Japan – Visas
Relocating to Japan demands thorough preparation, particularly when it comes to navigating its well-defined visa framework. Citizens of…
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Your life in Japan starts here
Make your move to Japan
Efficient, exceptionally safe and endlessly interesting, Japan combines mountains, coast and cities with moderate living costs. Foreign income is sheltered for new arrivals, making it appealing to settle.
Japan at a glance
Cost of living
Moderate
Property
Moderate
Healthcare
Strong
Safety
Very safe
Climate
Mild (~16°C)
English
Limited
Expat community
Moderate
Where Japan is strongest: safety #5 of 78healthcare #38 of 78
Worth weighing up: English-friendliness #77 of 81tax friendliness #75 of 81visa ease #71 of 81
TaxForeign income sheltered 5 yrs; inheritance tax
Visa / residencySkilled work; no retiree visa; no dual citizenship
General information to compare destinations, not personal financial, tax or immigration advice.
Health insurance in Japan
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Your first steps to Japan
Japan – Residency
Japan provides foreign nationals with a well-defined residency framework organised around status-of-residence categories — encompassing work and family-based…
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Fresh from Japan
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Real people who made the move
Erik Chan, Tokyo, Japan
From leaving Canada at 13 to building a life in Tokyo, Erik shares how two decades abroad inspired…
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Who are you? I am Adam, from the UK, and I live in Japan, and have previously lived…
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Who are you? My name is Jonathan, originally from the UK, and live in central Tokyo writing about…
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Who are you? Hi! My name is Annabelle. I’m a 24 year old woman from Wellington, New Zealand.…
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Who are you? I’m André, 23-year-old, Portuguese! Where, when and why did you move abroad? Ever since my…
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Hi, I’m Erica Knecht, mother, trailing spouse, freelance writer, and lover of airports and train stations. I’m originally…
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The Expat Focus Podcast on Japan
The complete picture
Japan moving guide
Japan – Air Travel
Japan operates a sophisticated and highly connected aviation system, both domestically and internationally. The two flagship full-service carriers…
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Japan is a country of passionate pet lovers, where dogs and cats are embraced as genuine members of…
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Japan’s banking sector is sophisticated and dependable, yet foreign residents frequently encounter a specific set of hurdles: residency…
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Japan’s bus and tram network is broad, dependable, and closely woven into the fabric of the country’s world-renowned…
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Purchasing or importing a car in Japan is entirely possible for foreign nationals living there, but the process…
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Foreign nationals are free to purchase and hold property in Japan — land and buildings alike — without…
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Getting behind the wheel in Japan is entirely manageable, provided you arrive with the correct documentation. The majority…
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Acquiring Japanese citizenship is achievable primarily through naturalisation following a minimum of five consecutive years of lawful residence…
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Japan boasts one of the world’s most thoroughly integrated CAM environments. Traditional herbal medicine known as Kampo occupies…
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Japan occupies a middle position on the global cost-of-living scale — less expensive day-to-day than cities such as…
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Japan is one of the most bicycle-friendly countries in the world in practical terms. With an estimated cycling…
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Japan’s dental care landscape is built upon a wide-reaching public health insurance system that extends to most residents…
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