Public housing (県営・市営住宅) for foreign residents: eligibility and lottery

A foreigner in Japan can apply for public housing (公営住宅), but each prefecture and city sets its own residence-status rules. As of October 2026, Tokyo’s Toei housing accepts permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals and long-term residents, and other residence-card holders with one continuous year of residence history. Chiba Prefecture asks for a stay period of at least one year. Household income must be low, for example ¥158,000 a month in Chiba and Yokohama. Most vacancies go to a lottery.

Can foreigners apply for public housing in Japan?

Yes, in most places, but not by a single national rule. In October 2024 the government told the Diet that the ministry notice on foreigners’ eligibility is only technical advice, and that local governments are not legally bound by it. It also said treatment of mid- to long-term residents (中長期在留者, people who hold a residence card) is up to each local government, based on local circumstances.

So check the rules of the place where you live. Two examples:

Tokyo requires you to hold your status continuously from the application period until the screening date, so a visa renewal gap can matter. Toei’s pages don’t say how a pending renewal is treated; ask the Toei Housing Recruitment Center (03-3498-8894).

What are the income limits?

Public housing is for low-income households, and the limit is on household income, not just yours. Limits differ by place.

Tokyo (Toei). Annual income after deductions (所得金額), as listed by Ota City in August 2026:

Tokyo’s own page shows the same limits as a salary before deductions: about ¥4.47 million for a family of 4. Households with a member aged 60 or over, a disability or a child up to high-school age get relaxed limits.

Chiba and Yokohama. Both use monthly household income: ¥158,000 or less for general households and ¥214,000 or less for elderly, disabled and similar households (Chiba also lists households with a child before primary school age).

If your income later rises too far, you may have to leave. Tokyo says a family of 4 with income continuing above roughly ¥6.77 million a year must move out.

Who else can apply?

Beyond status and income, the rules in Tokyo and Chiba say you must:

• be in housing need (no home or land of your own; Tokyo lists exceptions such as rent of 20% or more of income, or a 90-minute commute each way);
• normally apply with the relatives you live with (Tokyo allows applying with someone who does not live with you only in specific cases);
• not belong to an organized crime group;
• in Yokohama, have lived or worked in the city for 6 months or more, and have no resident tax or city housing rent arrears.

Single people have narrower access. In Tokyo they need 3 years in Tokyo and must belong to a category such as age 60 or over, disability, welfare recipient or domestic violence victim. Chiba limits single applicants to units up to 2LDK.

How does the lottery work?

For most recruitment, eligible applications go into a lottery (抽選).

Tokyo. The May and November regular recruitment is by lottery. In August and February, family housing is point-based and single-person housing is by lottery. Year-round recruitment (随時募集) of leftover units is first come, first served; if you pass the screening you move in without a lottery. For the November 2026 round, Ota City says application forms for family and single-person housing are handed out from November 2 to 11, 2026. Point-based family housing is expected in early February 2027.

The timeline in a Tokyo May round (older Tokyo page, 2024):

Tokyo says regular recruitment means 7 months to a year before you move in, sometimes longer, and year-round recruitment about 3 to 5 months.

Better odds. Some households get more chances: Tokyo’s priority lottery (優遇抽せん) in May and November, and Yokohama’s special categories at 3 times, 10 times or 20 times the general group’s winning chance. Chiba says households such as single parents and those with a child under 18 have a higher chance.

Yokohama. Regular recruitment is in April and October (the October 2026 window, October 9 to 23, has closed). The page does not describe the draw, but the winning-chance multipliers suggest a lottery. Ongoing recruitment (常時募集) of leftover units runs from August 27 to December 28, 2026, on weekdays at the Yokohama City Housing Supply Corporation counter.

What should I check as a foreign resident?

• Your status and card. Compare your exact status and stay period with the local rule. Tokyo lists permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals as qualifying directly.
• Your whole household. In both Tokyo and Chiba, the foreign relatives who move in with you must meet the status rule too.
• Language. Application guides and forms are in Japanese. We could not confirm an English guide for Toei. Bring a Japanese speaker or ask your city office’s international desk.
• Timing. A lottery win is only the first step. Months of screening follow, so you need somewhere to live meanwhile.
• Guarantor and costs. The pages we read don’t state whether a guarantor is needed or what the deposit and rent are. Ask the recruitment center before you apply.

This is general information, not advice on your case. For status questions, ask the immigration bureau or an administrative scrivener (行政書士).

Is public housing the right choice?

You may wait months and may not win. If you need to move soon, look at UR housing, which has no guarantor and fills most units first come, first served, but sets a minimum income. For private rentals, see renting an apartment as a foreigner and guarantor companies compared.

More guides

• Agents that work with foreign tenants: foreigner-friendly real estate agents
• Documents you may need for income proof: resident tax and the taxation certificate
• Moving after you win a unit: moving company in Japan