Documents Verifying Identity

This page introduces documents for identity verification and other documents required for procedures.

Documents Verifying Identity and Additional Documents

  • In the case of making a new subscription under a personal name, the application must be made by the subscriber. An application cannot be accepted from a representative (except for a family member and legal representative of the subscriber).
  • If a family member of the subscriber applies for the subscriber, a letter of attorney, identification document of the family member, and a document verifying that the person applying is a member of the subscriber's family (Family Register [Koseki Tohon], Certificate of Residence [Juminhyo] without Individual Number [social security and tax number] printed on it, etc.) are required in addition to an identification document of the subscriber. When other than ① a Japanese driver's license, ② an Individual Number Card (My Number Card), ③ a government-issued identification booklet for the physically challenged (Shintai Shogaisha Techo), ④ a government-issued welfare booklet for the mentally ill (Seishin Shogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo [Shogaisha Techo]), or ⑤ a government-issued identification booklet for the mentally challenged (Ryoiku Techo) is used as the identification document of the member of the subscriber's family, an additional document is required.
  • For details on procedures performed by legal representatives, go to "Application by a Representative".

Documents verifying identity

Documents verifying identity
  Identification documents with the subscriber's current address (A photocopy is not acceptable) Requirements for procedures to pay your monthly bill
Individual

One of the following:

  1. Japanese driver's license (issued by a prefectural or metropolitan Public Safety Commission. International driver's licenses are not accepted.)
  2. Individual Number Card (My Number Card)
    • DOCOMO will not acquire or retain your My Number for any purpose.
  3. Government-issued identification booklet for the physically challenged (Shintai Shogaisha Techo)
  4. Government-issued welfare booklet for the mentally ill (Seishin Shogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo [Shogaisha Techo])
  5. Government-issued identification booklet for the mentally challenged (Ryoiku Techo)

One of the following (in the name of the subscriber):

  1. Credit card
  2. Bank card (bank cards cannot be used in some stores and the bank cards of some financial institutions cannot be used)

If the subscriber does not have any of the above, the subscriber's bankbook plus seal are required.

  • For the financial institutions that will accept application by bank card for automatic payment, see Financial Institutions (Banks) that Handle Automatic Payment of DOCOMO Charges: When Applying at a Shop with Bank Card. A bank card without a magnetic stripe cannot be used.
  • For an application by bank card for automatic payment or an application for payment by credit card, the card holder must come to a docomo Shop and enter the PIN (bank card only).
  • In the following cases, a document proving that the person is a family member of the subscriber and a letter of consent from the person who makes the payments must be presented.
    • When payment will be by credit card or automatic payment under the name of a family member of the subscriber.
    • When payment will be with a single bill including that for the representative line which is the subscriber line of a family member of the subscriber.(If a contracted line is used as the representative line and the charge is paid all at once, a payer's consent form is not required.)
  • Minors who are unable to present a bank card or similar in their name must be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian and the bank card or similar of the legal parent or guardian must be presented.
  • For foreign residents, please present ⑦ Residence card. If the subscriber does not present ⑦ Resident card or the remaining period of stay is less than three months, the subscriber must make payments with a credit card in their name.

If the subscriber does not have any of the above, one of the following and additional document*1 are required.

  1. Basic Resident Registration Card (must show subscriber's photo)
  2. Residence card and foreign passport*, or Certificate of Alien Registration
    • You do not need a foreign passport if you have permanent residency status.
  1. The additional document in the table below is not required in the following cases.
    • When applying for payment with a credit card
    • When applying for payment with a bank card
For details on applying with an identification document other than the above (a document issued from a government or municipal office), contact DOCOMO in advance.
Minor

Identification document of minor
+ Letter of consent from legal parent or guardian
+ Identification document of legal parent or guardian
+ Document verifying that the person is a legal parent or guardian (Family Register [Koseki Tohon], Certificate of Residence [Juminhyo] without Individual Number [social security and tax number] printed on it, etc.)

