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Japan

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
28,187
Top destination, 2023
South Korea
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
62,321
UK visas issued, 2025
8,632
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
5.3%
NationalityJPISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<JPJAPAN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
JP8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Japan need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Japan move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 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
  11. Denmark643
  12. Mexico512
  13. Austria459
  14. Italy455
  15. Hungary445

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

18k37k200020032006200920122015201820212023
18k37k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200026,642
200134,632
200233,510
200330,646
200431,779
200533,525
200631,885
200730,190
200830,214
200929,624
201028,567
201131,058
201236,321
201336,553
201433,560
201536,562
201634,938
201729,666
201829,932
201931,111
202020,522
202124,713
202228,400
202328,187
Share going to the top destination
23.1%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Japan who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. United States547,444
  2. Thailand104,515
  3. Australia53,094
  4. Brazil52,758
  5. China40,436
  6. Canada33,767
  7. Vietnam27,060
  8. Bangladesh18,539
  9. Hong Kong15,307
  10. Taiwan13,789
  11. New Zealand12,621
  12. Malaysia12,388

Living abroad by year

504k1.01M19901995200020052010201520202024
504k1.01M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990710,783
1995911,486
2000846,780
2005864,518
2010909,212
2015943,736
2020926,826
20241,008,173
Living abroad, 2024
1,008,173
Change since 2000
+19.1%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
54.3%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Japan by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. E215,367
  2. B1/B27,231
  3. F16,913
  4. A25,272
  5. C1/D5,239
  6. J14,648
  7. L23,847
  8. L13,247
  9. J21,511
  10. E11,473

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

38k77k201720182019202020212022202320242025
38k77k20172019202120232025
Data table
201751,522
201876,500
201974,908
202035,203
202144,373
202258,576
202360,731
202464,052
202562,321
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR1694
  2. CR197
  3. IR268
  4. E168
  5. E358
  6. IR545
  7. DV43
  8. E238
Immigrant visas, FY2025
1,280
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
284
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Japan who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Japan with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

2,7005,4002015201620172018201920202021202220232024
2,7005,400201520172019202120232024
Data table
20155,400
20165,210
20174,640
20184,320
20194,500
20203,910
20213,960
20224,180
20234,060
20243,740
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens2,390
  2. Employment-based preferences1,170
  3. Family-sponsored preferences70
  4. Diversity visa lottery70
  5. Other classes30
  6. Refugees and asylees10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)22,240
  2. Spouses and children15,870
  3. Other temporary workers3,330
  4. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)2,990
  5. Specialty occupations (H-1B)2,650
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)1,840
  7. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)150
  8. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Japan)
3,740
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Japan)
1,350
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
1,996,550
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Japan (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Japan (HESA).

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, 2024/25
3,020
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Japan, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20254908,2655,37065550
20247008,6506,34590095
20238208,5608,3001,015165
20225655,90511,71088580
20214452,7608,2301,405420
20205002,5003,765615165
20196457,8356,9401,110150
20184807,3756,9851,040150
20175507,8056,8701,090165
20163757,4857,0301,035135
20152806,8106,3051,000135
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Japan, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

6311,2622005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
6311,2622005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–061,262
2006–071,161
2007–081,193
2008–09947
2009–10711
2010–11766
2011–12869
2012–13967
2013–14806
2014–15833
2015–16877
2016–17956
2017–18650
2018–19817
2019–20567
2020–21617
2021–22605
2022–23886
2023–24728
2024–25948
2025–26946
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Specialist Skills471
  2. Core Skills410
  3. Labour Agreement28
  4. Short-term26
  5. Medium-term11
Granted, 2025–26
946
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
1.4%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Schengen visas in Japan

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Japan, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France4,0033,7111704.2%
Italy2,0362,015211.0%
Spain2,0301,7991728.5%
Germany1,8751,7261186.3%
Netherlands8306809911.9%
Switzerland766721395.1%
Austria700675253.6%
Greece428411133.0%
Hungary331299329.7%
Belgium32131282.5%
Poland261240218.0%
Finland254241103.9%
Czechia23723700.0%
Portugal20218684.0%
Bulgaria857511.2%

Applications by year

8,03216k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
8,03216k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20096,901
20107,563
20117,181
20127,884
20138,679
20149,558
201511,164
201611,435
201712,912
201814,546
201916,064
20202,469
20211,054
20226,211
202311,590
202414,698
Refusal rate, 2024
5.3%
Refusal rate, 2019
2.9%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Japan in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education7,498
  2. Work6,167
  3. Family5,318
  4. Other reasons1,361
First permits by country
  1. Germany4,651
  2. France2,688
  3. Netherlands2,058
  4. Ireland1,035
  5. Denmark973
  6. Spain965
  7. Belgium927
  8. Switzerland885
  9. Hungary878
  10. Italy818
  11. Poland816
  12. Sweden681
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card294
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)1,146
  3. Researchers559
  4. Other paid activities4,168
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
441
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
161
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
6,257
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
40
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
106,674
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
3,157
Changed status into work, 2025
483
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
404
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
15
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Japan in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20251,0072257502309
Sweden20252528231129010
Netherlands20251,9856703357650215
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland202518414737
Austria202552747948
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark225
  2. Sweden82
  3. Netherlands670
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Germany

