Moving to Japan: A Step-by-Step Guide (Visas, Your First 14 Days, and Building a Life)

Short answer: To move to Japan, you need a status of residence (the legal basis for your stay) that matches what you will do here — work, study, a working holiday, family, and so on. For most long stays, the steps are: (1) choose your path, (2) get a Certificate of Eligibility and a visa, (3) arrive and receive your residence card, (4) register your address within 14 days, (5) set up health insurance, pension, and daily life, and (6) build a network so you can stay. This guide walks through each step with links to official sources.

Rules change. This guide reflects information checked on October 7, 2026. For your own situation, always check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan or a qualified professional (such as a gyoseishoshi, an immigration lawyer).

Step 1: Choose your path (status of residence)

Japan has nearly 30 statuses of residence. Which one you can get depends on what you will do in Japan. Here are the paths people most often ask about:

You can see the full list on the Immigration Services Agency's "Search by status of residence" page.

If you don't have a job offer yet: study, a working holiday (if your country is eligible), or the digital nomad status (if you meet the income requirement) are the usual starting points. Many people move to Japan as students first, then change their status after finding work.

Step 2: Get a Certificate of Eligibility, then a visa

For most long-term statuses, the first document is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). It shows that what you plan to do in Japan fits a status of residence, and it helps you get a visa and permission to land more smoothly.

• Who applies: You can apply yourself, but in practice the company or school in Japan often handles the application
• Where: The regional immigration office for the place you will live
• How long: The Immigration Services Agency lists a standard processing period of 1 to 3 months

Once you have the COE, you apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your country.

Step 3: Arrive and receive your residence card

If you will stay mid- to long-term, you receive a residence card (zairyu card) — your main ID in Japan. At major airports such as Narita, Haneda, Chubu, and Kansai, it is issued when you land. Keep it with you; you will need it for almost every procedure.

Step 4: Register your address within 14 days

After you find a place to live, you must notify the city or ward office of your address within 14 days, bringing your residence card. This registers you as a resident and is the starting point for most other procedures.

At the city office, you can usually handle several things at once:

• Health insurance: People staying in Japan for more than three months generally join public health insurance — through your employer, or National Health Insurance at the city office
• Pension: Residents of Japan aged 20 to 59 are covered by the National Pension (employees usually join through their company)
• My Number: A 12-digit number used for social security, tax, and disaster response. You can also apply for the My Number Card, which can be used as ID and as a health insurance card

Step 5: Set up daily life

In the first months, most people work through:

• A phone number and a bank account — many services ask for one or the other, so it helps to sort these out early
• Housing — many people start in short-term or shared housing, then look for a longer lease
• Taxes — resident tax is charged by the city you live in on January 1, based on the previous year's income, so the first bill often arrives in your second year. If you ever leave Japan, read our guide to 4 tax points to know when you leave your job or Japan

The Immigration Services Agency publishes a free Living and Working Guidebook in many languages that explains these procedures in more detail.

Step 6: Build a life — and a network

This is the step most guides skip, and it is often the one that decides whether people stay.

In the Japanese government's FY2025 survey of foreign residents, 53.3% said they feel lonely at least occasionally — even though 62.6% said they want to stay in Japan permanently. Paperwork gets you into Japan. People are what make it home.

• Learn some Japanese, even a little. It makes daily life and friendships easier
• Find a regular place — a language exchange, a hobby circle, a local international association — where you see the same people again
• Talk to people a few years ahead of you. They can tell you what no checklist will

We wrote more about this in How to Make Friends in Japan as a Foreigner and Why Do Foreign Workers Leave Japan?.

FAQ

Can I move to Japan without a job offer?

Yes, through some paths. Common options are studying (for example, at a Japanese language school), a working holiday if your country has an arrangement with Japan and you meet the age limit, or the digital nomad status if you meet its income and nationality requirements. Each has conditions, so check the official pages.

How long does it take to move to Japan?

It depends on your path. For statuses that need a Certificate of Eligibility, the Immigration Services Agency lists a standard processing period of 1 to 3 months, and then you apply for a visa. Many people plan several months ahead.

Do I need to speak Japanese to move to Japan?

It depends on your status and job. Some paths, such as Specified Skilled Worker, generally require a Japanese test. Even when it isn't required, basic Japanese makes daily life, work, and friendships much easier.

Can I live in Japan permanently?

Permanent residency is a separate status with its own requirements, usually after living in Japan for some years. Rules are being reviewed, so check the Immigration Services Agency for the latest. See also our article on Japan's immigration and permanent residency rules in 2026.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Search by status of residence, Certificate of Eligibility (Japanese), Digital Nomad status, "Business Manager" revision, Notification of residence after new arrival, Living and Working Guidebook, FY2025 Basic Survey of Foreign Residents (summary, Japanese)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Working Holiday Programmes in Japan
• Japan Pension Service: English information
• Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Individual inhabitant tax (Japanese)

All sources checked on October 7, 2026.

Not sure where to start?

Red Look is a non-profit that supports international people building a life and career in Japan, and Japanese people going abroad. Our staff have lived and worked across countries. If you are planning a move and don't know where to begin, you can talk to us for free — no sales pitch. For visa decisions, we will point you to the right official office or professional.