So my dream would be to spend my retirement in Japan. What realistic steps can I do to make this happen?
For the full-picture, I'm 41, married, both of us are born and raised EU citizens, and with future retirement income and own assets we financially could fully sustain ourselves from age ~60 or so.
Currently we have no ties with Japan, but I would love to live in the countryside, buy a fix-er-upper, be part of a local community, live slowly, explore the country, pay taxes, etc.
- What would be the most common way (or ways) to get ourselves into a position we could become retirees in Japan?
I've read about the non-existence of a retirement visa of some sort, but perhaps a 'designated' or 'cultural activities' visa which could be granted for a maximum of 1 or 3 years respectively.
Given I meet all the visa requirements, does this mean automatic acceptance or are the numbers of people granted such visa's way lower than the actual requested visa's? (Are there some stats on this?) And, would such a visa type be easily renewed or are these visa types a 'one time' deal only?
Would there be other ways as well? How about the route of working in Japan for a couple of years (with a work permit) and than retiring? Is that even possible? Or does one need to become permanent resident first? Or perhaps start a business? Etc.
- If such a visa couldn't be obtained (or obtained for a prolonged period of time) what would be the closest alternative to retiring in Japan?
Meaning, what realistic options do I have to stay in Japan for the longest consecutive periods as possible?
With my current passport I would be able to travel up to 90 consecutive days in Japan. Are these 90 days per year? What will happen if I stay for a week in a neighbouring country and than again return for another 90 days, and so on?
by Far_Bookkeeper_3529