Challenges of moving from the Japan to the UK involve complex immigration laws and visa applications. Just one misstep — delay or even denial of entry could affect your personal and professional plans. Let an expert team of immigration solicitors help you with your relocation. Leave all your worries behind and rest assured regarding having every aspect of your move managed efficiently and in compliance with UK regulations. From securing an appropriate visa to enter the country to understanding the minutiae of residency in the UK, our services help you to move seamlessly.
The Success Story: Read about how A Y & J Solicitors helped this Japan client relocate to the UK and made the process easy, ensuring timely entry into the UK.
At A Y & J Solicitors in London, we've helped thousands of new and experienced business owners move to the UK from around the world. We understand the typical challenges that come along with your visa application for self-sponsorship UK and know how to mitigate them. We walk you through step by step, showing you how to self-sponsor a work visa in the UK. Instead of going it alone, let our lawyers take the weight off your shoulders, so you can rest easy knowing you'll be able to bring your business (and family) to the UK.
Kate Corey, Founder of 6 Degrees
We are specialists in immigration law and have supported more than 4,000 business owners and professionals around the globe to successfully navigate the British system. We work quickly, always responding to any queries within 24 working hours. And we work closely with the Home Office to pre-empt issues before they jeopardise sponsorship applications or breach compliance. We manage all United Kingdom immigration matters including visa applications under the new points-based immigration system, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Spouse Visas, nationality, and more. We also handle complex cases of appeal, administrative reviews, judicial reviews and the many immigration challenges involving European Union law and human rights.
A Y & J Solicitors has more than 1,200 positive client reviews across Google and Trustpilot and is listed in The Legal top 500 best UK law firms, so you can rest assured your immigration challenges are in safe hands when you take these three simple steps:
"I had an excellent experience working with Mr. Imad on my Skilled Worker visa application. He guided us through every step with professionalism and clarity, and helped get our approvals — for me and my family — in a remarkably short time. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable and efficient immigration support!"
"I’m so grateful to Elaha mam and the entire team for their outstanding support with my Skilled Worker visa application. The whole process was incredibly smooth, quick, and stress-free thanks to their expertise and dedication. I truly appreciate all the effort from the team. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable and efficient immigration services!"
"Thank you so much A Y & J Solicitors, Dipannita Mazumder (Dia) and Amy Felix-George, for your amazing help with my Skilled Worker Visa. The process was so quick and smooth, and I’m really grateful for your support!"
"Puru did my application perfectly well. I mean she’s wonderful in the job. She handles her job as a professional. I highly recommend her."
"I had an excellent experience with AY&J Solicitors. Dia and Amy provided outstanding support throughout my visa application. Their clear communication, expert guidance, and professionalism made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended for anyone needing immigration assistance."
"Very professional service. Excellent correspondence. Ikra is extremely patient and helpful. She answered all our questions and scheduled meetings even at a very short notice when required. Communication was so easy; I was able to reach out to Ikra whenever I had a question. Their fees are reasonable as compared to other firms. Within 3 weeks my husband joined me. I’m very pleased that I utilised their services. I would highly recommend A Y& J. In fact they will be my plug whenever I require any professional service. Very grateful to your Team; especially IKRA Ahmed. Thank you"
The UK offers many benefits for Japanese nationals who wish to relocate here, including:
To move from Japan to the UK, whether to work, study, start a business, or join a family member, you will need to secure an immigration visa from the UK’s Home Office. Each visa has its own legal requirements; hence, it is important to check whether you are eligible before submitting your application. The following sets out the legal requirements for some of the most popular visas (please note this list of visas is not exhaustive):
The UK’s Skilled Worker visa enables foreign nationals, including Japanese citizens, to live and work for a period of up to 5 years. Importantly, this visa provides a pathway to permanent residence (referred to as indefinite leave to remain – ILR) after 5 years of continuous residence and citizenship 1 year later.
To apply for a Skilled Worker visa as a Japanese national, you must:
The UK Student visa allows Japanese nationals to study at a UK university, college, or school. As a student visa applicant, you must:
If you would like to remain in the UK for longer after your studies come to an end, you will have the option of applying for a Graduate visa. With a post-study work visa, you will be able to stay in the UK for up to 24 months to find skilled employment and then switch to a Skilled Worker visa, putting you on a pathway to permanent settlement and citizenship.
For Japanese business people and entrepreneurs wishing to establish a new business in the UK, the Innovator Founder visa offers the perfect immigration route. This particular visa provides an accelerated pathway to permanent settlement in the UK after just 3 years, rather than the 5 years required for most other visas. To apply for an Innovator Founder visa, you must:
The UK family visa enables foreign nationals, including Japanese citizens, to relocate to the UK to join close family members who are already settled here. To apply for a family visa, your family member in the UK must be your partner or spouse, parent, or child.
The exact legal requirements that you will need to meet for a family visa as a Japanese national will depend on whether you are joining a parent, child, or partner. To apply for a spouse or partner visa, for example, you must:
As a UK family visa holder, you can remain here for up to 5 years, at which point you can apply for permanent settlement and citizenship a year later.
