🎯 This Guide Is Perfect For
- Those who want a permanently free high-value credit card
- People who frequently shop at convenience stores, McDonald’s, Starbucks, etc.
- Smart consumers who want to earn extra rewards through point sites
- Those using or planning to use SBI Securities for investing
- Foreigners/students applying for their first credit card in Japan
💡 Key Point: Foreigners can apply as long as they have a residence in Japan and pay taxes!
📑 Table of Contents
- What is SMBC Card NL? Why is it so popular?
- Card Specifications Overview
- 7 Key Benefits Explained
- 2 Points to Consider
- ⭐ Point Site Application Guide (Up to ¥15,000)
- Official Welcome Bonus Details
- NL vs Gold NL – Which Should You Choose?
- NL vs Olive – What’s the Difference?
- SBI Securities Investment Guide
- Step-by-Step Application Process
- FAQ
1. What is SMBC Card NL? Why is it so popular?
SMBC Card (NL) is a revolutionary credit card launched by Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company in February 2021. NL stands for “Numberless” – no card number, expiration date, or security code is printed on either side of the card, significantly enhancing security.
This card became one of Japan’s most popular credit cards immediately after launch, and the reasons are simple:
💴
Free Annual Fee Forever
No conditions, free for life
🏪
Up to 20% Cashback
V Point Up Program eligible
⚡
Instant Issuance in 10 Seconds
Get your card number immediately
💡 Did You Know: Why “Numberless”?
Traditional credit cards have the card number printed on the surface, posing risks of being seen or photographed. SMBC Card NL moves all sensitive information to a dedicated app, accessible only by the cardholder. This design was a first in Japan – both stylish and secure.
2. Card Specifications Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | Permanently Free |
| Family Card Annual Fee | Permanently Free |
| ETC Card Annual Fee | ¥550 (Free first year, free next year if used once) |
| Base Reward Rate | 0.5% (1 point per ¥200) |
| Partner Store Rewards | Up to 20% (with V Point Up Program) |
| Mobile Tap Payment | 7% (Base 0.5% + Tap bonus 6.5%) |
| Card Brand | Visa / Mastercard |
| Eligibility | 18+ years old (after high school graduation) |
| Issuance Speed | Instant: As fast as 10 seconds / Physical card: ~1 week |
| Insurance | Overseas travel insurance (usage-based) up to ¥20 million |
| Digital Wallets | Apple Pay / Google Pay / iD |
| Card Designs | Green / Silver / Aurora |
3. 7 Key Benefits Explained
Benefit 1: Up to 20% Cashback at Convenience Stores & Restaurants!
This is the biggest selling point of SMBC Card NL! Through the V Point Up Program, using mobile tap payment at designated convenience stores and restaurants can earn you up to 20% point rewards!
🎯 Maximum 20% Rewards Breakdown
SMBC Card NL is eligible for the V Point Up Program!
👨👩👧👦 Family Points Explained – No Same Surname Required!
Family Points is a powerful way to boost your rewards rate. For each SMBC Card primary member you register in the Vpass App, you get +1%, up to +5% with 5 registered members!
🔥 Important: No Surname Match Required!
According to SMBC Card’s official rules, Family Points registration is for “relatives within second degree of kinship,” but the system does not actually verify family relationships.
This means:
- Same surname is not required
- Same address is not required
- You can register friends or acquaintances
📱 How to Register
- Open the Vpass App
- Go to “Family Points” settings
- Enter the other person’s card number or send an invite link
- Complete registration after they confirm
📊 V Point Up Program – Complete Service List
Rewards from the following services can stack, but the cap is +8% (overall limit of 20% per fair trade laws)
| Service | Rate | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 Olive Account Related (Recommended! Easy to achieve) | ||
| Olive Contract & App Login | +1% | Olive account + login to SMBC Bank App or Vpass App monthly |
| Olive Selectable Benefits | +1% | Select “V Point Up Program +1%” as your benefit |
| 🔵 SBI Securities Related (Recommended for Investors) | ||
| SBI Securities | +1% | Use 10,000+ V Points for investment monthly |
| +0.5% | NISA account fund holdings ≥ ¥2M (SMBC intermediary exclusive) | |
| +0.5% | NISA account fund holdings ≥ ¥1M (Olive member exclusive) | |
| 🟠 Other Services | ||
| Sumitomo Life Vitality | Up to +2% | Join Vitality program, rate varies by health status |
| V-Trip (Hotel Booking) | Up to +2% | Book and complete hotel stays through V-Trip |
💡 Tip: While the theoretical maximum is +14%, the actual cap for V Point Up Program is +8%. We recommend prioritizing easy-to-achieve conditions (Olive App login + Selectable Benefits + SBI Securities) to easily get +4% rewards!
