You’ve worked hard in Japan, saved diligently, and now you need to move a large sum—perhaps for a home down-payment in Kathmandu, a medical bill in Manila, or a business investment in Colombo.
But the moment you try to send more than ¥1 million in a single go, most apps flash the same red message: “Amount exceeds limit.”
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone. Every month, thousands of foreign residents in Japan hit the invisible ¥1 million wall. Below, we unpack why the wall exists, which providers let you climb over it, and exactly what paperwork you need so your JPY arrives in NPR, INR, LKR, BDT or PHP without delay, surprise fees, or a frantic phone call from compliance.
Why ¥1 Million Is the Magic Number
Japanese law doesn’t cap personal outward remittances, but three practical forces converge around the ¥1 million mark:
- Financial-service regulators ask providers to apply extra due-diligence on any transfer ≥ ¥1 million.
- Banks and e-wallets in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & the Philippines often automatically flag credits ≥ the equivalent of USD 7,500–10,000.
- Compliance teams balance risk vs. revenue; below ¥1 million they can automate checks, above it they need human eyes.
The result: most consumer-facing remittance brands set soft daily, weekly or monthly limits just under seven figures.
The good news: every provider we cover—Wise, SmileRemit, JpRemit, BrastelRemit, CityRemit, JapanRemit, KyodaiRemit—can legally breach that barrier once you complete a one-time “large-remitter” onboarding. You simply have to know which buttons to press.
Provider-by-Provider: High-Limit Routes at a Glance
| Provider | Standard Daily Cap | Upload Docs Once, Raise Limit To… | Speed After Approval | Best For… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ¥1 million | ¥10 million/transfer | 0–2 hours | Real mid-market rate |
| SmileRemit | ¥500,000 | ¥3 million/month | 1 business day | Cash pickup in Nepal |
| JpRemit | ¥1 million | ¥5 million/transfer | Same day if <11 a.m. | Bank credit to India |
| BrastelRemit | ¥300,000 | ¥2 million/month | 1–2 days | Phone-top-up + remit |
| CityRemit | ¥1 million | Unlimited* (case-by-case) | 1 business day | Sri Lanka SWIFT network |
| JapanRemit | ¥500,000 | ¥3 million/transfer | 1–3 days | Bangladesh bKash credits |
| KyodaiRemit | ¥1 million | ¥10 million/month | Within 2 hours | Philippines PHP credit |
*Subject to relationship manager review.
Step-by-Step: How to Unlock Each Provider
Wise (¥10 Million Ceiling)
- Open your Wise account with My Number card + residence card.
- Inside the app, choose “Verify to send large amounts.”
- Upload:
- 3 months’ salary slips (or tax withholding 源泉徴収票)
- Bank book or internet-bank screenshot showing balance ≥ sending amount
- Purpose letter (one paragraph: “I am remitting JPY 3,000,000 to my NRE account in India for family maintenance.”)
- A human agent video-calls you within 2 hours on weekdays.
- Approval email arrives → lifetime limit raised to ¥10 million per transfer, unlimited number of transfers.
Tip: Wise uses the mid-market rate; the only fee is a transparent % that drops as amount rises (e.g., 0.35 % above ¥3 million).
SmileRemit (¥3 Million/Month)
- Register online with residence card.
- Visit any Seven Bank ATM with your SmileRemit registration number; print the “High-limit application form.”
- Mail the form + salary slip + copy of My Number to their Sapporo HQ (free return envelope provided).
- Within 3 business days your monthly cap jumps from ¥0.5 million to ¥3 million.
Best corridor: Nepal (cash pickup at Siddhartha Bank in 30 minutes).
JpRemit (¥5 Million/Transfer)
- After standard KYC, email support@jpremit.com with subject “Limit increase request.”
- Attach:
- Employer letter (会社の証明書) on company letterhead stating tenure & monthly salary
- Latest tax return (e-Tax PDF acceptable)
- They open a dedicated “VIP” tab in your dashboard; enter any amount ≤ ¥5 million.
Speed: If remittance order placed before 11 a.m. JST, INR reaches Indian banks same evening.
BrastelRemit (¥2 Million/Month)
- Call 0055-9888 from any Japanese mobile; ask for “High-limit desk.”
- Upload docs through LINE app (they send a secure link).
- Accept an automated phone questionnaire in simple Japanese.
Unique perk: You can split ¥2 million into phone top-ups + bank remit in one flow—useful if you support both family calling bills and household expenses in Manila.
