v256.0 · relocation checklist · IN → JP · verified 2026-04
India to Japan — relocation checklist
17-step ordered checklist covering visa, banking, healthcare, housing, taxes, schooling, shipping, and pets. Written for the Indian engineer / professional on Engineer/Specialist visa, Highly Skilled Professional, or Specified Skilled Worker.
From
To
Total cost
JPY 1.2-3M (USD 8,000-20,000) — visa, deposits, shipping
Timeline
12-20 weeks pre-arrival, 4-6 weeks post-arrival
Typical profile for this pair
Indian engineer / professional on Engineer/Specialist visa, Highly Skilled Professional, or Specified Skilled Worker
Step-by-step checklist (17 steps)
Pre-departure (14-20 weeks out)
- Choose visa — Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services (most common), Highly Skilled Professional (HSP — points-based, fast PR pathway), Specified Skilled Worker (SSW), Intra-Company Transferee
Pre-departure (12-16 weeks out)
- CoE (Certificate of Eligibility) applied by sponsor Japanese employer — 1-3 months processing
Pre-departure (8-12 weeks out)
Pre-departure (6-10 weeks out)
- PCC + MEA apostille; attested educational certificates
Pre-departure (4-8 weeks out)
- Japanese N5 (basic) helpful but not mandatory; N4-N3 recommended for HSP points
Pre-departure (4-6 weeks out)
- Tax planning — IT-30; LRS USD 250K/year strategy
Pre-departure (2-4 weeks out)
- Ship sea freight Mumbai/Chennai to Yokohama/Tokyo 25-35 days, USD 3,500-9,000 for 20ft
Pre-departure (1-2 weeks out)
- Pet — Japan strict 180-day waiting period after rabies titer test; advance planning critical
Arrival (Week 1)
- Residence Card issued at port of entry (major airports) automatically
- Register at city/ward office within 14 days of arrival (jūminhyō registration)
Arrival (Week 1-2)
- My Number (individual ID) registration — needed for banking + taxes
Arrival (Week 2-3)
- Open Japanese bank — Japan Post Bank (easiest for foreigners), Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho, SMBC, SBI Shinsei
- National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenkō Hoken) registration if not employed; Employee Health Insurance (Shakai Hoken) if employed
Arrival (Week 3-4)
- Apartment search — most landlords require Japanese guarantor (hoshōnin); employer often helps; key money + deposit common
Arrival (Month 2)
- Children school enrollment — Japanese public schools free but Japanese-language; international schools widely available in Tokyo, Osaka
Arrival (Month 3-6)
- Indian ITR partial year; Japanese kakuteishinkoku (tax return) due March 15
Ongoing
- HSP holders eligible for PR after 1-3 years (vs 10 for standard work visa); Japanese citizenship eligible after 5 years (renounce Indian citizenship required)
Cost breakdown
| Japan work visa application | INR 1,300 + CoE free |
| PCC + MEA apostille | INR 5,000-15,000 |
| First month rent + key money + deposit (Tokyo 1BR) | JPY 200,000-600,000 |
| Shipping (sea freight 20ft) | USD 3,500-9,000 |
| Pet relocation | USD 1,500-4,500 (strict biosecurity) |
| Initial bank deposit | JPY 0-50,000 |
⚠ Gotchas + watch-outs
- Japan strict pet biosecurity — 180-day waiting period after rabies titer test (plan 6+ months ahead)
- Most landlords require Japanese guarantor (hoshōnin) — employer help common
- Key money (reikin) + deposit (shikikin) typically 2-3 months rent each — expensive entry
- HSP (Highly Skilled Professional) points-based PR fast-track (1-3 years vs 10 standard)
- India does NOT allow dual citizenship — Japanese citizenship requires renouncing Indian
- India-Japan DTAA (1989, revised 2007) prevents double taxation
- My Number (individual ID) required for banking + employment + tax
Official sources
- Japan Immigration — https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/index.html
- HSP points calculation — https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri07_00100.html
See also: India profile · Japan profile · all relocation checklists
Last verified 2026-04. Immigration, tax, and banking rules change frequently — verify with official sources before acting.