💰 How Much Can You Actually Save?
Assuming ¥20,000 monthly spending at partner stores:
- Regular credit card (1% rewards): 200 points/month
- SMBC Card NL (7% rewards): 1,400 points/month
- SMBC Card NL (20% rewards): 4,000 points/month
- Maximum difference: Extra ¥3,800/month, ¥45,600/year!
※20% requires Family Points +5% and V Point Up Program +8%
⚠️ Important Conditions for High Rewards
- 7% base rewards require mobile tap payment (Apple Pay or Google Pay)
- Physical card tap only gives 1.5% (from January 2025)
- Card insertion or magnetic stripe swipe only gives 0.5%
- Stores inside commercial facilities may not be eligible
- Transactions over ¥10,000 may not allow tap payment
- +5% Family Points requires 5+ SMBC Card members registered
- +8% requires using Olive, SBI Securities, and other eligible services
Benefit 2: Free Annual Fee Forever
SMBC Card NL has a permanently free annual fee with no conditions. No minimum annual spending required, no installment payment setup needed. Once approved, you can use it free forever.
Family cards are also permanently free, and while the ETC card has a basic annual fee of ¥550, it becomes free the following year if you use the highway at least once per year.
Benefit 3: Instant Issuance in as Fast as 10 Seconds
⚡ Instant Issuance Process
Online Application
Fill in basic info
Instant Review
As fast as 10 seconds
Approved
Phone verification
Start Using
View number in app
SMBC Card NL supports 24-hour instant issuance, with approval in as fast as 10 seconds. Once approved, you can immediately view complete card information (card number, expiration date, security code) in the Vpass App and use it right away for:
- Online shopping (Amazon, Rakuten, etc.)
- Apple Pay / Google Pay setup
- Subscription service registration
The physical card will be mailed within about 1 week after approval.
Benefit 4: Earn Points on SBI Securities Investments
Using SMBC Card NL for credit card investment contributions at SBI Securities can earn you up to 0.5% point rewards on up to ¥100,000 monthly.
📈 Investment Points Calculation
For ¥50,000 monthly contributions:
- Monthly earnings: ¥50,000 × 0.5% = 250 points
- Annual earnings: 250 points × 12 months = 3,000 points
※New NISA investment contributions are also eligible
Benefit 5: Numberless Design for Better Security
Neither side of the card displays any sensitive information:
- ❌ No card number
- ❌ No expiration date
- ❌ No security code
- ❌ No signature panel
This means even if someone sees or photographs your card, they cannot obtain any usable information for fraud. When you need card details, simply open the Vpass App to view them.
Benefit 6: Travel Insurance (Customizable)
SMBC Card NL includes overseas travel injury insurance (usage-based, up to ¥20 million). Better yet, you can swap the travel insurance for one of these alternatives through the “Selectable Free Insurance” feature:
| Insurance Type | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Smartphone Protection Plan | Screen repair (up to ¥30,000) |
| Legal Protection Plan | Attorney fees (up to ¥50,000) |
| Golf Protection Plan | Golf equipment damage/liability |
| Daily Life Protection Plan | Personal liability (up to ¥200,000) |
| Personal Belongings Plan | Personal item damage (up to ¥30,000) |
Benefit 7: Aurora Design Option
Besides the classic green and silver, SMBC Card NL also offers an Aurora design. The soft gradient colors are beautiful, with identical features and specifications to the regular version.
4. 2 Points to Consider
⚠️ Point 1: Base Reward Rate is Only 0.5%
Outside of partner convenience stores and restaurants, the reward rate is only 0.5% (1 point per ¥200), which is average. If you want high rewards in all spending scenarios, you may need to consider other options.
Solution: Use SMBC Card NL as your convenience store/restaurant card, and use other high-reward cards for other spending.
⚠️ Point 2: Cannot Apply for Additional Cards with Instant Issuance
When choosing instant issuance, you cannot simultaneously apply for ETC cards, family cards, or other additional cards. You need to apply separately through Vpass after receiving your physical card.
Solution: If you need additional cards at the same time, choose standard issuance (~1 week) instead of instant issuance.
5. ⭐ Must-Read Before Applying! How to Get Maximum Benefits
🎯 Critical! Read Before Applying!
When applying for SMBC Card, always use either “Friend Referral” or “Point Site”!
Applying directly from the official website means losing out on thousands to up to ¥20,000 in rewards!
