Moving to Japan from the UK
British citizens need a Japanese work status suited to their role, usually with a Certificate of Eligibility before applying for a long-term visa. The UK State Pension is frozen in Japan.
By Flight Risk Capital. Last updated: .
How can a British citizen live and work in Japan?
The Highly Skilled Professional route uses a 70-point threshold and grants a 5-year stay, with an annual salary of at least JPY 3 million for its technical and business categories, under Immigration Services Agency guidance dated April 2026.
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services is a work status for qualifying technical and office roles.
Intra-company Transferee covers staff sent from an overseas business office to an office in Japan for a limited period.
Business Manager is a separate work status for company managers.
For most long-term visas, get a Certificate of Eligibility before submitting the visa application. A residence card is issued on arrival. Source: GOV.UK’s Living in Japan guidance, 20 February 2026.
Does this guide calculate take-home pay?
This guide has no take-home calculation yet.
What are the Japanese income tax bands?
The National Tax Agency’s income tax schedule, under the law as at 1 April 2026, gives seven national bands on annual taxable income: 5% up to JPY 1,949,000; 10% up to JPY 3,299,000; 20% up to JPY 6,949,000; 23% up to JPY 8,999,000; 33% up to JPY 17,999,000; 40% up to JPY 39,999,000; 45% from JPY 40,000,000.
The NTA table pairs each band with a deduction for its quick-calculation method. Applying the band rate to all income without that deduction would overstate the tax.
The same NTA page gives a special reconstruction income tax of 2.1% of base national income tax. It is a percentage of the tax, not an extra 2.1% of salary.
The OECD’s Japan 2025 description gives local inhabitant tax at 10% of taxable income, based on the previous year’s income, plus a per-person levy. That description is for 2025 and is separate from the national bands above.
What social contributions do employees pay?
The OECD’s Japan 2025 description gives an employee pension contribution of 9.15%, with a monthly pay ceiling of JPY 650,000 and a bonus ceiling of JPY 1.5 million.
It gives the employee health insurance share in Tokyo as 5%, with a monthly pay ceiling of JPY 1,390,000, and unemployment insurance as 0.6%. These are dated 2025 figures, not confirmed 2026 payroll rates.
Will my UK State Pension rise in Japan?
No. The UK State Pension is frozen in Japan: it stays at the rate when you left the UK or first claimed. See DWP’s country list (9 June 2014) and the frozen State Pension guide.
See the Budget tracker for announcements and effective dates.
Does the UK have a double taxation agreement with Japan?
Yes. The 2006 UK-Japan Double Taxation Convention, amended by the 2013 protocol, is in force. See GOV.UK’s Japan treaty documents, dated 13 November 2018.
How does healthcare work in Japan?
Japan has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. If your visa is valid for more than 90 days, you must enrol in National Health Insurance or Employee Health Insurance. Source: GOV.UK’s Living in Japan guidance, 20 February 2026.
Getting residence
Choose a residence status that permits the planned job, study or family stay. Most long-term visa applications need a Certificate of Eligibility first. The Immigration Services Agency handles residence procedures and extensions.
FCDO, Living in Japan. Source date: . Checked .
Healthcare
A resident with a visa valid for more than 90 days must join National Health Insurance or Employee Health Insurance. Japan has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Check enrolment with the employer or local authority.
FCDO, Living in Japan. Source date: . Checked .
Schools
Foreign children who wish to attend public elementary or junior high school are accepted without tuition charges. Apply through the local board of education. Ask about Japanese language support and costs for meals or materials.
MEXT, guide for foreign students to start school. Source date: . Checked .
Banking and money
Ask the employer whether it uses a particular bank for salary payments. Tokyo’s official guide lists a residence card, or passport and address evidence, plus a seal or signature for opening an account. Confirm the bank’s own requirements before visiting.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, banking FAQ. Source undated. Checked .
Check the customs declaration when bringing cash and other means of payment into Japan. Japan Customs requires a separate declaration above JPY 1 million, including the foreign-currency equivalent; the rule also covers specified payment instruments.
Japan Customs, passenger clearance. Source undated. Checked .
The currency is the Japanese yen (JPY).
European Central Bank, currency reference table. Source date: . Checked .
Cost of living
Average consumer prices rose 3.2% in 2025 compared with 2024. Food prices rose 6.8%. These national changes do not give a Tokyo living budget or compare Japanese costs with UK prices.
Statistics Bureau of Japan, annual CPI 2025. Source date: . Checked .
Driving
A valid UK licence can be converted to a Japanese licence without a driving test. GOV.UK advises getting a Japanese licence for stays longer than 12 months. Check the documents and translation with the licensing centre before applying.
FCDO, Living in Japan. Source date: . Checked .
UK pensions
The UK State Pension is frozen in Japan.Frozen State Pension guide.
DWP, State Pension annual increases country list. Source date: . Checked .
See the Moving abroad checklist for UK reporting and residence checks, school questions and bank account checks.
What else do readers ask?
Can a British citizen live in Japan?
Choose a residence status that permits the planned job, study or family stay. Most long-term visa applications need a Certificate of Eligibility first. The Immigration Services Agency handles residence procedures and extensions.
How do residents get healthcare in Japan?
A resident with a visa valid for more than 90 days must join National Health Insurance or Employee Health Insurance. Japan has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Check enrolment with the employer or local authority.
Can I exchange a UK driving licence in Japan?
A valid UK licence can be converted to a Japanese licence without a driving test. GOV.UK advises getting a Japanese licence for stays longer than 12 months. Check the documents and translation with the licensing centre before applying.
Is the UK State Pension frozen in Japan?
The UK State Pension is frozen in Japan.
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Highly-Skilled Professionals FAQ, .
- JETRO: Types of working statuses, .
- GOV.UK: Living in Japan (healthcare), .
- National Tax Agency (Japan): No. 2260 Income tax rates (Japanese), .
- OECD: Tax and benefit policy descriptions for Japan 2025, .
- GOV.UK: Countries where we pay an annual increase in the State Pension, .
- GOV.UK: Tax treaties collection, .