Accept instalment card payments in JapanPrivate preview
Learn about credit card payments using instalments.
Instalments (分割払い) are a type of credit card payment in Japan that allows customers to split purchases over multiple billing statements. You receive the full amount as with standard card payments, and the customer’s card company provides credit and collects the funds over time.
Stripe supports instalment payments for Stripe Japan accounts using the Payment Intents and Payment Methods APIs.
Get started with accepting instalments.
Fees
Accepting instalments doesn’t result in any additional fees for you. However, your customer might pay interest to their credit card company. Interest typically doesn’t apply when paying in two instalments or with bonus instalment plans, but does for others. Cardholders can check with their card company to learn about their fees.
Transaction availability timing
Payments using instalments become available on the same schedule as other card payments.
Requirements
There are restrictions on which transactions and cards can use instalments. Stripe automatically determines instalments eligibility after you set up the payment method.
- Stripe only supports instalments for Japanese Stripe accounts.
- The payment method must be a credit card issued in Japan. Debit and prepaid cards are not supported.
- The currency must be JPY.
- Don’t use instalments for recurring payments or other off-session payments where your customer doesn’t select the instalment plan when making the payment.
In addition, different brands offer different combinations of plans.
| Brand | Instalments | Revolving | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa/Mastercard | Up to 60 | ||
| JCB | Up to 24 | ||
| Diners Club | |||
| Discover |
American Express stopped supporting instalments on all their self-issued cards as of December 2022. American Express prefers their cardholders to use their あと分割 product, where cardholders can apply instalment plans post-checkout.
Bonus payments
Bonus payments are available during two annual cycles:
- Summer: 16 Dec to 15 Jun
- Winter: 16 Jul to 15 Nov
On days between these cycles, bonus payments are unavailable:
- 16 Jun to 15 Jul
- 16 Nov to 15 Dec
When bonus payments are unavailable:
- Stripe doesn’t include bonus payments as an available plan.
- You can’t create payments with bonus plans. If you try to do so, the Payment Intent confirmation fails with a
payment_error.intent_ invalid_ parameter
If your customer is in your checkout while bonus payments are still available (for example, 11.59pm on 15 Jun), but attempts to complete the payment when they’re no longer available (for example, 12:01am on 16 Jun), their payment fails.
If you use separate authorisation and capture to create a bonus payment and capture it at a later date when bonus payments are unavailable, your customers might see their bonus payment as a normal card payment, or in their next bonus cycle.