povo's 40% au PAY rebate only works when MNP, au ID, and the 7-day topping window line up.

Check the fit before buying a 365-day topping

This campaign solves a specific problem: lowering the first big annual data purchase after you have already decided to move a Japanese mobile number to povo. If you are not that user, the 40% headline can push you into a topping you do not need.

• Good fit: Japan residents, students, workers, or long-stay users who already have a mobile number at another carrier, want povo's calls + data plan, and plan to buy a large 365-day topping anyway.
• Poor fit: short-stay visitors, data-only eSIM users, or people still deciding whether they need calls and carrier SMS. Start with the povo Japan SIM visitor guide or data-only eSIM guide instead.
• Do not treat the rebate as cash in hand. It is conditional au PAY balance after the eligibility checks, not an instant discount at checkout.

What changed in the official campaign

The official campaign page says lines activated before 2026-05-12 remain in the earlier 50% track, while lines activated from 2026-05-12 00:00 onward are in the 40% track. The page also states the listed content is current as of 2026-05-12, while the HTTP header returned a 2026-06-11 last-modified date for this guide.

• The current eligible-topping table includes 365-day examples such as 360GB with a 10,560 yen au PAY balance rebate and 1.2TB with a 15,456 yen rebate.
• povo notes that eligible toppings may be added or changed, and if a sale changes the data capacity or price, the rebate is calculated from the changed data capacity price.
• The campaign period is shown as 2025-05-01 00:00 to end date undecided, so recheck the page on the day you activate or buy.

The eligibility gates are narrow

The biggest reader risk is assuming that every povo signup or topping purchase qualifies. The official page makes the campaign a calls + data MNP offer with a short purchase window after activation.

• The line must be a povo calls + data line; povo's official terms say data-only lines are excluded.
• You must switch by MNP from another carrier, excluding au, UQ mobile, and povo1.0, then buy an eligible topping for the first time by 23:59 seven days after SIM activation.
• Your au ID must be linked to the povo account when buying the topping, and au PAY must be started before the balance rebate. The benefit is available once per line, and prior MNP campaign benefits can exclude you.

Why visitor and data-only users should not chase it

povo's own plan pages split calls + data from data-only. Data-only can be useful for fast eSIM data access, but it is the wrong base for this rebate and the wrong tool for phone-number tasks.

• The data-only route is eSIM-only, new-number only, and official pages say separate SMS-capable contact is needed for setup. It cannot be used as a normal calls/SMS line.
• Japan SIM and visitor data packs are built for maps, translation, hotel apps, messaging, and web access, not for MNP or resident account recovery.
• If you need banking, housing, work, school, delivery, or 2FA, compare normal phone-number plans on the plans page before buying annual data.

A safer order before applying

Use the campaign after the plan decision, not before it. That keeps the annual topping and rebate from hiding the practical setup work.

• First, confirm that povo calls + data fits your phone-number, SMS, payment, support, and coverage needs better than Rakuten Mobile, ahamo, or LINEMO.
• Second, confirm your current carrier can release the number, your phone supports the selected SIM/eSIM path, Wi-Fi is available for activation, and your au ID and au PAY setup are ready before the topping purchase.
• Finally, reopen the official campaign page, eligible topping table, and povo application flow on the day you buy. Use the FAQ for SMS/setup checks and the referral page only after the official terms still fit.