The type of visa you need depends on your purpose for moving. For work, you’ll need a work visa, which requires sponsorship from a Japanese company or an international company with a branch in Japan. Or you can start your own business with a start-up visa or business manager visa. For studying, you’ll need a student visa. Your school will help you with the application process. A working holiday visa is great for young travellers (due to the age limit) who want to have taste of life in Japan for up to a year.

Japan has a great healthcare system, and enrolling in health insurance is mandatory for all residents. The National Health Insurance (NHI) covers 70% of medical costs, leaving you to pay 30%. To apply, you have to visit your local city hall after registering your address within 14 days after your arrival. You receive a pay slip every month (approximately €12 USD a month for people on a Working Holiday visa, student visa or low-income workers), which you can hand in and pay for at any convenience store.

Japan as agreements with a selection of countries around the world to allow young travellers from 18 to 31 years old to stay in the country for up to a year (or since recently even two years for some countries). During this year, you are allowed to have a part-time job to sustain yourself during your stay. However, the main purpose of a Working Holiday is to travel. Read more about the Working Holiday visa in my blog.

You are allowed to be on a student visa for a maximum of two years if you study at a language school. If you follow a study at a university, you are allowed to have a student visa for four years maximum. If you spent two years on a student visa at a Japanese language school and you want to stay longer, you either have to switch to another visa or start studying at a university.