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Japan → United Kingdom

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Japan
To
United Kingdom
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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JP8<GB5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from Japan to the United Kingdom

Inflows of nationals of Japan recorded by the United Kingdom; stock of nationals of Japan living there; and acquisitions of the United Kingdom's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

3,5007,000201220152016
3,5007,000201220152016
Data table
20125,000
20135,000
20144,000
20157,000
20165,000
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——46
2022——78
2021—36,00082
2020——120
2019——120
2018—35,000132
2017—30,000131
20165,00040,000182
20157,00030,000146
20144,00030,000137
20135,00029,000133
20125,00031,303134
2011—59,000105
2010—29,000148
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

UK visas

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Japan, and students from Japan at UK universities.

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work5,200
  2. Study2,737
  3. Other347
  4. Visitor186
  5. Family162

Visas issued by year

5,06910k201020122014201620182020202220242025
5,06910k201020132016201920222025
Data table
20109,522
201110,138
20129,942
20139,725
20149,715
20159,468
20169,082
20179,225
20188,923
20199,012
20205,432
20217,240
20228,380
20237,918
20248,984
20258,632

Students at UK universities (academic year ending)

1,5983,19520152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,5983,195201520172019202120232025
Data table
20153,195
20163,020
20172,920
20182,720
20192,700
20202,820
20212,645
20222,930
20232,985
20243,085
20253,020
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0; HESA, Table 28: Non-UK permanent address students (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 24 Oct 2026

Residence permits in the United Kingdom

First residence permits issued by the United Kingdom to citizens of Japan (Eurostat).

YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2019001202,684
20186,85601322,670
20178,47201312,846
20168,53401822,944
201510,16901473,098
20149,67901373,089
20139,59001333,071
20129,65901340
201110,23801050
201010,55401480
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United Kingdom in Japan, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyTokyogov.uk
Consulate-generalOsakagov.uk
ConsulateHakodatehakodate-kankou.com
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from Japan move (OECD, 2023).

Other destinations for people from Japan, 2023
  1. South Korea6,523
  2. Germany6,091
  3. United States3,690
  4. Netherlands1,840
  5. New Zealand1,497
  6. Canada1,015
  7. Australia962
  8. France848
  9. Belgium701
  10. Switzerland670
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more