Citizens of Japan living in Germany on 31 December 2025, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

By residence status, 31 Dec 2025
  1. Permanent residence title12,935
  2. Employment7,550
  3. Family reasons7,060
  4. Application for a residence title pending3,840
  5. Neither tolerated nor permitted3,280
  6. Education and training2,420
  7. Special residence rights and national visas905
  8. EU free movement720
  9. International law, humanitarian or political reasons25

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

19k39k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
19k39k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
201434,388
201535,004
201635,755
201736,600
201837,490
201938,305
202035,565
202135,980
202237,180
202338,705
202438,795
202538,770
Residents in Germany, 31 Dec 2025
38,765
With a residence title for employment
7,550
Permanent residence title
12,935
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Japan

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Japan, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Afghanistan1——
Albania1——
Algeria1——
Angola1——
Argentina11—
Armenia1——
Australia12—
Austria1——
Azerbaijan1——
Bahrain1——
Bangladesh1——
Belarus1——
Belgium1——
Belize1——
Benin1——
Bolivia1——
Bosnia and Herzegovina1——
Botswana1——
Brazil13—
Brunei1——
Bulgaria1——
Burkina Faso1——
Cambodia1——
Cameroon1——
Canada111
Chile1——
China16—
Colombia1——
Costa Rica1——
Croatia1——
Cuba1——
Cyprus1——
Czechia1——
Côte d’Ivoire1——
DR Congo1——
Djibouti1——
Dominican Republic11—
Ecuador1——
Egypt1——
El Salvador1——
Eritrea1——
Estonia1——
Ethiopia1——
Fiji1——
Finland1——
France11—
Gabon1——
Georgia1——
Germany11—
Ghana1——
Greece1——
Guatemala1——
Guinea1——
Haiti1——
Honduras1——
Hungary1—1
Iceland1——
India11—
Indonesia11—
Iran1——
Iraq1——
Ireland1——
Israel1——
Italy11—
Jamaica1——
Jordan1——
Kazakhstan1——
Kenya1——
Kosovo1——
Kuwait1——
Kyrgyzstan1——
Laos1——
Latvia1——
Lebanon1——
Lesotho1——
Liberia1——
Libya1——
Lithuania1——
Luxembourg1——
Madagascar1——
Malawi1——
Malaysia1——
Maldives1——
Mali1——
Malta1——
Marshall Islands1——
Mauritania1——
Mauritius1——
Mexico1——
Micronesia1——
Moldova1——
Mongolia11—
Morocco1——
Mozambique1——
Myanmar1——
Namibia1——
Nepal1——
Netherlands1——
New Zealand1——
Nicaragua1——
Nigeria1——
North Macedonia1——
Norway1——
Oman1——
Pakistan1—1
Palau1——
Panama12—
Papua New Guinea1——
Paraguay1——
Peru12—
Philippines12—
Poland1——
Portugal1——
Qatar1——
Republic of the Congo1——
Romania1——
Russia13—
Rwanda1——
Samoa1——
San Marino1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Senegal1——
Serbia1——
Singapore1——
Slovakia1——
Slovenia1——
South Africa1——
South Korea19—
South Sudan1——
Spain1——
Sri Lanka1——
Sudan1——
Sweden1——
Switzerland1—1
Syria1——
Taiwan——1
Tajikistan1——
Tanzania1——
Thailand12—
Timor-Leste1——
Togo1——
Tonga1——
Tunisia1——
Turkmenistan1——
Türkiye11—
Uganda1——
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom111
United States—32
Uruguay1——
Uzbekistan1——
Venezuela1——
Vietnam12—
Yemen1——
Zambia1——
Zimbabwe1——
Countries
157
Missions
210
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Japan, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

2,7045,4082000200320062009201220152018202120242025
2,7045,408200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000773
20011,250
20021,127
2003811
2004774
2005905
20061,177
20071,384
20081,732
20091,595
20101,684
20112,132
20122,540
20132,364
20143,734
20153,325
20163,830
20174,443
20184,369
20194,389
20204,888
20215,294
20225,408
20234,712
20244,645
20254,727
Remittances received, 2025
US$4,727 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.1%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Japan

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

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