Overview

Amazon mandates that sellers whose business address is in Japan complete an identity verification step during account setup. The verification hinges on matching the country of issuance of the identity document with the seller’s declared residence, and on providing a recent, Japanese‑address proof. Meeting these criteria is essential for a smooth registration and for avoiding hold periods that can postpone product listings.

Key Points

• Document‑Country Alignment — Amazon checks that the country shown on the ID matches the seller’s stated residence; a mismatch requires a Japanese‑address proof to compensate.
• Government‑Issued Photo ID Required — Acceptable IDs include a Japanese passport, Japanese driver’s licence (運転免許証), My Number Card (マイナンバーカード), or, for foreign nationals, a residence card (在留カード) or foreign passport.
• Proof of Address Must Be Recent — The address document must be dated within the last 180 days, display the seller’s full name, and show a physical Japanese residential address (P.O. boxes are rejected).
• Name Consistency Is Critical — The name on the address proof must exactly match the name on the identity document; any discrepancy can trigger a verification delay.
• Mismatched Documents Prompt Holds — If the ID lists a country other than Japan, Amazon flags the account until a Japanese‑address proof confirms the seller’s location.
• Common Accepted Address Documents — Bank statements, credit‑card statements, utility bills (electricity, gas, water, internet), and official government correspondence are all valid when they meet the date and naming requirements.

How Identity Verification Works

1. Submit Identity Document — During registration, the seller uploads a government‑issued photo ID.

   • Example: A seller living in Tokyo uploads a Japanese driver’s licence that shows “Japan” as the issuing country.

2. Upload Proof of Address — The seller provides a recent document that lists their name and a Japanese residential address.