Checked with Apple and JR East pages
Suica on iPhone: setup, top-up, and foreign cards
With an iPhone you do not need a plastic card. Use the Welcome Suica Mobile app (made for visitors, takes yen cash top-ups) or add a Suica to Apple Wallet. In Express Mode you pass the gate with no Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Welcome Suica Mobile app
| Deposit | None |
|---|---|
| Where to buy | Free app for iPhone (iOS 17.2 or later, iPhone XR/XS or later) and Apple Watch. Location services must be on. From most countries you can only set it up after you arrive in Japan |
| Top up | A card in Apple Pay in your own name, or yen cash at station machines and stores. Up to ¥20,000 |
| Valid | Balance valid 180 days |
| Refund | No refund of the balance |
| Good to know | No Android version yet. JR East plans support for overseas Samsung Galaxy phones from the first half of 2027 |
Source: JR East, Welcome Suica Mobile terms (effective March 1, 2026). Checked October 13, 2026.
Suica in Apple Wallet
| Deposit | None |
|---|---|
| Where to buy | Add a new Suica, PASMO or ICOCA in the Wallet app. Needs iPhone 8 or later, an Apple Account with two-factor authentication, and an eligible payment card in Wallet |
| Top up | In Wallet with Apple Pay, up to ¥20,000 |
| Good to know | Express Mode lets you pass the gate with no Wi-Fi or mobile data. It can work for up to 5 hours after the battery runs low |
Source: Apple Support, Add Suica, PASMO, ICOCA to Apple Wallet (March 25, 2026). Checked October 13, 2026.
Can I top up with a foreign credit card?
Apple and JR East do not publish which foreign card brands work for Suica top-ups. The Welcome Suica Mobile terms only say the card in Apple Pay must be in your own name. If your card is declined, top up with yen cash at a station machine or a convenience store (Welcome Suica Mobile).
Android
Android phones bought outside Japan generally cannot use Suica or PASMO, so buy a card. Welcome Suica Mobile planned for overseas Samsung Galaxy phones (JR East).