  • The identification document required for minors is the same as for individuals (No additional documents are required except when presenting a Japanese Health Insurance Certificate. A Certificate of Residence [Juminhyo] under the name of the minor subscriber is required when presenting a Japanese Health Insurance Certificate.).
  • For a minor in elementary school or younger, the application must be made under the name of a legal parent or guardian.
Company

Certified Copy of Commercial Registration (Tokiboto [sho] hon) or Seal Registration Certificate
+ Identification document of the person who applies
+ Letter of attorney or employee ID or business card

  • However, a letter of attorney is required for name changes and line cancellations. Employee IDs and business cards are not accepted (for line cancellations, they may be accepted after telephone confirmation with the General Affairs Department of the company in question).
  • Certified Copy of Commercial Registration (Tokiboto [sho] hon), Certificate of detailed current registry (Genzai [rireki] jikoshomeisho), and Seal Registration Certificate must have been issued within the last three months.
  • The identification documents of the person who comes to the shop must be in accordance with those specified for an individual. However, when other than ① a Japanese driver's license, ② an Individual Number Card (My Number Card), ③ a government-issued identification booklet for the physically challenged (Shintai Shogaisha Techo), ④ a government-issued welfare booklet for the mentally ill (Seishin Shogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo [Shogaisha Techo]), or ⑤ a government-issued identification booklet for the mentally challenged (Ryoiku Techo) is used, one of the additional documents in the table below is definitely required.
  • In the case of a rental mobile phone company, DOCOMO will confirm the method for verifying identity when renting to customers in order to ensure compliance with the Act for Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Phones. Furthermore, a written pledge must be presented. Please inquire in advance about the written pledge because a company seal must be affixed.

One of the following:

  1. Credit card (in the name of the corporate subscriber)
  2. Bank card (bank cards cannot be used in some stores and the bank cards of some financial institutions cannot be used)
  3. Subscriber's bankbook plus seal
  • If the subscriber wants to use automatic payments and apply for installment payments when submitting an application for a new subscription, an application for automatic payments using the subscriber's bank card is required. Please note that this payment method is not available at some financial institutions.
  • The identification document must be valid and show the name, date of birth, and current address. (Documents that do not show the expiry date must have been issued within the last three months.) The current address must be printed or written in pen or other medium that cannot be erased. The subscriber may also be asked to present identification documents in addition to those shown in the table above.
  • If the address shown on the identification document is different from the current address, perform the procedure to change the address in advance. (In the case of a Japanese driver's license, an Individual Number Card [My Number Card], a government-issued identification booklet for the physically challenged [Shintai Shogaisha Techo], a government-issued welfare booklet for the mentally ill [Seishin Shogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo (Shogaisha Techo)], or a government-issued identification booklet for the mentally challenged [Ryoiku Techo], even if it shows the old address, the application will be accepted if one of the additional documents in the table below is presented.)
  • Regardless of what is written on the identification documents, the subscriber is registered under the name used when applying.
  • For foreign residents, please present the residence card and foreign passport, in addition to the identification document. (You do not need to present the foreign passport if you have permanent residency status.)
  • If you apply to pay by automatic payment, one or two bills may be sent before the setup procedure is completed with your financial institution. In this case, please pay the bill at a convenience store that handles DOCOMO charges payment, financial institution, or DOCOMO service counter.
  • For a DOCOMO installment payment contract, the procedure to pay by bank card or credit card needs to be completed when applying with a Japanese Health Insurance Certificate (minors only). Also, if the expiry date on the ⑦ Residence card or Certificate of Alien Registration is before the end of the installment payment contract period, DOCOMO installment payment contract may not be able to be used.
  • If you will use DOCOMO installment payments, check About Purchasing in Installments.
  • A Japanese Health Insurance Certificate is not accepted as an identification document (except for minors. Note that a Japanese Health Insurance Certificate is still accepted when applying for docomo Denki, regardless of whether you are an adult or a minor).

Additional documents

Please prepare one of the items below.

