Rakuten Mobile Employee Referral Complete How-To Guide for Foreigners in Japan [2026 Guide]

If you’re a foreign resident in Japan thinking about switching your mobile carrier, you’ve probably come across Rakuten Mobile as a compelling option. With a flat monthly rate of ¥3,278 (tax included) for truly unlimited data, the value is hard to beat. But did you know there’s a way to get even more out of the deal?

Rakuten Mobile’s employee referral program lets you earn significantly more Rakuten Points than signing up through standard promotions alone. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how the referral program works, how much you can earn, and how to complete the process step by step — even if your Japanese isn’t perfect.

What Is the Rakuten Mobile Employee Referral Program?

Rakuten Mobile employees are permitted to share a special referral link with people they know. When someone signs up using that link, both the referrer and the new subscriber can benefit. For people considering switching to Rakuten Mobile, this is one of the smartest ways to maximize your rewards from day one.

Unlike some referral systems that only reward existing users, this program focuses on giving new subscribers a meaningful bonus — which makes it especially worth paying attention to before you complete your sign-up.

How Many Points Can You Actually Earn?

This is where the employee referral program really stands out. Let’s break down the numbers clearly:

Points via Employee Referral Link

Sign-up Type	Points Earned
MNP (switching from another carrier)	14,000 points
New number sign-up	11,000 points

Standard Campaign (Without Referral)

Sign-up Type	Points Earned
MNP (switching from another carrier)	13,000 points

By using the employee referral link for MNP, you receive 1,000 extra points compared to the standard campaign. That’s essentially free money just for clicking the right link before you apply.

If you’re signing up with a brand new number (not porting an existing one), the referral link also gives you 11,000 points, which may not be available at all through the regular campaign.

Why This Matters for Foreign Residents in Japan

Many foreign residents in Japan are already paying significantly more than ¥3,278 per month for mobile service. Whether you’re on Docomo, SoftBank, au, or a smaller MVNO, switching to Rakuten Mobile’s unlimited plan can mean immediate monthly savings.

Adding a referral bonus of up to 14,000 points on top of that is essentially like getting more than four months of service for free, in point value. Since Rakuten Points can be used across a massive ecosystem — online shopping, convenience stores, travel, and more — the real-world value is substantial.

If you’re also thinking about switching multiple lines for your family or household, it’s worth reading this detailed breakdown: Rakuten Mobile Family Switch + Employee Referral 2-Step Strategy: Maximize Your Points [2026 Guide]. Combining family switches with employee referrals can stack rewards in ways that add up quickly.

Understanding the Point Payout Schedule

Before you get too excited, it’s important to understand when you’ll actually receive these points. Here are the key details:

Points are not paid out all at once
They are distributed in 3 installments
The first installment begins 4 months after the month in which the referral login is completed

Example Timeline

If you complete your sign-up and referral login in June 2026, your points would begin arriving in October 2026, and the final installment would come approximately December 2026.

This staggered schedule is something to keep in mind for budgeting purposes, but it doesn’t diminish the value — it just means you need a bit of patience.

Maximum Lines

One more thing to know: up to 5 lines per person can benefit from a single employee referral. So if you’re adding lines for a partner, family members, or housemates, all of them can potentially use the same referral link.

Step-by-Step: How to Use the Employee Referral Link

Here’s how to actually complete the process. We’ve written this with foreign residents in mind, so we’ll keep it practical and clear.

Step 1: Access the Referral Link

Use the following Rakuten Mobile employee referral link to begin your sign-up process:

👉 https://r10.to/henTIE

Make sure you click this link before starting your application. If you sign up without going through the referral link first, the bonus points will not be applied retroactively.

Step 2: Create or Log In to Your Rakuten Account

You’ll need a Rakuten account to sign up for Rakuten Mobile. If you don’t already have one, you can create one for free. The registration form will ask for:

Name (as it appears on your residence card or passport)
Email address
Date of birth
Address in Japan

This process is straightforward and the website is available in Japanese. If you need help reading the forms, browser translation tools like Google Translate work reasonably well on the Rakuten site.

