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United Kingdom → Japan

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
United Kingdom
To
Japan
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
6,190
Change since 2018
-12.9%
Share of all arrivals in Japan, 2023
1.00%
Inflow 20236,190OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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GB5<JP8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Migration from the United Kingdom to Japan

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

Inflows by year

3,8357,669200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,8357,6692000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20007,030
20016,743
20026,563
20036,596
20046,317
20056,300
20066,610
20075,819
20085,952
20095,278
20105,800
20115,160
20125,504
20136,138
20145,875
20156,673
20166,582
20176,741
20187,107
20197,669
20201,535
20211,090
20226,418
20236,190
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—19,909—
20236,19018,959—
20226,41816,163—
20211,09016,891—
20201,53518,631—
20197,66917,943—
20187,10717,200—
20176,74116,454—
20166,58215,826—
20156,67315,262—
20145,87514,881—
20136,13814,652—
20125,50415,496—
20115,16016,044—
20105,80016,597—
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in the United Kingdom who live in Japan: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

12k24k19901995200020052010201520202024
12k24k19902000201020202024
Data table
19909,776
199512,227
200016,123
200517,245
201016,198
201523,573
202024,465
202419,617
Estimate, 2024
19,617
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
0.58%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
20
Counted by
citizenship
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Residents in Japan

Citizens of the United Kingdom living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan).

Residents in work-related statuses

3,4296,8582012201420162018202220242025
3,4296,8582012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20125,458
20135,374
20145,413
20155,554
20165,727
20176,024
20186,365
20196,747
20225,967
20236,312
20246,640
20256,858
DecemberAll residentsWork-related statusesEngineer/Specialist in Humanities/International ServicesSpecified Skilled WorkerTechnical Intern TrainingStudentPermanent ResidentDependent
202522,4286,8583,6151091,0397,2651,040
202421,1396,6403,5531101,0897,0101,003
202319,9096,3123,350501,1006,880930
202218,9595,9673,176301,2766,711903
201918,6316,7473,833008306,163863
201817,9436,3653,532007895,930850
201717,2006,0243,397007465,668819
201616,4545,7273,183007165,443740
201515,8265,5543,013006025,201684
201415,2625,4132,982005424,965720
201314,8815,3742,940005304,782778
201214,6535,4582,883005394,497799
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Workers in Japan (employment reports)

Citizens of the United Kingdom working in Japan, as reported by employers at the end of each October (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Workers by year (end of October)

6,70013k20212022202320242025
6,70013k20212022202320242025
Data table
202111,917
202212,470
202312,945
202413,017
202513,399
By industry, October 2025
  1. Education6,001
  2. Other industries3,288
  3. Other services1,138
  4. Information and communications1,002
  5. Wholesale and retail trade843
  6. Manufacturing491
  7. Accommodation and food services381
  8. Health and welfare194
  9. Construction61
Workers, October 2025
13,399
Change on a year earlier
+2.9%
Via dispatch or contracting firms
9.4%
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), reports on the employment of foreign workers, end of October 2025 (Public Data License 1.0)Data as at Oct 2025

Embassy and consulates

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

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyCity of Westminsteruk.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalCity of Edinburghedinburgh.uk.emb-japan.go.jp
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Japan, 2023; the United Kingdom ranks 16.

Inflows to Japan, 2023
  1. Vietnam133,732
  2. China106,717
  3. Indonesia67,088
  4. Nepal39,564
  5. Philippines37,338
  6. Myanmar30,849
  7. South Korea27,566
  8. United States19,684
  9. Thailand16,777
  10. Taiwan13,603
  11. Sri Lanka11,328
  12. India10,547
Other destinations for people from the United Kingdom, 2023
  1. Spain18,269
  2. United States10,850
  3. Australia10,185
  4. Portugal7,365
  5. Germany6,055
  6. New Zealand5,847
  7. Canada4,990
  8. Ireland4,800
  9. France3,645
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