Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act

外国為替及び外国貿易法（がいこくかわせおよびがいこくぼうえきほう）

85 articlesChecked against e-Gov on 5 November 2026

3 amendments to this law are already promulgated but not yet in force. The text below does not include them.What they change

Read it chapter by chapter; the first chapter follows below. Or read the whole law on one page.

Chapter I General Provisions第一章　総則Articles 1–9 · 7
Chapter II Measures to Maintain Peace and Security in Japan第二章　我が国の平和及び安全の維持のための措置Articles 10–11 · 2
Chapter III Making and Receiving Payments第三章　支払等Articles 16–19 · 13
Chapter IV Capital Transactions; Related Matters第四章　資本取引等Articles 20–25-2 · 11
Chapter V Inward Direct Investment and Equivalent Actions第五章　対内直接投資等Articles 26–31 · 8
Chapter VI Foreign Trade第六章　外国貿易Articles 47–54 · 7
Chapter VI-2 Reports; Other Matters第六章の二　報告等Articles 55–55-9 · 9
Chapter VI-2-2 Compliance Standards for Foreign Exchange Transactions Service Providers第六章の二の二　外国為替取引等取扱業者遵守基準Articles 55-9-2–55-9-4 · 3
Chapter VI-3 Compliance Standards for Exporters and Persons Conducting Similar Transactions第六章の三　輸出者等遵守基準Articles 55-10–55-12 · 3
Chapter VII This Act's Relationship with the Administrative Procedure Act第七章　行政手続法との関係Article 55-13
Chapter VII-2 Requests for Administrative Review第七章の二　審査請求Articles 56–57 · 2
Chapter VIII Miscellaneous Provisions第八章　雑則Articles 65–69-6 · 11
Chapter IX Penal Provisions第九章　罰則Articles 69-7–73 · 8

7 articles

Chapter I General Provisions

第一章　総則

Article 1Purpose

第一条（目的）

The purpose of this Act is to ensure that international transactions develop normally and that peace and security are maintained in Japan and the international community through the implementation of the minimum necessary controls and coordination for international transactions, under the basic principle of free engagement in foreign exchange, foreign trade, and other such international transactions; and in doing so, to help achieve balance of payments equilibrium and currency stability and also to contribute to the sound development of the Japanese economy.

この法律は、外国為替、外国貿易その他の対外取引が自由に行われることを基本とし、対外取引に対し必要最小限の管理又は調整を行うことにより、対外取引の正常な発展並びに我が国又は国際社会の平和及び安全の維持を期し、もつて国際収支の均衡及び通貨の安定を図るとともに我が国経済の健全な発展に寄与することを目的とする。

Articles 2 to 4

第二条から第四条まで

削除 · deleted

No English for this paragraph yet.

削除

Article 5Scope of Application

第五条（適用範囲）

This Act also applies to actions that the representative, agent, employee, or other such worker of a corporation whose principal office is in Japan takes in a foreign country concerning the corporation's assets or business. The same applies to actions that a person whose domicile is in Japan or the agent, employee, or other such worker of such a person takes in a foreign country concerning that person's assets or business.

この法律は、本邦内に主たる事務所を有する法人の代表者、代理人、使用人その他の従業者が、外国においてその法人の財産又は業務についてした行為にも適用する。本邦内に住所を有する人又はその代理人、使用人その他の従業者が、外国においてその人の財産又は業務についてした行為についても、同様とする。

Article 6Definitions

第六条（定義）

In this Act and Orders based on this Act, the meanings of the terms stated in the following items are as prescribed in those items:

この法律又はこの法律に基づく命令において、次の各号に掲げる用語の意義は、当該各号に定めるところによる。

the term "Japan" means Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu, and the islands associated with them that are prescribed by Ministry of Finance Order and Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry;

「本邦」とは、本州、北海道、四国、九州及び財務省令・経済産業省令で定めるその附属の島をいう。

the term "foreign country" means any area outside Japan;

「外国」とは、本邦以外の地域をいう。

the term "Japanese currency" means currency expressed in units of Japanese yen;

「本邦通貨」とは、日本円を単位とする通貨をいう。

the term "foreign currency" means any currency other than Japanese currency;

