Visas and renewals
Visa renewal in Japan: when to apply, new fees and the online system
Visa renewal in Japan from Oct 2026: ¥33,000 for 1 year, ¥64,000 for 3 years, ¥75,000 for 5 years at the counter, less online. When and how to apply online.
Straight answers for foreigners living in Japan
Money, housing, phones, driving and visas, answered for people without permanent residency, a Japanese credit history or fluent Japanese. Every fact is sourced and dated.
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What do you need to sort out?
Five areas where being a foreign resident changes the answer.
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Money
Sending money home, banks, cards, pension, NISA and tax
- What is the cheapest way to send money from Japan?
- Which banks open an account for a newcomer?
- Can I get a credit card without permanent residency?
64 guides
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Housing
Renting, guarantor companies, insurance and mortgages without PR
- How do I rent an apartment in Japan as a foreigner?
- Which guarantor companies accept foreign residents?
- Can I get a mortgage without permanent residency?
19 guides
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Phone & internet
SIMs, phone contracts and home internet without a Japanese credit card
- Which SIM can I get without a Japanese credit card?
- Which home internet providers support English?
- How do I keep my number when I switch carrier?
12 guides
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Driving
License conversion, driving schools in English and buying a car
- How do I convert my foreign driver's license?
- How long can I drive on an International Driving Permit?
- How do I practice for the written test in English?
28 guides
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Visa & residency
Permanent residency, naturalization, spouse visas and renewals
- What are the requirements for permanent residency?
- Permanent residency or naturalization: what is the difference?
- How do I renew my visa in Japan?
42 guides
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Work
Your rights at work, leave, pay and changing jobs
- How many days of paid leave do I get in Japan?
- What happens to my visa if I quit my job?
- What is the minimum wage in Japan?
22 guides
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Daily life
City hall, health, family and staying safe
- How do I get a My Number card as a foreigner?
- How do I find an English-speaking hospital in Japan?
- What do I do after my baby is born in Japan?
44 guides
Start here
Driving schools
English driving schools in Japan compared: costs, courses and camps (2026)
Driving school in Japan in English: verified courses cost ¥367,280 to ¥572,000 for an AT license in Tokyo and Saitama. Camps from ¥231,000, mostly in Japanese.
Investing and NISA
NISA for foreigners: who can open one and what happens when you leave Japan
NISA for foreigners: any resident of Japan aged 18+ can open one, up to ¥3.6M a year. Leave for your own reasons and the account closes. What to know first.
Renting
Renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner: steps, documents and up-front costs
Renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner: the steps from search to keys, the documents for screening, and up-front costs of about 4 to 7 months' rent.
SIMs and phone plans
MNP in Japan: switch carrier and keep your number
MNP in Japan lets you switch carrier and keep your number for free online. One-stop switching, reservation numbers, fees and keeping your number when you leave.
Safety
Cooling-off in Japan: how to cancel a contract and who to call (188)
Cooling-off (クーリング・オフ) lets you cancel door-to-door, phone and some school or gym contracts within 8 or 20 days. How to send notice, and the 188 hotline.
Rights at work
Probation period in Japan: how long it can be and what your rights are
Japanese law sets no maximum probation period, and a probation dismissal still needs a valid reason. The 14-day rule, quitting, and what to do about your visa.
Pension
Behind on pension in Japan? What to do before your visa renewal
Missed National Pension payments in Japan? Apply for exemption or deferral (up to 2 years back), or repay later, before immigration screens your renewal.
Permanent residency
Can Japan revoke your permanent residency for unpaid tax or insurance? What 'deliberate' means
From April 2027, ISA can revoke permanent residency for deliberate non-payment of tax or insurance. What counts as deliberate, what does not, what happens next.
Bank accounts
Carrying cash into or out of Japan: the ¥1,000,000 declaration rule
Carrying over ¥1,000,000 in cash, checks or securities into or out of Japan must be declared to customs. What counts, which form, and safer ways to move money.
Visas and renewals
Japan digital nomad visa, J-Skip and J-Find: who each one is for
Japan's digital nomad visa needs ¥10M a year and lasts 6 months, no renewal. How it differs from J-Skip and J-Find, and why most Asian nationalities miss it.
Safety
Lost your wallet or phone in Japan: how to report it and get it back
Lost a wallet or phone in Japan? File at a police box, bring ID to collect it, know the 3-month holding period, and block your cards and residence card.
