Sending Money Home: Transfer Options to Bangladesh from Japan

Living in Japan but supporting family in Bangladesh? This guide explains the main ways to send money home – banks, online remittance apps, ATMs, cash pickup and mobile wallets – plus cost examples, required documents and tips to get a strong JPY–BDT rate.

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Why Remittances from Japan to Bangladesh Matter

Many Bangladeshis in Japan send part of their salary home every month for daily living costs, school fees, and savings. Bangladesh also encourages official remittances and currently offers a 2.5% cash incentive on qualifying transfers that arrive through legal banking channels.

The good news: sending money from Japan to Bangladesh is now much easier than before. Comparison sites and remittance apps let you:

• Check real-time JPY→BDT rates
• See total fees clearly
• Choose bank deposit, mobile wallet (like bKash or Nagad) or cash pickup

If you are still setting up your life in Japan, you may also want to read Opening a bank account in Japan and Best banks in Japan for foreigners later.

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How Remittances from Japan to Bangladesh Work

Documents and My Number

To send money abroad from Japan, most banks and licensed remittance companies will ask for:

• Residence Card (在留カード)
• Passport (sometimes)
• My Number (マイナンバー) – card or notification letter
• Japanese address and phone number

Japanese financial rules require banks and many fund-transfer companies to collect My Number for overseas remittances. For example, SMBC Trust Bank states that all residents must notify their My Number when they send or receive funds overseas, and similar rules apply across many banks.

A recent guide on remittance from Japan also explains that major services such as Wise, Kyodai, JRF and others must verify your My Number before you can use their outbound transfer service.

If you want to understand the tax side more deeply, an article like Tax basics for foreign residents in Japan or Double taxation in Japan will be helpful.

Limits and Questions

For larger transfers, it is normal if your bank or remittance provider asks:

• Why you are sending money (family support, savings, property, tuition, etc.)
• For payslips or invoices (especially for very large amounts)

This is part of anti–money laundering controls, both in Japan and Bangladesh.

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Main Ways to Send Money from Japan to Bangladesh

You can send money from Japan to Bangladesh in several ways:

1. Japanese banks and Bangladeshi banks with special arrangements
2. Specialist remittance companies in Japan (SBI Remit, Kyodai, JRF, etc.)
3. Online and app-based services recommended by comparison sites
4. ATM and convenience-store transfers (Seven Bank and others)
5. Cash pickup and mobile wallet payouts (bKash, Nagad, etc.)

A 2025 comparison by MoneyTransfers, Exiap, Monito and other tools shows around four main online providers actively serving the Japan→Bangladesh corridor, with the cheapest options charging around 0.4% total cost and the most expensive about 4–5%.

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Quick Comparison of Transfer Options

Method	Example providers (Japan→BD)	How you send from Japan	How family receives in Bangladesh	Typical speed*
Japanese bank transfer	Megabanks, some tie-ups with SBI Bangladesh, etc.	Bank branch / online banking	Bank account in BDT	1–3 business days
Specialist remittance company	SBI Remit, Kyodai Remittance, Japan Remit Finance (JRF)	Online, app, ATMs, partner shops	Bank account, mobile wallet, cash pickup	Minutes to 1–2 days
Online multi-country providers	Wise, Instarem, Panda Remit, etc. (via comparison sites)	Website / app, funded from Japanese bank	Bank account (and sometimes wallet)	Minutes to 1–2 days
Convenience-store / ATM service	Seven Bank, Japan Post-linked options	Seven Bank ATMs, app, Japan Post ATMs	Cash pickup or bank deposit via partners	Same day to 2 days
Cash pickup only	Western Union, some SBI Remit / JRF routes	Online, agent locations, ATMs	Cash at payout agents in Bangladesh	Often minutes

*Actual speed depends on payment method, time of day, and checks by the provider.

If you mainly use cash, Using Japanese ATMs can also be a helpful read.

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Option 1: Bank Transfers from Japan to Bangladesh

How bank transfers work

Japanese megabanks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho), some regional banks, and Japan Post Bank can send money to Bangladeshi bank accounts by SWIFT. These transfers are safe and familiar, but usually come with:

• Sending fee in Japan
• Intermediary bank fee
• Margin on the JPY→BDT exchange rate

Special ties also exist. For example, State Bank of India’s Bangladesh operations promote fast, free transfers from countries including Japan to NRB taka accounts at SBI Bangladesh, usually within 24 hours on working days.

If your family banks with Bangladeshi partners that work closely with JRF or other Japanese remitters (for example Shahjalal Islami Bank), transfers can also be routed quickly through them.

