Shinsei GoRemit and Bank-Wire Alternatives
Shinsei GoRemit was SBI Shinsei Bank's English-language channel for sending money out of Japan, and it ended on October 20, 2025.1 Former users now route through SBI Remit, while megabank SWIFT wires remain the fallback for some corridors and formal transfers.123
Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the SBI Shinsei Bank site and the SBI Remit site.
Overview
This article covers the GoRemit service record, the SBI Remit successor path, megabank wire costs and timing, inbound SWIFT routing for Japan, and the compliance checks that slow transfers down. It is written for residents who already hold a Japanese bank account and send higher-volume or speed-critical transfers.124
Fees and rate spreads below are provider-specific and corridor-specific. Name the bank and the corridor with each figure rather than generalizing to Japanese banks as a whole. All provider and corridor availability described here applies uniformly nationwide; no ward-office variation applies.
What GoRemit Was and What Replaced It
GoRemit is now a historical reference, not a live signup. Understanding its record helps former users map old habits onto the current successor without assuming anything carried over.15
GoRemit service record
GoRemit offered two outbound paths. A linked PowerFlex (pawāfurekkusu, "SBI Shinsei's combined yen and foreign-currency account") could be debited directly in the app, or the sender could make a domestic transfer to a designated collection account that triggered the onward remittance.6
Pricing used a dedicated GoRemit TTS rate. The TTS (telegraphic transfer selling rate, "bank sell rate for yen to foreign currency conversion") was posted around 10 a.m. each business day (as of 2025-10-20; confirm current figures with SBI Shinsei Bank). Funds that reached the bank by 3:00 p.m. on a business day converted at that day's rate, while later arrivals rolled to the next business day (as of 2025-10-20).6
The explicit fee was JPY 2,000 per remittance for yen-account debits and collection-account sends, and JPY 4,000 per remittance for foreign-currency-account debits (as of 2025-10-20).6 Yen-denominated sends added a lifting charge of 0.1 percent with a JPY 1,500 minimum (as of 2025-10-20).6 Domestic transfer costs to reach the collection account stayed with the sender, and intermediary or beneficiary-bank deductions could reduce the arrived amount.6
GoRemit stated coverage of more than 170 countries (as of 2025-10-20).6 Arrival typically ran 1 to 3 business days after the bank sent the remittance, with screening and local-bank practice causing variation (as of 2025-10-20).6
Where GoRemit users go now
SBI Shinsei Bank now points senders to the International Remittance Service provided by SBI Remit Co., Ltd., with separate individual and corporate entry pages.2 The bank describes that service as competitive on fees with ongoing expansion, but the page itself is a pointer rather than a full fee table.2
A past GoRemit registration does not activate SBI Remit. A new SBI Remit application is required, using the SBI Remit pages linked from the bank FAQ.7 The bank's post-termination FAQ hub also routes questions about where to deposit SBI Remit funds and where to ask about GoRemit-period transfers.5
SBI Remit caps one transaction at JPY 1,000,000 (as of 2026-09-07).8 Pricing is corridor-banded rather than flat.
A Philippines bank transfer in the 50,001 to 200,000 yen band costs JPY 1,400, a Vietnam bank transfer in the 100,001 to 300,000 yen band costs JPY 980, and an other-permitted-countries bank transfer in the 100,001 to 250,000 yen band costs JPY 2,480 (as of 2026-09-07).8 The applied rate is set when the reference number is issued, and rates update hourly with market-volatility caveats (as of 2026-09-07).9
New GoRemit applications stopped March 31, 2025, and existing registrants could use the service only until the October 2025 end date.10
Sending Money Out: GoRemit and Megabank Wires
Outbound choice comes down to corridor support, total cost including spread, and whether the recipient context requires a bank SWIFT record. Headline speed differences are smaller than cost differences.311
The diagram above maps the two outbound routes this section compares. The choice branches on corridor support and formality, not on speed alone.
GoRemit outbound path and cost structure
App-initiated PowerFlex yen debits received before 3:00 p.m. on a business day converted at that day's GoRemit TTS rate (as of 2025-10-20; confirm current figures with SBI Shinsei Bank).6 Collection-account sends received by 3:00 p.m. converted and remitted the same day at that day's rate, while later arrivals moved to the next business day (as of 2025-10-20).6
Only GoRemit-handled currencies were remittable, and yen-denominated sends were handled as a separate case with the lifting charge noted above.6 English UI and app-based beneficiary registration were the practical differentiator against Japanese-only megabank counters, a characterization corroborated by resident guides rather than stated verbatim on the official fee page.611
Megabank wire counter alternative
Megabank outbound SWIFT wires typically cost JPY 2,500 to JPY 8,500 per transfer depending on bank and channel, with online cheaper than the counter (as of 2026-03-04; confirm current figures with each bank).11 Reported bands include MUFG online around JPY 3,000 and counter around JPY 7,500, Mizuho online around JPY 5,000 and counter around JPY 8,500, SMBC online around JPY 3,500, and Japan Post Bank around JPY 2,500 or JPY 2,000 online (as of 2026-02 to 2026-03).311
The flat fee is only part of a megabank wire. Ask for the applied TTS rate and compare it against mid-market at the same moment, since the spread usually exceeds the flat fee on larger sends.
