Moving to Japan from Vietnam

Japanese Visa Pathways for Vietnamese Citizens

Vietnamese passport holders need a visa to enter Japan for any purpose ^[1]. Most long-stay visas for Vietnamese applicants are processed at the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi or the Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City after a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is approved by the regional immigration bureau in Japan on behalf of the prospective employer or sponsor.

Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginō / SSW).

Vietnam is one of the largest sending countries to Japan under the SSW framework, which was established in 2019 to address labour shortages in specified industry sectors ^[2]. SSW (i) requires passing a sector-specific skills test and a Japanese language test (typically JFT-Basic A2 or JLPT N4 or above) and is capped at five years of total stay ^[2]. SSW (ii) requires more advanced skills, allows family accompaniment, and has no fixed cap on total stay ^[2]. Vietnamese candidates apply through accredited sending organisations regulated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in coordination with Japanese accepting organisations.

Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) and its replacement.

TITP has been the largest single channel of Vietnamese workers to Japan for years, with Vietnam typically the top sending country. The Japanese government decided in 2024 to replace TITP with a new "Training and Employment" status (Ikusei Shūrō) on a phased timeline that improves worker mobility, language requirements, and pathway to SSW ^[3]. Vietnamese workers are covered under the same transition. Verify which framework applies at the time of your departure, since transitional rules differ by sector.

Japan-Vietnam EPA caregivers and nurses.

Under the Japan-Vietnam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), Vietnam is one of the bilateral countries (alongside Indonesia and the Philippines) that sends nurse (kango shi) and certified care worker (kaigo fukushi shi) candidates to Japan ^[4]. Candidates undergo Japanese language training and clinical placement and must pass the Japanese national licensing exam to qualify for the corresponding professional residence status. The EPA framework is coordinated between the Japanese government and the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour.

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services.

This is the standard work status for office and technical roles requiring a university degree or equivalent professional experience ^[5]. Vietnamese applicants in IT, engineering, finance, language services, and other qualified professions typically enter under this status. Many Vietnamese university graduates with Japanese language ability work for Japanese IT and manufacturing companies under this category.

Highly Skilled Professional visa.

The HSP status (kodo senmon shoku) uses a points system across academic background, career, salary, age, and Japanese language ability ^[6]. Reaching 70 points unlocks benefits including faster permanent-residency eligibility and spouse work permission; 80 points further accelerates the path. Vietnamese applicants with strong qualifications and JLPT N1 or N2 score competitively.

Student visa.

Enrolment in a Japanese language school, vocational school, or university qualifies you for a student visa with permission to work part-time up to 28 hours per week ^[7]. Vietnamese students are one of the largest foreign-student populations in Japan, supported by JASSO scholarships and information services for prospective international students ^[8].

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 status ^[9]. The HSP route shortens this to one to three years depending on points score. SSW (ii) holders, who face no cap on total stay ^[2], can accumulate qualifying residence time toward permanent residency ^[9].

Japanese Tax Residency and the Japan-Vietnam Treaty

Japan classifies foreign individuals into three tax-residency categories: non-resident, non-permanent resident, and permanent resident ^[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. After five years, you become a permanent tax resident and are taxed on worldwide income.

Income tax structure.

Japanese 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]. Most Vietnamese workers in entry-to-mid-level Japanese roles will see effective combined rates higher than what they paid on equivalent gross income in Vietnam.

Japan-Vietnam tax treaty.

Japan and Vietnam have a double taxation agreement signed in 1995 and in force since 1996 that allocates taxing rights and provides credit relief ^[3]. The treaty has defined rates for dividends, interest, royalties, and pensions, and also covers permanent establishment rules for cross-border business.

Pension contributions.

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 Vietnam signed a social security agreement in 2022, and the agreement entered into force on 1 April 2025, covering pensions for posted workers and avoiding double contributions ^[4]. Posted Vietnamese employees with the appropriate certificate of coverage from the Vietnam Social Security can remain insured under the Vietnamese system rather than contributing in Japan.

Lump-sum withdrawal payment.

