Moving to Japan for British citizens

To work in Japan as a British citizen, you need a work visa. The process always starts with a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), requested by your Japanese employer from the Immigration Bureau. Here are the main visa categories available:

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services

This is the most common visa for foreign professionals. It covers three areas: engineers, developers, and researchers in natural sciences (Engineer); professionals in law, economics, accounting, or marketing (Specialist in Humanities); and translators, interpreters, language teachers, designers, and public relations professionals (International Services).

Requirements: a university degree in the relevant field, or 10 years of professional experience (3 years for international services). Your salary must be at least equivalent to what a Japanese national would earn in the same role.

Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)

This points-based visa targets highly qualified profiles. A score of 70 points or more unlocks significant benefits: your spouse can work, and parents can join the household. With 80 points or more, permanent residency is accessible after just 1 year instead of 10. Criteria include degree level, annual salary, age, work experience, and a bonus if your university appears in certain international rankings. Degrees from Russell Group universities and other leading UK institutions score well in this system.

Business Manager

This visa allows you to create or manage a company in Japan. Requirements include a minimum investment of 5 million yen (approximately £27,000) or the employment of 2 full-time staff, along with a physical office in Japan.

Other options

The Working Holiday Visa (18-30 years old) offers 12 months with work rights under the Japan-UK working holiday agreement. Places are limited so apply well in advance.

The Spouse Visa gives you full access to the Japanese job market if your partner is Japanese. The Intra-Company Transfer visa applies to employees being relocated within the same international group, a common route for British professionals at multinationals with Japanese operations.

Tip: start the process at least 3 to 4 months before your planned departure date. The CoE takes 1 to 3 months to process, and the visa itself is issued within 5 to 7 business days at the Japanese Embassy in London.

For British expats accustomed to London prices, Japan is a pleasant financial surprise, even in Tokyo. The current GBP/JPY exchange rate makes the country very accessible, and the quality of what you get for your money consistently impresses newcomers. The safety, cleanliness, and efficiency of everyday life in Japan are at a level that many British expats find genuinely hard to match back home.

Housing: the main expense

Housing is the largest single cost. There are several Japan-specific features to understand: key money (reikin) is a non-refundable gift to the landlord, typically 1 to 2 months of rent, though an increasing number of foreigner-friendly apartments have dropped this requirement. The security deposit (shikikin) is 1 to 2 months of rent, refundable at move-out minus cleaning fees (20,000 to 50,000 ¥). Agency fees can reach 1 month of rent plus tax. A guarantor (hoshonin) is mandatory: foreigners typically use a guarantee company (30% to 100% of one month's rent).

Budget 4 to 7 months of rent for upfront costs before moving in. A studio in Tokyo runs £500 to £800 per month. In Osaka or Fukuoka, expect £350 to £550. These figures compare very favourably to London rents for equivalent-sized accommodation.

Tip: UR (Urban Renaissance Agency) and JKK Tokyo apartments require no key money, no renewal fees, and no agency commission. An excellent option for new arrivals who want to avoid the full upfront cost.

Other expenses

Food runs about £250 to £450 per month. Japanese supermarkets are very affordable and a restaurant meal costs between £5 and £12, well below London prices. The monthly transit pass costs £50 to £90 depending on commute distance and is often reimbursed by employers. National Health Insurance (NHI) contributions are roughly 8 to 10% of income, covering 70% of medical costs. A supplemental private insurance plan is recommended to cover the remaining 30%, particularly for families with children.

Internet, phone and digital life in Japan

Japan has outstanding digital infrastructure, with a few quirks that expats should know about before arriving.

Fixed internet

Fibre optic broadband (FTTH) is widely available across Japan. The main providers are NTT Flet's, au Hikari, and SoftBank Hikari. Expect around 4,000 to 5,000 ¥ per month (roughly £22 to £28) for gigabit speeds. Installation takes 2 to 4 weeks and may require your landlord's approval.

Mobile phone

The three major carriers (NTT Docomo, au (KDDI), SoftBank) offer full contract plans at 5,000 to 8,000 ¥ per month. Budget MVNOs such as IIJmio, Rakuten Mobile, and Y!mobile provide unlimited data plans from 2,000 to 3,000 ¥ per month and are the go-to option for most expats. In your first few weeks before getting a Residence Card, a prepaid eSIM or Sakura Mobile is the simplest solution.

Banking and payments

Opening a Japanese bank account can be tricky in the first few months. Japan Post Bank (Yucho Ginko) is the most accessible option for foreigners and can be opened as soon as you have your Residence Card. Shinsei Bank offers an English-language interface, an international debit card, and a streamlined opening process. SMBC Prestia is a multi-currency bank with English-language services, well suited to expats with international financial needs. Wise and Revolut are strongly recommended for GBP/JPY transfers, offering significantly better rates than UK high-street banks.

Worth knowing: Japan remains very much a cash society. Many local restaurants, smaller shops, and vending machines do not accept card payments. Always carry some yen in your wallet.

The UK-Japan Tax Treaty

The United Kingdom and Japan have a comprehensive double taxation convention. Unlike US citizens, British citizens are not taxed by the UK on their worldwide income once they become non-UK tax residents. This makes the tax situation for British expats in Japan considerably more straightforward than for their American counterparts, provided you properly establish non-UK tax residency before or upon departure.

UK tax residency: the Statutory Residence Test

Whether you remain a UK tax resident after moving to Japan is determined by the Statutory Residence Test (SRT). If you spend fewer than 16 days in the UK in a tax year (or fewer than 46 days if you were not UK resident in any of the previous three years), you will generally be non-UK resident. You should notify HMRC of your departure by completing form P85. Cutting sufficient ties with the UK (property, family, employment) is important to establish clean non-residency. Consult a tax adviser if your situation is complex.

Income tax in Japan

The Japanese tax system is progressive. National income tax ranges from 5% to 45% depending on the bracket, plus a reconstruction surtax of 2.1% through 2037. Local tax (jumin-zei) is a flat rate of approximately 10% of income. For a salary of 5 million yen (roughly £27,000), expect a combined effective tax rate of around 20 to 25%. This compares favourably with higher-rate UK income tax plus National Insurance contributions.

Tax residency status in Japan

If you have been in Japan for less than one year, you are a non-resident and taxed only on Japanese-source income at 20.42%. From 1 to 5 years, you are a non-permanent resident and taxed on Japanese income plus foreign income remitted to Japan. After 5 years, you are a permanent tax resident and taxed on your worldwide income, just like a Japanese national.

Social security: UK-Japan Agreement

The UK and Japan signed a bilateral social security agreement that came into force in 2001. This agreement avoids double contributions and allows contribution periods from both countries to be combined for pension eligibility.

On a secondment from a UK employer (up to 5 years), you remain in the UK National Insurance system and are exempt from Japanese pension contributions. Your employer must obtain a Certificate of Continuing Liability from HMRC.

On a local contract, you contribute to the Japanese system (NHI and nenkin). These contribution periods count toward your UK State Pension entitlement under the totalization rules.

UK State Pension can be received abroad without interruption, but it will be frozen at the rate applicable when you leave the UK, as Japan is not on the list of countries where the State Pension is uprated annually. This is an important financial planning consideration for long-term expats.

Voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions (currently £3.45 per week) are available to British expats working abroad and are strongly recommended if you have gaps in your NI record. Each qualifying year counts toward your State Pension.

Practical advice: even though British expat taxation is simpler than US taxation, establishing clean UK non-residency and planning your pension strategy are both worth doing properly. Consult a tax adviser familiar with the UK-Japan treaty before you leave.