「外国通貨」とは、本邦通貨以外の通貨をいう。

the term "resident" means a natural person with a domicile or residence in Japan or a corporation whose principal office is in Japan. Regardless of whether a non-resident's branch office, local office, or other such office in Japan has the legal authority to represent that non-resident, that office is deemed to be a resident, even if the non-resident's principal office is located in a foreign country;

「居住者」とは、本邦内に住所又は居所を有する自然人及び本邦内に主たる事務所を有する法人をいう。非居住者の本邦内の支店、出張所その他の事務所は、法律上代理権があると否とにかかわらず、その主たる事務所が外国にある場合においても居住者とみなす。

the term "non-resident" means a natural person or corporation other than a resident;

「非居住者」とは、居住者以外の自然人及び法人をいう。

the term "means of payment" means any of the following:

「支払手段」とは、次に掲げるものをいう。

banknotes, government notes, and coins;

銀行券、政府紙幣及び硬貨

checks (including traveler's checks), bills of exchange, postal money orders, and letters of credit;

小切手（旅行小切手を含む。）、為替手形、郵便為替及び信用状

the property value entered in a voucher, electronic device, or any other object (referred to as a "voucher or other such object" in Article 19, paragraph (1)) using electronic or magnetic means (meaning electronic means, magnetic means, or any other means that cannot be perceived with the human senses), which unspecified or a large number of persons can use among themselves for payment (limited to one prescribed by Cabinet Order as having a status of use that approximates a currency); and

証票、電子機器その他の物（第十九条第一項において「証票等」という。）に電磁的方法（電子的方法、磁気的方法その他の人の知覚によつて認識することができない方法をいう。）により入力されている財産的価値であつて、不特定又は多数の者相互間での支払のために使用することができるもの（その使用の状況が通貨のそれと近似しているものとして政令で定めるものに限る。）

what is prescribed by Cabinet Order as being equivalent to what is stated in (a) or (b);

イ又はロに掲げるものに準ずるものとして政令で定めるもの

the term "foreign means of payment" means a foreign currency or any other means of payment (excluding Japanese currency) that is denominated in a foreign currency or that can be used for payment in a foreign country, regardless of the currency unit;

「対外支払手段」とは、外国通貨その他通貨の単位のいかんにかかわらず、外国通貨をもつて表示され、又は外国において支払のために使用することのできる支払手段（本邦通貨を除く。）をいう。

the term "electronic payment instruments" means any of the following:

「電子決済手段等」とは、次に掲げるものをいう。

electronic payment instrument (meaning an electronic payment instrument as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (5) of the Payment Services Act (Act No. 59 of 2009); the same applies in the right-hand column of row 1 of the table in Article 16-2, Article 17-4, paragraph (2) and Article 18-6, paragraph (2)); and

電子決済手段（資金決済に関する法律（平成二十一年法律第五十九号）第二条第五項に規定する電子決済手段をいう。第十六条の二の表の一の項の下欄、第十七条の四第二項及び第十八条の六第二項において同じ。）

Changes by 22 July 2027 (Act No. 64 of 2026)

cryptoasset (meaning a cryptoasset as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (14) of the Payment Services Act; the same applies in the right-hand column of row 5 of the table in Article 16-2);

暗号資産（資金決済に関する法律第二条第十四項に規定する暗号資産をいう。第十六条の二の表の五の項の下欄において同じ。）

the term "precious metal" means gold bullion, gold alloy bullion, gold coins that are not in circulation, or any other object whose principal material is gold;

「貴金属」とは、金の地金、金の合金の地金、流通していない金貨その他金を主たる材料とする物をいう。

the term "security" means a public bond, corporate bond, share, equity interest, certificate granting rights related to a public bond or share, bond certificate, treasury bond, mortgage security, profit certificate, coupon, dividend certificate, renewal coupon, or any security or certificate prescribed by Cabinet Order as being similar to them, regardless of whether it has been materialized;

「証券」とは、券面が発行されていると否とを問わず、公債、社債、株式、出資の持分、公債又は株式に関する権利を与える証書、債券、国庫証券、抵当証券、利潤証券、利札、配当金受領証、利札引換券その他これらに類する証券又は証書として政令で定めるものをいう。

the term "foreign currency security" means a security for which a person can receive payment in a foreign country or a security that is denominated in a foreign currency;

「外貨証券」とは、外国において支払を受けることができる証券又は外国通貨をもつて表示される証券をいう。

the term "claim" means a time deposit, current deposit, special current deposit, deposit at notice, insurance policy, or current account balance, or a monetary claim not stated in any of the preceding items which arises from a loan, bid, or other source;

