Living in Japan

Introduction

This guide sets out essential information for British citizensnationals movingresiding in Japan, including advice on health, benefits, residence requirements and more. We are unable to orprovide livingany inguidance Japan.on Readgeneral aboutlifestyle howenquiries apart from the information and links listed below. See our Embassyinformation inon Tokyowhat consulates can help.and cannot do for British nationals.

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BeforeCoronavirus you go(COVID-19)

SeePlease ourrefer travelto advicethe forJapanese JapanMinistry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s coronavirus page for up-to-datean informationoverview onof entrythe requirements,current localsituation lawsin andJapan.

We customs,are safetynot andadvising emergencies.British Pleasepeople checkwho theare Overseaspermanent Businessresidents Riskoverseas Guideto forreturn Japanto asthe well.

Coronavirus

FollowUK. You should follow the advice of the Japaneselocal governmentauthorities andin your localhost authority.country. You shouldcan also read theour Japantravel Travel Adviceadvice.

Visas andfor residency

our latest guidance.

CheckFor theinformation entryon requirementsgetting fora JapanCOVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Japan, see our coronavirus travel advice.advice.

IfBritish younationals arewho intendinghave toresident stayor overstudent 90status days,in youJapan willshould needconsider totheir obtainown personal circumstances and take into account all of the information available, when making a visadecision fromon yourwhether nearestor Japanesenot Embassy/Consulateto priorreturn to yourthe travelUK. toYou Japan.may consider the following factors:

Passports

• Financial andsupport: travel

Youdo canyou applyhave forsufficient orfunds renewto yoursupport Britishyourself passportwithout fromgoing Japan.

Checkback to the JapanUK travelfor advicean forundetermined passportnumber validityof requirements.

Healthcaremonths? inCheck Japan

Therethe isFinance nosection reciprocalbelow healthcarefor agreementmore withinformation.

Health Japan.

YouInsurance: mustIf registeryou forwere healthcareinstructed asby athe residentauthorities into Japan,undergo usuallyCOVID-19 throughPCR yourtesting, localall authority.

Iftesting youand COVID-19 related medical costs are employed,borne usuallyby yourthe employerJapanese willgovernment. provideThe yougovernment withhowever privatedoes healthcarenot instead.

NOTE: UKbear Travelany insurancenon providersCOVID-19 willmedical notcosts. generallyDo coveryou have medical coverage? Taking your healthcareown costspersonal ifhealth condition into account, are you liveconfident overseas.

Medicine

Ifin receiving the necessary support you areneed onin aJapan? prescriptionCheck the Health section below for anymore medication,information.

Legal & employment support: do you shouldunderstand ensurethe kind of support available to you havein athe supplycase of itunemployment or beeconomic ablehardships due to obtainCOVID-19? itWill whenthese insupport Japan.mechanisms Certainbe medicinessufficient mayfor notyou beto availablesupport inyourself Japanfor (includingan majorundetermined brandsnumber readilyof availablemonths? inCheck the UK),Legal and youEmployment maysection bebelow prohibitedfor frommore takinginformation.

For themstudents: intodo you understand the country.arrangements Youyour shouldhost consultuniversity yourhas GPin beforeplace? travellingParticularly access to Japanmedical tofacilities, findaccommodation outand aboutonline anylearning alternativeoptions. medication.

Keep in contact with your UK university too (if applicable) about their advice.

ReadIf theyou guidancehave ifCOVID-19 yourelated needconcerns on entering Japan and returning to travelthe withUK, medicinesplease refer to our coronavirus specific travel advice for more information.

WorkingHealth

British nationals resident in Japan

If youshould areconsider planningcontacting their local ward or city office about what healthcare options may be available and/or refer to moveJNTO’s guide to accessing medical facilities in Japan.

See andalso, work,list youof willmedical needfacilities ain visa.Japan.

