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.
United States to 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.
How you can legally move to Japan
13 visa routes into Japan, every route the knowledge graph maps, unranked. The numbers that decide the route: income floor, timeline, filing costs, and who comes with you.
| Route | Income floor | Timeline | Costs | Family & work | About & documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) | $4,400/mo | 5 years~4 wks processing 路 Renewable | Varies | Family ok | A points-based work visa for highly skilled foreign professionals in Japan, offering a fast-track path to permanent residency in as little as one year. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Business Manager | $3,500/mo | 1 year~8 wks processing 路 Renewable | Varies | Family ok | A residence visa for foreign entrepreneurs and executives who establish or manage a registered Japanese business with a physical office and 5 million yen in capital or two full-time local employees. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (ESHIS) | $2,200/mo | 1 year~6 wks processing 路 Renewable | Varies | Family ok | Japan's primary work visa for skilled white-collar professionals including engineers, IT workers, designers, and translators sponsored by a local employer. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Specified Skilled Worker (SSW / Tokutei Gin艒) | Varies | 1 year~6 wks processing 路 Renewable | Varies | A work visa for mid-skill foreign workers in one of 14 designated industries in Japan, requiring a skills test and Japanese language test, with no dependent rights at Type 1 level. Documents: 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 Official source | |
| Student Visa (Ryugaku) | Varies | 6 months~6 wks processing 路 Renewable | Varies | Family ok | A student residence permit for foreign nationals enrolled at recognised Japanese universities, vocational schools, or language schools, allowing part-time work up to 28 hours per week. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Working Holiday Visa | Varies | 1 year~4 wks processing | Varies | Remote work ok | A one-time, 12-month visa for young adults aged 18 to 30 from partner countries to live, travel, and work freely in Japan for cultural exchange. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Designated Activities (Tokutei Katsudo) | Varies | 6 months~8 wks processing | Varies | A flexible catch-all Japanese residence category covering 56+ sub-categories for activities that do not fit standard visa types, from digital nomads to post-graduation job seekers. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Certificate Of Eligibility, Application Form Designated Activities, Sub Category Specific Documentation, Photo Japan Visa Spec Official source | |
| Digital Nomad Visa (Designated Activities No. 53) | $5,400/mo | 6 months~4 wks processing | Varies | Remote work ok, Family ok | A 6-month, non-renewable stay permit for high-earning remote workers from 49 eligible countries to live and work remotely in Japan for a foreign employer. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Tourist Visa (Temporary Visitor / Tanki Taizai) | Varies | Varies | Varies | Family ok | A short-term tourist entry permit for Japan, granting up to 90 days for tourism, family visits, or business meetings, with no work permitted. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Return Flight Ticket Or Funds, Proof Of Accommodation Japan, Proof Of Sufficient Funds Official source |
| Long-Term Resident (Teiju-sha) | Varies | 1 year~8 wks processing 路 Renewable | Varies | Remote work ok, Family ok | A family-history and humanitarian residence status for Japan granting unrestricted work rights, primarily to Japanese-descended foreigners up to the third generation, and renewable indefinitely. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Certificate Of Eligibility, Family Register Koseki Ancestral, Birth Certificate Apostilled, Relationship Documentation Nikkei, Photo Japan Visa Spec Official source |
| Spouse or Child of Japanese National / Permanent Resident | Varies | 1 year~6 wks processing 路 Renewable | Varies | Remote work ok, Family ok | A residence permit for foreign spouses and children of Japanese nationals or permanent residents, granting unrestricted work rights and a pathway to permanent residence. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Naturalisation (Kika) | Varies | Varies | Varies | Remote work ok | A citizenship route for foreign nationals who have lived in Japan for at least 5 years, requiring renunciation of prior nationality and conversational Japanese ability. Documents: 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 Official source |
| Permanent Residence (Eijuken) | Varies | Varies | Varies | Remote work ok, Family ok | Japan's highest-tier foreign residence status, granting indefinite stay and unrestricted work rights after 10 years of continuous residence, with fast-track options for skilled professionals and spouses. Documents: 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 Official source |
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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.
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