Rakuten Mobile Billing Cycle & Payment Date Explained — Plus When Rakuten Card Charges You [2026 Guide]

Introduction: Two Questions Most New Subscribers Ask First

If you are a foreign resident in Japan thinking about switching to Rakuten Mobile, you probably have two practical questions before you even apply:

When exactly will I be charged each month?
If I sign up through a referral link, when do I actually receive those bonus points?

Both questions matter because getting the timing wrong — missing a payment, spending limited-period points before they expire, or misunderstanding when your billing cycle starts — can cost you real money or real stress. This guide covers both topics in plain English, with all the numbers you need upfront.

Part 1: Rakuten Mobile Billing Cycle and Payment Date

How the Monthly Plan Works

Rakuten Mobile currently offers one simple plan: ¥3,278 per month (tax included), with truly unlimited data on the Rakuten network. There are no speed caps, no tiered pricing, and no hidden data throttling beyond specific partner areas. For most foreign residents who use heavy data or stream video regularly, this flat-rate structure is one of the clearest advantages over other carriers.

When Does Your Billing Cycle Start?

Your billing cycle begins on the day you activate your SIM or eSIM, not on the first of the month. That means if you activate on June 15, your first billing period runs from June 15 through July 14, your second from July 15 through August 14, and so on.

Rakuten Mobile does not prorate the first month down to a partial amount. You pay the full ¥3,278 from whatever date you activate, so if you are flexible about timing, activating near the start of a calendar month can feel slightly more natural — but it makes no financial difference.

When Does Rakuten Card Charge You?

This is the question most new subscribers search for but rarely find a clear answer to. Here is how it works:

Payment method: Rakuten Mobile charges are billed to your registered Rakuten Card (or another credit card you choose during signup).
Billing confirmation date: Your monthly charge is confirmed around the end of the current billing month.
Rakuten Card payment date: If you pay by Rakuten Card, the charge is processed and debited from your bank account on the 27th of the following month (or the next business day if the 27th falls on a weekend or holiday).

Practical example: If your billing cycle runs from June 15 to July 14, the charge for that period is confirmed in mid-to-late July, appears on your Rakuten Card statement for July, and is debited from your bank account on August 27.

In short, there is roughly a 4–6 week gap between when you use the service and when the money actually leaves your bank. This is good news if you are managing cash flow carefully, but it also means you need to keep enough balance in your bank account well after the month you used the service.

Does Paying with Rakuten Card Give Extra Points?

Yes. Paying your Rakuten Mobile bill with a Rakuten Card earns you Rakuten Points on the monthly charge. While the earn rate on utility-type bills is lower than on shopping purchases, it still adds up — and those points can be used toward future Rakuten purchases, travel, or everyday spending at partner stores.

If you are not yet set up with the full Rakuten ecosystem, the How to Start the Rakuten Ecosystem: Recommended Registration Order for New Workers & Beginners — Complete Guide [2026 Guide] is a useful read before you apply.

Part 2: Referral Campaign Points — When Are They Paid?

The Employee Referral Campaign vs. Normal Campaigns

Rakuten Mobile runs several ongoing campaigns, but there is one that consistently offers more points than the public-facing offers: the employee referral campaign. Here is how it compares:

Application Type	Normal Campaign	Via Employee Referral
MNP (switching from another carrier)	13,000 points	14,000 points
New number signup	Not specified / varies	11,000 points

Using an employee referral link gives you 1,000 extra points for MNP compared to the standard campaign, and it unlocks the new-number bonus that may not be available in standard promotions at all.

What Else Is Exclusive to Employee Referral?

Several important eligibility rules apply only to the employee referral route, not to the regular friend-referral program:

Re-contracts are eligible. If you previously had Rakuten Mobile and canceled, you can still receive points when you sign up again through an employee referral link.
2nd and additional lines are eligible. If you already have one Rakuten Mobile line and want to add a second or third line for a family member or for data-only use, those additional lines also qualify for the referral bonus — up to 5 lines per person.

This makes the employee referral route considerably more flexible than the standard friend referral.

The 3-Installment Payment Schedule

One thing many people overlook: the bonus points are not paid all at once. They are split into three installments, starting 4 months after the month in which you logged in via the referral URL.

Here is an illustration:

You log in via the referral URL in June 2026
First installment: October 2026
Second installment: November 2026
Third installment: December 2026

This staggered schedule exists to prevent people from collecting points and immediately canceling. Just keep your line active and the points will arrive automatically.