「債権」とは、定期預金、当座預金、特別当座預金、通知預金、保険証券及び当座勘定残高並びに貸借、入札その他により生ずる金銭債権で前各号に掲げられていないものをいう。

Changes by 22 July 2027 (Act No. 64 of 2026)

the term "futures contract on a financial indicator or similar metric" means a contract associated with market derivatives transactions prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (21) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (Act No. 25 of 1948) (excluding those prescribed by Cabinet Order; hereinafter the same applies in this item), over-the-counter derivatives transactions prescribed in paragraph (22) of that Article (excluding those prescribed by Cabinet Order), transactions similar to market derivatives transactions prescribed in paragraph (21) of that Article which are conducted on a foreign financial instruments market prescribed in paragraph (8), item (iii), (b) of that Article, or any other transaction prescribed by Cabinet Order as being similar to them;

「金融指標等先物契約」とは、金融商品取引法（昭和二十三年法律第二十五号）第二条第二十一項に規定する市場デリバティブ取引（政令で定めるものを除く。以下この号において同じ。）、同条第二十二項に規定する店頭デリバティブ取引（政令で定めるものを除く。）及び同条第八項第三号ロに規定する外国金融商品市場において行われる同条第二十一項に規定する市場デリバティブ取引に類する取引その他これらに類する取引として政令で定める取引に係る契約をいう。

the term "goods" means movables other than precious metals, means of payment, and securities and any other certificates embodying claims; and

「貨物」とは、貴金属、支払手段及び証券その他債権を化体する証書以外の動産をいう。

the term "assets" means assets including what is prescribed in items (vii), (ix) through (xi), and (xiii), and the preceding item.

「財産」とは、第七号、第九号から第十一号まで、第十三号及び前号に規定するものを含む財産をいう。

If it is not clear whether a person is a resident or a non-resident, the Minister of Finance decides this.

居住者又は非居住者の区別が明白でない場合については、財務大臣の定めるところによる。

Article 7Foreign Exchange Rates

第七条（外国為替相場）

The Minister of Finance is to set and issue public notice of the reference foreign exchange rates for Japanese currency and arbitrated foreign exchange rates of foreign currencies to Japanese currency.

財務大臣は、本邦通貨の基準外国為替相場及び外国通貨の本邦通貨に対する裁定外国為替相場を定め、これを告示するものとする。

Before setting a reference foreign exchange rate for Japanese currency pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Minister of Finance must obtain the approval of the Cabinet.

財務大臣は、前項の規定により本邦通貨の基準外国為替相場を定めようとするときは、内閣の承認を得なければならない。

The Minister of Finance is to work towards stability in the foreign exchange rates of Japanese currency by taking necessary measures such as buying and selling foreign means of payment.

財務大臣は、対外支払手段の売買等所要の措置を講ずることにより、本邦通貨の外国為替相場の安定に努めるものとする。

Article 8Designation of Currency

第八条（通貨の指定）

A payment in currency that is made or received in connection with a transaction or action to which this Act applies must be made or received in the currency designated by the Minister of Finance.

この法律の適用を受ける取引又は行為に係る通貨による支払等（支払又は支払の受領をいう。以下同じ。）は、財務大臣の指定する通貨により行わなければならない。

Article 9Suspension of Transactions in Case of Emergency

第九条（取引等の非常停止）

If there has been a rapid change in international economic conditions and the competent minister finds that there is an urgent need to do so, the competent minister, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, may order the suspension of transactions, actions, or the making or receiving of payments to which this Act applies, for a period prescribed by Cabinet Order.

主務大臣は、国際経済の事情に急激な変化があつた場合において、緊急の必要があると認めるときは、政令で定めるところにより、政令で定める期間内において、この法律の適用を受ける取引、行為又は支払等の停止を命ずることができる。

A suspension that the competent minister orders pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is not to make it impossible to make a payment that had been authorized pursuant to this Act up until the time of the suspension, and any delay in making a payment due to such a suspension is to be limited to within the period prescribed by Cabinet Order.

前項の規定により命ずる停止は、その停止の時までにこの法律により認められている支払を不可能とするものではなく、その停止による支払の遅延は、政令で定める期間内に限られるものとする。

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Contents

Chapter I General Provisions