Before Moving to Japan: Pre-Arrival Preparation Checklist

Secure your visa

If your employer is sponsoring you, they'll apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from Immigration in Japan. This takes 1-3 months. Once approved, take the COE to a Japanese embassy/consulate in your country to get the visa stamped in your passport. Start this process as early as possible.

Gather and authenticate important documents

• ☐ Degree certificate — original. Some visa types require this. Get an apostille if your country is part of the Hague Convention.
• ☐ Birth certificate — useful for various registrations
• ☐ Marriage certificate — required for spouse visa, dependent registration
• ☐ Police clearance / criminal record check — required for some visa types
• ☐ Medical records — especially ongoing prescriptions. Get English translations.
• ☐ Passport photos — bring 10+ (4cm × 3cm, white background). Used for ward office, My Number Card, bank accounts.

Apostille and authentication can take 2-4 weeks. Don't leave this to the last minute.

Research housing

If your company doesn't provide housing, start researching neighborhoods and rental options. Consider temporary housing (Airbnb, serviced apartments, share houses) for your first 1-2 weeks while you search. You generally can't sign a lease from abroad.

Start learning basic Japanese

Even learning hiragana/katakana and basic phrases before arrival makes a huge difference. See our Japanese learning guide for resources you can start using today.

Handle finances at home

• ☐ Notify your bank you're moving abroad (prevent fraud blocks on overseas transactions)
• ☐ Set up online banking and ensure you can access it from Japan
• ☐ Consider keeping one home-country bank account open for recurring payments
• ☐ Sign up for Wise (multi-currency account) — useful for transferring money to Japan later
• ☐ Check if your credit cards work internationally and their foreign transaction fees

Cancel or transfer home-country services

• ☐ Phone plan — cancel or switch to an international/pause plan
• ☐ Utilities — schedule disconnection for your move-out date
• ☐ Subscriptions — cancel or check if they work in Japan (Netflix, Spotify vary by region)
• ☐ Insurance — cancel or convert to international coverage
• ☐ Mail forwarding — set up with your postal service
• ☐ Lease — give proper notice to your landlord

Shipping belongings

• Sea freight (船便): 4-8 weeks, cheapest. Best for books, winter clothes, non-urgent items.
• Air freight (航空便): 1-2 weeks, more expensive. For items you need soon after arrival.
• Checked luggage: Most airlines allow 2 bags of 23kg. Pack essentials here.
• Don't ship: Perishable food, plants, controlled substances, large furniture (won't fit Japanese apartments).

Get an International Driving Permit (IDP)

If you plan to drive in Japan, get an IDP from your home country before departure. It's valid for 1 year. You cannot obtain one from within Japan. See our driver's license guide for details.

Prepare your arrival documents

Set up your phone for Japan

• ☐ Download Google Maps offline data for your destination city
• ☐ Download Google Translate (Japanese offline pack)
• ☐ Install a travel eSIM for data on arrival (see TravelStack)
• ☐ Save your employer's address, phone number, and directions in your phone
• ☐ Install the NHK Safety Tips app for disaster alerts

Know what to do on arrival day

At the airport, you'll go through immigration, receive your Residence Card, and clear customs. Then your first priority is getting to your temporary housing. Within the first 14 days, you need to register at your ward office. Use our checklist for the full sequence.