RResidents in Japan

Recently moved to Japan. Now locked out of my Wise account.

  • January 24, 2026

I arrived in Japan a couple weeks ago, as a long-term student. I have my Zairyu card and other forms of ID, but as you know, MyNumber can take a while. I only got the notification mail a few days ago so I applied for it.

I wanted to change my country of residence in Wise, so I could get a Wise card. I contacted their live support, and I asked them if I could do it without the MyNumber card. They told me I could do it with the Zairyu card as only one of the two are required. I was skeptical because the link they sent me asked me to have both ready, and when I mentioned that, and said that I do not have the MyNumber card, they said not to worry, and they would change my address on their end, and all I would need to verify is the Zairyu card. So I said OK.

They changed my address, and now when I try to verify residence, AFTER uploading my Zairyu card, it’s asking me for MyNumber as well.

Since I don’t have it, I can’t verify. Since I can’t verify, I can’t withdraw money, which I need. On top of all of that, the email support is now telling me that if I don’t verify in 2 days they will “refund” my money, whatever that means. The money is what I have withdrawn from my PayPal account via the bank account deposit option so I don’t know how they would refund it.

Is there anything I can do? Has anyone experienced anything similar?

by SkullTraill

12 comments

  1. Your MyNumber number is on your juuminhyou which you can get from the city/ward office (they may ask if you want it on there or not). Not handy I know but quicker than waiting for the card. The MyNumber card is just the number on an IC card. If Wise need the actual card uploading then I’m not sure what you can do.

  3. Temporarily change your address back to your old one and then try the process again when you have the mynumber card… that’s what I did although it was a few years ago now.

  5. Wise is fucking annoying. I got locked out of my wise account for trying to change my address and they are being such a pain in the neck getting it reinstated.

  6. You can only sort this out by going through their support. If you don’t get the answer you want, have all the information ready and ask to be put the
    through to a supervisor. I think their first level of support is fielding very basic questions but once you get through to a knowledgeable human then they can really sort things out.

  7. Wait a bit and mail them the picture of it when it arrives. Wise has the best mail support.

  8. I would recommend not changing your country of residence to Japan with Wise. You can actually use the card for a lot more things in Japan if wasn’t issued here.

  9. Why don’t you call them back and ask for a solution? They have short wait times and usually have an answer or can find one for you. I have never had a problem with their customer services

  11. I tired to change my address to my new one before and they completely locked my account and then deleted it. Brought my physical card here to use it and then now I’m stuck with a new account that only has the digital card. Kind of annoying

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