Foreign nationals who paid into Japanese pension 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.

Inhabitant tax timing.

Inhabitant tax (juuminzei) is calculated on the previous calendar year's income and billed in June. New arrivals who lived in Japan for less than a year typically pay inhabitant tax based on whatever Japan-source income they earned in the prior calendar year. If you leave Japan part-way through the year, you may still owe inhabitant tax for the year you departed; appointing a tax representative (nouzei kanrinin) is the standard handling.

Residence Card, Pension, and Practical Setup

Zairyu card.

When you arrive at a designated airport (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, Chubu, Fukuoka, New Chitose) on a long-stay visa, you receive your zairyu card at immigration. The card has your name, photo, status, and period of stay. Carry it at all times.

Municipal registration.

Within 14 days of moving into your address, register at your local ward office or town hall. The office records your address on the back of the zairyu card and enters you in the resident register (juuminhyou). Bring your passport and zairyu card.

My Number.

A 12-digit individual identification number is assigned after address registration. The notification arrives by mail. You can later apply for a physical My Number Card with photo. The number is used for tax filing, social insurance, and online services.

Bank account.

New residents typically use Yucho (Japan Post Bank) initially because the major commercial banks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho) often require six months of residence before opening an account. Online banks (Sony Bank, Rakuten Bank, SBI Sumishin) are easier to open with English support. Cash remains widely used in Japan; carry enough yen for restaurants and small shops.

Phone.

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

Hanko / inkan.

A personal seal is still commonly required for major paperwork (banking, contracts, real estate) although digital signatures are slowly replacing it. Have one made in katakana or romaji at any seal-engraving shop.

Sending money home.

Wise, Revolut, SBI Remit, MUFG's Direct, and Vietnamese-bank channels (Vietcombank, BIDV, Vietinbank Tokyo branches) are commonly used for VND remittances. Compare the all-in cost (FX margin plus fee) before sending.

Healthcare for Vietnamese Residents

Japan has universal health coverage. All registered residents must 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.

Full-time employees of Japanese companies are automatically enrolled. Premiums are roughly 10 percent of gross salary, split between employee and employer. Coverage includes outpatient, hospitalisation, prescriptions, and dental. Patient share is 30 percent at the point of care for adults of working age.

National Health Insurance.

Self-employed, freelance, student, and other non-employee residents enrol in NHI at the ward office. Premiums are calculated on the previous year's income. New arrivals with no Japanese-source income from the prior year typically pay the minimum premium during the first year.

Monthly cap.

Japan caps monthly out-of-pocket medical costs based on income (kougaku ryouyouhi). For most working-age residents the 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.

Vietnamese-speaking clinics.

A small number of Vietnamese or Vietnamese-bilingual clinics operate in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, and many community organisations (Vietnamese Buddhist temples, the Vietnam Labour Association in Japan) maintain referral lists. For most clinic visits, basic Japanese plus a translation app or interpreter is workable.

Mental health.

Mental-health services in Japanese are widely available through clinics and hospitals; English and Vietnamese-speaking psychiatrists exist in the largest cities but are not common. The TELL Lifeline and the foreign-resident hotlines run by some prefectures provide multilingual phone support.

Pharmacies.

Pharmacies (yakkyoku) are separate from clinics. The 30 percent patient share applies to prescription medicines. Drug prices are government-regulated and lower than what many Vietnamese residents are used to paying out of pocket back home.

Pregnancy and child healthcare.

Pregnancy follow-up and childbirth are covered by health insurance with subsidies through municipal vouchers (boshi techou system). Child health checkups and vaccinations are largely free under the municipal child-health framework.

Cost of Living, Housing, and Money

Housing.

A one-bedroom apartment in central Tokyo runs JPY 90,000 to 160,000 per month depending on neighbourhood and age. Move-in costs are notoriously front-loaded: typical first-time payment includes key money (reikin), security deposit (shikikin), first month, agent fee, guarantor fee, fire insurance, and lock change, totalling four to six months of rent. Many Vietnamese workers in TITP/SSW or factory roles live in employer-arranged housing initially, which lowers up-front cost but limits flexibility.