Megabank wires convert at each bank's own TTS rate with roughly 1.5 to 3 percent markup over mid-market (as of 2026-02).3 That spread is the dominant cost above about JPY 100,000. SWIFT wires typically arrive in 2 to 5 business days and can lose USD 10 to USD 30 to intermediary banks in transit, with the exact deduction unknowable in advance (as of 2026-02 to 2026-03).311
Bank wires remain the only path for some corridor-and-currency cases and for formal contexts that require a licensed-bank SWIFT record, such as large, legal, or employer-specified payments. That use-case judgment comes from resident-guide comparisons, not from a bank-published rule.311
How to choose between them
Larger, formal, or corridor-constrained sends favor bank wires despite higher all-in cost. Routine smaller sends favor lower-spread services.311 English UI favors the GoRemit record historically, and SBI Remit or app-based services now, over Japanese-only megabank counters.1110
Speed differences are modest. The GoRemit record cites 1 to 3 business days, one comparison table cites 2 to 4 days, megabanks cite 2 to 5 days, and SBI Remit varies by corridor (as of 2026-02 to 2026-03).311 Corridor support and total cost therefore dominate the choice more than headline speed.
Receiving Money In: SWIFT, IBAN, and Local Routing
Japan routes inbound international transfers by SWIFT plus domestic branch and account details. Japan has no domestic IBAN system, so do not invent an IBAN for a Japanese receiving account.12
What to give the sender
For an SBI Shinsei inbound transfer, give the sender the SWIFT/BIC code, the bank name, the branch name and address matching the branch code on the cash card, the account number, and the account-holder name in English.412 Branch code 400 is the head office.4 The bank publishes a branch list for checking the code, name, and address.4
SBI Shinsei Bank uses BIC/SWIFT LTCBJPJT or LTCBJPJTHED with CHIPS UID 024997. It states it does not use ABA, sort code, transit number, BSB, or IBAN, and that the SWIFT code is sufficient in most cases.12
To receive funds in the original foreign currency into an SBI Shinsei account, instruct the sending bank to transfer without converting to yen first.4 A 振込 (furikomi, "domestic bank transfer") is distinct from an international SWIFT wire, so keep the two sets of instructions separate.11 The 支店コード (shiten kōdo, "branch code") identifies the account-holding branch on the receiving form.4
Use the branch code on the cash card and copy the matching branch name and address from the bank branch list. A mismatched branch entry is a common avoidable delay on inbound wires.
Inbound fees and arrival timing
SBI Shinsei inbound handling is JPY 2,000 for yen and currency-equivalent amounts including USD 13.00, EUR 11.00, GBP 10.00, and AUD 19.00 (as of 2026-07-22; confirm current figures with SBI Shinsei Bank).4 The table below carries the same dated signal for each listed currency.
| Currency received | Handling fee | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese yen | JPY 2,000 | 2026-07-224 |
| US dollar | USD 13.00 | 2026-07-224 |
| Euro | EUR 11.00 | 2026-07-224 |
| Sterling pound | GBP 10.00 | 2026-07-224 |
| Australian dollar | AUD 19.00 | 2026-07-224 |
Remitting or intermediary banks may charge separately. SBI Shinsei deducts its handling from the inbound amount in priority order, starting with the inbound funds, then the same-currency savings balance, then the yen savings balance at JPY 2,000, and it returns the remittance if none covers the fee.4
Diamond, Platinum, Gold, or Silver members under the Step Up Program receive JPY 2,000 cash back per inbound remittance when the fee was deducted from their account, making it effectively free after rebate (as of 2026-07-22).4 Foreign-currency handling amounts are set to equal JPY 2,000 and are reviewed as exchange rates move (as of 2026-07-22).4
Inbound arrival is not immediate. The bank advises contacting it if funds have not arrived one week after sending, and beneficiary-side screening can add delay.4 Secondary comparisons place typical inbound bank charges at JPY 1,500 to JPY 4,000 plus conversion spread, with 1 to 5 business day arrival (as of 2026-02 to 2026-03).311
The sequence above shows why inbound timing varies. Each handoff can deduct a charge or add a screening pause before the deposit posts.