Method 1: Friend Referral Program
SMBC Card has an official Friend Referral Program. Apply through a referral link to receive V Points based on the card type you apply for!
| Card Applied For | Points Earned |
|---|---|
| SMBC Card (NL) / (CL) / Standard | 1,000 points |
| SMBC Card Gold (NL) / Gold | 6,000 points |
| SMBC Card Platinum Preferred / Platinum | 12,000 points |
| SMBC Card Visa Infinite / Other Cards | 20,000 points |
🎁 Apply Through Friend Referral
Apply through the referral link below to receive the points shown above!
Get 6,000 points for Gold NL, 12,000 points for Platinum!
💡 Features of Friend Referral
- SMBC Card’s official program – guaranteed points
- Fast point crediting
- Gold cards and above offer higher points
- Stackable with official welcome bonus
Method 2: Point Sites
Another method is applying through point sites. Depending on the campaign period, you may receive higher rewards than the Friend Referral Program!
⚡ Point Site Rewards Are Variable!
Point site reward amounts constantly change based on campaigns. Depending on the timing:
- NL can sometimes offer ¥10,000-15,000 in high rewards
- Sometimes it may be lower than Friend Referral
💡 Tip: Register on point sites first, then compare “Friend Referral” vs “Point Site” rates before applying – choose whichever is higher!
What Are Point Sites?
Point sites are advertising intermediary platforms. Merchants pay promotional fees to acquire new customers. Point sites return a portion of these fees to users who apply through them.
By applying for SMBC Card NL through a point site, you can receive both:
- Point site rewards (up to ¥15,000)
- SMBC Card’s official welcome bonus (up to ¥21,600)
Both can be stacked without affecting each other!
Point Site Rewards Comparison (Reference)
| Point Site | NL Rewards | Gold NL Rewards | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hapitas | ¥15,000 | ¥13,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Moppy | ~¥10,000-15,000 | ~¥13,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Powl | ~¥8,000-12,000 | ~¥10,000 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
※Reward amounts may vary. Please check the actual amounts on each website.
🔍 Register on Point Sites to Check Current Rewards!
Register through referral links to also receive new user bonuses
🟡 Hapitas
A long-established Japanese point site operating for over 15 years with 4+ million registered members. Known for stable reward amounts and rich redemption options.
New User Bonus: Up to 2,500 points for referral registration + meeting conditions
🟢 Moppy
Japan’s largest point site with over 12 million registered members. Rich variety of offers and frequent limited-time high-reward campaigns.
New User Bonus: Up to 2,000 points for referral registration + meeting conditions
🔵 Powl
An emerging popular point site with an excellent mobile app experience, ideal for mobile users. Earn points even from simple surveys.
New User Bonus: Instant bonus points for referral registration
🔗 Need Other Point Site Referrals?
We also offer referral links for Chobirich, Point Income, Warau, and more
→ View All Point Site ReferralsDetailed Point Site Application Steps
🌐
Register on Point Site
Use referral link
🔍
Search for Offer
Search “SMBC”
👆
Click to Apply
Redirect to official site
🎉
Earn Rewards
Auto-credited to account
⚠️ Point Site Usage Tips
- Complete application in the same browser – Don’t switch browsers after clicking the offer
- Disable ad blockers – May cause tracking failure
- iPhone users: Settings → Safari → Turn off “Prevent Cross-Site Tracking”
- Use mobile data: Recommended to switch to 4G/5G if family shares Wi-Fi
- Complete card issuance within 60 days: May not receive rewards if exceeded
🤔 Friend Referral vs Point Site – Which to Choose?
✅ Friend Referral is Better When
- Applying for Gold NL or higher
- Want guaranteed fast points
- Point site rewards are low at the moment
✅ Point Site is Better When
- Applying for NL (Standard)
- High reward campaign is running
- Want point site new user bonus too
💡 Smart Choice: Register on point sites first, check SMBC Card reward amounts.
Compare with Friend Referral points and choose whichever is higher!
✅ Official Bonus Available Either Way!
Whether you apply through Friend Referral or Point Site, you can still receive SMBC Card’s official welcome bonus (up to ¥21,600 worth) separately. Both benefits don’t affect each other, so apply with confidence!
6. Official Welcome Bonus Details
SMBC Card frequently runs welcome bonus campaigns, and applying through a point site does not affect your eligibility for official bonuses. Check the official page for the latest campaign:
Official bonuses typically include:
- Mobile tap payment usage rewards (V Point Pay Gift)
- Spending cashback (up to several thousand yen)
- SBI Securities account opening bonus (up to ¥16,600 worth)
Student Exclusive: Students can receive additional bonuses when applying!
