Request a move quote
Around 18,000–20,000 British nationals are resident in Japan at any time. They arrive for a range of reasons, employment in technology, finance, automotive, and education sectors; family reunification with Japanese spouses; long-term relocation for cultural or lifestyle reasons; and increasingly, professionals drawn by Japan’s Highly Skilled Professional visa programme.
Japan requires planning time that some destinations do not. The Certificate of Eligibility process (explained below) typically takes 1–3 months. Customs documentation for your household goods needs to be prepared in advance. And the question of what you can and cannot ship, particularly medications, is worth resolving before you start packing, not after your belongings are already on a ship.
UK citizens can enter Japan without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. For long-term residence, the visa you need depends on your reason for moving.
If you are moving to Japan for employment, your Japanese employer must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) on your behalf through the Immigration Services Agency. This document confirms that you meet the requirements for the relevant work visa category. Once the CoE is issued, typically 1–3 months after application, you apply for your work visa at the Japanese Embassy in London, which is then usually processed within a week.
The CoE must be in place before you can apply for the visa. Start this process as early as possible; it is the item with the longest lead time in your Japan move.
Japan uses a points-based system for highly skilled workers in academic research, technical specialisms, and business management. Applicants scoring 70+ points qualify. The Highly Skilled Professional visa offers benefits including a 5-year residence period, permission to bring dependent family members, and a faster pathway to permanent residence. This visa can be applied for without a prior job offer in some categories.
If you are married to a Japanese national, you can apply for a Spouse or Child of Japanese National visa, which permits residence and employment in Japan. Applications are processed at the Japanese Embassy in London and require proof of marriage, financial documentation, and in most cases a period of several weeks for processing.
Japan does not have a general retirement visa programme comparable to Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa or Portugal’s D7. Long-stay options for retirees typically fall under the Designated Activities visa category and require demonstration of sufficient funds and ties to Japan. This is a less straightforward route and is worth discussing with a specialist immigration adviser.
Japan has strict import controls that go beyond what most removals guides mention. Understanding these rules before you pack will save you from customs delays, confiscations, or, in the case of prohibited medications, a more serious issue on arrival.
Japan’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act restricts the import of a long list of substances, including several commonly prescribed in the UK:
If you are on any regular prescription medication, check it against the MHLW controlled substances list before your move. For permitted medications, the personal import limit is typically a 1-month supply (2 months for certain items with a specific import certificate, Yunyu Kakuninsho). Flag any medications to your move manager during the inventory process.
Japan runs on 100V at 50Hz (eastern Japan) and 100V at 60Hz (western Japan). The UK runs on 230V at 50Hz.
We always recommend speaking directly to the relevant embassy for the most accurate and up to date moving advice:
Sea freight from the UK to Japan takes 10–12 weeks for a full container (FCL) and 12–16 weeks for a shared container (groupage / LCL), depending on routing and whether your goods arrive at Tokyo (Yokohama port), Osaka, or Nagoya.
Air freight typically takes 5–7 days and is suited to smaller volumes of high-priority or time-sensitive items, documents, laptops, clothing for the first weeks.
For most Japan moves, the approach is a combination: air freight a bag or two of essentials you need immediately, and sea freight the rest. Your move manager will help you split the volume in a way that makes sense for your arrival date and budget.
Your household goods will arrive at the designated port. A Gerson Moving Services in-country partner handles port clearance and delivery to your Japanese address.
Customs documentation required:
Important: Your household goods are cleared as personal effects imports, which means they must arrive after you have entered Japan. If your container arrives before you do, the customs process becomes significantly more complicated. Your move manager will plan the dispatch date to avoid this.
Within 14 days of moving into your Japanese address, you are required to register at your local ward office (Shiyakusho or Kuyakusho). You will receive a Residence Card (Zairyu Card), which is your primary identification document in Japan and is required for opening a bank account, signing a rental agreement, and registering for National Health Insurance.
If you’re moving to Japan, it’s very likely you’ll need to exchange a significant amount of currency. Many people lose out by using their bank, assuming it’s the only option. However, there are specialist currency exchange providers that offer more competitive rates and can help you save thousands. To find out how to make your money go further during your move, speak to one of our move managers, click here, or give us a call: +44 20 7097 5335.
We always advise taking out move protection liability cover with us on every move. Although we like to think we’re the best in the industry, the odd accident can occasionally happen. For added peace of mind, make sure to speak to one of our move managers about this.
A UK-to-Japan move typically takes six to eight months to plan properly, from first conversation through to delivery at your Japanese address. The process involves a professional survey of your home contents, customs documentation review (particularly for medications and electronics), booking your sea freight or air freight slot, packing day, transit, customs clearance in Japan, and final delivery.
Throughout that process, your dedicated move manager at Gerson Moving Services is your primary contact. They hold your file, know the Japan-specific requirements for your shipment, and are the person you contact when you need an update. You do not deal with a call centre or a different person each time.
For a destination with the customs complexity of Japan, medications, restricted items, the pet import timeline, voltage incompatibility, the move manager model is particularly suited. The paperwork requires individual attention, and the timing of each element (visa, pet blood test, dispatch date) requires active management across a long planning horizon.
If you are planning a move to Japan, the first step is a professional survey of your home contents. This gives you an accurate quote based on what you are actually shipping, and it starts the documentation and planning process early, which for Japan is essential.
Real feedback from people who chose our international moving company.
“Relocating to Japan required careful coordination, and the entire process was handled expertly from start to finish. The team kept us informed throughout, managed all the logistics seamlessly, and ensured everything arrived safely and on time.”
“Our move to Japan was far easier than we expected thanks to the professionalism and support we received. Communication was excellent at every stage, and our belongings arrived in perfect condition. We felt completely looked after throughout the journey.”
“Moving to Japan felt like a huge step, but the team made the experience straightforward and stress-free. Every detail was managed efficiently, updates were provided regularly, and everything arrived exactly as planned. We couldn’t have asked for a better service.”