ReadFor thenon-residents, Japanesesee government’sour guidanceTravel onAdvice workingfor further information.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many individuals in Japanunforeseen asways. aIf foreignyou nationalare under mental duress, TELL (click here for daily service hours for both chat and howphone services) provides support and counselling services to getJapan’s ainternational visacommunity. Befrienders Worldwide also offers emotional support services worldwide. So, if you would like to speak to volunteers in the UK instead, see information on available 24/7 UK helplines.

If you’reyou lookingare forexperiencing adviceor onknow generalof workingsomeone conditionswho is a victim of domestic violence and standardsabuse, non-profit organisation DV Soudan+ insupports Japan,victims youby canoperating finda helphotline viaavailable thein counselling10 servicesdifferent andlanguages, hotlinesprovides inprofessional selectconsultation prefecturesservices as operatedwell byas theshelter. JapaneseAnother Ministryorganisation ofHELP Health,(House Labourin andEmergency Welfare.of ThereLove areand alsoPeace) localsupports NPOwomen organisations,and suchchildren asregardless POSSE,of providingrace, freevisa labourstatus legaland advicenationality. inThey English.provide Checkshelter with yourEnglish cityconsultations oravailable. prefectureLastly, ifTokyo suchWomen’s NPOsPlaza existalso runs a free telephone consultation service in yourmultiple area.languages.

Studying

Further information on mental health support in Japan

can be found here.

Visa & Immigration

taxPlease oncheck the validity of your UKvisa incomeand if you livehave abroad

taxany ifconcerns youwith getyour avisa pensionstatus in Japan, and livesee abroadinformation regarding visa and immigration as published by the Ministry of Justice.

payingWith Nationalvisa Insurancerenewal, whilelength abroadof toextension protectis assessed case by case by the Japanese authorities. Please check with your Stateregional Pensionimmigration andoffice entitlementregarding specific requirements before starting on any application process. Due to otherthe benefitshigh andvolume allowances.of inquiries, it may take some time to reach the relevant authorities. We would recommend you to enquire by phone at the first instance as the Immigration Services Agency advises customers to avoid coming in unless necessary.

Benefits

CheckSee whichcontact UKinformation benefitsof local immigration authorities.

If you canrequire claimfurther whileinformation abroadand support, the Foreign Residents Support Center andprovides howconsultation toservices claimin them.English and other languages.

Government Benefits

ManyJapan income-relatedhas benefitsa suchthree-tier aspension Pensionsystem Credit and Housingparticipation Benefitin cannotthe benational paidpension ifsystem you’re“Basic abroadPension” foris moremandatory thanfor 4 weeks.most.

To find out about what benefits you may be entitled to in Japan, you should contact your local ward or city office.

See the information on benefits you might be able to get while being abroad and how to claim them.

You need to tell the relevant government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax that you are moving or retiring abroad.

Pensions

New policy on proof of ‘Life Certificates’

IfThe youDepartment retirefor inWork Japan,and youPensions (DWP) has changed their policy on who can claimnow yoursign UKthese State‘Life PensionCertificates’. orThis newnow UKreflects Statethe Pension. Contactlist of people who can countersign a passport photograph. Please read the InternationalDWP’s Pensionguide Centrestate forpension furtherif information.you retire abroad.

JapanGiven hasthe arestrictions three-tieron pensioncourier systemservices andworldwide participationdue into the nationalCOVID-19 pensionpandemic, system,the alsotime knownperiod asfor aLife “BasicCertificates Pension”,to isbe mandatorysubmitted has been extended to 16 weeks (with the potential for mostfurther whoextension). workHowever, inat Japan.

Lifepresent, certificatesno pensions will be suspended for UKcustomers Statewho Pensions

Ifhave youbeen getissued a ‘lifeLife certificate’Certificate.

Additionally, from the UKInternational Pension ServiceCentre, youis now able to approve Life Certificates over the telephone. Applicants must respondpass assome soonbasic assecurity possible.questions Yourregarding paymentstheir mayaccount, besuch suspendedas ifhow youmuch dothey not.