Foreigner-friendly agencies.

Specialist agencies (GaijinPot Apartments, Tokyo Apartment Inc, Sakura House) and guarantor companies bridge the gap when landlords hesitate to rent to non-Japanese tenants without a Japanese guarantor.

Daily cost.

Food, transport, and utilities are competitive in Japan. 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 by employers. Vietnamese groceries are widely available in Tokyo (Ueno, Shin-Okubo), Osaka (Tsuruhashi), Yokohama, and parts of Aichi, Gunma, and Kanagawa where the Vietnamese community is large.

Currency.

The VND/JPY rate is volatile; the yen has weakened sharply against several currencies since 2022. Vietnamese workers sending salary home should monitor the rate when scheduling transfers.

Credit history.

Your Vietnamese credit record does not transfer to Japan. Major Japanese credit cards (Rakuten, AEON, SMBC) sometimes decline new foreign residents in their first year. Yucho debit cards work for most needs. After 6 to 12 months of stable salary deposits, credit card applications become easier.

Real estate.

Foreign nationals can buy property in Japan without restrictions, though mortgages from Japanese banks generally require permanent residency or specific employer-sponsored conditions.

Cost benchmark.

A Vietnamese SSW worker in a manufacturing or food-service role typically nets JPY 150,000 to 220,000 per month after tax, insurance, and standard housing deduction in employer accommodation, depending on overtime. Skilled-track workers in IT, engineering, and bilingual office roles earn substantially more.

Cultural Adjustment and Vietnamese Communities

Vietnamese communities.

Vietnam is now one of Japan's largest foreign nationality groups by total residents. Vietnamese communities are visible in Tokyo (especially the Ueno, Asakusa, and Shin-Okubo areas), Osaka, Aichi (Toyota and surrounding manufacturing belt), Saitama, Gunma, Hyogo, Ibaraki, and Kanagawa. The Vietnamese Buddhist sangha in Japan and a network of Vietnamese restaurants, grocery stores, and labour-support organisations provide mutual aid and information.

Language.

Functional Japanese (JLPT N4 to N3) is necessary for daily life outside the largest international workplaces. JLPT N2 or N1 substantially expands employment options into bilingual office roles, hospitality management, and skilled professional work. The JFT-Basic test is the entry-level Japanese benchmark for SSW and is administered by the Japan Foundation in Vietnam and Japan. Free or low-cost Japanese classes are run by ward offices and volunteer organisations across major cities.

Workplace culture.

Japanese workplaces tend toward hierarchical communication, indirect feedback, long hours, and a strong distinction between in-group and out-group. Vietnamese workers in TITP and SSW placements have historically reported pressure on overtime, deductions for housing and utilities, and limited mobility between employers. The 2024 reforms to the trainee framework aim to address some of these issues; verify what applies at your specific employer and sector.

Sending children to school.

Public schools are free. Children of non-Japanese-speaking families typically receive Japanese-as-a-second-language support in districts with significant foreign populations. Vietnamese-language Sunday schools and weekend community programmes operate in cities with large Vietnamese populations.

Religion.

Vietnamese Buddhist temples (under the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha in Japan) operate in Tokyo, Saitama, Aichi, and several other prefectures. Catholic Vietnamese communities also have established parishes, often associated with Japanese Catholic dioceses with Vietnamese-speaking clergy.

Travelling between Vietnam and Japan.

Direct flights connect Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in roughly 5 to 6 hours. Round-trip economy fares range widely with season. Many Vietnamese workers visit family annually or biannually, often around Lunar New Year (Tet).

Citizenship.

Japan permits naturalisation typically after 5 years of continuous residence, sufficient income, and demonstration of good conduct. Japan does not generally permit dual citizenship for adults who naturalise; Vietnamese law permits dual citizenship in certain narrow cases. Most Vietnamese who naturalise as Japanese lose Vietnamese nationality unless they take specific steps under Vietnamese procedure.

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