Whether Japan Post Bank accepts direct inbound international wires is disputed among secondary sources, so this article states no universal rule on that point.11
Costs and Timelines Compared
Compare total cost, not flat fee alone. Total cost has three parts: the explicit per-transfer fee, the FX spread against mid-market, and any intermediary-bank deduction on SWIFT wires.83
Fee schedule
GoRemit historical flat fees sat below megabank counter bands on explicit fee alone (GoRemit figures as of 2025-10-20; megabank bands as of 2026-02 to 2026-03; confirm current figures with each bank).6311 SBI Remit successor pricing is corridor-banded, so comparison requires the corridor table or simulator rather than a single flat figure (as of 2026-09-07).8
| Path | Explicit fee signal | As of |
|---|---|---|
| GoRemit yen path | JPY 2,000 | 2025-10-206 |
| GoRemit foreign-currency path | JPY 4,000 | 2025-10-206 |
| MUFG online | about JPY 3,000 | 2026-023 |
| MUFG counter | about JPY 7,500 | 2026-02 to 2026-03311 |
| Mizuho online | about JPY 5,000 | 2026-023 |
| Mizuho counter | about JPY 8,500 | 2026-03-0411 |
Exchange-rate spread and intermediary charges
Banks convert outbound yen at TTS, historically a dedicated GoRemit TTS and otherwise each megabank's own TTS. The true cost benchmark is mid-market, and the gap between TTS and mid-market is the spread.63
Check any bank quote against the mid-market rate at the same moment. The difference, multiplied by the send amount, is the spread cost to add to the flat fee.
Worked JPY 100,000 to USD examples put a mid-market service at about JPY 600 to JPY 900 all-in versus megabank wires at about JPY 5,000 to JPY 10,000 all-in, with the spread larger than the flat fee (as of 2026-02).3 SWIFT intermediary deductions of about USD 10 to USD 30 can come off the arrived amount on bank wires and do not appear on the sender receipt (as of 2026-02).3 SBI Remit yen SHA sends route intermediary and receiving-bank charges to the recipient, so the arrived amount can differ from the specified amount.8
Compliance and KYC: What Slows Transfers Down
Screening and documentation explain most delays. Plan documents and lead time, especially for first-time, large, or corridor-sensitive sends.411
What banks and services ask for
SBI Shinsei requires マイナンバー (mai nanbā, "Individual Number or My Number") registration for making or receiving international transfers. It may ask about the circumstances and details of inbound funds and request documentary evidence.4 The 送金目的 (sōkin mokuteki, "purpose of transfer") is asked in writing on larger sends, and 本人確認 (hon'nin kakunin, "identity verification") covers the residence card and My Number set.411
Counter guides list residence card, passport, bank book, recipient SWIFT and account details, and My Number as the bring-to-branch set for international wires.11 Transfers of JPY 1,000,000 or more trigger written purpose plus supporting documents such as a contract, invoice, or relationship explanation at the counter (as of 2026-03-04; confirm current figures with each bank).11
Inbound transfers of JPY 30,000,000 equivalent or more trigger a mailed Report of Payment to be filled in and returned.4 That threshold is a legal reporting line, not a bank fee band.
Timing surprises and how to plan
Same-day conversion depends on a 3:00 p.m. business-day cutoff on the GoRemit record (as of 2025-10-20).6 Megabank counters follow similar cutoff behavior in secondary guides (as of 2026-03-04).11 Screening on either end plus local-bank practice can push arrival beyond the typical window.64
Post-2022 tightening has added KYC questions and occasional verification holds on Japan remittance flows. That tightening is described here as observed compliance friction supported by My Number enforcement plus current screening and documentation rules, not as a cited 2022 statute.411
Good to know
GoRemit registration does not carry over to SBI Remit
A past GoRemit registration does not activate SBI Remit. Former users complete a new SBI Remit application before sending, or the send cannot proceed.7 The bank FAQ hub lists the separate entry pages and the contact path for GoRemit-period questions.5
The FX spread usually costs more than the flat fee
A 2 percent TTS markup on a JPY 100,000 send costs about JPY 2,000 before the flat fee is counted (as of 2026-02).3 Megabank all-in cost on that size runs about JPY 5,000 to JPY 10,000, against about JPY 600 to JPY 900 on a mid-market service (as of 2026-02).3 Comparing flat fees alone therefore hides the larger component on sends above roughly JPY 100,000.
Yen-denominated sends can attract an extra lifting charge
GoRemit added 0.1 percent with a JPY 1,500 minimum on yen-denominated sends on top of JPY 2,000 (as of 2025-10-20).6 SBI Remit yen SHA sends push intermediary and receiving charges to the recipient, so the arrived amount can differ from the specified amount.8 Readers sending yen to avoid conversion still face a distinct charge in both cases.
Japan has no IBAN; do not invent one for inbound wires
SBI Shinsei states it does not use IBAN and that SWIFT plus branch and account details suffices.12 European senders who expect an IBAN field should leave it blank or enter the SWIFT code where the form asks for the bank identifier, rather than fabricating a number.
Large or first-time sends trigger the most questions
Written purpose and supporting documents apply from JPY 1,000,000 up at the counter (as of 2026-03-04).11 Inbound evidence requests can apply at any size, and the JPY 30,000,000 equivalent reporting mailer applies at the top end.4 Showing up without documents or near a cutoff turns a same-week send into a multi-visit one. Provider and corridor determine the exact friction; no ward-office variation applies.
See also
- Revolut Japan and Multi-Currency Alternatives
- Repatriating Pension and Investment Balances at Departure
- Japan's Banking System: The Five Bank Tiers Explained
- Multiple-Account Strategy for Foreign Residents