What if you applied but forgot to click the referral link first? Rakuten Mobile has a rescue rule: as long as you log in via the referral URL within 7 days of your application date, you still qualify for the referral bonus. So if someone sends you the link after you applied, do not panic — log in through that link as soon as possible, as long as you are within that 7-day window.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Points Are Limited-Period Points, Not Regular Points

This is a detail that surprises many people. The bonus points awarded through this campaign are “limited-period points” (期間限定ポイント), not standard Rakuten Points.

Limited-period points:

Expire sooner than regular points (typically within 1–2 months of the award date)
Cannot be transferred or saved long-term
Can be used at Rakuten Ichiba (online shopping), Rakuten Pay merchants, and many partner stores — but not for all purposes (for example, they generally cannot be invested in Rakuten Securities)

The practical advice: as soon as each installment arrives in your Rakuten account, plan to use those points promptly. Check the expiration date shown in your Rakuten Point history. Letting them sit will result in them expiring unused.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The 10-Second Call Requirement (From March 2, 2026)

For applications made from March 2, 2026 onward, there is a new condition to receive points:

You must make at least one voice call of 10 seconds or more using the Rakuten Link app after applying.

This means:

A data-only SIM is not eligible for the bonus points under this rule.
You need to download the Rakuten Link app and actually make a real call (even to a friend or family member) that lasts at least 10 seconds.
The call must go through the Rakuten Link app specifically, not through your phone’s standard dialer.

If you are not planning to use voice calls at all, this is something to factor in. The requirement is easy to fulfill — just call someone once — but you do need to do it.

Part 3: Practical Tips for Foreign Residents

Setting Up Your SIM or eSIM

Foreign residents often run into minor confusion when configuring Rakuten Mobile on an iPhone or Android device. Rakuten Mobile supports eSIM, which is particularly convenient if you want to avoid waiting for a physical card. For a step-by-step setup walkthrough, see the iPhone Rakuten Mobile Setup Guide: APN & eSIM Configuration for Foreign Residents [2026 Guide].

What Happens If You Cancel?

Understanding the billing cycle also helps if you ever need to cancel. Canceling mid-cycle does not result in a prorated refund — you are billed for the full period. There are also some nuances around the final billing date and when your Rakuten Card is actually charged after cancellation. If you are researching this scenario, the Rakuten Mobile Cancellation Billing Still Charged After Cancel? How to Properly Cancel + [2026 Guide] for Foreign Residents covers the exact process.

Can You Use Rakuten Mobile Without a Japanese Credit Card?

Most foreign residents can apply for a Rakuten Card without difficulty, though the screening process does consider your employment and residency status. If you have had trouble with credit screening in Japan before, it may be worth reviewing the requirements before applying.

Checking Your Points and Bill

Once you are a subscriber, you can check everything through the My Rakuten Mobile app or the Rakuten website:

Current billing amount for the cycle
Remaining data (if on partner-area roaming)
Rakuten Points balance, including limited-period points and their expiration dates

Make a habit of checking the points section at least once a month, especially after an installment is due to arrive.

Summary: Key Dates and Numbers at a Glance

Topic	Detail
Monthly plan fee	¥3,278 (tax included, unlimited data)
Billing cycle start	Day of SIM/eSIM activation
Rakuten Card debit date	27th of the month following billing confirmation
MNP bonus via employee referral	14,000 points
New number bonus via employee referral	11,000 points
MNP bonus via normal campaign	13,000 points
Point payment schedule	3 installments starting 4 months after referral login month
Point type	Limited-period points (use promptly before expiry)
10-second call requirement	Required for applications from March 2, 2026
Login rescue window	Within 7 days of application date
Eligible contract types	New, MNP, re-contract, additional lines (up to 5)

How to Apply via Employee Referral

If you have read through this guide and are ready to apply, using an employee referral link is straightforward. Click the link, log in to your Rakuten account (or create one), and then proceed through the application process. If you applied first and are within 7 days, you can still log in via the referral URL to qualify.

Remember to:

Use the Rakuten Link app to make at least one 10-second voice call after activating your line.
Check your Rakuten Points account starting 4 months after your application month for the first installment.
Note the expiration date on your limited-period points and use them before they expire.

You can apply through the employee referral campaign here: 👉 Apply via Employee Referral (14,000 pts for MNP / 11,000 pts for new signup)