Pros of bank transfers

• Very strong safety and regulation
• Better for large, one-off transfers (education, property, final savings)
• Easy to manage inside the same bank if your salary arrives there

Cons of bank transfers

• Higher fixed fees and weaker FX rates than many specialist services
• Paper forms and Japanese-only staff in some branches
• Transfers can take several business days, especially across multiple intermediary banks

If you are still choosing where to keep your money in Japan, check Best banks in Japan for foreigners .

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Option 2: Specialist Remittance Companies in Japan

Japan has a very active remittance market focused on Asian corridors. Popular names for Bangladesh include:

• SBI Remit – online transfers, ATMs via Remit Card, partner shops
• Kyodai Remittance – multilingual support, long history serving South Asian communities
• Japan Remit Finance (JRF) – licensed remittance company with strong links to Bangladeshi banks and digital-bank plans
• Other players highlighted in YouTube and comparison tools, such as PayForex or City Remit

What they offer for Bangladesh

Depending on the company, your family can receive money in Bangladesh by:

• Bank deposit in BDT
• Cash pickup at partner bank branches and agents
• Mobile wallet credit, especially to bKash and Nagad

For example, JRF’s public rate card shows separate rates for:

• Bangladesh – account deposit
• Bangladesh – cash pickup
• Bangladesh – wallet (bKash, Nagad)

SBI Remit lets you fund a reserve account and then send online, or use a Remit Card to send from Japan Post and Lawson ATMs.

Kyodai Remittance focuses on easy registration and multilingual support across many prefectures, which is especially helpful if you are not confident in Japanese.

Pros of specialist remitters

• Usually lower total cost than banks (fee + FX margin)
• Strong focus on the Japan→Bangladesh route
• Options for wallet credit and cash pickup, not just bank accounts
• Branches and agents in areas with many Bangladeshi residents

Cons

• You must register in advance and complete KYC + My Number checks
• Limits per transfer and per month
• You may need to go to physical agents if you prefer cash

If you are planning long-term savings or sending money after your working years in Japan, later also check Japan pension refund guide and Taking money out of Japan to plan your bigger remittances.

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Option 3: Online and App-Based Transfer Services

International comparison sites such as MoneyTransfers, Monito, CurrencyExpert, FromTo, Exiap, RemitFinder and RatesRemit constantly review the cheapest JPY→BDT services from Japan.

Recent comparisons show:

• Instarem is often the cheapest overall option for JPY→BDT transfers, averaging about 0.4% total cost of the amount sent.
• Wise is highly rated for transparency and mid-market rates, and is recommended for larger transfers in some Japan→Bangladesh comparisons.
• Panda Remit is highlighted as both very cheap and very fast for JPY→BDT, with low fixed fees and near mid-market FX.

These services usually work like this:

1. Sign up in the app or website.
2. Upload Residence Card and My Number when requested.
3. Add a Bangladeshi receiver (person or yourself).
4. Choose the amount in JPY or BDT.
5. Fund the transfer from your Japanese bank account or card.
6. Track progress in the app until the money lands in Bangladesh.

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Option 4: Convenience Store and ATM Transfers

Seven Bank and similar services

Seven Bank’s international money transfer service lets you send money 24/7 from Seven Bank ATMs and its app to over 200 countries.

To use it you normally:

1. Open a Seven Bank account and apply for their international transfer service.
2. Register your Bangladeshi beneficiary or cash pickup partner.
3. Use a Seven Bank ATM or the app to send yen.
4. Your family collects BDT as cash or receives it into a bank account, depending on the route.

Fees are usually flat by amount band. An example article on Seven Bank’s charges shows how fees increase by transfer size, which can make many small transfers more expensive than a single monthly one.

If you are often paid in cash or prefer to avoid online banking, this method is very practical.

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Option 5: Cash Pickup and Mobile Wallets in Bangladesh

Your family might not always want a bank transfer. In Bangladesh, mobile wallets and cash are still heavily used.

Cash pickup

• Western Union offers online and agent-based transfers from Japan to Bangladesh, with cash available within minutes at many payout locations.
• Some specialist remitters like SBI Remit and JRF also support cash payout through partners or local banks.

Monito’s comparison shows Western Union is often the fastest and cheapest option for cash pickup, although not always the lowest for bank transfers.

Mobile wallets

Bangladesh now has very strong mobile wallet usage, especially bKash and Nagad. Articles from JRF and various remittance blogs show:

• JRF supports wallet payouts to bKash and Nagad from Japan.
• Other services and comparison sites also highlight bank vs wallet choices for Bangladesh, helping you decide what is faster or cheaper.

Wallet payouts are ideal when:

• Your family lives far from a bank branch
• They are already using bKash/Nagad to pay bills and buy goods
• They need fast access on their phone rather than cash

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Example: Cost Comparison for a JPY→BDT Transfer

Let’s look at a sample pattern based on recent comparison data. Exact numbers change every day, but the relationships are quite stable.

Assume you send JPY 100,000 to Bangladesh.