Moneyreceive and banking

Mostwhen. companiesIf payyou salariesare directunable to employees’call Japaneseon bankyour accounts.own, a three-way call can be initiated by family, friends, or the British Embassy. In orderthese tocases, openthe arelevant bankthird account,party should contact the International Pension Centre and they will add you wouldto needthe acall residential(interpreters statusare thatavailable allowsif required). If you are unable to stayget overthrough sixto monthsthe International Pension Centre, you can email them and normally,request a Japanesecall residentback.

Driving cardlicences and registeredvehicles

See addressour inTravel JapanAdvice wouldfor begeneral required.information Youon alsodriving cannotlicences openin anJapan. If accountyou fromintend overseas,to asstay youin willJapan usuallyfor needlonger tothan presentone yourselfyear, andyou residenceshould cardapply tofor thea bankJapanese indriving person. licence. For more specificinformation details,and pleasedetails contactof youroffices bankwhere ofyou choicecan directly.

Theconvert Japaneseyour BankersUK Associationdriving haslicense to a listJapanese oflicense, banksvisit thatthe areJapanese membersAutomobile ofFederation thewebsite.

See association,our allinformation Japaneseabout majorrenewing banksUK aredriving listed there.licences.

Finance

MostThe Tokyo foreignInternational creditCommunication cardsCommittee has workdetailed atinformation ATMson taxation in theJapan.Japan-guide.com posthas officea orbrief Sevenoverview Elevenof conveniencetaxes storesin forJapan. withdrawingMore cash.

Accommodationwhereas anddetailed buyinginformation property

Seecan buyingbe afound propertyon abroadthe Ministry of Finance’s homepage .

Guidance on bringing medication into Japan

IfSee aour propertyTravel isAdvice privatelyfor owned,general youinformation canon bebringing refusedmedication rentinginto orJapan. The buyingJapanese accommodationMinistry basedof onHealth, yourLabour race,and sexualityWelfare oralso nationality.has information on medication for personal use.

DrivingLegal inSupport Japan& Employment

ReadMultilingual information on the guidanceJapanese onlegal whatsystem, actionsbar youassociations mustand dorelevant toorganisations driveare legallyprovided inat no cost by the Japan Legal Support Centre.

DrivingIn abroadaddition, if you need legal representation or if you’re seeking legal advice, see our list of English-speaking lawyers and legal services.

If you’re askedlooking for aadvice letteron authenticating,general certifyingworking orconditions validatingand yourstandards UKin driver’sJapan, licence, you shouldcan contactfind yourhelp UKvia issuingthe officecounselling (egservices theand DVLA)

Guidancehotlines forin travellingselect prefectures as operated by roadthe inJapanese JapanMinistry isof onHealth, JapanLabour Traveland Advice

GuidanceWelfare. There forare takingalso yourlocal vehicleNPO withorganisations, yousuch toas JapanPOSSE

If, youproviding intendfree tolabour staylegal advice in JapanEnglish. forCheck longerwith thanyour onecity year,or youprefecture shouldif applysuch forNPOs aexist Japanesein drivingyour licence. area.

If you alreadyare haveseeking aconsultation UKabout drivingfinding license,new youemployment, canmultilingual convertassistance thisis toavailable aat JapaneseHello drivingWork licenseoffices. withoutPlease needingfind tothe takecontact ainformation test.and Forlanguages moreavailable informationat each Hello Work office and detailsfamiliarise ofyourself officeswith wherethis youchecklist canbefore convertseeking yourconsultation.

If UKyou drivingare licenselooking tofor ainformation Japaneseon license,support visitmeasures for companies during the JapaneseCOVID-19 Automobilepandemic, Federationplease website.refer Ifto youmaterials dopublished notby havethe aMinistry UKof drivingEconomy, license,Trade youand willIndustry. needDue to attendthe arapidly localchanging drivingsituation, schoolsome toof takethe lessonslatest andmeasures testscan towardsonly gettingbe afound Japanesein driving license.Japanese.

