We are US citizens planning to retire in Japan. Spouse was born in Tokyo and mother was a Japanese citizen (passed). We are looking into Nikkei visas. We don’t have family in Japan who can sponsor us but financially we would have no trouble supporting ourselves in Japan. However, we will need health insurance to cover any unexpected health issues. Any advice about the process?
by Some_Finish7749
12 comments
Find a Japan-based immigration lawyer and financial planner to assist in the process.
I’m working on this as well. Once you get your long term residency you are eligible for national health insurance.
As for the process of getting the visa, you basically have to prove your lineage. In your situation that should be pretty easy – just need the spouse’s birth certificate, mother’s death certificate and then use those documents to request a copy of the koseki from your MIL’s home town.
There’s more to it than that of course (income, crim check etc), so I suggest working with a lawyer in Japan that can do everything in Japan, which will save you some hassle.
Not sure what you can do about a guarantor though.
it may not need to be a relative.
>However, we will need health insurance to cover any unexpected health issues.
Won’t you just sign up for national insurance once you have residence permission?
Health insurance is easy, it’s actually compulsory.
Do you have japanese ancestry or just your wife?
Many people consider naturalizing if you do indeed plan on staying here. It’s something to consider.
Just FYI it’s usually good to consider stepping up the cost basis of investments before you become a tax resident of Japan to make your cost basis smaller and really simpler to calculate.
One thing you want to consider are the tax implications of retiring in Japan, especially if you will have trust in the US that will pass down to your children. The main thing that happens if you retire in Japan is you will eventually become a tax resident and when that happens, Japanese inheritance tax laws take the first pass after you pass. After talking to a tax accountant, it became clear my kids would pretty much only get half of their inheritance, so my wife and I abandoned the idea of retiring in Japan. Main issue is Japan doesn’t recognize trusts and they will look at who funded the trust. If you’re interested in talking to someone, you can reach out to the Tokyo office of [https://leowealth.com](https://leowealth.com)
You can get a Japan base lawyer to help you fill out the documents. Or you can just go to Japan # and do it yourself. Nothing requires a lawyer at the immigration bureau. It just makes the process less burdensome for you. I am a permanent resident and did it myself. I have recently applied for my spouse and children as well. Never paid a lawyer a time.
Two things, maybe.
Google FATCA. It means, you’ll have to file your US taxes even when you don’t live there. So, depending on your circumstances, you may pay taxes in two countries.
Also: Think about getting elderly. Just today, the wife and I were visiting my Brother in Law in his nursing home. When we got out, I told my wife to shoot me if it ever comes to me needing a place like that. And she (Japanese) agreed; she would also prefer to get shot dead to living in a Japanese care home.
Health insurance is easy, though, compulsory and comparably cheap.
If your spouse passed away you may lose your visa. Worth considering.
I think nissei/sansei visas are unfortunately overrated and overcomplicated to get. I’ve looked into it for myself (sansei) and it looks like the typical visa they grant is only for a year, with the 3 and 5 year options needing you to prove N2 or above level Japanese. I don’t know what a more feasible and reasonable long term visa option is for people like us.
Might run into some troubles buying/renting apartments/houses.
You got any plans on that?
I can’t help with the ancestry visa – that might be a conversation with an immigration lawyer and/or a trip to the gov website. But one thing to watch for is how financial support is evaluated. At one point, my wife (Japanese citizen) and I looked at moving without jobs. But for the spouse visa -at least at the time – they asked for your employment and salary. That’s different than the US green card application which looks at your overall viability (bank accounts, brokerage, and income). In the end, I was able to swing a transfer.
Anyway, good luck and don’t sweat the health insurance. That part is easy.
I’m curious but why Japan instead of just retiring your home country where you have established roots in?