Step 3: Choose Your Plan

Rakuten Mobile currently offers one main unlimited data plan at ¥3,278 per month (tax included). There are no complicated tier options to worry about — unlimited is the standard.

Step 4: Select MNP or New Number

MNP (Mobile Number Portability): If you want to keep your existing phone number from Docomo, au, SoftBank, or another carrier, select MNP. You’ll need to obtain an MNP reservation number from your current carrier before completing the switch. This earns you 14,000 points via the referral link.
New Number: If you don’t need to keep your current number, selecting a new number is simpler and faster. This earns you 11,000 points via the referral link.

Step 5: Prepare Your Documents

As a foreign resident in Japan, you’ll need to submit identity verification documents. The following are typically accepted:

Residence card (在留カード / Zairyu Card) — this is the most commonly used and most straightforward option
Passport (may be required in combination with residence card)
My Number card (マイナンバーカード) if applicable

Make sure your documents are valid and that the address on your residence card matches the address you’re registering with.

Step 6: Complete the SIM or eSIM Setup

Rakuten Mobile offers both physical SIM cards and eSIM. For many newer smartphones, eSIM is the faster and more convenient option — it can be activated digitally without waiting for a card to arrive in the mail.

If your phone supports eSIM (most modern iPhones and Android flagship devices do), this is generally the recommended route.

After completing your sign-up, make sure you log in to your Rakuten account through the referral link or confirm that the referral has been registered in your account dashboard. This is the step that triggers the point payout schedule, so don’t skip it.

Frequently Asked Questions from Foreign Residents

The sign-up process is primarily in Japanese, but it is manageable with browser-based translation tools. The main thing to be careful about is entering your personal details accurately — especially your name and address, which must match your official documents.

What if I switch from Docomo or au?

The MNP process works the same regardless of which carrier you’re switching from. You simply request an MNP reservation number from your current carrier (this can usually be done via their app or website), and then enter it during the Rakuten Mobile application. For more context on what to expect when switching, you might find this helpful: Docomo to Rakuten Mobile: Regret or Relief? Complete Guide for Foreigners in Japan [2026 Guide].

Do Rakuten Points expire?

Standard Rakuten Points (通常ポイント) generally have an expiration date of the last day of the month, one year after they were earned. Points-based bonuses from campaigns may have different expiration dates, which will be noted at the time they’re issued. It’s a good habit to check your Rakuten account regularly to keep track.

Can I use Rakuten Mobile with a foreign phone?

Rakuten Mobile supports a wide range of devices, but your phone must be compatible with Rakuten’s frequency bands and either unlocked or previously locked to a compatible carrier. Most phones purchased internationally and unlocked phones from major manufacturers will work fine. It’s worth checking Rakuten Mobile’s official compatibility checker before committing.

Is Rakuten Mobile Right for You?

The unlimited plan at ¥3,278/month positions Rakuten Mobile as one of the most affordable major carriers in Japan. For foreign residents who use data heavily — especially for maps, translation apps, video calls with family abroad, and streaming — having genuinely unlimited data without throttling concerns is a real quality-of-life improvement.

Combine that with the Rakuten ecosystem benefits (points on shopping, travel discounts, cashback on everyday purchases), and the value proposition becomes quite compelling, particularly for those already using Rakuten services.

Of course, it’s worth doing your own research on network coverage in your specific area, as Rakuten Mobile’s network is strongest in urban centers and continues to expand.

Final Thoughts

The Rakuten Mobile employee referral program is one of those rare opportunities where a small action — clicking the right link before signing up — translates into a meaningful reward. Up to 14,000 points for MNP or 11,000 points for a new number is genuinely valuable, especially when those points can be spent across so many places in daily life in Japan.

If you’re already considering the switch, there’s no real reason not to use the referral link. It costs nothing extra and simply gives you more points than signing up without one.

When you’re ready to get started, use this employee referral link to ensure your bonus points are registered:

👉 Click here to sign up via the Rakuten Mobile employee referral link

Take your time with the application, double-check your documents, and remember that your points will start arriving four months after the month you complete your referral login. Good luck with the switch!