※ This post contains a referral link. If you apply for a Rakuten Card through the link below, you get the campaign bonus described in this guide and TIFE may also receive a reward — full terms are explained as you read on.
Rakuten just made its friend referral campaign worth nearly double what it normally is — but only for 10 days. From September 18, 2026, 10:00 JST to September 28, 2026, 10:00 JST, anyone who applies for a new Rakuten Card through a referral link gets 11,000 Rakuten points instead of the usual 6,000. If you’ve been putting off getting a Rakuten Card — Japan’s most useful all-purpose points card, with zero annual fee — this is the best moment in months to actually do it. Apply here before September 28 →
📋 Quick navigation: What’s actually being offered · How to apply, step by step · Who qualifies (read this first) · Why the Rakuten Card is worth it beyond this campaign · FAQ
Limited-Time Referral Campaign · Ends Sept 28
🎉 New Rakuten Card Members Get 11,000 Points
Apply through this link, complete your bank account registration by the 25th of next month, and Rakuten pays out as soon as 3 days later. No annual fee, ever.
Campaign runs Sept 18, 2026 10:00 JST – Sept 28, 2026 10:00 JST. You must apply within 10 days of clicking this link.
What’s actually being offered — and why it’s unusually good
Rakuten runs a referral program year-round: refer a friend, and normally the new member gets 6,000 points while the referrer gets 1,000. For this 10-day window only, Rakuten has boosted both sides of that reward. Here’s the exact breakdown, taken directly from Rakuten’s own campaign terms:
| Reward | Normal (year-round) | Sept 18–28, 2026 campaign |
|---|---|---|
| New member (you) | 6,000 points | 11,000 points |
| Referrer | 1,000 points | 9,000 points |
Your 11,000 points break down as 1,000 campaign-limited points, a 2,000-point new-signup bonus, and an 8,000-point card-usage bonus (2,000 of which are regular points, 6,000 time-limited). All of it lands in your account as soon as 3 days after you’ve met both conditions below. 1 Rakuten point = ¥1 of spending value at Rakuten Ichiba and thousands of partner stores across Japan — so this campaign is worth roughly ¥11,000 in free spending money for ten minutes of paperwork.
How to apply, step by step
- Step 1 — Click the referral link: tap here to open the campaign page. Opening it in your phone’s normal browser (not an in-app browser) tends to be the most reliable.
- Step 2 — Log into your Rakuten member account: if you don’t have one yet, you can create a free Rakuten ID on the same screen — it takes about two minutes.
- Step 3 — Apply within 10 days: submit your Rakuten Card application within 10 days of first accessing the link. Waiting longer than that forfeits the campaign bonus, even if you keep the same link.
- Step 4 — Complete bank account registration: once your card is approved, finish your bank account (kouza furikae) registration by the 25th of the month following your application. This is the step people most often forget — the card being approved is not enough on its own.
- Step 5 — Wait for your points: once both steps above are confirmed, points are credited in as little as 3 days.
Who qualifies — read this before you click
⚠️ The fine print that actually matters
- New applicants only. If you already hold a Rakuten Card, Rakuten Premium Card, Rakuten Gold Card, Rakuten ANA Mileage Club Card, Rakuten PINK Card, or Rakuten Card Academy, you are not eligible for the referral bonus.
- Use your own Rakuten ID, on your own device. If your device auto-logs into a shared or borrowed Rakuten account, the click may be attributed to the wrong person and the bonus can be voided.
- The 10-day clock starts the moment you click. Bookmark the link and apply later, and you risk missing the window entirely.
- Both steps are required. Card approval alone does not trigger the bonus — the bank account registration step by the 25th of the following month is just as mandatory.
Still deciding? The window closes September 28, 10:00 JST.
Get My 11,000 Points →Why the Rakuten Card is worth having beyond this campaign
- Zero annual fee, permanently — not an introductory rate, not a fee waived only in year one.
- 1% base points on every purchase — 1 point per ¥100 spent, usable as real yen at Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Pay, and thousands of partner shops and restaurants nationwide.
- Stacks with Rakuten’s wider ecosystem — combine it with Rakuten Rebates and Rakuten Ichiba’s Super Points campaigns and your effective cashback on everyday spending climbs well past the base 1%.
- Visa network acceptance — usable virtually anywhere in Japan and abroad that accepts Visa.
- English-language customer support available — one of the more foreign-resident-friendly major card issuers in Japan.
If you’re also building out a cashless wallet for daily life in Japan, our PayPay Japan guide and Rakuten Rebates guide cover the two apps that pair best with a Rakuten Card for stacking points on top of points.
FAQ
- How many points do I actually get if I apply through this link? 11,000 Rakuten points instead of the usual 6,000 — 1,000 campaign-limited points, a 2,000-point signup bonus, and an 8,000-point usage bonus (2,000 regular + 6,000 time-limited), for applications completed September 18–28, 2026.
- What exactly do I need to do to qualify? Click the link, log into or create a Rakuten member account, apply within 10 days, and complete bank account registration by the 25th of the following month.
- When do the points actually arrive? As soon as 3 days after both conditions above are confirmed.
- Is there an annual fee for the Rakuten Card? No — the standard Rakuten Card is permanently free, campaign or not.
- Can I get the bonus if I already have a Rakuten Card? No. This bonus is for new applicants only; existing cardholders of any eligible Rakuten Card product are excluded.
- What happens if I apply after September 28? The bonus reverts to Rakuten’s standard year-round referral reward of 6,000 / 1,000 points. The 11,000 / 9,000 boost only applies during the campaign window.
Quick reference
- Campaign dates: September 18, 2026, 10:00 JST – September 28, 2026, 10:00 JST
- New member reward: 11,000 points (normally 6,000)
- Apply within: 10 days of clicking the link
- Bank registration deadline: 25th of the month after you apply
- Points arrive: as soon as 3 days after conditions are met
- Annual fee: ¥0, always
- Apply here: Rakuten Card referral link
Last Chance · Campaign Ends Sept 28, 10:00 JST
💳 Don’t Leave 11,000 Points on the Table
Ten minutes today, ~¥11,000 in points within days. No annual fee, no catch — just apply before the window closes.
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