Moving to Japan: before arrival through year one
New residents who need an ordered setup plan without assuming one municipality or immigration status.
- 1
Before arrival · 4–8 weeks before travel
Build a document and payment bridge
Keep originals plus secure copies, arrange temporary payment access, and list every account that will need a Japanese address or phone number.
Authority: Immigration Services Agency (entry documents); each provider for account requirements
Documents to prepare
- Passport and visa/eligibility documents
- Employment or school letter
- Civil-status records when dependants accompany you
Exceptions and checks
- Do not cancel a working overseas payment method until Japanese banking is usable.
- Translations or authentication may be requested case by case.
- 2
First week · Within 14 days after fixing your address
Register your address
Take your residence card to the responsible municipal counter and obtain a residence record if needed for later applications.
Authority: City, ward, town, or village office; Immigration Services Agency
Documents to prepare
- Passport
- Residence card (if issued)
- Proof of Japanese address
Exceptions and checks
- The 14-day clock relates to establishing an address; airport card-issuance and later-delivery cases differ.
- Ask the municipality about household registration for accompanying family.
- 3
First week · At address registration or immediately afterward
Confirm health insurance and pension enrollment
Confirm whether an employer enrolls you in employee schemes; otherwise ask the municipality about National Health Insurance and Japan Pension Service procedures.
Authority: Employer/health-insurance society, municipality, and Japan Pension Service
Documents to prepare
- Residence card
- My Number document when available
- Employer enrollment or loss-of-coverage certificate when applicable
Exceptions and checks
- Short stays, diplomatic status, employer-managed enrollment, and household arrangements can change the procedure.
- 4
First week · As soon as registration documents are available
Connect utilities and essential communications
Record meter readings and contract holder names; choose a payment method that still works before direct debit is active.
Authority: Landlord/management company and each electricity, gas, water, and telecom provider
Documents to prepare
- Lease or handover sheet
- Address and contact details
- Payment method
Exceptions and checks
- Water is often municipal; gas opening may require attendance; provider availability varies by building and area.
- 5
First month · After address and phone setup
Open a transaction account
Compare identity, residence-period, language, cash-access, transfer, and employer payroll requirements; do not assume every provider accepts the same documents.
Authority: Chosen licensed bank; Financial Services Agency for provider registration
Documents to prepare
- Residence card
- Japanese address and phone
- My Number for regulated transactions when requested
- Employment or student proof if requested
Exceptions and checks
- Provider screening and minimum-residence practices differ; rejection by one bank does not establish universal ineligibility.
- 6
First month · Before the first salary and overseas transfer
Set payroll, bills, and a verified transfer route
Test a small transfer, compare the total yen delivered rather than the headline fee, and retain receipts and source-of-funds records.
Authority: Employer, bank, and FSA-registered bank or funds-transfer provider
Documents to prepare
- Payroll form
- Account details
- Identity/My Number and source-of-funds evidence when requested
Exceptions and checks
- Limits, corridors, intermediary fees, and compliance checks vary; a quote is time-specific.
- 7
First year · With each payslip and by year end
Audit payroll, tax, insurance, and pension records
Match payslips to deposits and keep withholding and pension records. Confirm whether year-end adjustment completes your filing obligations.
Authority: Employer, National Tax Agency, municipality, and Japan Pension Service
Documents to prepare
- Payslips
- Withholding slip (源泉徴収票)
- Insurance and pension notices
- Receipts relevant to deductions
Exceptions and checks
- Side work, multiple employers, overseas income/assets, or deductible events can require a return despite year-end adjustment.
- 8
First year · Only after cash reserves and tax status are clear
Assess NISA and brokerage eligibility
Treat NISA as an account wrapper, not an investment recommendation. Check Japanese residence eligibility, provider onboarding, departure policy, fees, and cross-border reporting before funding.
Authority: Financial Services Agency and chosen brokerage
Documents to prepare
- My Number
- Residence and bank-account details
- Provider identity documents
Exceptions and checks
- Citizenship or another country’s tax rules may create reporting or product restrictions; no treaty conclusion is made here.
- 9
Second year · Budget before June; check the notice when issued
Prepare for prior-year resident tax
Resident tax generally follows prior-year income and the January 1 municipality. Compare the assessment notice with your prior-year records and confirm payroll withholding or payment slips.
Authority: Municipality responsible on January 1; employer for special collection
Documents to prepare
- Resident-tax assessment notice
- Prior-year withholding slip/return
- Payslips and deduction evidence
Exceptions and checks
- Amount and installments vary by income, deductions, municipality, and collection method; low first-year billing does not predict year two.
Time horizons and review
An ordered checklist that links to canonical guides rather than repeating them.
- Do first
- Do next
- Review after circumstances change
Local variation: Municipal forms, appointment systems, accepted translations, fees, and deadlines can vary. Confirm with the city, ward, or town responsible for your address before acting.
Reviewed: 2026-07-30 · Review by: 2027-01-30
When to get professional help
- Ask the responsible counter or provider when a document is rejected or a deadline was missed.
- Use a licensed tax accountant for uncertain residence status, overseas income/assets, or a final return.
- Use an immigration professional for residence-status or work-permission questions; this roadmap does not decide visa eligibility.