Will Your Overseas Phone Work with Rakuten Mobile?

Start with your exact model, not just the phone name

Phones sold under the same name can be different hardware in different countries. Before you check anything else, write down:

• Manufacturer and model name, for example the full name shown in the phone’s settings.
• The exact model number. This identifies the regional version.
• Where you bought it: the country or region, and the carrier or shop.
• The software version (iOS or Android version).
• SIM type: whether it has a SIM card tray, supports eSIM, or both.

Finding the model number on an iPhone

1. Open Settings, then tap General.
2. Tap About.
3. Next to Model Number, you first see a part number. Tap it to show the model number.

Apple also explains other places to find it, such as inside the SIM tray slot on some models.

Finding the model number on an Android phone

Menus differ between manufacturers and Android versions. A common place to look is Settings, then About phone, but your phone may use different names. If you cannot find it, check the manufacturer’s own help page for your phone.

Keep IMEI and serial numbers private. The model number is enough for these checks. Do not post your phone’s IMEI or serial number in comments or send it through general contact forms.

Source: Apple: find the model number of your iPhone

Use Rakuten Mobile’s compatibility checker

Rakuten Mobile’s device compatibility page lets you choose your device type and model and see which features and software versions it supports. Choose the entry that matches your exact phone, and note both the features shown and any software version condition.

• A compatible model is not a guarantee for an overseas unit. Rakuten Mobile states that even a compatible device may not be usable if it was bought overseas.
• Phones not bought from Rakuten Mobile are not guaranteed. Rakuten Mobile does not guarantee their operation, and it cannot provide after-sales help, such as answering setup questions, for phones bought elsewhere. “Not guaranteed” is not the same as “does not work”; it means you check the phone yourself and use it at your own discretion.
• For Android smartphones, Rakuten Mobile’s list of compatible products covers phones bought from Rakuten Mobile and SIM-free phones.
• For some iPhone models, Rakuten Mobile’s iPhone page lists the model numbers it has verified. That is one more reason to compare model numbers, not just names.

My suggestion: if you still cannot tell whether your phone will work, do not start moving your number to Rakuten Mobile on that phone. Once a number transfer completes, your old line stops working.

Sources: Check your device compatibility · Rakuten line compatible products (Japanese) · iPhone with Rakuten Mobile (Japanese) · Can I use a SIM-free phone? (Japanese)

Unlocked does not mean fully compatible

A carrier lock (SIM lock) decides whether your phone accepts another carrier’s SIM at all. It says nothing about whether the phone supports Rakuten Mobile’s network and features. A phone can be unlocked and still not work well, so check both.

Checking the carrier lock on an iPhone

1. Open Settings, then tap General.
2. Tap About.
3. If “No SIM restrictions” appears next to Carrier Lock, the iPhone is unlocked.

If it is locked, only the carrier it is locked to can unlock it. Apple cannot unlock it, and the carrier may take a few days. For an Android phone, ask the carrier or seller you bought it from.

You may see Rakuten Mobile’s note that some phones released in or before October 2021 need a SIM unlock. Do not use that date to judge a phone bought overseas; check the phone itself.

Source: Apple: unlock your iPhone for a different carrier

Check physical SIM and eSIM support for your regional model

Rakuten Mobile offers both SIM cards and eSIM. Which one you can use depends on your regional model.

• Check your model, not the family. Apple’s general eSIM requirement is an iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later, but Apple lists regional exceptions. For example, it says that in China mainland only certain models support eSIM, and that in Hong Kong and Macao certain models support Dual SIM with two nano-SIM cards. Some recent models are eSIM-only. Check Apple’s current page or your manufacturer’s specifications for your exact model number.
• No tray, or no eSIM: if your phone has no SIM tray, you need eSIM; if it does not support eSIM, you need a SIM card.
• eSIM support is not a Rakuten Mobile guarantee. A phone that supports eSIM in general still needs to be compatible with Rakuten Mobile. A travel eSIM that worked on your phone does not show that Rakuten Mobile’s calls, SMS or Rakuten Link will work.

Once you have confirmed compatibility and applied, see the eSIM setup guide to activate your Rakuten Mobile eSIM.

Source: Apple: set up eSIM on iPhone

Check software, calls, SMS and Rakuten Link separately

Data, voice calls, SMS and tethering are separate features, and a phone may support some but not others. Look at what the compatibility checker shows for your model rather than assuming everything works together.

• The phone’s own dialer and Rakuten Link are different. Rakuten Link is Rakuten Mobile’s calling and messaging app. Calls from the phone’s standard phone app use your line directly and are charged at Rakuten Mobile’s normal call rates.
• Rakuten Link has its own requirements. Rakuten Mobile’s Rakuten Link page lists Android 10 or later on Rakuten Mobile compatible products, and iPhone with iOS 16 or later. It also notes that the app may become unavailable after future OS updates. For setup and calling, see how to use Rakuten Link.
• Updating the software is not a guarantee. Meeting the OS requirement does not by itself make an overseas model compatible.

After your line is active, check the features you need: go online over mobile data with Wi-Fi off, make an ordinary non-emergency call and send an SMS. Calls and SMS can be charged, depending on how you make them. Do not call emergency numbers to test your phone.

Sources: Rakuten Link · Rakuten Link support for iOS 14 and 15 ends (Japanese)

Check Japan’s certification requirement

Rakuten Mobile asks you to check, before use, whether a phone bought from another company has received Japan’s Technical Regulations Compliance Certificate or similar certification. It states that using a product without the Technical Regulations Compliance Mark violates the Radio Law, and that it may refuse to connect such a product to its network.

• Look for the certification information in the phone’s settings or the manufacturer’s documentation. If you cannot tell, ask the manufacturer.
• Do not assume either way: buying a phone overseas does not automatically mean it lacks certification, and other countries’ marks, such as CE or FCC, are not Japanese certification.

This guide does not cover exceptions for visitors or other legal details. If your situation is unclear, check with the manufacturer or the relevant public authority.

Source: Check your device compatibility

If the phone connects poorly, or does not connect

Separate two situations: something you have not checked yet before applying, and a problem after your line is active.

Device compatibility and coverage are separate checks. If the phone is set up but the signal is weak in certain places, read how to check coverage at the places where you will use your phone.

• iPhones and APN profiles: Rakuten Mobile’s APN FAQ explains when an APN configuration profile from a previous carrier needs to be removed, and has separate guidance for Dual SIM. Removing a profile can affect another line on the phone, so follow the FAQ for your exact situation rather than deleting profiles by default. An APN configuration profile is not the same as an eSIM.
• What not to try: this guide does not recommend factory resets, deleting an eSIM, unofficial unlocking services, rooting or modified software as general fixes.
• Who to ask: questions about the phone’s settings go to the manufacturer or the seller. Questions about your Rakuten Mobile contract and line go to Rakuten Mobile support. Rakuten Mobile says it cannot provide after-sales help for phones bought elsewhere.

Source: Do I need APN settings for a phone used with another carrier? (Japanese)

Frequently asked questions

Next steps

• Check your identity document in Rakuten Mobile requirements for foreign residents.
• Choose how to pay in Rakuten Mobile payment methods.
• Keeping your number? Read how to switch and keep your number. Do not start the transfer until you are confident your phone works, and do not cancel your current line first.

If you plan to use the employee referral offer, check your phone and prepare your application first, then log in through the referral link before you apply.

Check the employee referral steps before applying