Moving to Japan in 2026

Moving to Japan: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

Russian citizens need a visa to enter Japan. For a long stay your employer, school or representative first obtains a certificate of eligibility from the immigration agency, and the consulate issues the visa on it. You must enter within 3 months of the certificate's date of issue. The resident card is handed out at the border at the major airports: Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu and others.

1. Before the trip. The certificate of eligibility, the visa, housing for the first weeks, and translated marriage and birth certificates.
2. Days 1-14. Register your address at the municipal office within 14 days of moving in, get your personal number, and join national health insurance and the pension system if you are not covered through an employer.
3. Days 14-30. Bank account, local phone and a long-term lease, which usually needs a local address, a phone number and often a guarantor company.
4. Later. Renew your status in good time, before the date on your resident card.

Outside central Tokyo, and in Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo, rent is noticeably lower. Look early for flats whose owners rent to foreigners: some landlords require a guarantor or a Japanese phone number. The rate is about 158 yen to the dollar in 2026. We work out a family budget in the chat, and you can compare with other countries in our guide on where to move from Russia in 2026.

Japan at a glance

Japan is an island nation in East Asia with about 124 million residents and the world's fourth-largest economy. The capital is Tokyo, and other major centres are Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo. The language is Japanese, and outside international companies and tourist areas English is weak. The currency is the yen, about 158 yen per dollar on 6 October 2026.

The economy rests on car manufacturing, electronics, robotics, finance and tourism. Japan is known for safety, cleanliness, punctual transport and quality healthcare, and its ageing population is gradually opening the country to foreign professionals.

Who the move suits

• professionals with a contract from a Japanese company, especially in IT, engineering and finance;
• highly skilled professionals who score points for education, experience and salary;
• start-up founders with municipal support;
• remote workers earning from 10 million yen a year from countries eligible for the nomad visa;
• families who value safety and strong schools.

It is harder for those not ready to learn Japanese: the language is needed for daily life, government offices and many jobs.

Entry rules and visas

Russian citizens need a visa to travel to Japan, obtained in advance through the visa centre in Moscow, and the e-visa is not available to residents of Russia. For long-term living, an employer, school or partner first obtains a certificate of eligibility for you from the immigration service, a visa is issued on that basis, and a residence card is given at the airport.

Residence options

• Employment - a status tied to a position in a Japanese company.
• Highly skilled professional - a points system: with 70 points permanent residence is possible after 3 years, with 80 after one year.
• The start-up visa - up to 2 years to prepare a business, then a switch to the business manager visa: since 16 October 2025 capital from 30 million yen, about $190,000, and Japanese language skills for you or an employee.
• The digital nomad visa - 6 months without renewal, income from 10 million yen a year, about $63,300, and insurance of 10 million yen; available to citizens of 49 countries with visa-free travel and a tax treaty with Japan, and Russia is not on the list.
• Study and family - separate statuses.

Permanent residence is generally granted after 10 years. For citizenship the law asks for 5 years of residence, but since 1 April 2026 the Ministry of Justice in principle expects 10, and the previous citizenship is given up, as Japan does not allow dual citizenship. We choose the status and prepare the documents for the certificate.

Taxes

National income tax runs from 5% to 45%, plus 10% local inhabitant tax and 2.1% reconstruction tax after the 2011 earthquake, so the top rate is about 55.9%. On an ordinary salary the biggest deduction is social insurance, about 14.7%. Consumption tax is 10%, 8% on food, and corporate tax is 23.2%, 15% for small businesses on the first 8 million yen. You can become a resident from day one if your centre of life is in Japan, and non-residents pay 20.42% on Japanese income. More in taxes in Japan.

Cost of living in Tokyo

After the yen weakened, Japan has become noticeably more affordable for people earning in dollars or euros than ten years ago. Rent in Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo is lower than in Tokyo. On moving in, tenants often pay a deposit and a one-off gift to the landlord, together up to several months' rent.

Property for foreigners

There are no nationality restrictions: a foreigner buys a flat, house or land on the same terms as a Japanese citizen, even without residence. A purchase carries acquisition tax and a registration fee, and owners pay an annual fixed asset tax of about 1.4% of the assessed value plus city planning tax. Buying does not grant residence. We find the property and close the deal.

Companies, banks, daily life

A company can be registered even without residence, but the business manager visa requires capital, an office and a business plan. Banks open an account once you have a residence card and a local address. Healthcare runs through national insurance, with patients paying 30% of the cost. Earthquakes are part of life: buildings follow strict codes and people know evacuation rules. We help with company registration, a business account and a personal account.