Utility receipt
  • The utility receipt must be issued within the last three months with the subscriber's current address and limited to one in the name of the subscriber.
  • Only utility receipts for electricity, gas, water, etc. bearing a receipt stamp or automatic payment notices showing the date of automatic payment are accepted.
Certificate of Residence (Juminhyo)
  • Must be issued within the last three months, show the current address, and be in the subscriber's name without My Number (Individual Number) printed on it.
  • For minor subscribers, utility bill receipts are not accepted as supporting documents when presenting a Japanese Health Insurance Certificate. Please provide a Certificate of Residence in the subscriber's name.

Whether an additional document is required depending on identification document type and payment method

If a Japanese driver's license, an Individual Number Card (My Number Card), a government-issued identification booklet for the physically challenged (Shintai Shogaisha Techo), a government-issued welfare booklet for the mentally ill (Seishin Shogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo [Shogaisha Techo]), or a government-issued identification booklet for the mentally challenged (Ryoiku Techo) is used as the identification document of the subscriber, an additional document is not required regardless of the payment method.
If the subscriber does not have a Japanese driver's license, an Individual Number Card (My Number Card), a government-issued identification booklet for the physically challenged (Shintai Shogaisha Techo), a government-issued welfare booklet for the mentally ill (Seishin Shogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo [Shogaisha Techo]), or a government-issued identification booklet for the mentally challenged (Ryoiku Techo), pleae bring one of the following.

Whether an Additional Document is Required Depending on Identification Document Type and Payment Method
Identification documents with the subscriber's current address
(A photocopy is not acceptable)
Requirements for procedures to pay your monthly bill *2
Credit card Bank card Bankbook plus seal
Japanese Health Insurance Certificate Required Required Required
Basic Resident Registration Card
(must show subscriber's photo)
Not required Not required Required
Residence card or Certificate of Alien Registration Not required Not required Required
  1. In the case of the procedure to pay your monthly bill together with the charges of a line subscribed to in the name of a subscriber, an additional document is required.
  • You may be asked to present an additional document regardless of the above.

If the Subscriber and the User Are Different People

When the person who is registering as the user is not the subscriber, a document verifying the full name and date of birth of the user (a photocopy is acceptable) must be presented separately.

  • DOCOMO asks subscribers to register user information (full name and date of birth) for minors to ensure safe and secure Internet use.

Registering User Information

Application by a Representative

Application made by a representative

Please bring the following three documents.

  1. Letter of attorney with subscriber's signature or written name and seal
  2. Documents verifying the subscriber's identity
  3. Documents verifying the representative's identity (When other than a Japanese driver's license, an Individual Number Card [My Number Card], a government-issued identification booklet for the physically challenged [Shintai Shogaisha Techo], a government-issued welfare booklet for the mentally ill [Seishin Shogaisha Hoken Fukushi Techo (Shogaisha Techo)], or a government-issued identification booklet for the mentally challenged [Ryoiku Techo], is used as the identification document, an additional document is required.)

Application made by a legal representative

Please bring the following documents.

If an adult guardian has been appointed *3

  • Identification documents of the subscriber (the adult under guardianship)
  • Letter of consent from the adult guardian (required even if the adult guardian comes to the shop with the subscriber)
  • dentification documents of the adult guardian
  • Document proving that the person is the adult guardian (Certificate of Registered Matters, etc.)

If an curator has been appointed *3

  • Identification documents of the subscriber (the person under curatorship)
  • Letter of consent from the curator (required even if the curator comes to the shop with the subscriber)
  • Identification documents of the curator
  • Document proving that the person is curator (Certificate of Registered Matters, etc., consent act list, or representative act list)

If an assistant has been appointed *3

  • Identification documents of the subscriber (the person under assistance)
  • Letter of consent from the assistant (required even if the assistant comes to the shop with the subscriber)
  • Document proving that the person is the assistant (Certificate of Registered Matters, etc., consent act list, or representative act list)
  1. This only applies to cases in which the family court rules that the right of representation in mobile phone subscriptions, etc. is granted to a curator or assistant.

