Moving to Japan from China

Japanese Visa Pathways for Chinese Citizens

Chinese passport holders need a visa to enter Japan for any purpose, including short-term tourism ^[1]. The visa application is processed by an Authorised Travel Agency (ATA) on behalf of the Embassy of Japan or the consulate-general with jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence in mainland China.

Highly Skilled Professional visa.

Japan's HSP visa (kodo senmon shoku) is a points-based status under the Immigration Services Agency framework with three categories covering academic research, advanced specialised activities, and business management ^[2]. Points are awarded for academic background, professional career, annual salary, age, Japanese language ability, and other defined factors. Reaching 70 points qualifies for the standard HSP status, which carries benefits including faster permanent-residency eligibility, broader scope of activity than ordinary work statuses, and permission for the spouse to work. Reaching 80 points qualifies for an accelerated path to permanent residency. Many qualified applicants from mainland China enter under this status.

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.

This is the standard work status for office and technical roles, covering engineering, IT, finance, marketing, translation, and similar work that requires a university degree or equivalent professional experience ^[3]. The applicant's prospective Japanese employer files a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) with the regional immigration bureau before the visa is issued at the Japanese mission in China.

Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginō / SSW).

SSW status was created in 2019 to address labour shortages and covers specified industry sectors with two tiers: SSW (i) and SSW (ii) ^[4]. The Specified Skilled Worker (i) status requires passing the relevant skills test and a Japanese language test, and is capped at five years total stay ^[4]. Specified Skilled Worker (ii) requires more advanced skills, allows family accompaniment, and has no fixed cap on total stay ^[4]. Chinese candidates apply through the bilateral framework and the testing is conducted by Japanese-government-approved bodies.

Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP).

TITP placements have historically been a major China-Japan migration route, sending Chinese workers to Japanese employers for fixed-term technical training. The programme has drawn extensive scrutiny over working conditions and abuse, and the Japanese government announced in 2024 that TITP will be replaced by a new "Training and Employment" status (Ikusei Shūrō) on a phased timeline, with Chinese workers covered under the same transition ^[5]. Chinese candidates considering placements should verify which framework applies at the time of departure.

Long Term Resident (Teijuusha) for nikkei descent.

Chinese citizens who can document Japanese ancestry up to defined degrees of relation may qualify for the Long Term Resident status (Teijuusha), which carries unrestricted work permission and is renewable ^[6]. The Japanese-Chinese repatriate (Chūgoku zanryū hōjin) population, descendants of Japanese settlers left behind in northeast China after the war, have specific status under separate legislation administered by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Student visa.

Enrolment in a Japanese language school, university, or vocational school qualifies you for a student visa, which allows part-time work up to 28 hours per week with the appropriate permission ^[7]. Many Chinese students transition from a language school placement to a work status after one to two years of language study.

Permanent Residency.

The standard route to permanent residency requires 10 consecutive years of legal residence with the most recent five years on a work or family-related status ^[8]. The Highly Skilled Professional route accelerates this to one to three years depending on points score. Permanent residents can live and work in Japan without status restrictions ^[8].

Japanese Tax Residency and the Japan-China Treaty

Japan classifies foreign individuals into three tax-residency categories: non-resident, non-permanent resident, and permanent resident ^[1]. The classification depends on the period of physical residence in Japan and whether the individual maintains a domicile ^[1].

Non-permanent resident.

A non-permanent resident is a non-Japanese national who has had a domicile or residence in Japan for an aggregate of five years or less within the past ten years ^[1]. Non-permanent residents are taxed on Japanese-source income in full, plus foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan ^[1]. This window matters for Chinese residents with significant Chinese investment income or Hong Kong holdings: during your first five years in Japan, unrepatriated foreign-source returns may not be subject to Japanese tax.

Permanent resident (tax sense).

After five years of residence in any ten-year window, you become a permanent resident for tax purposes (separate concept from immigration permanent residency) and are taxed on worldwide income.

Income tax structure.

Japan's national income tax is progressive up to a top marginal rate on income above JPY 40 million, plus a flat inhabitant tax (juuminzei) at the prefectural and municipal level, plus a special reconstruction surtax ^[2]. Combined effective rates on upper-middle salaries are higher than equivalent Chinese rates for the same gross income.

Japan-China tax treaty.

The Japan-China Income Tax Convention has been in force since 1984 and provides relief from double taxation by allocating taxing rights between the two countries by income type and providing credit for taxes paid in the other country ^[3]. The MOF and NTA publish the treaty text and protocols. Specific items including dividends, interest, royalties, and pensions have defined treaty rates and procedures.

