Rakuten Card × Point Activity 2026 — Why It's the Ideal First Card & a Double Dip
The Rakuten Card is "your first point-activity card"
The Rakuten Card is a staple high-value point offer (8,000–12,000 yen to issue) and a double dip with Rakuten's official sign-up bonus (5,000–8,000 points) on a separate track. Plus, screening is easy and SPU is +1×. It's ideal as "the first card for someone starting point activity." This article organizes why it's ideal as a first card and how to use it. It's also the card recommended first in the issuance order of the card-issuance chapter.
Why it's ideal as a first card
- Easy screening: many issuance cases even for students, homemakers, and new workers. The students chapter and homemaker chapter.
- The gateway to building credit history: building history with your first card helps later card screening.
- No annual fee: zero cost to keep holding it.
- SPU +1×: raises Rakuten Ichiba cashback and becomes the foundation of the Rakuten economy.
Double dip: point activity + official bonus
The Rakuten Card lets you claim both "the point-site-route earnings + Rakuten's official sign-up bonus."
- Apply via the point site8,000–12,000 yen for issuance + conditions. Compare each site's payout on Pointnavi.
- Also get Rakuten's official sign-up bonus5,000–8,000 points (increased during some periods).
- Total of 13,000–20,000 yenA big return from one issuance.
The point route and Rakuten's official bonus have separate funding, so both are claimable. But "whether the official bonus still applies when you apply via a point site" varies by period and terms, so confirm before applying.
Linking with SPU
The Rakuten Card is the core of the Rakuten economy's SPU +1×. After issuance, Rakuten Ichiba shopping stays high-cashback. Combine with Rakuten Bank, Securities, and Mobile to stack SPU further. Details in the Rakuten economy chapter. For upgrading to the Premium Card, see the gold-card chapter.
FAQ
Is screening really easy?
Do I lose the official bonus by going via a point site?
Is the Rakuten Card fine as a first card?
This article was written from publicly available information on each point site as of May 2026. Cashback rates, campaign terms, and redemption rules can change without notice — always check each site's official page for the latest. This site uses each point site's referral program, but going through a referral link never changes the rate you receive.