MNP One-Stop Is Online Only: Switching In-Store Means Timing Your Reservation Number

Good morning, it’s まさきん.

I am planning to visit a shop soon to move a family member’s line to Rakuten Mobile. While getting ready, I almost tripped up on the timing of the MNP reservation number. Someone else might get stuck at the same point, so I am leaving this as my pre-visit prep notes.

*This information is current as of publication. Please check the official websites for the latest details.

I assumed the reservation number was no longer needed

The line we are switching is a family member’s line on a budget SIM (a low-cost carrier that rents network capacity from the major carriers). On the same visit, I also plan to clean up some unused, dormant lines.

I had assumed that “since One-Stop has spread, you do not need a reservation number anymore.” I had seen it in the news so often that I thought of it as an old procedure.

But when I reread Rakuten Mobile’s official page, I found that was wrong. One-Stop only applies to online applications. To apply at a shop, you need to get the reservation number before you go.

Honestly, I was lucky to notice a few days before my visit. If I had only realized on the day, I could not have completed the switch there.

How MNP One-Stop works

First, let me sort out what One-Stop actually saves you from doing.

MNP (Mobile Number Portability, the system for keeping your phone number when you change carriers) used to start with getting a reservation number from your current carrier. You then gave that number to the new carrier, and only then could you apply. The process was split between two separate counters.

With One-Stop, you only need to apply to the new carrier. The new carrier obtains the reservation number for you behind the scenes. I think it is fair to understand it as removing the step of getting the number yourself.

Rakuten Mobile introduced One-Stop on May 24, 2023. Even in that announcement, the start date for shops was listed as undecided. Rakuten Mobile’s current official page still says shop applications are not covered by One-Stop.

Three cases where you cannot use One-Stop

Rakuten Mobile’s official page lists the following three cases where the reservation number method is required.

1. Your current carrier is not a One-Stop participant
2. You have already obtained an MNP reservation number
3. You apply at a shop

My case is the third one. Even if your current budget SIM supports One-Stop, you need a reservation number as long as you apply at a shop. I think this is easy to get wrong.

Main participating carriers

The official page lists carriers that support One-Stop. The big three, docomo, au and SoftBank, are included. So are ahamo, povo, LINEMO, UQ mobile and Y!mobile.

Among budget SIMs, IIJmio, mineo, AEON MOBILE, BIGLOBE Mobile and others are listed. Many other carriers are on the list too, so check the official list if you are curious.

To repeat, this is about online applications. Even if your carrier is on the list, a reservation number is a prerequisite at a shop.

Shop vs. online

I put together a table of how the reservation number is handled for each Rakuten Mobile application method.

The easy-to-miss point is the remaining validity requirement. If you apply online, the number reportedly must have at least 7 days of validity left. At a shop, on the other hand, you can proceed as long as it is still valid.

So shops are more forgiving about how fresh the number is. But in exchange, the extra step of “getting the number” always remains.

Personally, I think a shop feels safer when family lines or dormant lines are involved. On the other hand, if it is just your own single line, One-Stop might be faster.

How long it takes to issue a reservation number

The next thing to watch is how many days it takes to issue the number. This varies by carrier.

docomo, for example, accepts requests via web, phone or in store. The web is generally open 24 hours, and phone requests are accepted from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

mineo says that if you apply from your My Page, the number and expiry date are shown on the completion screen. With carriers like this, you can probably get the number the same day.

IIJmio, on the other hand, takes requests through the member-only page. It does not accept requests by phone. Issuance takes “as little as 1 day (after 11 p.m. the next day) up to about 4 days.” The number arrives by email.

The budget SIM our family is switching from also says issuance takes 1 to 2 days. So if you apply right before your visit, it may not arrive in time.

The number is valid for 15 days

The reservation number has an expiry date. In most cases it seems to be 15 days including the issue date. IIJmio’s Q&A also says 15 days including the issue date.

If you apply at a shop, you can complete the switch as long as you visit within those 15 days. But if your visit gets postponed, that is a different story. If your plans slip and you pass the deadline, the number can no longer be used.

If it expires, it seems you have to get a new number. You would be waiting for issuance again, so you may need to reschedule your visit.

I plan to write down the expiry date as soon as the number arrives. Since there are family lines too, listing the deadline for each line should give me peace of mind.

Porting-out fees and cost estimates

When getting a reservation number, the porting-out fee is something to think about.

After a revision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications guidelines, MNP porting-out fees became free in principle from April 1, 2021. Even when done in store or by phone, the maximum is said to be 1,000 yen (before tax).

However, there may be costs separate from that fee. IIJmio, for example, says a settlement charge applies if you port out within 12 months of starting a voice SIM.

If you are switching from a budget SIM like we are, it is probably wise to check your contract start date and any cost conditions once.

A schedule working backward from your visit date

Based on all of this, I made a table of the steps working backward from the visit date. The visit date is counted as “the day.”

With a carrier that issues instantly, requesting the number the day before might be fine. If it takes 1 to 2 days like ours, you want to request it 3 to 4 days ahead.

Getting it too early is also a problem. With the 15-day limit, the number could expire if your visit slips. Personally, I think about 3 to 4 days before the visit is just right.

