Press Release

Frequently Asked Questions - IBSJ


Interactive Brokers Securities Inc. is a Japanese securities firm that is a member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association and an affiliate of the Interactive Brokers Group in the United States.

The securities and money entrusted to us by our clients are kept strictly separate from our own assets (segregated management). In addition, we are a member of the Japan Investor Protection Fund, which provides financial compensation to our clients in the event that we are unable to return the securities or money entrusted to us due to default.

JIPF website: https://jipf.or.jp/en/about/index.html

Currently only an Ippan (General) account is available. Therefore, clients are required to file their own taxes.

There is no account maintenance fee.

Yes, for English assistance please call 03-4588-9710.

Please log in to Client Portal (IBKR's account management system) here and update your address via the following. Click on the head and shoulders symbol in the upper right corner > Settings > Account Settings > Account Profile > Profile > Edit Profile > update your address on the page that follows. You will be required to submit documents as proof of your new address. Please click here to see a list of accepted proof of address documents.

Important: Clients who hold trading permissions for Japanese stocks and Japanese stock options are required to update their information with JASDEC whenever they change their address. To update your information, please log in to Client portal and go to Help > Support Center > Information and Tools > JASDEC.

You may begin trading once funds have been deposited and credited to your account. Please log in to Client Portal and apply for trading permissions via the following. Click on the head and shoulders symbol in the upper right corner > Settings > Trading > Trading Permissions.

Important: You must be registered with JASDEC to trade Japanese stocks and stock options. To register with JASDEC, please log in to Client Portal and click Help > Support Center > Information and Tools > JASDEC Please note that JASDEC registration typically takes 3-business days to complete after submission. You may begin trading once registration is completed.

Please confirm that your application for registration with JASDEC is complete. Contact Client Services if you require additional assistance.

We only offer cash accounts.

Since this account is a cash account, short selling is not permitted. However, it is possible to hold a short position in Japanese stock CFDs.

One demo account is granted per account. We refer to demo accounts as paper trading accounts. When logging in to our platforms, please select Paper Trading on the login screen and log in with your live trading user ID and password. The account number for the paper trading account will begin with DU. Please do not confuse this with your live account.

We do not allow double trades. A buy or sell order will be offset by an equivalent opposite trade. Cross trading is also not allowed on the IBKR platform.

There are no position limits as long as IBKR margin requirements are met. However, please note that if our own risk assessment deems a client's position to be too risky, a margin requirement that significantly exceeds the legal margin amount will be required.

It is not possible to specify lots. The average price of positions is used to calculate realized gains/losses on the trading tools. Additionally, gains and losses on trading statements (Activity Statements) are calculated using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Since the account is a domestic account, fund transfers from Japanese banks will be domestic remittances.

You can withdraw the funds three business days after the funds' arrival.

Withdrawal requests cannot be immediately submitted. Withdrawal requests can be submitted the day after the settlement date (US Eastern Time).

Quick Deposit is not supported.

We offer one free withdrawal request per calendar month. After the first withdrawal (of any kind), IBSJ will charge JPY 1760 (+ tax) for any additional withdrawals.

No. Only deposits in the name of the account holder are accepted. For individual accounts, only deposits from bank accounts in the same individual's name are accepted. For corporate accounts, we only accept deposits from bank accounts in the same corporate name.

Yes, two-factor verification is required.

When you open an account, you will be asked to verify your mobile phone number via SMS, which will serve as a temporary two-factor verification token. After opening an account and making a deposit, you may continue to use SMS, but you may also use the IBKR Mobile application with IB Key functionality at any time.

Read more about IB Key at: https://ibkr.info/article/2260

How to activate and use IB Key (Android OS 7 and above): https://ibkr.info/article/2277

How to activate and use IB Key (iPhone 5S and above with Touch ID enabled): https://ibkr.info/article/2278

QR code: https://ibkr.info/article/3850

*QR codes are available only if the specimen phone number has been verified.

SMS is sent to the mobile phone number registered when applying for an account. Though you can edit the phone number in Client Portal, you must call our Client Service desk to make any changes to your registered phone number.

Two-factor verification is required to ensure security and cannot be removed.

As Foreign (Non-Japanese Citizen) Ownership of certain stocks is limited by "Civil Aviation Act," "Radio Law," "The Broadcast Act," and "The NTT Law," you may not be entitled to the shareholders benefits, as well as be listed as a shareholder, in case such foreign ownership exceeds the upper limit.

Please click here for details on holding ratio and other related information.

We accept transfers of Japanese stocks from other Japanese brokers. Please apply for registration from Client Portal by going to Transfer & Pay > Transfer of Positions > Deposit > All Other Regions > Free of Payment (FOP) Transfer of Global Securities.

Please enter your 21-digit JASDEC participant account code (Kanyushakoza Code)at the delivering broker in the "Client Account Number at Financial Institution" field. After submitting the application via Client Portal, please be sure to submit the request and instructions to the delivering broker.

Accounts held with Interactive Brokers Securities Japan, Inc. are for Japanese residents and cannot be used overseas. Please apply for a new account at your overseas address after you have moved. After opening an account, you will be able to transfer your positions manually. Please submit a request via Help > Secure Message Center from Client Portal.

Interactive Brokers Securities Inc. is a Japanese securities firm that is an affiliate of the Interactive Brokers Group in the United States and is a member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association.

The securities and money entrusted to us by our clients are kept strictly separate from our own assets (segregated management). In addition, we are a member of the Japan Investor Protection Fund, which provides financial compensation to our clients in the event that we are unable to return the securities or money entrusted to us due to default.

JIPF website: https://jipf.or.jp/en/about/index.html

Currently only an Ippan (General) account is available. Therefore, clients are required to file their own taxes.

There is no account maintenance fee.

Yes, for English assistance please call 03-4588-9710.

Please apply through the online application form by clicking the "Open Account" button on the upper right corner of our website.

We do not accept written applications. All applications must be completed via our online application.

Please click here for the documents required to open an account.

The account opening process is typically completed within 7 business days after the application is received. Note that application processing times are subject to change.

Registered mail is sent to your registered address as part of the identity verification process when opening an account. If you are not home at time of delivery, please refer to the delivery notice and contact the post office to arrange re-delivery. Family members can receive the mail on your behalf. Be advised that we cannot confirm your address if the mail is forwarded to an address other than your current residential address.

If your application is in the process of being completed, you may edit your information by logging in. If have already submitted your completed application, or if you are unable to modify your entry, please contact Client Services at ¬03-4588-9710 or connect with us via online chat.

If you are employed by a financial institution that has an Employee Track contract with us, you can apply for an account through a dedicated link provided by your employer. Please contact your compliance officer for this link. Other applicants can apply from the "Open Account" link in the upper right corner of our website.

You must be a resident of Japan to apply. Please be sure to submit a Japanese residence card (zairyu card) with a validity period of at least six months.

Individuals residing outside of Japan are not eligible to open an account at Interactive Brokers Securities Japan, Inc. If you are an overseas resident, please contact the Interactive Brokers Group in your country of residence.