- Visa options for British citizens moving to Japan — including the Working Holiday Visa
- UK-specific tax considerations when living in Japan
- NHS vs Japanese healthcare: what changes when you move
- UK vs Japan cost of living comparison (2025 numbers)
- Step-by-step first 30 days guide for British expats
- What to do with your UK bank accounts, pension, and NI contributions
Japan is one of the most popular destinations for British expats — and British citizens have a significant advantage: access to the Japan Working Holiday Visa, one of the easiest legal routes into the country. Here’s the complete picture for anyone moving from the UK to Japan in 2025.
Visa Options for British Citizens
1. Working Holiday Visa — The British Advantage
British citizens aged 18–30 (sometimes up to 35) can apply for Japan’s Working Holiday Visa:
- Duration: 1 year (can be extended once in some cases)
- Work rights: Full right to work, no employer sponsorship needed
- Requirements: UK passport, sufficient funds (~£2,500), return ticket or funds for one
- Application: Apply at the Japanese Embassy in London
- Processing time: 2–4 weeks
This is the easiest and fastest way to move to Japan legally. Many British expats use it to test Japan before committing to a long-term work visa.
After Working Holiday: Many British expats convert to a work visa after finding employment during their WHV year. Japanese companies are increasingly used to hiring foreigners this way.
2. Work Visa (Employer-Sponsored)
The standard route for British professionals:
- Receive a job offer from a Japanese employer
- Employer applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Apply for a work visa at the Japanese Embassy in London (takes ~5–10 business days)
- Enter Japan and receive your residence card at the airport
Common categories: Engineer/Specialist in Humanities, Intra-company Transfer, Instructor.
3. Spouse Visa
If you’re married to a Japanese national, you have the right to live and work in Japan without employer sponsorship.
4. Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa
A points-based system for professionals with academic achievements, high salaries, or specialized skills. Offers faster track to permanent residency. If you have a postgraduate degree and significant professional experience, check your points score on the official METI calculator.
UK Tax Considerations When Moving to Japan
Unlike Americans, British citizens are not taxed on worldwide income when they become non-residents of the UK. But you need to formally establish non-residency.
Becoming a Non-Resident for UK Tax Purposes
Use the Statutory Residence Test (SRT) to determine your status. In general:
- If you spend fewer than 16 days in the UK in a tax year, you’re non-resident
- If you have left the UK to work full-time abroad, you may be non-resident with up to 90 days in the UK
File a P85 form with HMRC before or shortly after leaving — this notifies them of your departure and stops automatic self-assessment requirements.
UK Pension and National Insurance
National Insurance contributions: You can make voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 NI contributions while abroad to protect your State Pension entitlement. The cost (~£800–900/year) is often worth it if you plan to eventually claim the UK State Pension.
Check your NI record: Before leaving, check your NI record on the HMRC website to see your projected State Pension and any gaps.
ISA and UK Investments
UK ISAs are frozen (you can’t make new contributions) once you become non-resident, but existing ISAs can be maintained and continue to grow tax-free. UK investment accounts work normally but must be declared on Japanese tax returns if you’re tax resident in Japan.
UK vs Japan Cost of Living (2025)
| Expense | London | Tokyo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR central) | £2,200–3,500/mo | £750–1,200/mo | Tokyo much cheaper |
| Groceries | £300–450/mo | £175–300/mo | Japan cheaper for most items |
| Dining out (budget) | £12–20 | £6–10 | Japan much cheaper |
| Healthcare | Free (NHS) | ¥6,000–20,000/mo via NHI | NHS free; Japan NHI is very affordable |
| Public transit | £200/mo (Oyster) | £60–90/mo | Japan cheaper |
| Total estimate | £3,200–5,000/mo | £1,500–2,500/mo | Tokyo ~50% cheaper than London |
With the pound currently strong against the yen (~¥190–200/GBP in 2024–2025), British expats have exceptional purchasing power in Japan.
NHS vs Japanese Healthcare
This is a major adjustment for British expats used to free-at-point-of-use NHS care.
