Moving from United States to Japan
Moving from United States to Japan: United States passport holders get visa-free (90 days) for short stays and need a residence permit to settle. Japan is about 37% cheaper than United States, around $1,900/month for one person. Citizenship takes about 5 years of residence.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
Visa & entry
Visa-free (90 days) for short visits. To settle you'll need a residence route:
- Highly Skilled Professional visa — Score enough points on salary, education and experience for a fast-tracked stay.
Digital-nomad visa: available, from $5,600/mo income. Six-month digital nomad visa launched March 2024 requires ¥10M/year (~US$67k) in foreign income.
See all visa routes →Documents & apostille
Single apostille each end. Both countries are in the Hague Apostille Convention — one apostille from United States makes your documents valid in Japan.
Where in United States: Secretary of State of the issuing state (state-level documents) plus the US Department of State, Office of Authentications, for federal documents — official source
↳ Japan: Private/notarial documents must first be notarized by a Japanese notary (kōshōnin) then may require the Legal Affairs Bureau district director's certification before MOFA apostille
Check each document →Cost, tax & salary
Japan is 37% cheaper than United States — around $1,900/mo vs $3,000/mo for one person.
Citizenship & residency
Naturalisation only 5 yrs (faster than PR's 10); no formal test but basic Japanese assessed at interview; must renounce other citizenship.
Your path to a passport →Arrival checklist
- Register your address: Juminhyo / tennyu-todoke (住民登録 moving-in notice) at the municipal office within 14 days
- Get a tax number: My Number (マイナンバー, 12-digit)
- Residence permit: Zairyu Card (在留カード, Residence Card) — issued on entry at major airports
- Healthcare: National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) at city hall, or employer's shakai hoken
Residence Card is issued at the airport on arrival; then do the address (juminhyo) registration at city hall within 14 days — this triggers My Number (mailed) and NHI enrollment. Bank/phone need card + registered address.
Your move, step by step →Driving
~29 countries/regions test-exempt (most EU, UK, CH, AU, NZ, CA, KR, TW + 7 US states: CO,HI,MD,OH,OR,VA,WA); all others (China, India, most US states) retest
Oct 2025 reform: tourists barred (need mid/long-term residence + juminhyo), proof of 3+ months in issuing country, harder 50-Q test & stricter road test. Exempt-country holders need only paperwork + eyesight; everyone else full retest. IDP valid max 1 yr from entry — reusable only after leaving Japan 3+ months.
Exchange your licence →Pets
- Microchip: Required; ISO 11784/11785 (implant before 1st rabies shot; bring own reader if non-ISO)
- Rabies: Required; TWO rabies vaccinations after microchip (2nd within valid period of 1st), then titer
- Quarantine: Short (usually within 12 hours) at airport if fully compliant; non-compliant pets detained up to 180 days
Japan — quick facts
Start your move from United States to Japan
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