# Japan to Make KYC Mandatory for SIM Issuance

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/japan-to-make-kyc-mandatory-for-sim-issuance/36543
**Category:** News
**Tags:** article
**Created:** 2026-03-25T08:09:32Z
**Posts:** 4

## Post 1 by @mongrel306 — 2026-03-25T08:09:33Z

Edit:  
Although there weren’t many articles in English, I found this one:

> **[Japan to require ID checks for data-only SIM cards amid fraudulent use](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-to-require-id-checks-for-data-only-sim-cards-amid-fraudulent-use)**
>
> This comes amid reports of the use of the SIM cards in fraud schemes. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

* * *

Until now, Japan had not required KYC for data-only SIM cards, which could not be used for voice calls. As a result, these cards were popular among privacy-conscious users in Japan.

However, the Japanese government approved a bill in a cabinet meeting this month that would extend KYC requirements to these cards. If passed by the Diet, the law will take effect in April next year.

This bill will primarily impact privacy-conscious users in Japan and visitors to the country.

Services such as Jmp.chat and Mysudo target Western markets and do not offer Japanese phone numbers or lines. Additionally, while Silent.link does offer Japanese lines, the weak yen has made them poor value for money for Japanese users.

Furthermore, KYC requirements are set to become stricter, even for prepaid SIM cards that visitors can purchase in Japan, which will likely make them even less convenient.

Below are links to bills and other documents released by the Japanese government. As these are legal documents written in Japanese, they may be difficult to understand without an LLM.

- [総務省｜国会提出法案](https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_hourei/k_houan.html)
- [https://www.soumu.go.jp/main\_content/001062259.pdf](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001062259.pdf)
- [https://www.soumu.go.jp/main\_content/001062260.pdf](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001062260.pdf)
- [https://www.soumu.go.jp/main\_content/001062261.pdf](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001062261.pdf)
- [https://www.soumu.go.jp/main\_content/001062262.pdf](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001062262.pdf)
- [https://www.soumu.go.jp/main\_content/001062263.pdf](https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001062263.pdf)

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## Post 2 by @TinFoilHat — 2026-03-25T12:50:03Z

I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with fighting crimes.

KYC on phone numbers had been proofed ineffective (i.e. does nothing) in reducing phone related crimes and abuses.

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## Post 4 by @beantaco — 2026-03-26T23:23:54Z

The title is misleading. AFAIK Japan had KYC for SIM cards since the beginning of mobile phones. The new part is it will also apply to all SIM cards across the board including data-only SIM cards. The new law will give companies the power to refuse to register SIM cards for someone who already has too many.