend. Both work fine, but neither alone gets you the maximum possible points.
The 2-step strategy takes a different approach:
- Step 1 — Family Switch: Have an existing Rakuten Mobile user (such as a family member) switch your plan using the family referral mechanism.
- Step 2 — Employee Referral: Use an employee referral link during or before your actual signup to layer additional point bonuses on top.
The logic here is straightforward: Rakuten runs multiple overlapping campaigns, and when you satisfy the conditions for more than one, the bonuses stack. The key is doing them in the right order.
Step 1: Understanding the Family Switch Component
If someone in your household is already on Rakuten Mobile, you’re in a strong position to start. Rakuten encourages family plans by offering bonus points when an existing subscriber refers a family member.
This isn’t just a small token — the points involved are meaningful, and the process is relatively simple if you know what to expect.
A few things to keep in mind:
- The referral needs to be initiated before the new line is activated
- The person referring you needs to share their unique referral link or code
- Both parties typically receive point bonuses once the conditions are met
For those managing multiple lines, Rakuten allows up to 5 lines per person, which means a single account holder can refer multiple family members and collect referral bonuses for each one — a detail that’s particularly useful for families or households with several members making the switch together.
Step 2: The Employee Referral Layer
Here’s where many people leave points on the table.
Rakuten has a separate employee referral campaign that runs alongside regular promotions. When you use an employee referral URL to sign up, you’re eligible for a higher point bonus than the standard referral or the baseline campaign.
Here’s how the numbers compare:
| Signup Method | MNP (Carrier Switch) | New Number Signup |
|---|---|---|
| Normal campaign (no referral) | 13,000 points | — |
| Standard referral | ~13,000 points | varies |
| Employee referral | 14,000 points | 11,000 points |
The employee referral gets you 14,000 points for MNP (number transfer from another carrier) and 11,000 points for a brand-new number signup. That’s 1,000 points more than the standard referral campaign for MNP — not a huge difference on its own, but when layered with the family switch bonuses, the combined total becomes substantially more attractive.
Employee referral URL: https://r10.to/henTIE
How the Points Are Actually Paid Out
One detail that surprises some new users: the points are not deposited all at once.
Rakuten distributes the referral bonus in 3 installments, starting approximately 4 months after the month in which the referral login occurred. So if you complete your signup and referral login in June, you’d expect the first installment to arrive around October.
This staggered schedule is worth understanding so you’re not waiting around wondering if something went wrong. It’s a deliberate part of how Rakuten structures campaign payouts.
Each installment represents roughly one-third of the total promised points. As long as your account remains active and in good standing, the full amount should come through over time.
Full Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Here’s a practical breakdown of how to execute the 2-step strategy from start to finish:
Step 1: Confirm Your Family Member’s Referral Setup
- Confirm that your family member (or someone in your household) has an active Rakuten Mobile account
- Ask them to generate their referral link or code from their Rakuten Mobile account page
- Make sure this is done before you begin your own application
Step 2: Access the Employee Referral Link
- Before submitting your application, click through the employee referral URL: https://r10.to/henTIE
- This sets the referral tracking cookie and associates your signup with the employee referral campaign
- Do not clear your browser cookies or switch devices between clicking the link and completing your application
Step 3: Complete Your Application
- Choose your plan (the ¥3,278 unlimited plan is the main option)
- Select MNP if you’re transferring your current number — this gets you the higher 14,000-point bonus
- Select new number signup if you’re starting fresh — this gets you the 11,000-point bonus
- Enter the family member’s referral code when prompted during the application
Step 4: Confirm and Wait
- Complete identity verification (you’ll need your residence card or passport, plus My Number if applicable)
- Activate your SIM or eSIM
- Log into your Rakuten account — this login is what triggers the referral month countdown for point distribution
- Expect the first point installment approximately 4 months later
How Many Points Can You Realistically Earn?
Let’s put together a realistic scenario for a household making the switch:
Scenario: Two adults switching via MNP, using both family referral and employee referral
- Person A (existing Rakuten Mobile user): receives referral bonus points for referring Person B
- Person B (new user): receives 14,000 points via employee referral + family switch bonuses
The exact family switch bonus amount varies by campaign timing, so check the current Rakuten Mobile campaign page for up-to-date figures. However, the principle holds: combining both referral types stacks the benefits in a way that a single-channel signup simply cannot.
For households with 3–5 members all switching at once, the accumulated points across everyone’s accounts can be quite significant — particularly if those points are used strategically within the Rakuten ecosystem.
Common Questions from Foreign Residents
Can I use this strategy without being fluent in Japanese?
Yes. The Rakuten Mobile application process can be navigated in English with some patience. The key forms and identity verification steps are the most challenging parts, but the actual referral and campaign code entry is straightforward.
Does my Rakuten account need to be set up already?
You’ll need a Rakuten ID (free to create) before applying for Rakuten Mobile. If you don’t have one yet, create it first — it only takes a few minutes.
What counts as “family” for the family referral?
Rakuten’s definition is fairly flexible — it doesn’t necessarily require the same family register. People living at the same address typically qualify. If you’re unsure, check the current terms on the official Rakuten Mobile campaign page.
What if I’m switching from a major carrier like au or SoftBank?
MNP (Mobile Number Portability) is the process you’d use, and it qualifies for the higher 14,000-point bonus under the employee referral campaign. You’ll need to get your MNP transfer number from your current carrier before applying. For more background on the switching experience, this au to Rakuten Mobile guide covers what to expect in an honest, practical way.
A Few Things to Double-Check Before You Apply
- Verify current campaign terms: Point amounts and campaign conditions can change. Always confirm the current offer on Rakuten Mobile’s official site before applying.
- Don’t cancel your current plan too early: Keep your current SIM active until MNP transfer is confirmed, or you risk losing your number.
- Check coverage in your area: Rakuten Mobile’s network coverage is solid in urban areas but can be thinner in rural regions. Use the coverage checker on their website.
- Timing matters for points: Since points come 4 months after your referral login month, applying earlier in a month gives you a cleaner timeline.
Final Thoughts
The Rakuten Mobile family switch + employee referral 2-step strategy isn’t complicated, but it does require doing things in the right order. Skip the employee referral link, and you leave 1,000 points on the table. Skip the family switch component, and you miss whatever bonuses come from that layer.
For foreign residents in Japan who are already using Rakuten services, this approach is one of the most efficient ways to get real value from switching carriers. The ¥3,278 flat-rate unlimited plan is already competitive on its own — the point bonuses just make the decision easier to justify.
If you’re ready to move forward, start by clicking the employee referral link: https://r10.to/henTIE
This ensures the employee referral tracking is in place before you complete your application. From there, follow the steps outlined above, and you’ll be set up to receive the full bonus point amount across your installments.
Taking a few extra minutes to understand the process upfront saves confusion later — and in this case, it’s also worth a meaningful number of points.