Pension contributions and the Japan-China social security agreement.

All residents aged 20 to 59 are required to contribute to the Japanese pension system: kosei nenkin (employees' pension) for employees, kokumin nenkin (national pension) for self-employed and others. Japan and China signed a social security agreement that entered into force in 2019 covering pensions for posted workers ^[4]. The agreement allows seconded employees from one country to remain insured under their home-country pension system, subject to certificates of coverage. The administration is handled by Japan Pension Service and the Chinese Social Insurance authorities.

Lump-sum withdrawal payment.

Foreign nationals who paid into the Japanese pension system for at least six months and leave Japan can claim a lump-sum withdrawal payment within two years of departure ^[5]. The payment is capped at a number of months of contributions defined by law and is subject to a 20.42 percent withholding tax that you can sometimes recover via a designated tax representative in Japan.

Consumption tax (shouhi-zei).

Japanese consumption tax applies to goods and services purchased in Japan ^[2]. It is included in displayed retail prices for many but not all goods and services and is largely invisible to ordinary residents in daily life beyond the price tag.

Residence Card and Municipal Registration

Zairyu card (residence card).

When you arrive at a major Japanese airport (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose) on a long-stay visa, you receive a zairyu card at immigration. This credit-card-sized ID has your name, photo, status, and period of stay. You must carry it at all times. Failure to produce it on demand can result in a fine.

Municipal registration.

Within 14 days of moving into your address, register at your local ward office (kuyakusho) or town hall (yakuba). Bring your zairyu card and passport. The office records your address on the back of the zairyu card and enters you in the resident register (juuminhyou). This unlocks bank account opening, health insurance enrolment, phone contracts, and most other practical steps.

My Number.

After address registration, you are assigned a 12-digit My Number (kojin bangou). A notification arrives by mail. You can later apply for a physical My Number Card with photo at the ward office. The My Number is used for tax filing, social insurance, and increasingly for online government services.

Hanko / inkan.

A personal seal (hanko or inkan) is still commonly required for Japanese contracts, bank account opening, real estate, and major employment paperwork, though digital signatures are slowly replacing it. You can have a hanko made in katakana or in Chinese characters at any seal-engraving shop. Banks may require you to register the seal as your bank seal (ginkou-in).

Bank account.

You generally need address registration and three to six months of residence before major Japanese banks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho, Yucho) open a full account. Yucho (Japan Post Bank) is the most accessible early on. Online banks (Sony Bank, Rakuten Bank, SBI) are easier to open and usually have better English support. Most cash transactions still require a Japanese debit card or cash.

Phone contract.

Mainstream carriers (Docomo, KDDI au, SoftBank) require a residence card and either a credit card or bank account for contract plans. Budget MVNOs (IIJmio, Mineo, LINEMO, Rakuten Mobile) accept payment by credit card and are popular with foreign residents.

Healthcare for Chinese Residents in Japan

Japan has universal health coverage. All registered residents are required to enrol in either employer-provided health insurance (shakai hoken) or National Health Insurance (kokumin kenkou hoken). There is no option to remain uninsured.

Shakai hoken (employer insurance).

Full-time employees of Japanese companies are automatically enrolled in shakai hoken. Premiums are roughly 10 percent of gross salary, split between employee and employer. Coverage includes outpatient, hospitalisation, prescriptions, and dental. The patient share is generally 30 percent at the point of care.

National Health Insurance (NHI).

Self-employed, freelance, student, and other non-employee residents enrol in NHI at the ward office. Premiums are calculated on the previous calendar year's income and the local municipal rate. New arrivals with no Japanese-source income from the prior year typically pay the minimum premium during the first year. Coverage and patient share are equivalent to shakai hoken.

Monthly cap (kougaku ryouyouhi).

Japan caps monthly out-of-pocket medical costs based on income. For most working-age residents the monthly cap is in the JPY 80,000 to 170,000 range. Above the cap, insurance covers 100 percent of further costs in the same month.

Choosing a doctor.

There is no gatekeeper system; you can go to any clinic or hospital that accepts your insurance card. Wait times for specialist appointments are generally short (days to weeks). Most local clinics outside large cities operate primarily in Japanese. International clinics with Chinese or English-speaking staff exist in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, Nagoya, and Osaka.

Medications.

Pharmacies (yakkyoku) are separate from clinics and hospitals. You receive a prescription and take it to any participating pharmacy, where the 30 percent patient share applies. Drug prices are government-regulated and lower than Chinese cash prices for most patented drugs. Bring a translated medication list when you establish care with a Japanese GP.

Mental health and language.

