UK help and services in Japan

Services if you're visiting, studying, working or living in Japan. Includes information about trading with and doing business in the UK and Japan.

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Emergency help for British nationals

Get help if you're the victim of crime, you've been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad.

  1. British Embassy Tokyo

    The British Embassy in Japan maintains and develops relations between the UK and Japan.

  2. Get help if you're a victim of crime abroad

    Contact the nearest British embassy, high commission, consulate or the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London to get help if you're the victim of crime abroad

  3. If you’re affected by a crisis abroad

    Advice to British people affected by crises abroad such as large-scale terrorist attacks, natural disasters and political unrest, and how the FCDO can help.

  4. Information for victims of rape and sexual assault in Japan

    Information for British nationals who are victims of rape and sexual assault in Japan.

  5. Japan – Prisoner Pack

    Explanation of the legal and prison system to British Nationals

  6. Support for British nationals abroad

    This page lists guidance on how you can help yourself stay safe abroad, and the help the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide.

  7. What to do after a British person dies in Japan

    This guide gives advice about the death of a British person in Japan, including information on burial, cremation and repatriation.

Passports and emergency travel documents

Includes how to cancel a lost passport, renew a passport and apply for an emergency travel document.

  1. Apply for or renew a British passport if you're visiting the UK

    You can apply for or renew a British passport while you're visiting the UK - as long as you expect to be in the UK for long enough

  2. Cancel a lost or stolen passport

    What you need to do if your passport has been lost or stolen and you need to travel urgently.

  3. Overseas British passport applications

    Renew, replace or apply for an adult or child British passport if you’re living abroad or working overseas - forms, prices, how long it takes

  4. Travel urgently from abroad without your UK passport

    Apply for an emergency travel document if you're outside the UK and have not got a valid British passport - apply online, how to apply, fee, timings

Travelling to Japan

Includes travel advice and how to get married abroad.

  1. Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad

    Find out how to get the documents you’ll need to get married or form a civil partnership overseas and how much they’ll cost.

  2. Japan travel advice

    FCDO travel advice for Japan. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

  3. Reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad

    How to minimise your risk, and what to do if there's a terrorist attack.

Coming to the UK

Get a visa to study, work or visit the UK.

  1. Check if you need a UK visa

    You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work.

  2. Contact UK Visas and Immigration for help

    How to contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for help with your application or immigration account, from inside and outside the UK.

  3. Get your visa, immigration or citizenship documents back

    Get your documents returned if you've made a UK visa, immigration or citizenship application but need them back urgently

  4. Translating visa documents: list of translators in Japan

    List of English translation services in Japan.

Living in Japan

Includes how to access healthcare, get a document legalised, lists of lawyers and how to vote abroad.

  1. Get your document legalised

    Use the online service to get a UK document legalised.

  2. Japan travel advice

    FCDO travel advice for Japan. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

  3. Japan: lawyers

    List of English-speaking lawyers for British nationals in Japan.

  4. Japan: medical

    List of English-speaking sources of medical information in Japan.

  5. Japan: translators and interpreters

    List of translators and interpreters for British nationals in Japan.

  6. Japan: undertakers

    List of English-speaking undertakers for British nationals in Japan.

  7. Living in Japan

    Information for British citizens moving to or living in Japan, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.

  8. Mental health support for British nationals in Japan

    Information for British nationals with mental health issues in Japan, including how the British embassy can help.

  9. Notarial and documentary services guide for Japan

    We may be able to offer notarial services, including administering an oath or affidavit and making a certified copy of a document.

  10. Professional services if you are abroad

    Find English-speaking lawyers, doctors and medical facilities, interpreters and translators, and funeral directors overseas.

  11. UK benefits if you’re going or living abroad

    Find out what benefits you might be able to receive while you’re abroad and how to export them from the UK or claim them while abroad

  12. Voting if you move or live abroad

    Find out how to vote in UK elections if you move or live abroad, including eligibility, registering to vote and renewing your registration.

Tax, benefits, pensions and working abroad

Includes how to pay tax, claim State Pension and get tax credits abroad.

  1. Claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad

    Benefits you can claim if you go abroad and countries with social security arrangements with the UK

  2. Moving or retiring abroad

    What you need to know if you move or retire abroad - tax, pensions, voting and contacting your local council

  3. National Insurance if you work abroad

    Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or in the country you are visiting when you work abroad.

  4. State Pension if you retire abroad

    How to claim State Pension if you're overseas - payment, tax, change of circumstances - contact the International Pension Centre

  5. Tax credits if you leave or move to the UK

    Tax credits if you live abroad, go travelling, are a cross-border worker or subject to immigration control

  6. Tax on foreign income

    Find out whether you need to pay UK tax on foreign income - residence and ‘non-dom’ status, tax returns, claiming relief if you’re taxed twice (including certificates of residence)

  7. Tax on your UK income if you live abroad

    Find out whether you need to pay tax on your UK income while you're living abroad - non-resident landlord scheme, tax returns, claiming relief if you’re taxed twice, personal allowance of tax-free income, form R43

Birth, death and marriage abroad

Includes how to get married, list of funeral directors and how to register a birth abroad.

  1. Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad

    Find out how to get the documents you’ll need to get married or form a civil partnership overseas and how much they’ll cost.

  2. Japan: child abduction

    Information for parents whose British child has been abducted in Japan by the other parent or a relative.

  3. Register a birth abroad

    Parents must register the birth in the country where the child was born - find out if you can also register the birth in the UK.

  4. Surrogacy overseas

    Information for British nationals who are considering entering into surrogacy arrangements in foreign countries.

  5. What to do after a British person dies in Japan

    This guide gives advice about the death of a British person in Japan, including information on burial, cremation and repatriation.

  6. What to do when someone dies: step by step

    Check what to do after a death - how to register the death, notify government departments and deal with the estate.

News and events

Find out about the UK government's diplomatic, security and development work in Japan.

  1. Japan and the UK

    Updates, news and events from the UK government in Japan

Trade and invest

Includes investing and setting up a business in the UK and doing business in Japan.

  1. Department for Business and Trade Japan

    DBT provides trade and investment services and practical support. We help UK companies succeed in Japan, and Japanese companies set up and invest in the UK.

  2. Overseas business risk for Japan

    This guidance provides information on important security and political risks which UK businesses may face when operating in Japan.

  3. Set up a business

    What you need to do to start a business: choose a legal structure, see if you need licences and insurance, learn about reliefs and benefits

  4. UK Science & Innovation Network in Japan

    The UK Science and Innovation Network Japan (SIN Japan) builds and promotes strategic collaboration between Japan and the UK on key science, innovation and tech themes.

British embassy or high commission

Includes contact details, opening hours and consular fees and local services.

  1. British Consulate General Osaka

    The British Consulate-General in Osaka represents the UK government in Western Japan.

  2. British Embassy Tokyo

    The British Embassy in Japan maintains and develops relations between the UK and Japan.

  3. Notarial and documentary services guide for Japan

    We may be able to offer notarial services, including administering an oath or affidavit and making a certified copy of a document.

  4. Support for British nationals abroad

    This page lists guidance on how you can help yourself stay safe abroad, and the help the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide.