How to Start New NISA | 3 Steps Beginners Should Take First [2026 Edition]

I want to start investing, but I don't know where to begin.

Many people likely have this concern.

The New NISA is a system that started in 2024, but even now in 2026, I often hear people say they haven't started yet. In this article, I will explain the three steps necessary to start the New NISA in a way that is easy for beginners to understand.

What you will gain from this article:

・A rough understanding of how the New NISA works

・Concrete steps from opening an account to starting your investment

・How to think about choosing your first investment as a beginner

What is the New NISA in the first place?

The New NISA is a system where profits earned from investments are tax-free.

Normally, when you make a profit from stocks or investment trusts, a tax of about 20% is applied. If you make a profit of 100,000 yen, about 20,000 yen is deducted as tax.

However, if you invest using a New NISA account, this tax becomes zero. In other words, the entire 100,000 yen profit remains in your pocket.

The New NISA has two quotas: the "Tsumitate Investment Quota" and the "Growth Investment Quota."

The Tsumitate Investment Quota allows you to purchase investment trusts carefully selected by the Financial Services Agency, up to 1.2 million yen per year. It is recommended that beginners start here.

The Growth Investment Quota allows you to purchase a wide range of products, such as individual stocks and ETFs, up to 2.4 million yen per year. Use this once you get used to investing.

A total of 3.6 million yen per year, and up to 18 million yen over your lifetime, can be invested tax-free.

Step 1: Open a Securities Account

To start the New NISA, you first need to open a NISA account with a securities company.

Online securities companies are recommended. Compared to brick-and-mortar securities firms, fees are lower, and you can easily operate them from your smartphone.

The following three items are required to open an account:

・Identity verification documents (My Number Card or driver's license)

・Email address

・Bank account information

The application can be completed in about 10 minutes via smartphone. However, since it requires a review by the tax office, it will take 1 to 2 weeks before you can actually start trading.

The key point is to check the box for "Open a NISA account." Be careful, as you will not receive the tax-free benefits with a regular brokerage account alone.

Step 2: Decide on your monthly investment amount

Once your account is open, decide how much you want to invest each month.

I often get asked, "How much should I start with?" but the conclusion is that starting with even 1,000 yen per month is perfectly fine.

The important thing is to start with an amount that is comfortable for you. It would be counterproductive to cut into your living expenses just to invest.

As a general guideline, it is ideal to invest 10-20% of your take-home pay. If your take-home pay is 200,000 yen, the guideline is 20,000-40,000 yen per month; if it is 300,000 yen, it is 30,000-60,000 yen per month.

I recommend starting with a small amount and increasing it as you get used to it.

Step 3: Choose the products to invest in

The final step is to choose the actual products to invest in.

For beginners, I recommend a "Global Stock Index Fund."

This is a product that allows you to invest in stocks of companies all over the world at once. By buying just one product, you can automatically achieve diversified investment.

There are three reasons why I recommend index funds.

First, the management costs are low. Some products have annual fees of 0.1% or less, making them suitable for long-term investment.

Second, they are hassle-free. Once you set it up, it will automatically invest for you every month.

Third, you can expect stable returns over the long term. According to historical data, global stocks have generated an average annual return of about 5-7%.

Of course, there is risk in investing, and you may lose your principal in the short term. However, looking at the long term of 15 years or more, there have been almost no instances of negative returns in the past.

Summary: The first step you can take today

Here is a summary of how to start the New NISA in 3 steps.

Step 1: Open a NISA account with an online brokerage.

Step 2: Decide on a sustainable monthly investment amount (starting from 1,000 yen is fine).

Step 3: Choose a global stock index fund and set up your automatic investment.

You might have the impression that investing is difficult, but with the New NISA's installment investment, once you set it up, it will be managed automatically.

The important thing is not to "understand everything perfectly before starting," but to "just start." You can start with a small amount, so please apply to open a brokerage account today.

*This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation for specific financial products or investment advice. Please make investment decisions at your own risk.

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