If you are the legal parent or guardian of a subscriber who is a minor

  • Identification documents of the subscriber (minor)
  • Letter of consent from the legal representative (legal parent or guardian) (required even if the legal parent or guardian comes to the shop with the subscriber)
  • Identification documents of the legal parent or guardian
  • Document proving that the person is the legal representative (legal parent or guardian) (Certificate of the Family Register, Certificate of Residence without your Individual Number printed, etc.)

Letter of Consent / Letter of Attorney Downloads

An application may not be able to be accepted from a representative depending on the order.

  • In the case of making a new subscription under a personal name or concluding a DOCOMO installment payment contract at the same time as changing models or subscriptions under a personal name, a representative (except for a family member and legal representative of the subscriber) cannot make the application. The application must be made by the subscriber.
  • A representative (except for a guardian) cannot make an application for some of the services related to the subscriber's confidentiality of communications such as the Itemized Billing Service. The application must be made by the subscriber.
    • If the line is subscribed to the Web Itemized Billing Service, a representative cannot make an application for the d ACCOUNT to be issued or reissued.
  • The letter of attorney must indicate the date, details of the application (mobile phone number, requested procedure(s), etc.), the name, address, and contact phone number of the representative, and the name, address, and contact phone number of the authorizing party (subscriber).
  • If any information on the letter of attorney is found to be false, service may be suspended or the contract may be cancelled.

Notes

About applying

  • If DOCOMO receives a request for confirmation of the contracting customer's proof of identity from police, or if contracting customer's name or address is different from the actual ones, DOCOMO may ask the customers to bring their original documents verifying the contracting customer's proof of identity and their handset that is currently used to a docomo Shop in order to reconfirm their name and address, etc. If it cannot be confirmed, DOCOMO will stop their services.
  • A deposit (max. ¥100,000/contract [non-taxable], interest-free, of an amount determined separately by DOCOMO) may be required for persons indicated below. DOCOMO installment payment is not available for the purchase of mobile phones under subscriptions that require deposits.
    • Person applying for multiple contracts (of more than the number of contracted lines DOCOMO agreed on) within a certain period
    • Persons with payments outstanding to other mobile phone, PHS, satellite mobile phone carriers, etc.

Mailing a confidential letter

  • Subscription confirmation notices marked confidential (cannot be forwarded) will be sent to new subscribers. If subscription confirmation documents are returned to us, you may be required to bring original identification documents that include your name and address to a docomo Shop so that DOCOMO can verify that you are the subscriber. If we are unable to verify your identity, your service may be suspended.
    • Confirmation documents may be sent by registered mail (cannot be forwarded) in some cases depending on the type of original identification documents.
  • DOCOMO will post subscription confirmation documents including the mobile phone number, the subscriber's name and address, and other information marked confidential to the legal parents or guardians of new subscribers under 20 years old to verify their consent, if they have provided consent. DOCOMO may also contact legal parents or guardians for confirmation.

Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Phones Initiative

  • In accordance with the Act for Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Phones (effective as of April 1, 2006), DOCOMO is required to confirm the subscriber's identity with original identification documents as specified by DOCOMO and make a record of that confirmation. Even subscribers who already have a subscription with DOCOMO are required to confirm their identity with original identification documents. You are not permitted to transfer ownership of the docomo UIM Card (FOMA Card) used for the subscription to another party without notifying DOCOMO.
  • In order to prevent mobile phone subscriptions that have been illicitly obtained with forged documents verifying identity from being used in bank transfer scams and other crimes, DOCOMO may determine that it is necessary to confirm the validity of the documents verifying identity (such as a Japanese driver's license) presented by the subscriber at the time of subscription. In such case, we may provide the issuing authority (police agencies, etc.) with the information of that document (Japanese driver's license, etc.) to confirm its validity. We ask for your understanding in our efforts to prevent bank transfer scams and other crime.
  • In order to prevent large numbers of improper subscriptions under the same name, individuals are generally limited to a maximum of five line subscriptions, including currently active subscription lines, subscription lines for which the phone numbers are stored, and inactive subscription lines, under the same personal name for each line type determined by DOCOMO.
Go to top of the page