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Tokyo is handing every registered resident — Japanese or foreign — up to ¥11,000 in “Tokyo Points” through the Tokyo App Living Support Program (東京アプリ生活応援事業), and most of the expat community has never heard of it. The eligibility bar is deliberately low: you just need to be 15 or older with jūminhyō (住民登録, resident registration) in Tokyo — the same registration every foreign resident on a mid-to-long-term visa gets when they move here. Nationality is not a filter. This guide covers exactly who qualifies, how the ¥11,000 breaks down, how to apply through the app, and how to convert the points into cash you can actually spend.
📋 Quick Navigation: Who qualifies · How the ¥11,000 breaks down · How to apply · Cashing out your points · FAQ
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See TIFE Events →Tokyo App points 2026: who actually qualifies
- Age 15 or older as of the application date.
- Registered as a Tokyo resident (住民登録) — this is automatic once you register your address at your ward office, regardless of visa type: work visa, spouse visa, student visa, permanent residency, or specified skilled worker.
- A My Number Card with the digital certificate active, since verification runs through Japan’s digital ID app rather than a paper form.
- Nationality, income, and length of residence are not eligibility factors — this is one of the few Tokyo benefits genuinely open to every resident on day one of registration.
How the ¥11,000 breaks down
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total value | ¥11,000 in Tokyo Points |
| Who qualifies | Tokyo residents aged 15+ with jūminhyō |
| Application deadline | April 1, 2027 |
| Verification method | My Number Card + digital ID app |
| Where points redeem | PayPay, Rakuten Cash, V Point, d Point, au PAY, Mercari Points, Tokyo facility tickets |
How to apply, step by step
- Download the Tokyo App (東京アプリ) from the App Store or Google Play — it’s the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s official resident app, not a third-party service.
- Verify with your My Number Card using the digital authentication app on your phone (NFC read on most modern smartphones).
- Confirm your resident registration — the app cross-checks your jūminhyō automatically once identity is verified.
- Claim your ¥11,000 in Tokyo Points — they land in your in-app wallet within the app.
- Choose where to send them — PayPay, Rakuten Cash, V Point, d Point, au PAY, Mercari Points, or Tokyo facility/attraction tickets.
Cashing out: turn Tokyo Points into money you’ll actually use
The smartest move for most expats is converting straight to PayPay or Mercari Points — both work at essentially every convenience store, supermarket, and the flea-market apps this community already uses to save money in Japan. If you don’t have PayPay yet, signing up with referral code 07-UMBLI04 adds an extra ¥300 on top of your Tokyo Points. If you’re active on Mercari, code GUJURR adds ¥500 to a fresh account — useful if you’re about to convert points there instead.
💰 Stack the benefit
¥11,000 in Tokyo Points + ¥300 PayPay signup bonus (code 07-UMBLI04) = ¥11,300 in your pocket for signing up to two free apps. No purchase required for either bonus.
Deadline and what happens if you miss it
The claim window runs through April 1, 2027. Unlike some Tokyo subsidies that require applying within days of an event (like child allowance), this one has a long runway — but it is not indefinite, and Tokyo has not confirmed whether a follow-up round will exist. If you’re moving to Tokyo any time before that date, registering your address and claiming this the same week is worth doing immediately, since there’s no reason to wait.
Tokyo App points 2026 FAQ
- Do foreigners qualify for Tokyo App points? Yes. Eligibility is based on resident registration (jūminhyō) in Tokyo, not nationality. Any visa holder who has registered their address qualifies.
- How much can I get? Up to ¥11,000 in Tokyo Points per eligible resident.
- What’s the deadline to apply? April 1, 2027.
- Do I need a My Number Card? Yes — verification runs through your My Number Card’s digital certificate inside the app.
- Can I convert the points to cash? Not directly to bank cash, but you can send them to PayPay, Rakuten Cash, V Point, d Point, or au PAY — all of which function as everyday spending money.
- Is there an income requirement? No. Unlike many Tokyo subsidies, this one has no income cap or means test.
Quick reference
- Benefit: ¥11,000 in Tokyo Points
- Who: Tokyo residents 15+, any nationality, with jūminhyō
- Apply via: Tokyo App + My Number Card digital ID
- Deadline: April 1, 2027
- Redeem to: PayPay, Rakuten Cash, V Point, d Point, au PAY, Mercari Points
- Stack with: PayPay referral code 07-UMBLI04 (+¥300) or Mercari code GUJURR (+¥500)
- Related: Japan Child Allowance 2026 | Cost of Living in Tokyo 2026 | Moving to Japan — TIFE Community Hub
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