When it comes to setting up your finances in the UK, you will need to consider your banking arrangements, UK national insurance, and taxation as a minimum.
We recommend waiting until you arrive in the UK before opening a bank account. You will need to provide proof of your identity and a permanent UK address as part of the application process. If you need to transfer money from your bank in Japan to the UK, you can either use a bank-to-bank transfer service or a specialist money transfer service such as OFX and Wise. If you choose the latter option, always use a reputable company and check that the fees and the exchange rate are competitive. Doing so can save you lots of money.
Once in the UK, you will also need to apply for a National Insurance (NI) number and provide this to your employer. You will need to do this before you start to work or run a business in the UK.
If you are employed in the UK, any tax you owe will be automatically collected through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system. However, if you are self-employed, you will need to complete and submit an annual self-assessment form to HMRC. An accountant can handle your self-assessment.
If you are considering emigrating from Japan to the UK in 2024 or beyond, this guide is for you. Here, you will discover all you need to know about making the move from Japan to the UK, including:
It is estimated that around 65,000 Japanese nationals now live in the United Kingdom, attracted by the robust economy and job opportunities, British culture and history, and the excellent education on offer here. If you need any help or support in your move to the UK from Japan, please do not hesitate to contact one of our specialist immigration Solicitors, who have helped many Japanese nationals relocate easily and seamlessly.
The cost of living in the UK is around 33% higher than in Japan, according to the cost of living comparison website Numbeo. When rent is included, this rises to 53% due to the fact that rent prices are around 128% higher here compared to Japan. Restaurant prices in the UK are also 121% higher than in Japan, and groceries are 5% higher than in Japan.
While the overall cost of living in the UK is higher than in Japan, do bear in mind that wages may be higher here for highly skilled roles. Also, prices vary enormously depending on where you live in the UK. For example, property and rental prices in central London and the south of England are much higher than in other parts of the UK. The key message here is to look at areas to live across the length and breadth of the UK, as doing so can lower your cost of living considerably.
A Y & J has assisted many Japanese nationals in moving from Japan to the UK. By taking the right approach and doing your ‘homework’ before relocating, you can make the whole experience much smoother and easier overall. To this end, we recommend completing the following steps:
The Self-Sponsorship route is a relatively new and innovative immigration pathway that enables foreign nationals, including Japanese citizens, to move to the UK without the need to get a job. Instead, applicants set up and run their own business in the UK and sponsor themselves. On this route, visa holders can settle in the UK after a number of continuous years of residence and later gain UK citizenship.
A Y & J is a specialist in the area of UK self-sponsorship and can guide you through the entire process of making a successful self-sponsorship application.
If you are a non-Japanese national with plans to live, work, study, or join family members in the UK, you will need to apply for a visa. To understand the best UK visa for your needs, please consider speaking to one of our friendly and knowledgeable UK Immigration Solicitors who can advise on the most suitable visa based on your personal circumstances and those of your immediate family.
As a non-Japanese national with plans to join a partner, spouse, parent, or child who is already settled in the UK, you will first need to apply for a UK family visa. Your family member must either be:
Family visa applicants can settle permanently after 5 years of continuous residence and apply for British citizenship one year later.
The documents required for relocating to the UK from Japan vary based on the type of visa you need. For instance, if you are moving to the UK on a work visa, you will need the following documents (this list is not exhaustive):
These are just some of the documents that you may need to relocate from Japan to the UK. Your immigration advisor will provide you with a complete list of all the documents that you will need based on your chosen visa type. You may also need to have your documents translated into English.
Yes, to work in the UK as a Japanese national, you must be sponsored by a UK employer. Alternatively, you may be able to consider the Self-Sponsorship route as explained above.
If you are a British ex-pat returning to the UK from Japan, consider your employment, banking arrangements, and credit rating. Being outside the UK for many years might have affected your credit rating, making it more challenging to borrow money or obtain a mortgage. It is also advisable to consult an accountant regarding your tax arrangements, as living in Japan for more than 5 years may require you to comply with different income and capital gains tax rules. Additionally, check if you need to ‘top up’ your national insurance contributions to qualify for a UK state pension.
Please see the legal requirements for moving from Japan to the UK above.
Yes, however, Japanese citizens and their family members normally require a visa to live in the UK. Please see the visa options explained above.
Yes, as a Japanese national, you can work in the UK, but you will need a job offer from a sponsoring employer, a Certificate of Sponsorship, and a work visa issued by the UK Home Office. Alternatively, you can come on a family visa, which also permits you to work.
As a citizen of Japan, you can apply for a visa online through the UK’s Home Office website. You will need to fully complete the application form, pay any required fees, and submit any documents required to support your case. You will also need to meet the requirements for the type of visa you are applying for. An immigration law specialist based in the UK can handle all of this on your behalf.
The duration of your stay in the UK depends on the type of visa you have:
Most UK visas offer a route to permanent settlement after 5 years.
Please see the cost of living section above.
A Y & J Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm with extensive experience with all types of visa applications. We have an in-depth understanding of immigration law and are professional and results-focused. For assistance with your visa application or any other UK immigration law concerns, please contact us on +44 20 7404 7933 or at contact us today. We’re here to help!
