Can I keep my US brokerage account once I move to Japan?
Short answer: Some US custodians keep serving existing clients who move to Japan, usually with restrictions on new purchases or account types, while others close or convert accounts tied to a Japanese address. There is no single industry answer, so this is worth confirming with your specific provider before you move rather than after a notice arrives.
Written and reviewed by Anthony Walsh, Selanis. Last reviewed 2026-10-09.
Why it works this way
US brokers manage non-resident accounts under their own compliance policies, which vary by firm and change over time; a Japanese address can trigger anything from no change to a freeze on new trades to a request to close the account.
Because Japanese NISA and most Japan-domiciled funds carry their own US tax complications, many Americans in Japan prefer to keep a working US brokerage relationship specifically to hold US-domiciled funds rather than rely on local options.
Address changes, forced liquidations and account transfers can all create taxable events in a year you did not choose, so sequencing the move — confirming the custodian's position before changing your address of record — matters.
The expensive mistake: Changing your address with the brokerage before checking its policy
An unplanned forced liquidation can trigger a large taxable year with no opportunity to choose the timing.
What to do
- Ask your custodian directly about their non-resident policy — Get it in writing before changing your address.
- Consolidate before you move where possible — Open or confirm an alternative that explicitly supports Japan-resident US persons.
- Plan the transition around your tax year — Avoid moving accounts in a way that bunches gains into one year.