7. NL vs Gold NL – Which Should You Choose?
| Comparison | NL | Gold NL |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | Permanently Free | ¥5,500 (Free after ¥1M annual spend) |
| Convenience Store Rewards | Up to 20% | Up to 20% |
| SBI Securities Investment | Up to 0.5% | Up to 1.0% |
| ¥1M Annual Spend Bonus | None | 10,000 points/year |
| Airport Lounge | None | Free at major domestic airports |
| Travel Insurance | Overseas up to ¥20M | Overseas + Domestic up to ¥20M |
👤 NL Is Best For
- Annual spending under ¥1,000,000
- First-time credit card applicants
- Don’t need airport lounge access
- Want zero-cost card ownership
👤 Gold NL Is Best For
- Annual spending over ¥1,000,000
- Using SBI Securities for investments
- Frequent business travelers needing lounges
- Seeking higher effective reward rates
💡 Recommendation
If unsure how much you’ll spend annually, start with NL. After using it for a while, if you find your annual spending exceeds ¥1,000,000, you can upgrade to Gold NL anytime. Plus, after continuously using NL and meeting certain conditions, you may receive an invitation to Gold NL with permanently free annual fee!
🔥 Pro Tip: Visa + Mastercard Dual Card Strategy!
Many people don’t know this, but SMBC Card NL and Gold NL’s Visa and Mastercard versions can be applied for separately, meaning you can hold two cards!
What Does This Mean?
- Gold NL’s “Million Yen Challenge” can be completed twice!
- Visa version reaches ¥1M → Visa annual fee permanently free + 10,000 points
- Mastercard version reaches ¥1M → Mastercard annual fee permanently free + 10,000 points
- Total: Two permanently free Gold cards + 20,000 points per year!
💰 Other Benefits of Dual Cards
- Credit limits for both cards are calculated independently, giving higher total limit
- You can participate in both Visa and Mastercard promotions
- Having a backup card for overseas travel is reassuring
- When applying through point sites, you can earn rewards for both cards separately!
⚠️ Notes:
- Recommended to apply for one card first, then the second after approval
- Applying for multiple cards in a short period may affect approval
- Each card needs to reach ¥1M separately to qualify for permanent free annual fee
- Family Points need to be registered separately on each card
8. NL vs Olive – What’s the Difference?
Olive from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation is also a popular choice. Here are the main differences:
| Comparison | NL | Olive |
|---|---|---|
| Card Type | Credit card only | Credit + Bank + Debit + Points payment |
| Card Brand | Visa / Mastercard | Visa only |
| Payment Account | Any bank | SMBC only |
| Maximum Rewards | Up to 20% | Up to 20% (Can be higher with Olive-exclusive benefits) |
In Summary: If you primarily use SMBC Bank and want an all-in-one card, choose Olive. If you want more flexibility (brand choice, payment bank), choose NL. You can hold both!
9. SBI Securities Investment Guide
Using SMBC Card NL for credit card investment contributions at SBI Securities earns you point rewards. This is an excellent way to earn points passively!
📊 Card Types and Point Reward Rates
| SMBC Card NL | Up to 0.5% |
| SMBC Card Gold NL | Up to 1.0% |
| SMBC Card Platinum Preferred | Up to 3.0% |
※Maximum monthly contribution: ¥100,000 ※New NISA contributions are also eligible
Setup Steps:
- Open an SBI Securities account
- Register your SMBC Card on the SBI Securities website
- Select the investment trust you want to contribute to
- Set the contribution amount and date
- Card is automatically charged monthly, points credited automatically
10. Step-by-Step Application Process
Access Application Page Through Point Site
Search “SMBC” on the point site, find the NL offer, and click “Earn Points.” This step is crucial – it determines whether you receive point rewards!
Choose Instant or Standard Issuance
Instant issuance: Get card number in as fast as 10 seconds, use immediately
Standard issuance: Can apply for ETC card, family card simultaneously
Fill in Application Information
Basic information like name, address, employer, income. Foreigners need to provide residence card information.
Set Up Payment Account
Select the bank account for bill payment. Any Japanese bank account can be used.
Review & Phone Verification
Instant issuance includes a phone call to verify identity. Keep your phone handy and answer when they call.
Complete! Start Using
Instant issuance: View card number immediately in Vpass App, ready to use
Physical card: Arrives in about 1 week
📱 What You’ll Need to Apply
- Driver’s license or residence card (ID)
- Bank account information (card number, account number)
- Phone that can receive calls
- Email address
11. FAQ
📝 Summary
SMBC Card NL is an exceptional credit card with permanently free annual fee and up to 7% rewards at convenience stores.
Apply through a point site to earn an extra up to ¥15,000 in rewards!
🎁 Maximum Total Value: ¥36,600!
(Point site ¥15,000 + Official bonus ¥21,600)
Campaigns may end at any time – apply early!
↑ Back to Point Site Application Guide