Mental-health services in Japanese are widely available through clinics and hospitals; English and Chinese-speaking psychiatrists are concentrated in the largest cities. Health insurance covers most mental-health consultations on the same terms as physical care.

Cost of Living, Housing, and Money

Housing.

Tokyo and Osaka rents have risen meaningfully since 2022. A one-bedroom apartment within a 30-minute commute of central Tokyo typically costs JPY 90,000 to 160,000 per month depending on neighbourhood, age, and whether you pay key money (reikin) and security deposit (shikikin) in addition to first month's rent and the agent fee. Many landlords still hesitate to rent to foreign residents without a Japanese guarantor; specialised foreigner-friendly agencies (GaijinPot Apartments, Tokyo Apartment Inc, Sakura House) bridge that gap, and guarantor companies cover the remainder.

Initial cost.

Move-in costs in Japan are notoriously front-loaded. A typical Tokyo apartment requires four to six months of rent up-front (key money, deposit, first month, agent fee, guarantor fee, fire insurance, lock change). Online "no key money" agencies have reduced this for many properties.

Daily cost.

Food, transport, and utilities in Japan are competitive. A single person in central Tokyo with modest restaurant use lives on roughly JPY 200,000 to 280,000 per month after rent. Public transport is reliable and inexpensive: a single Tokyo metro ride is JPY 180-330; commuter passes are heavily discounted.

Currency.

The CNY/JPY and USD/JPY rates have moved sharply since 2022. JPY weakness has made Japan substantially cheaper in CNY terms than it was a decade ago. Use Wise or a Chinese bank with documented international transfer channels (Bank of China, ICBC) to move funds, mindful of China's SAFE outflow rules of USD 50,000 per person per year on personal forex purchases.

Credit history.

Your Chinese credit record does not transfer to Japan. Major Japanese credit cards (Rakuten, SMBC, AEON) sometimes decline new foreign residents in their first year. Yucho debit cards and cash work for almost everything. After 6 to 12 months of residence with stable income, applications become easier.

Real estate.

Foreign nationals can buy property in Japan without restrictions. Mortgages from Japanese banks generally require permanent residency or specific employer-sponsored conditions. A handful of banks (SMBC Trust, Tokyo Star) lend to non-permanent residents on stricter terms. Transaction costs run roughly 6 to 8 percent of the purchase price including agent fee, registration, and acquisition tax.

Cultural Adjustment and Chinese Communities

Chinese communities.

Tokyo's Chinese community is concentrated in Ikebukuro and parts of Shinjuku and Kanagawa. Yokohama has Japan's largest historical Chinatown, with deep community roots going back generations. Osaka, Kobe, and Nagoya all have visible Chinese populations and Mandarin-language services. Mandarin and Cantonese-speaking professionals (lawyers, accountants, doctors, real estate agents) are accessible in the major cities.

Language and Kanji.

Educated Mandarin readers can recognise Japanese kanji on signs and menus, but spoken Japanese is a separate language. Functional Japanese (JLPT N4 to N3) is necessary for daily life outside the largest internationalised companies and English-speaking neighbourhoods. JLPT N2 or N1 substantially expands employment options. Free or low-cost Japanese classes are run by ward offices and local volunteer organisations across major cities.

Workplace culture.

Japanese workplaces still tend toward hierarchical communication, indirect feedback, long hours, and strong in-group/out-group distinctions. Chinese professionals coming from international firms in Beijing or Shanghai often experience an adjustment in pacing and decision-making. The contrast is smaller in international tech and finance firms in Tokyo.

School for children.

Public schools are free and broadly available, and offer Japanese-as-a-second-language support in many districts with significant foreign populations. Chinese-medium and Chinese-Japanese bilingual schools exist in Yokohama, Tokyo, and a few other cities. International schools (English, French, German) charge fees comparable to other major international cities and are concentrated in Tokyo and Yokohama.

Religion and customs.

Japan is broadly secular in daily life with Shinto and Buddhist practice integrated into seasonal festivals. Chinese Buddhist temples operate in the larger Chinese communities. Lunar New Year celebrations are visible in the Chinatowns of Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki but are not Japanese public holidays.

Travelling between China and Japan.

Direct flights connect Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya with most major mainland cities and Hong Kong in 3 to 5 hours. Round-trip economy fares vary widely with season. Many Chinese residents in Japan visit family multiple times per year.

Citizenship.

Japan allows naturalisation typically after 5 years of continuous residence, sufficient income or assets, and demonstration of good conduct. Japan does not generally permit dual citizenship for adults who naturalise; Chinese law similarly does not recognise dual citizenship. If you naturalise as Japanese, you typically lose Chinese nationality automatically.

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