I moved to Japan within the waning days of 2020, however had contemplated calling the nation dwelling (and, importantly, researched the methods I’d make that occur) for years earlier than that. Actuality was by no means what I imagined—and never simply because I entered the nation throughout a pandemic.
I now not dwell in Japan, in fact, which isn’t unsurprising; it’s virtually 2026 as I write this, in spite of everything. Nevertheless, I didn’t keep in Japan for practically so long as I assumed I’d. And albeit, I didn’t benefit from the time I lived there all that a lot, despite how a lot I’ve all the time liked being in Japan as a vacationer.
Now, I’m not hear to dissuade you in the event you’ve already decided. I’m pleased to let you know how one can transfer to Japan! However I will probably be sharing my sincere impressions as I’m going.
Why I Assume Japan is a Higher Place to Go to Than to Stay
I began occupied with dwelling in Japan again after I launched this web site in 2018. I knew how (and why) I needed to do it, too. Specifically, that to be able to increase my content material and discover Japan as a lot as I needed to, I’d must dramatically improve my data of the Japanese language. The one approach to do that, I quickly accepted, can be to check Japanese in Japan. I quickly began researching my choices for doing so.
The excellent news? Covid-related difficulties however, the near-year I ultimately spent dwelling in Kyoto did enhance my Japanese expertise. The dangerous information? Though I made quite a lot of pals dwelling in Japan, and admire how a lot simpler it was to discover the nation, I discovered that quite a lot of omotenashi disappears if folks know you’re staying for a very long time. Moreover, I’ve come to imagine that being in Japan as a vacationer makes me sharper and extra conscious of issues.
Steps to Take Earlier than Transferring to Japan
Resolve why you need to dwell in Japan
Not like sure different international locations, the place you’ll be able to simply flip up, you really want a selected purpose to dwell in Japan. That is true not simply because the price of dwelling in Japan is inhospitable to “figuring issues out,” however for particular sensible causes.:You normally can’t hire a correct house or different lodging in Japan with out having a residence (zairyu) card.
Discover a job (or faculty)
The subject of how one can get a job in Japan most likely deserves its personal submit. Nonetheless, whether or not you intend to check or work, you will have to discover a job or a faculty, which you’ll be able to usually both do by yourself (making use of with particular person corporations or colleges) or with an company such GaijinPot or Go! Go! Nihon.
Be affected person with the visa course of
My visa took a bit longer than common because of covid-related days. Nonetheless, regardless of if you expatriate your self to Japan, you’ll not solely want to finish the prolonged visa utility course of, but in addition anticipate a certificates of eligibility (C.O.E.) to reach within the mail, so as to apply to your precise visa (which may take one other couple of weeks to obtain).
(And the paperwork that awaits you)
Deciding the place to dwell in Japan, to make certain, is simply the half the battle (and spoiler alert, the reply is normally “in or round Tokyo,” notably for job seekers). The actual warfare is the fixed paperwork that you must fill out and keep in Japan, whether or not when renting your house, getting medical insurance or renewing your visa in the event you keep a number of years.
Give it time, however not an excessive amount of time
I knew rapidly that dwelling in Japan was not my cup of tea—and never simply due to covid-era hysteria about carrying masks outdoors, or the futile limits my faculty made to placed on my weekend journey. At the same time as an clearly new resident, I discovered that Japanese folks have been a lot much less welcoming of me and forgiving of my “flaws” than they’d been after I was a vacationer.
Can You Stay in Japan as a Digital Nomad?
Again after I first moved to Japan, it was successfully not possible to enter Japan for any purpose, whatever the visa. Nevertheless, as its ill-advised covid-era border closures expired, the Japanese authorities quickly realized it could must increase choices for migration to the nation even additional order if it needed to recoup losses from greater than two years with the drawbridges up.
The consequence? An alternative choice for shifting to Japan—specifically, a digital nomad visa. Now, since that is Japan, there are some fairly huge caveats. First, you’ll be able to keep for a most of six months, which isn’t actually the identical as being a long-term expat. The truth is, for a lot of vacationers, it’s solely twice so long as the traditional visa-free entry. Secondly, that you must show revenue of not less than ¥10,000,000 per 12 months, which is way greater than most different international locations require for related visas.
Different FAQ About Residing in and Transferring to Japan
Can US residents transfer to Japan?
US residents can transfer to Japan for quite a lot of causes, whether or not to check the Japanese language or at a Japanese college, to work and even to dwell briefly as a digital nomad. Word that that is separate from entry and residence schemes for US navy members, that are organized solely on the US facet.
How troublesome is it to maneuver to Japan?
Transferring to Japan is usually a cumbersome course of, requiring months and even years of lead time. Specifically, it could possibly take a very long time to undergo the visa course of, in addition to to coordinate entry in keeping with the start of faculty phrases or employment contract. For many who are keen to leap via a couple of hoops, nonetheless, shifting to Japan is a reasonably simple (if typically tedious) affair.
Can I transfer to Japan with out a job?
Should you plan to reside in Japan on the premise of working for a Japanese firm, it isn’t advisable to maneuver to the nation with out a job. Even in the event you do discover a job in Japan whereas visiting as a foreigner, you’ll usually want to depart (in some circumstances again to your property nation; in others, to a overseas nation the place you maintain residence) to be able to full the immigration course of.
The Backside Line
Inquisitive about how one can transfer to Japan? I belief you’ve discovered your solutions right here. Transferring to Japan is fairly easy, presuming you don’t undertake the method when the nation’s borders are closed like I did. Whether or not as a scholar, an worker or a digital nomad, Japan’s notorious status as being anti-immigration doesn’t actually line up with actuality when you have a official purpose to immigrate there—effectively, not less than not so far as authorized processes are involved. Nonetheless, for causes I’ve simply defined, I a lot favor visiting Japan a vacationer, versus dwelling there. Need to leverage my experiences and insights as you plot your personal course? Fee a customized Japan itinerary at present!