Japanese National Health Insurance (NHI):
- You pay monthly premiums (typically ¥6,000–25,000/month depending on income)
- You pay 30% of medical costs at the point of care (10% for children, 20% for elderly)
- Monthly out-of-pocket costs are capped (高額療養費制度) — typically ¥80,000–100,000/month maximum
- Prescriptions: ¥200–2,000 per item
In practice: Japanese healthcare is excellent and affordable. A GP visit costs ¥1,000–3,000 out of pocket. Dental is not fully covered — budget ¥3,000–10,000 for routine care.
Waiting times: Japan has shorter specialist waiting times than the NHS in many areas, partly because there’s no GP referral barrier — you can visit a specialist directly.
Mental health: Services are improving but still underdeveloped compared to UK provision. English-language mental health support is limited outside major cities.
First 30 Days in Japan: British Expat Checklist
Days 1–3
- Collect your Residence Card (在留カード) at the airport immigration desk
- Get a Japanese SIM card immediately — see our SIM card guide
- Check into temporary accommodation (gaijin house, monthly apartment, or short-term rental)
Days 3–7: Register at City Hall
- Register your address (住民登録) at your local city/ward office — mandatory within 14 days
- This unlocks bank accounts, health insurance enrollment, and everything else
Week 2: Financial Setup
- Open a Japanese bank account — Japan Post Bank is most accessible for new arrivals. See our bank account guide
- Enroll in National Health Insurance (done at city hall)
- Set up Wise for transferring GBP to JPY — far cheaper than bank transfers
Week 3–4
- Apply for a Japanese credit card (Rakuten Card is most foreigner-friendly). See our Rakuten Card guide
- Set up PayPay for cashless payments — see our PayPay guide
- Find your nearest supermarket, pharmacy, and GP equivalent (内科/naika)
Banking: What to Do with Your UK Accounts
Keep your UK account open. It’s much harder to reopen a UK account from abroad than to maintain one. If your UK bank closes your account due to non-residency:
- Starling Bank and Monzo are generally more flexible with expats
- Barclays International offers accounts specifically for non-residents
For currency conversion: Use Wise to move GBP to JPY. The exchange rate is the real mid-market rate — bank wire transfers charge a spread of 2–4% plus flat fees. On a £5,000 transfer, Wise can save you £100–200 versus a high-street bank transfer.
Sending Money Between UK and Japan
Recommended: Wise for GBP→JPY transfers
- Real exchange rate, no markup
- Fee: ~0.5–1%
- Speed: 1–2 business days
Alternative: Revolut (if you’re already using it in the UK). See our Revolut Japan guide — note that Revolut’s Japanese version has some limitations compared to the UK/EU version.
Working Holiday Tips for British Expats
If you’re using the Working Holiday Visa:
- Register at your local city hall within 14 days — this applies even on WHV
- Find work quickly — popular WHV jobs include English teaching (ALT/eikaiwa), hospitality, and customer service at international-facing companies
- Network with other expats — the WHV community is large; Facebook groups and Meetup events exist in every major city
- Use your year to find a long-term employer — many companies are willing to sponsor a work visa if you’ve demonstrated your value as a WHV worker
- Learn Japanese aggressively — see our language app guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Can British citizens work in Japan without a visa? British citizens can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days. To work legally, you need either a Working Holiday Visa (ages 18–30/35) or a work visa sponsored by a Japanese employer.
Is the Japan Working Holiday Visa easy to get for British citizens? Yes — the UK-Japan Working Holiday scheme is well-established. Apply at the Japanese Embassy in London with your passport, proof of funds (~£2,500), and a completed application form. Processing takes 2–4 weeks.
Do I pay UK tax while living in Japan? If you establish non-residency under the UK Statutory Residence Test, you are generally not subject to UK income tax on Japanese income. File a P85 with HMRC when you leave. Consult a tax advisor who specializes in UK expat taxation.
Can I use my NHS prescriptions in Japan? No — your NHS coverage ends when you leave the UK. Japan’s NHI covers most prescription medications at 30% of the cost, which is typically affordable.