How to get the number

The process at your current carrier generally goes like this.

1. Log in to your current carrier’s My Page or member page
2. Select a menu such as “Issue MNP reservation number”
3. Choose the phone number and agree to the terms
4. Check the reservation number and expiry date on screen or by email
5. Note down the number and expiry date so you can show them at the shop

Menu names and steps differ by carrier. If you get stuck, searching your current carrier’s Q&A for “MNP reservation number” is probably the quickest way.

One more thing to do before your visit

If you use the referral campaign, there is a separate order of steps besides the reservation number. You need to log in through the referral URL before applying at the shop.

I plan to take care of this before my visit too. If you apply first, you are not eligible, so I think this is just as important as the reservation number. I explain it in detail in the order of steps when using the referral campaign at a shop.

What to bring to the shop

Rakuten Mobile’s “Before your visit” page lists the following items to bring for MNP.

• ID document (driver license, My Number Card, etc.)
• MNP reservation number
• Rakuten member user ID and password
• Credit card or bank account details
• A smartphone compatible with the Rakuten network (if not buying one at the shop)

Your Rakuten ID password is surprisingly easy to forget. It is a good idea to check in advance that you can log in, including for family members.

You can reportedly book a shop visit online or by calling the shop. With a booking you are served first, and they will also check your required documents.

When handling a family member’s line

If you are handling a family member’s line, you also need to think about who will visit the shop.

According to the official guidance, if the contract holder and the visitor are different people, you can proceed with a letter of authorization. However, this only applies to family members who share the same surname or address. A copy of the contract holder’s ID document is also required.

The letter of authorization apparently must be used within one month of the date it was signed. That timing should be part of your backward planning too.

Also, the reservation number is issued in the name of the contract holder at your current carrier. The shop said it can handle the switch and a change of contract holder at the same time. If contract names are scattered across the family, sorting them out before your visit should speed things up.

I wrote about points to watch when handling multiple lines at once in the hurdles of consolidating multiple family lines at a shop. For how to find dormant lines, how to find your family’s dormant lines may help.

From application to activation

After applying at the shop, the MNP port-in is processed and the line is activated.

According to Rakuten Mobile’s Q&A, the activation timing depends on when the port-in is accepted. If accepted between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., the line is in principle activated the same day. But if it is right before 9 p.m., it may be the next day.

Note that once the port-in is processed, your old line stops working. Avoiding late evening visits may make things go more smoothly.

I cover the whole switching process in my step-by-step guide to switching to Rakuten Mobile with MNP. This article digs into just one part of it: when to get the reservation number.

Common mistakes

Here are the patterns I thought “people are likely to do this” while preparing.

• Assuming no number is needed at a shop because your carrier supports One-Stop
• Requesting the reservation number the day before your visit and not getting it in time
• Getting the number too early and having it expire when your visit is postponed
• Forgetting the referral URL login and applying at the shop first
• Not knowing a family member’s Rakuten ID password and losing time on the day

I think all of these can be prevented by working backward from your visit date. I nearly fell into the first one myself, so this is not someone else’s problem.

What to check before you start

FAQ

Q. Do I need a reservation number at a shop even if my carrier supports One-Stop?

Yes, you do. Rakuten Mobile says shop applications are not covered by One-Stop. Even if your current carrier participates, get the number before you visit.

Q. Will my current line stop working as soon as I get the reservation number?

Getting the number alone reportedly does not stop your line right away. The line switches over when the port-in is processed at the new carrier. Still, it is reassuring to check your carrier’s own notes once.

Q. What happens if the reservation number expires?

An expired number cannot be used. It seems you need to get a new number from your current carrier. If issuance takes several days, you may also need to reschedule your visit.

Q. If I already got a number, can I still use online One-Stop?

Rakuten Mobile’s official page says One-Stop does not apply if you have already obtained a reservation number. In that case you apply using the reservation number method. Online, the number needs 7 or more days left, so be careful.

Q. Can I handle a family member’s line at the shop on their behalf?

Reportedly yes, with a letter of authorization. It applies to family members who share the same surname or address. A copy of the contract holder’s ID document is also required, so prepare it in advance.

Q. Is there an MNP porting-out fee?

After the guideline revision, it has been free in principle since April 2021. However, some carriers charge a separate fee for porting out after a short period. It is a good idea to check your current carrier’s terms.

Official sources I referred to

• Rakuten Mobile: Switching from another carrier (MNP)
• Rakuten Mobile: Before your visit (shops)
• Rakuten Mobile: What do I need to apply?
• Rakuten Mobile: Activation time after starting an MNP port-in
• Rakuten Mobile: Announcement of MNP One-Stop introduction (2023)
• NTT docomo: MNP inquiries
• IIJmio: How to get an MNP reservation number
• mineo: How to get an MNP reservation number

Summary

Online, One-Stop lets you switch without a reservation number. But if you want to switch at a shop while getting advice from staff, it is a different story. Having a reservation number ready is a prerequisite.

Some carriers take several days to issue the number, so I think it is safest to work backward from your visit date. Our family is now getting ready for a shop visit in a few days using exactly this plan. Conditions can change, so please check the official websites for the latest information.

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