Visas and renewals
Visa sponsorship in Japan: what employers do and what you need
Japan has no sponsor visa: your employer files for a status that fits the job. Degree rules, the four employer categories, documents and the 47-day average.
City hall and paperwork
Apostille and document legalization for use in Japan
How foreign residents get an apostille or 公印確認 on Japanese documents: what MOFA certifies, free fee, 3-day turnaround, Hague countries and embassy steps.
City hall and paperwork
Bringing a pet to Japan: quarantine rules and timeline
How to bring a pet to Japan, dog or cat: microchip, two rabies shots, antibody test, 180-day wait, 40-day notice and airport inspection.
Sending money home
Send money from Japan to Bangladesh: cheapest ways compared, including bKash
To send money from Japan to Bangladesh, KYODAI gave BDT 77,971 and Remitly BDT 77,961 on our ¥100,000 sample. Fees, rates, bKash and cash, October 2026.
Sending money home
Send money from Japan to China: cheapest ways compared, including Alipay and WeChat
To send money from Japan to China, Remitly gave CNY 4,223 and SBI Remit CNY 4,208 on our ¥100,000 sample. Fees, rates, Alipay, WeChat and limits, October 2026.
Sending money home
Send money from Japan to Indonesia: cheapest ways compared
To send money from Japan to Indonesia, Remitly gave IDR 11.47 million and Wise IDR 11.42 million on our ¥100,000 sample. Fees, rates, e-wallets, October 2026.
Sending money home
Send money from Japan to Sri Lanka: cheapest ways compared
To send money from Japan to Sri Lanka, Remitly gave LKR 210,426 on our ¥100,000 sample, then Western Union and Wise. Fees, rates and payouts, October 2026.
Tax
Capital gains tax in Japan for foreigners: selling property or shares
Capital gains tax in Japan for foreigners: 15% or 30% on property, 20% on shares, the ¥30M home deduction, and what changes if you sell as a non-resident.
Tax
Crypto tax in Japan for foreign residents: how gains are taxed
Crypto tax in Japan for a foreigner: gains are miscellaneous income taxed at 5-45%, swaps count, losses can't offset salary. Non-residents differ.
Tax
Exit tax in Japan: does it apply to you when you leave?
Japan's exit tax (国外転出時課税) applies only with ¥100M+ in securities and 5+ years counted in 10. How visa years count, deferral and cancellation (October 2026).
Tax
Japan tax treaties: how they affect foreign residents and which countries have one
Does Japan have a tax treaty with your country? What treaties change, which forms to file, and which home countries are missing from the list (October 2026).
Credit and debit cards
Credit score in Japan: CIC, JICC and why foreigners get declined
Credit score Japan guide for foreigners: no single national score, three credit bureaus, how to get your CIC report for ¥500, and how to build history.
Credit and debit cards
Debit cards for foreigners in Japan, compared
Debit card Japan guide for foreigners: age and residence rules, fees, cashback, overseas fees and where debit fails, for 8 cards (October 2026).
Credit and debit cards
PayPay, Suica and cashless payments in Japan for foreign residents
PayPay for foreigners: you need a Japanese mobile number, and its ID check needs a residence card with 90+ days left. Plus Suica and PASMO on your phone.
Credit and debit cards
Credit cards for foreigners in Japan: what you can realistically get
Yes, foreigners can get a credit card in Japan. Issuers ask for a residence card, address, bank account and phone. How to apply, 8 no-fee cards scored.
Renting
Apartment search sites in Japan with English: SUUMO, HOME'S, Real Estate Japan
Apartment search in Japan in English: SUUMO and HOME'S are Japanese only, Real Estate Japan and Best-Estate.jp have English. What each offers and how to apply.
Renting
Furnished and monthly apartments in Japan: costs and foreigner-friendly options
How a furnished apartment in Japan works for foreigners: monthly costs, what is waived, guarantor rules, fixed-term leases and address registration.
Renting
Getting your deposit back in Japan: move-out cleaning and repair costs
Security deposit return in Japan (敷金): what a landlord can deduct, how wallpaper and floor costs are worked out, and who to call if the bill is wrong.
Renting
Leopalace21 for foreigners: monthly rentals, fees and downsides
Leopalace in Japan for a foreigner: residence card screening, monthly rental vs lease costs, guarantee fee, penalties and the known downsides.