CityRemit (Unlimited*)
- Existing account holders can request the “CityRemit Premium” form at any Shinjuku or Yokohama branch.
- Minimum documentary bundle:
- 6 months’ bank statements (average balance ≥ sending amount)
- Contract of sale or medical estimate (for proof of purpose)
- A compliance officer sets an individual limit (often ¥20–50 million).
Corridor strength: Sri Lanka via SWIFT direct to any commercial bank; no intermediary fees.
JapanRemit (¥3 Million/Transfer)
- Use the “Large Amount” toggle inside the app; it triggers a request for:
- 源泉徴収票 (withholding slip)
- Residence card (both sides)
- Notarised Japanese translation if salary slip is in English (free templates on their site).
- Once approved, schedule transfers up to ¥3 million; funds land in bKash or Bangladesh bank in T+1.
KyodaiRemit (¥10 Million/Month)
- After 3 successful low-value transfers, the menu auto-shows “Upgrade to Platinum.”
- Upload one continuous PDF:
- Employment contract (在籍証明書)
- Latest pension & health insurance cards (verifies stable residence)
- Kyodai issues a personalised “Remit ID” that you quote for any amount ≤ ¥10 million.
Sweet spot: Philippines BDO, Metrobank & PNB accounts credited within 2 hours at flat ¥800 fee regardless of size.
Common Paperwork Checklist (Have It Ready Once, Use It Everywhere)
- My Number card (both sides) – compulsory for any limit ≥ ¥1 million.
- Residence card (both sides) – must have ≥ 6 months validity left.
- 3–6 months’ salary slips – PDF or photo; digital stamp date must be visible.
- Bank book/balance screenshot – prove you hold the money.
- Purpose letter – one paragraph, Japanese or English, signed & dated.
- Tax withholding slip (源泉徴収票) – strongest single document; download from MyNa Portal if employer hasn’t issued yet.
- Company letter – on official letterhead, stating employment start date, position and monthly gross salary; HR departments in Japan are used to this request.
Pro tip: Create one Dropbox folder titled “JapanRemitDocs” and share the same link with every provider—saves repeating scans.
Cost vs. Speed vs. FX Margin: What Changes When You Go Big?
-
Fees Flatten
Wise, KyodaiRemit and JpRemit cut their percentage fee once you cross ¥1 million (e.g., Wise drops from 0.55 % to 0.35 %).
CityRemit and JapanRemit keep flat fees but waive receiving charges, so total cost dips under 0.4 % for seven-figure transfers. -
Speed Holds or Improves
Large transfers skip the pooled “batch” cycle; they go straight via SWIFT or domestic real-time rails, so INR, PHP, BDT, LKR or NPR often arrive same day. -
FX Margin Shrinks
BrastelRemit and SmileRemit will negotiate 10–20 pips off the standard rate if you book ≥ ¥2 million—just live-chat the dealer desk.
Tax & Legal FAQs (the Worries Everyone Has)
Q: Do I have to pay Japanese gift or remittance tax?
A: No outbound remittance tax exists for personal transfers. If the money is your post-tax salary, you’re clear.
**Q: Will My Number data be shared with Nepal/India/Sri Lanka/Bangladesh/Philippines tax offices?
A: Japanese providers only report to Japan’s Financial Services Agency. The receiving bank may ask source-of-funds questions under local AML law—answer with your employment letter.
**Q: Can I split ¥3 million into three ¥1 million transfers to avoid paperwork?
A: You can, but providers aggregate by sender name + address + My Number. Intentional structuring triggers automatic compliance holds and can freeze your account.
5 Golden Rules for a Smooth >¥1 Million Transfer
- Upload in the morning on a business day—compliance teams in Tokyo review in chronological order; late-day uploads roll to next day.
- Quote the exact kanji spelling of your name on residence card—one misplaced ・dot delays approval by 24 h.
- State a single, consistent purpose across all apps; mixing “family support,” “property” and “investment” raises red flags.
- Save the approval email; some receivers (especially Sri Lankan banks) ask for a “limit increase certificate” at credit time.
- Lock the rate immediately after approval—for large sums, even a 0.25 % adverse move costs more than the entire fee.
Compare, Click, Confirm: Your Next Move
You now have the roadmap. The only step left is to see live exchange rates and total cost for your exact million-yen amount side-by-side.
Tap once, enter JPY 1,000,