UK to Japan Removals
Entry rules, passport and cash before the shipment
A few short questions. Nothing is sent until you check and confirm.
Does the visa on arrival let me move to Japan?
It lets you visit, not settle. GOV.UK puts it plainly: “You can get a visa on arrival in Japan for tourism or business for up to 90 days.” A household relocation is a long stay, and for that “For long-term stays or to work or study, you must meet the Japanese government’s entry requirements.”
A visitor can ask for more time: “apply at your nearest immigration office for an extension for another 90 days”. That is still a visit. The advice sends anyone who plans to live there to the Japanese Embassy in the UK, to the Immigration Services Agency website and to its own living-in-Japan guide, none of which we read for this page.
The penalties for getting this wrong are stated without softening. “It is illegal to work in Japan without the correct visa no matter how informal or temporary the work.” On overstaying, “you risk arrest, detention and a heavy fine”.
Your status also reaches the shipment. One trade guide lists a copy of the residence card, front and back, and the page of a work visa that is valid for more than a year, among the papers it expects with a new resident's load. The customs guide, linked at the end of this page, sets out the rest.
What does my passport need to show?
For a visit the rule is short. GOV.UK says “No additional period of validity is required” beyond the length of the stay, and “You need a blank page for your visa stamp”.
A damaged record is a problem at the desk: “You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen”. If you extend a visit, the passport must also cover the extra period.
Those lines are for visitors. Whether a residence visa carries a different validity test is not stated on the page we read, so ask the embassy before you book flights or a container.
How will I pay for things in the first weeks?
Expect to need cash. GOV.UK writes: “Japan is still a predominantly cash-based society.” It warns that cards from abroad may fail, and that “Cirrus, Maestro, Link and Delta cash cards are not widely accepted”.
Where to withdraw is named: “Japanese post offices, 7-Eleven stores and JP Post Bank have cash machines that will accept some foreign cards during business hours”. Planning the first fortnight before your belongings land is worth the effort, because the container is unlikely to be there when you are.
Is there an FCDO warning against travel to Japan?
Not on the page we read. The main FCDO page for Japan was marked “Still current at: 8 November 2026” and showed no warning against travel to Japan. Its latest change was “Addition of information about flooding and heavy rain”, added to the Safety and security page, which we did not read.
The page carries a general notice about the Middle East: “Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.” It adds “No travel can be guaranteed safe.” Read the whole of the current advice again in the week you fly.
What is not on this page?
Anything about freight. We hold no price, sailing schedule or Japanese clearance timetable for a UK to Japan load, because nothing we could read quoted one.
For the goods themselves, go to the customs page, then to the port notes for Tokyo, Yokohama and Nagoya. The country overview lists every guide, and the UK customs documentation checklist covers the British end.
Common questions about relocating to Japan
Can I move to Japan on a visa on arrival?
No.
The visa on arrival is for tourism or business for up to 90 days. A long stay needs a visa that meets the Japanese government’s entry rules, so ask the Japanese Embassy in the UK.
Does my passport need extra validity?
For a visit, GOV.UK says no extra period is required beyond your stay, but you need a blank page.
A residence visa may differ, so check before booking.
Will my UK bank card work in Japan?
Not reliably.
GOV.UK calls Japan a predominantly cash-based society and says some UK cash cards are not widely accepted, so plan how to withdraw yen.
Tell us about your move to Japan
Share your departure postcode, planned arrival month, destination city in Japan and rough load size.
About International Removals Companies
International Removals Companies is an enquiry and introduction service run by DATACONTEXT (UK) LTD, in partnership with AGM Group. We don't move goods ourselves: the removal company quotes for your move and carries it out, so check its credentials and terms before you book. Our service is free. Discuss the quotation and booking terms directly with the removal company.
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