City hall and paperwork
Apostille and document legalization for use in Japan
How foreign residents get an apostille or 公印確認 on Japanese documents: what MOFA certifies, free fee, 3-day turnaround, Hague countries and embassy steps.
City hall and paperwork
Bringing a pet to Japan: quarantine rules and timeline
How to bring a pet to Japan, dog or cat: microchip, two rabies shots, antibody test, 180-day wait, 40-day notice and airport inspection.
City hall and paperwork
Japan Post for foreign residents: parcels, forwarding and services
What the post office in Japan offers foreign residents: one-year mail forwarding, 30-day mail hold, EMS from ¥1,450, English help lines and a translation tool.
City hall and paperwork
Lost passport in Japan: replacement steps and visa consequences
Lost your passport in Japan? Police report, embassy replacement fees for PH, PK, ID, NP, IN, and what it means for re-entry and your residence card.
Family
Enrolling a foreign child in a Japanese school: process and support
School enrollment in Japan for a foreign child: public school is tuition-free though not compulsory. How to enroll, which grade, and what Japanese help exists.
Family
Weddings and cash gifts (ご祝儀) in Japan for foreigners
Foreigner invited to a wedding in Japan? A friend or colleague usually gives ¥30,000 cash (ご祝儀). Amounts by relationship, the envelope, and if you can't go.
Family
When someone dies in Japan: procedures, funeral and repatriation
Death procedures in Japan for a foreigner: the 7-day death notice, cremation permit, 14-day residence card return, embassy contact and sending remains home.
Family
Baby born in Japan to foreign parents: birth registration, residence status and passport
Baby born in Japan to foreigner parents? Register the birth in 14 days, apply for the baby's residence status in 30 days, and get a passport from your embassy.
Visas and renewals
Japan digital nomad visa, J-Skip and J-Find: who each one is for
Japan's digital nomad visa needs ¥10M a year and lasts 6 months, no renewal. How it differs from J-Skip and J-Find, and why most Asian nationalities miss it.
Visas and renewals
Visa sponsorship in Japan: what employers do and what you need
Japan has no sponsor visa: your employer files for a status that fits the job. Degree rules, the four employer categories, documents and the 47-day average.
Visas and renewals
Retiring in Japan as a foreigner: visa options and healthcare
Retire in Japan: there is no retirement visa. See the routes that exist (PR, spouse, long stay), plus health insurance and pension rules for foreign retirees.
Visas and renewals
Changing jobs on a work visa in Japan: notification, status and when to re-apply
Change employer on a work visa in Japan: most statuses need a 14-day notification, not a new visa. Some need a change of status. Rules as of October 2026.
Licenses
Driving in snow in Japan: tyres, chains and rules
Winter driving in Japan for foreign residents: studless tyres vs chains, chain-restriction rules on expressways, rental tips and what JAF advises.
Licenses
Drunk driving in Japan: penalties, visa and license consequences
Drunk driving in Japan starts at 0.15 mg/L of breath alcohol. Penalties run to 5 years or ¥1 million, and passengers and sellers are liable too.
Licenses
JAF license translation (日本語翻訳文): who needs one and how to get it
JAF license translation costs ¥6,000 to drive or ¥6,600 to convert your license. See who needs one, how to order online and how long it takes.
Licenses
Driver's license renewal in Japan for foreigners, including the gold license
Driver's license renewal in Japan: renew 1 month either side of your birthday, show your residence card, pay ¥3,350 for gold in Tokyo. Abroad? See below.
Rights at work
Probation period in Japan: how long it can be and what your rights are
Japanese law sets no maximum probation period, and a probation dismissal still needs a valid reason. The 14-day rule, quitting, and what to do about your visa.
Rights at work
Workers' compensation (rosai) in Japan for foreign workers
Workers compensation in Japan: rosai covers foreign workers of any nationality: free treatment, 80% leave pay from day 4. How to claim.
Rights at work
Being dismissed in Japan as a foreign worker: notice, pay and your visa
Fired in Japan as a foreigner? You are owed 30 days' notice or 30 days' pay, and unfair dismissals are void. What to do, and what it means for your visa.
Rights at work
Employment contract in Japan: what to check before you sign
Employment contract Japan checklist for foreigners: what must be in writing, fixed-term vs open-ended, work rules, banned clauses, who to ask.
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