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Asia · Japanese · updated 2026-10

Moving to Japan: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,900 a month to live in Tokyo, and a family of four about $4,150, including rent. Japan usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 1 yr, with citizenship after 10 yrs, and dual citizenship is not allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Highly Skilled Professional and the Digital nomad visa.

Monthly budget
$1,900
Low cost
Safety
95
Very safe
Stability
90
Very stable
Family
92
Excellent
Main city
Tokyo
Language
Japanese
Permanent residence
1 yr
Citizenship
10 yrs
Dual citizenship
Not allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Japan?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Japan, per month in US$

One person
$1,900
Family of four
$4,150
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Tokyo centre
$850
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$1,550
Estimate
Price level
69
US = 100
Income per person
$3,195
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
95
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.23
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+1.26
Rule of law+1.54
Control of corruption+1.45
Government effectiveness+2.04
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (90/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
92
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.805
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
2.4
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
84 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$3,638
per person / year
Education spending
3.3%
of GDP

Dependants can join, and can work up to 28 hours a week with permission. Public schools teach in Japanese.

Visa & residence routes

Points
Highly Skilled ProfessionalPoints for education, salary and age, with a fast track to permanent residence.
Remote work
Digital nomad visa6 months for people earning ¥10M+ a year, from about 49 visa-exempt, tax-treaty countries.
Job offer
Engineer / Specialist in HumanitiesThe standard work visa with a Japanese employer.
Investment
Business Manager¥30M capital since October 2025 (up from ¥5M).

Some passports also get: Working Holiday visa for ages 18–30.

Who gets easier access to Japan

Japan is not part of a free-movement area in the index.

Working Holiday visa for ages 18–30 (30 nationalities)

Working Holiday visa for ages 18–30.

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Visiting: 71 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 7 can apply for an eVisa and 119 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
1 yr
1 year with 80 HSP points, 3 years with 70, 10 normally
Citizenship
10 yrs
Raised from 5 years on 31 March 2026
Dual citizenship
Not allowed

The permanent residence fee rose from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 for applications from 1 October 2026.

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.isa.go.jp/en

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Japan?

About $1,900 a month for one person and $4,150 for a family of four in Tokyo, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $850 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,550. Prices are 69% of US levels. Japan is the 49th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Japan safe to live in?

Japan scores 95/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 2nd of 76. The homicide rate is 0.23 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Japan politically stable?

Japan scores 90/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 8th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Japan good for families?

Japan scores 92/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 2nd of 76. Life expectancy is 84 years and under-5 mortality is 2.4 per 1,000 births. Dependants can join, and can work up to 28 hours a week with permission. Public schools teach in Japanese.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Japan?

Usually 1 yr of legal residence. 1 year with 80 HSP points, 3 years with 70, 10 normally.

How long until I can become a citizen of Japan?

Usually 10 yrs of residence. Raised from 5 years on 31 March 2026. Dual citizenship: not allowed.

Can I move to Japan without a job offer?

Yes. Highly Skilled Professional: Points for education, salary and age, with a fast track to permanent residence. Digital nomad visa: 6 months for people earning ¥10M+ a year, from about 49 visa-exempt, tax-treaty countries.

Does Japan have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Digital nomad visa. 6 months for people earning ¥10M+ a year, from about 49 visa-exempt, tax-treaty countries.

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Japan can move