How to Move to Japan: Visas, Jobs, and What You Need to Know

Japan has a reputation for being difficult to move to: complex bureaucracy, language barriers, and a culture that can feel impenetrable to outsiders. Some of that reputation is earned. But Japan is also facing a demographic crisis — its population has been declining since 2008 — and is actively expanding immigration pathways in ways it never has before.

The result is a country that's more accessible than most people think, with a cost of living that's surprisingly competitive with European cities, especially given the weak yen.

Visa Routes into Japan

Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services

This is the standard work visa for white-collar professionals. Despite the long name, it covers a wide range of roles: software engineers, translators, marketing professionals, business consultants, teachers at private institutions, and many others. You need a bachelor's degree (or 10 years of relevant work experience) and a job offer from a Japanese company. No minimum salary requirement in the visa rules, though immigration officers assess whether the salary is "appropriate for the work" — in practice, ¥250,000/month (~USD 1,700) is roughly the floor.

The visa lasts 1–5 years (typically 1 year initially, then 3 or 5 on renewal). After 10 years of continuous residence, you can apply for permanent residency. After 5 years, you can apply for citizenship (Japan generally requires renouncing other citizenships).

Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa

Japan's points-based fast-track visa. You're scored on academic background, work experience, salary, age, and Japanese language ability. Score 70+ points and you qualify; score 80+ and you get accelerated permanent residency — after just 1 year of residence instead of the standard 10. This is Japan's most generous immigration pathway and deliberately targets skilled workers the country needs.

A 30-year-old with a master's degree, 5 years of experience, and a salary of ¥5 million+ (~USD 33,000) can typically reach 70 points without any Japanese language ability. Add JLPT N1 (highest Japanese proficiency) and the score jumps significantly.

Working Holiday Visa

Available to citizens of about 30 countries (including Australia, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and others — but notably not the US or India). Age limit is typically 18–30. The visa lasts one year and lets you work in any job. It's the easiest entry point: no job offer required, minimal financial proof (roughly ¥200,000 in savings plus a return ticket), and fast processing.

Teaching English (ALT / Eikaiwa)

The JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching) places foreign teachers in public schools across Japan. It pays ¥3,360,000/year (~USD 22,000), provides support for housing, and handles the visa. Selection is competitive — typically 30–40% acceptance rate — and you need to be a citizen of a participating country with a bachelor's degree.

Private English conversation schools (eikaiwa) like NOVA, ECC, and Berlitz also sponsor visas. The pay is lower (¥250,000–280,000/month) and the work can be demanding, but they sponsor more readily than JET and accept applications year-round.

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)

Introduced in 2019 specifically to address Japan's labour shortage. SSW-1 covers 14 industrial sectors including food service, hospitality, agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. You need to pass a skills test and a basic Japanese language test (JLPT N4). No degree required. SSW-1 lasts up to 5 years but doesn't directly lead to PR. SSW-2 (for construction and shipbuilding) does allow permanent residency and family sponsorship.

Cost of Living: The Japan Surprise

Japan is not as expensive as its reputation suggests. The yen's decline since 2022 has made it genuinely affordable for anyone earning in USD, EUR, or GBP.

Tokyo one-bedroom apartments in livable areas (Suginami, Nakano, Koenji) run ¥70,000–100,000/month (USD 470–670). Food is remarkably affordable — a good lunch at a local restaurant costs ¥700–1,000 (USD 4.70–6.70). Monthly living costs of ¥200,000–280,000 (USD 1,340–1,880) are realistic for a single person.

Osaka, Fukuoka, Sapporo are 20–40% cheaper than Tokyo while offering excellent quality of life. A comfortable life in Osaka runs ¥170,000–230,000/month.

Healthcare is excellent and affordable. Japan's national health insurance (NHI) covers 70% of costs, and you pay the remaining 30%. A doctor's visit costs roughly ¥1,000–3,000 (USD 7–20) out of pocket. Monthly NHI premiums are income-based but typically ¥15,000–30,000/month.

The Language Question

Can you live in Japan without Japanese? In Tokyo's international bubble — yes, to a degree. Major tech companies (Google, Amazon, Mercari, LINE) operate in English. English teaching requires no Japanese. Some startups use English as their working language.

But daily life outside the professional bubble requires at least basic Japanese. Government offices, hospitals, landlords, and most services operate in Japanese. Investing in Japanese language study before and after arrival isn't just cultural courtesy — it's practical necessity for long-term life in Japan.

Who Japan Works For

Japan is increasingly accessible for tech professionals who can leverage the HSP visa, English teachers (especially through JET), skilled tradespeople through the SSW programme, and young people from partner countries through Working Holiday Visas. The combination of fast-track permanent residency, affordable living costs, exceptional safety, and world-class infrastructure makes it one of the most underrated emigration destinations.

It's a harder fit if you can't work in an English-friendly environment, need to bring family immediately (some visa types restrict dependents initially), or are from a country without Working Holiday or SSW agreements.