Japan

Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides

Key Facts

Basics

Currency

JPY

Region

East Asia

Local time

UTC+9

Asia/Tokyo

Economy

Population

123.98M

GDP (current US$)

$4.03T

GDP per capita

$32,487

Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06

Tax snapshot

Corporate tax

26.52%

Consumption Tax

10%

Top individual income tax

45.945%

+10% local

Capital-gains tax

15.315%

+5% local

Gains on listed shares and other financial assets: 15.315% national (15% + reconstruction surtax) + 5% local inhabitant tax, 20.315% in total. Corporate 26.52% = 23.2% + local corporate tax at 10.3% of the corporation tax (a national tax) + the 4% defence special corporation tax (fiscal years from April 2026); prefectural and municipal inhabitant and enterprise taxes come on top — about 31.52% combined effective for large companies (PwC). Income 45% + resident tax 10% + reconstruction surtax 0.945%.
The 10% is 7.8% national consumption tax plus 2.2% local consumption tax, at one nationwide rate. Takeaway food and groceries (excluding alcohol) are taxed at 8%.

Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16

Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.

At a glance

Suits people who value safety, public transport and long-term stability; the main paths are employer sponsorship, study-to-work and the Highly Skilled Professional track.

Best for

Students, employer-sponsored professionals, and highly-skilled specialists who can invest in learning Japanese.

Who this may not suit

People who need an English-only working environment, or flexible short-term housing — most rentals expect a guarantor, key money and a long commitment.

Main routes in

Employer sponsorship (work status) A job offer is most common; the employer files the Certificate of Eligibility. Student → work Enter as a student, then change to a work status after graduation. Highly Skilled Professional → PR Points-based HSP can fast-track permanent residence (as little as 1–3 years).

Key trade-offs

Japanese-language ability is decisive for jobs, housing and services outside a few global firms.
Initial housing costs are high (deposit, key money, guarantor).
The digital-nomad route is short (up to 6 months) and not a residence path.

First steps

1 Secure a job offer or university admission — almost every long-term status starts with one.
2 Have the sponsor file the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) before you apply for the visa.
3 Budget for move-in costs (deposit + key money + guarantor service).
4 After arrival, register your address at the city office and enrol in National Health Insurance.

What changes often

· Highly Skilled Professional points table and thresholds
· Specified Skilled Worker sector list and exams
· Naturalisation and residence-history requirements

PR and HSP points criteria have tightened (2026) — confirm current rules on the Immigration Services Agency (ISA). Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) ↗