Disabled drivers

IfFor youindividuals havewith aEmployment UKInsurance Bluein BadgeJapan, andEnglish liveinformation inon Japan,unemployment youbenefits mustcan returnbe itfound toon the originalJETRO UKwebsite issuingand authority.Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.

YouIf couldyou applyrequire forfurther ainformation specialand parkingsupport, permitthe fromForeign theResidents localSupport police.Center Inprovides orderconsultation toservices doin so,English youand willother needlanguages.

VotingLGBTQ+

ForeignJapan nationalsis aregenerally nota allowedtolerant toplace votefor bothLGBTQ attravellers local and nationalhomosexuality levelis not illegal in Japan.

You mayHowever, besame-sex ablemarriages toare votenot inrecognised someand UKthere elections.are Youno can:

checkLGBTQ ifprotections youfrom arediscrimination ablein toemployment, vote

registerhousing asetc. anPlease overseassee voter

Births,the deaths,LGBTQ marriagesection on andour civiltravel partnership

advice page for further details.

Births

If youryou childare islooking bornto inconnect Japanwith youJapan’s shouldLGBTQ registercommunity, theJapan’s birthfirst withpermanent theLGBTQ localcentre authorities.“Pride YouHouse canTokyo thenLegacy” registerbroadcasts withinformation on and by the UKLGBTQ authoritiescommunity. andIt applyalso forincludes a UKspace birthfor certificate.

Ifindividual yourconsultations childand hasa Britishlibrary nationality, youthat dohouses notJapan’s needfirst to“LGBTQ registerCommunity theArchives”. birthThey withalso thehave UK authoritiesa to“Wraparound applySupport” forwellness asupport British passportprogram.

Deaths

If someonefor dieschildren inand Japanyouth readunder ourthe guidanceage on:

Whatof to25 dowho ifare someoneLGBTQ diesor abroadquestioning.

English-speakingFurther funeralinformation directorson intheir Japan

Marriageactivities including support for foreign visitors and civilnon-Japanese partnerships

Findresidents, outcounselling howservices youetc., can getbe marriedfound orvia gettheir a2022 civilofficial partnershipguidebook abroadthat is downloadable here.

ForA list of other servicesresources theincluding Embassythat inof TokyoLGBTQ provides,family pleasesupport, visitcounselling thehotlines Embassy’sand websiteso on can be found here. as well.

PetsNatural disaster preparedness 101

IfJapan youis areprone planning to bringmany yournatural petdisasters, withincluding youearthquakes, totsunamis, Japan,volcanic pleaseeruptions visit http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/index.html for details and informationtyphoons. onKnowing how to bringprepare yourfor petand withreact you.

Serviceto animalsa arenatural subjectdisaster tois theessential sameduring quarantineyour procedures.

Forstay questionsin regardingJapan. theWe importationhave ofcompiled petsa andlist serviceof animals,key pleasetips contactto theget Animalyou Quarantinestarted. ServiceFor atmore yourinformation, portplease ofcheck entry.

Emergencies

Dialour 110travel foradvice thepage police, and dialsubscribe 119to forreceive ambulanceupdates orin fireyour brigade.inbox.

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Returningpension to the UK, contact the UK

International Pension Centre.

ReadSee thetax guidanceif onyou returningreturn to the UK permanentlythe UK.

Your whichright includesto informationfree NHS treatment depends on bringingthe familylength members,and taxpurpose andof accessyour residence in the UK, not your nationality. See NHS: cover your healthcare abroad.

See bringing your pet to services.the UK.

Other Useful Information

• UK help and services in Japan
• Japan – List of Lawyers
• Japan – List of Medical Facilities
• Japan – List of Translators and Interpreters
• Japan – List of Undertakers
• Japan – Notarial and Documentary services
• Japan – WhatBereavement to do after a British person dies in Japanpack
• Japan – Prisoner pack
• Japan – InformationChild on child abduction in JapanAbduction
• Japan – Information for victims of rape and sexual assault
• Japan – Mental Health Support
• Japan Consular Section FAQs (PDF, 1.07 MB, 13 pages)

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCDO and the British embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.