Japan

Eastern Asia

Asia

An Asian country with a top-tier passport, world-class universities and a 5-year citizenship path, but no dual citizenship.

Overall score

Good · 97% data coverage

Language

Japanese

Currency

JPY

Citizenship

5 years

Personal tax

Progressive national tax up to 45% plus local tax

Cost of living

$1,700 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

52Residence12%

36Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

73Salary and work12%

77Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

46Taxes7%

84Business8%

75Investment5%

Daily life

25%

88Quality of life18%

76Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

89Freedom6%

89Rule of law7%

Pros

A top-tier passport
World-class universities
A 5-year citizenship path

Cons

No dual citizenship

Best for

Remote workersFoundersStudents

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Moderate

Migrant stock2.8% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality1.33 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Low

Years required	5 years
Dual allowed	No
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 5 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Excellent

193 / 198

Mobility

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free146
On arrival38
eTA9
Visa required5

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Good

Output per worker$84,354 PPP (2024)

Unemployment2.5% (2025)

Participation63.4% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)	Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$58,920 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$24,320 PPP (2022)

Price level69 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality32.3 Gini (2020)

Inflation3.2% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Moderate

Price level69 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$1,700 / mo (single)
Cities	Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$4.4T (2025)

GDP / person$35,951 (2025)

GNI / person$58,920 PPP (2025)

GDP growth0.1% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation3.2% / yr (2025)

Unemployment2.5% (2025)

Output per worker$84,354 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture1.0% of GDP (2024)

Industry26.8% of GDP (2024)

Services71.4% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

AutomotiveElectronics & roboticsMachineryPrecision instrumentsChemicals

Top exports

Vehicles & partsMachineryElectronics & semiconductors equipmentPrecision instruments

Type	High-income, advanced-manufacturing-led
Key sectors	Automotive (Toyota, Honda), Robotics & electronics, Precision machinery
Summary	A high-income technological powerhouse led by autos, robotics and precision manufacturing, facing an ageing workforce.
Currency	Japanese yen (a major reserve currency)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive national tax up to 45% plus local tax
Corporate	Effective rate is generally about 30%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Low

Personal	Progressive national tax up to 45% plus local tax
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Low

Corporate	Effective rate is generally about 30%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Excellent

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality1.33 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness2.09 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Good

Market cap172% of GDP (2025)

Private credit187% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Good

Salary & work

Good

Business

Excellent

Investment

Good

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Moderate

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Excellent

Personal safety

Homicide rate0.2 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption1.36 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability1.13 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Excellent

Outcomes

Life expectancy84.0 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality2.4 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians2.65 per 1,000 (2022)

Hospital beds12.59 per 1,000 (2022)

Health spending$5,365 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Excellent

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure11.5 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress36.6% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Excellent

Digital infrastructure

Internet use85.5% (2024)

Internet resilience64 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed91 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed65 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Grid losses4.9% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality4.20 / 5 (2022)

Rail density55.1 km / 1,000 km² (2011)

Air connectivity7,908 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Good

Attainment

Expected schooling15.5 years (2023)

Mean schooling12.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment64% gross (2023)

Education spending3.3% of GDP (2021)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$5,000-12,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Japanese
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Excellent

HDI0.925 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy84.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling15.5 years (2023)

Mean schooling12.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025