Type of provider	Example	Visible fee (approx)	FX margin vs mid-market	Rough total cost share	Typical BDT received*
Traditional Japanese bank	Megabank SWIFT transfer	¥4,000–5,000	3–4%	7–9% of amount	Lowest of all options
Cheap online provider	Instarem / Panda Remit / Wise	¥500–1,500	0.3–1%	~0.8–2.5%	Highest or near-highest
Specialist remitter (Japan→BD)	SBI Remit, Kyodai, JRF	¥1,000–2,000	1–2%	~2–4%	Good, slightly below best
Cash pickup via major brand	Western Union, some JRF routes	¥2,000–3,000+	2–3%	~4–6%+	Lower than best bank deposit

*For illustration only. Real amounts depend on the exact rate, fee, and time of transfer.

Comparison engines like Monito, CurrencyExpert, FromTo and RemitFinder show daily which providers are cheapest or fastest for your exact amount and timing.

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Step-by-Step: Sending Money from Japan to Bangladesh

A. Using a Japanese Bank

1. Check your bank’s overseas remittance service
   • Look at fee tables and minimum amounts.
2. Register a beneficiary in Bangladesh
   • Name, bank, branch, account number, and SWIFT / routing details.
3. Provide My Number and ID if this is your first overseas transfer.
4. Submit the remittance via online banking or at the counter.
5. Confirm the exchange rate and total cost before clicking “Send”.

This method is good when your salary and savings are already in the same bank and you make one large transfer. For planning big transfers near the end of your stay, see Taking money out of Japan as well.

B. Using SBI Remit, Kyodai, JRF or similar

1. Open an account online or at an agent shop.
2. Complete KYC: upload Residence Card, address proof, and My Number.
3. Add your receiver in Bangladesh (bank, wallet, or cash pickup).
4. Fund your transfer
   • Bank transfer to their reserve account
   • Cash at partner shops or ATMs (Remit Card, etc.)
5. Confirm rate, fee, and delivery time, then send.

Because they focus on migrant workers, these companies often have good customer support in Bengali, longer office hours, and staff who understand typical remittance questions.

C. Using an Online Comparison and App

1. Visit a comparison site such as MoneyTransfers, Monito, Exiap, CurrencyExpert or RemitFinder to see who is cheapest today for Japan→Bangladesh.
2. Choose a provider (for example Instarem, Wise, Panda Remit).
3. Register and verify your identity.
4. Enter how much you want to send in yen and how your family will receive the money.
5. Pay from your Japanese bank account or card.
6. Track the transfer in the app – many complete within minutes to a few hours.

If you are juggling part-time work and study in Japan, this method is often the easiest. For more on managing study income and life costs, you can later explore Study and work in Japan basics on your site.

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Key Checklist Before You Press “Send”

Item	Why it matters
My Number and Residence Card	Required by many providers for compliance and tax reporting.
Receiver’s full name	Must match their bank or wallet account exactly.
Bank details / wallet number	Avoid delays or rejections from Bangladeshi banks and wallets.
Purpose of transfer	Needed for large transfers (tuition, property, savings, etc.).
Real-time comparison	Can save you several thousand yen on a single large transfer.
Bangladesh cash incentive	If funds go through official banking channels, receiver may get 2.5% extra.

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Practical Tips to Maximize Your Remittance

1. Compare every time
   • Rates change daily. The provider that was cheapest last month might not be today.
2. Send fewer, larger transfers
   • Because many companies charge a fixed fee per transaction, a single monthly transfer is usually cheaper than several small ones.
3. Watch the JPY→BDT rate
   • Tools like Wise’s currency converter or RemitFinder’s JPY→BDT pages show the mid-market rate and best remittance rates.
4. Choose the right payout type
   • Bank accounts are usually cheapest.
   • Wallets are very convenient but can be slightly more expensive.
   • Cash pickup is fastest for emergencies, but often the priciest.
5. Check for promotions and loyalty points
   • Some services run campaigns for new users or certain corridors (including Japan→Bangladesh). Comparison and review sites often list ongoing promotions.
6. Understand your tax situation
   • If you are transferring very large amounts or investing through Bangladesh, consider reading Double taxation in Japan and consulting a tax professional in both countries.

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Final Thoughts

Sending money home from Japan to Bangladesh does not need to be confusing or expensive.

If you:

• Keep your My Number and ID ready
• Use comparison tools to check real JPY→BDT rates
• Pick the right method (bank, online app, specialist remitter, wallet or cash pickup) for each purpose

you can make sure more of your hard-earned yen becomes taka in your family’s hands.

Use this guide together with other Japan Handbook articles like Opening a bank account in Japan, Tax basics for foreign residents in Japan, and Taking money out of Japan to build a simple, smart plan for managing money between Japan and Bangladesh.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.