How to Move to Japan in 2026: Visas, Costs, and Life as an Expat

The Highly Skilled Professional Points System and Other Work Visas

Moving to Japan starts with a question most people underestimate: which visa category you actually qualify for shapes everything else about your move, from how long you can stay to whether you can bring family. Japan's Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa is a points-based system that scores applicants on education level, salary, age, Japanese language ability, and other factors like international awards or a Japanese university degree; clear enough points typically unlock faster processing, longer visa duration, and a shorter path to permanent residency than standard work visas — but the exact points table changes periodically, so verify the current scoring against the Ministry of Justice's published criteria rather than an older summary. Below that tier sit the more conventional work visa categories tied to a specific job offer and the Specified Skilled Worker visa aimed at designated labor-shortage industries, and separately, Working Holiday visas remain available to citizens of countries with a bilateral agreement, generally capped at applicants under 30 (with some treaty-specific variation).

Japan's Digital Nomad Visa and Its Limits

The newer option, launched in April 2024, is Japan's digital nomad visa, aimed at remote workers employed by or contracting with companies outside Japan. Public summaries commonly cite an income requirement around ¥10 million a year, though the visa comes with real limits: it's generally issued for a maximum stay of six months, is not renewable from within Japan, and does not lead toward permanent residency the way the HSP or standard work visas can. It suits someone testing Japan for an extended visit far more than someone planning a multi-year relocation — confirm the current yen threshold and permitted activities with official immigration guidance before assuming it fits your situation.

Tokyo Rent, Key Money, and Move-In Costs

Cost of living centers on rent, and Tokyo sets the reference point most people compare everything else against. A modest one-bedroom in Tokyo is commonly quoted in the ¥80,000 to ¥150,000 a month range (roughly $530 to $1,000 at typical exchange rates), with the spread driven heavily by station proximity, building age, and whether the unit includes the reikin (key money, a non-refundable gift to the landlord) and shikikin (deposit) that Japanese leases traditionally require upfront — often one to two months' rent each, on top of the first month itself. That upfront cost catches newcomers off guard more than the monthly rent does; budget three to five months of rent in cash for the initial move-in alone.

Registering for National Health Insurance

Healthcare runs through National Health Insurance (NHI) once you've completed residence registration at your local ward or city office. Premiums are commonly discussed in the ¥20,000 to ¥40,000 a month range, but the actual bill is calculated from your prior year's income and your specific municipality's rates, so treat any quoted range as orientation rather than your final number — your first notice after registering will reflect your real inputs. If you have ongoing prescriptions or a chronic condition, bring translated medical summaries; Japan's healthcare system is generally excellent but runs almost entirely in Japanese outside major international clinics.

Opening a Bank Account Without an Address

Banking is the other practical hurdle worth planning around early. Japanese banks typically require both a stable residence status and a registered address before they'll open a standard account, which means the first few weeks can be awkward — you need an address to bank, but you often need proof of funds to secure housing. Keeping an international transfer service like Wise active as a second rail during that gap, and asking your employer or landlord which banks are known to be foreigner-friendly, smooths the transition considerably. Once you're set up, Japan's reputation for safety is well earned by global indexes, but its compliance and documentation culture is strict — keep every form, receipt, and registration card, because Japanese bureaucracy rewards paper trails and rarely accepts "I forgot to bring it."

Plan it on Relova: See Japan's visa options, tax rates, and cost of living → for a structured breakdown you can compare against other destinations.

See real salaries: What people actually earn in Japan →

Continue with these closely related guides:

How to Move to Japan as a Digital Nomad in 2026: New Visa and Practical Guide — Same destination (Japan).
How to Move to Osaka, Japan in 2026: The Expat's Alternative to Tokyo — Same destination (Japan).
How to Move to Kyoto or Osaka, Japan in 2026: City Guide for Expats — Same destination (Japan).
How to Move to Tokyo, Japan in 2026: Neighborhoods, Costs, and Expat Guide — Same destination (Japan).

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