All destinations
Destination · Asia
Move to Tokyo, Japan. The routes, mapped.
13 visa routes into Japan, each with its real required-document list — pulled live from the Nomad knowledge graph. Start a plan and we sequence the right one for your situation.
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Asia
- Visa routes
- 13
- Coverage
- Flagship
From the US
US → Japan. The money facts.
Treaty coverage, double-tax exposure, and what setup actually costs, so you know the financial shape of the move before you commit.
- US tax treaty
- Yes
- Totalization
- Yes
- Double-tax risk
- Low
- Setup cost
- $10,000 to $40,000
Visa routes
How you can legally move to Japan.
Highly Skilled Professional (HSP)
5 years$4,400/mo~4 wks processingRenewableFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- HSP Points Calculation Sheet
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- Employment Contract Japanese Employer
- University Degree Certificate
- Professional Resume CV
- Annual Income Certificate
- +2 more
Business Manager
1 year$3,500/mo~8 wks processingRenewableFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- Business Plan Japan
- Company Registration Japan
- Articles Of Incorporation Japan
- Office Lease Agreement Japan
- Bank Statement Capital Deposit Japan
- +2 more
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (ESHIS)
1 year$2,200/mo~6 wks processingRenewableFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- Employment Contract Japanese Employer
- University Degree Certificate
- Professional Resume CV
- Annual Income Certificate
- Company Registration Japan
- +1 more
Long-Term Resident (Teiju-sha)
1 year~8 wks processingRenewableRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- Family Register Koseki Ancestral
- Birth Certificate Apostilled
- Relationship Documentation Nikkei
- Photo Japan Visa Spec
Specified Skilled Worker (SSW / Tokutei Ginō)
1 year~6 wks processingRenewable
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- Employment Contract Japanese Employer
- SSW Skills Test Certificate
- JLPT Or JFT Basic Certificate
- Annual Income Certificate
- Photo Japan Visa Spec
Spouse or Child of Japanese National / Permanent Resident
1 year~6 wks processingRenewableRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- Marriage Certificate Apostilled
- Family Register Koseki
- Marriage Reception Notification Kon In Todoke
- Spouse Income Certificate Japan
- Spouse Tax Certificate Japan
- +2 more
Student Visa (Ryugaku)
6 months~6 wks processingRenewableFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- School Acceptance Letter Japan
- School Enrollment Certificate Japan
- Tuition Payment Receipt
- Financial Sponsor Letter
- Financial Sponsor Tax Certificate
- +4 more
Working Holiday Visa
1 year~4 wks processingRemote work
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Working Holiday Application Form
- Working Holiday Reason Statement
- Working Holiday Schedule Plan
- Bank Statement Savings Proof
- Return Flight Ticket Or Funds
- Photo Japan Visa Spec
- +1 more
Designated Activities (Tokutei Katsudo)
6 months~8 wks processing
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Certificate Of Eligibility
- Application Form Designated Activities
- Sub Category Specific Documentation
- Photo Japan Visa Spec
Digital Nomad Visa (Designated Activities No. 53)
6 months$5,400/mo~4 wks processingRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Annual Income Certificate
- Employment Contract Foreign Employer
- Private Health Insurance Japan 10M
- Photo Japan Visa Spec
- Application Form Designated Activities
Naturalisation (Kika)
VariesRemote work
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Naturalisation Application Kikasho
- Reason For Naturalisation Riyusho
- Family Register Koseki
- Family Register Ancestors
- Birth Certificate Apostilled
- Marriage Certificate Apostilled
- +9 more
Permanent Residence (Eijuken)
VariesRemote workFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- PR Application Form
- Tax Certificate Past 5 Years Japan
- Pension Payment Record Nenkin
- Resident Certificate Juminhyo
- Family Register Koseki
- Employment Certificate Zaishoku
- +4 more
Tourist Visa (Temporary Visitor / Tanki Taizai)
VariesFamily ok
Documents required
- US Passport (6-Month Validity)
- Return Flight Ticket Or Funds
- Proof Of Accommodation Japan
- Proof Of Sufficient Funds
Which route is right for you?
Answer 3 questions and Nomad picks the best-fit visa for your work, timeline, and family, then builds the full document checklist and a 90-day plan to Tokyo, Japan.
Build my move plan