How to Transfer Money from USA to Japan
USA to Japan Guide
Summary
The United States and Japan cooperate on a number of global economic initiatives. Recently, Japan joined the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, along with the United States, to help negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement. The two countries are also involved in bilateral negotiations for trade in the insurance and automotive trade industries. For American citizens who wish to transfer money from USA to Japan and convert USD to JPY, there are currently no restrictions in place.
Visas, work permits and residency
For visits to Japan that are less than 90 days, normally a visa must be obtained by applying to the Japanese embassy or consulate. However, Japan has a visa waiver program in place with 66 countries, including the United States. For American citizens who will be staying in Japan for less than 90 days, a visa is not currently required. If working in Japan, though, applying for a business visa is a requirement.
For American citizens who wish to obtain Japanese residency, they must first obtain a visa, and then go through the application process for a residency card. Once they are issued a residency card upon entry into the country, within two weeks they must take the resident card, passport, and a passport photo to a local municipal office to notify the Ministry of Justice of their address.
Buying Property in Japan
Purchasing property in Japan is relatively easy and open to residents and non-residents. All prospective buyers must be able to procure their own financing for the transaction, however. When factoring in costs for a property purchase, additional costs such as registration fees and realtor commissions must also be factored in to the final purchase price.
It is advisable to work with a licensed real estate agent to help negotiate all aspects of the purchase. Once the details have been determined, the agent will prepare the final sales contract. Once the contract has been signed by both the buyer and seller, the buyer must pay stamp duty (this is a documentary stamp tax which is required for all real estate sales contracts) and make a deposit on the purchase. This deposit is typically around ten percent of the property price. There are currently no restrictions for Americans who wish to transfer money from USA to Japan to fund their property purchase.
Studying in Japan
US citizens who wish to study in Japan for periods of longer than 90 days must apply for a student or training visa. Student and training visas are long-term visas and generally allow the holder to stay in Japan for a period of three months up to three years, depending on the visa type and the length of the study program.
Taxation
All individuals living in Japan, whether a resident, non-permanent resident, or non-resident, must pay some form of income tax if working and earning income in Japan. The amount ultimately depends on the type of residency and the level of income generated. Incomes are taxed at the national, prefectural, and municipal levels. Prefectural and municipal taxes are sometimes referred to as ‘resident tax.’ American citizens must also file taxes with the American government and may have to pay taxes on their earned income in Japan. The US and Japan do have a tax treaty in place to avoid double taxation of both countries’ citizens. It may be possible to receive tax credits for the taxes already paid in Japan. It is possible to transfer money to Japan at any time if needed during tax season.
Healthcare
All individuals living in Japan must be enrolled in one of the two health insurance programs offered. For American citizens who plan to stay in Japan longer than three months, it is required to join the National Health Insurance plan (NHI) unless covered by an employer’s health insurance plan. To qualify for the NHI, American citizens must have a resident card. If staying less than three months, it is advisable to take out a travel insurance policy or private health insurance plan.
Voting
American citizens living abroad are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in US primary, general, and presidential elections. They must first complete and return a voter registration/absentee ballot to the elections office of the last state where they lived. Once approved, they will receive their ballot by email for each election, but must return it by mail or through a delivery service. It is important to register every election year to ensure a ballot is received.
Importing from the United States to Japan
The United States and Japan have a bilateral relationship based on strong economic two-way trade, investment, and finance. The two countries are allies and have a shared philosophy on a number of global initiatives, ranging from open markets to global growth. The US imports many items to Japan, with large quantities of dollars to yen traded every day as it is its fourth-largest import market. Imports include films and music, aircraft, agricultural products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and medical and scientific supplies. US imports in 2013 totaled $65.1 billion, and two-way trade of goods and services between the countries was estimated at $290 billion in 2012. US foreign direct investment and money transfers to Japan totaled $134 billion in 2012, an increase of 6.3% from the previous year. For more information on the US-Japan relationship, please refer to the Office of the United States Trade Representative website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the money transfer companies shown above safe to use?
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services.
Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial
Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
How long does an international money transfer take?
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being from and to and how
you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers
can depend take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates
from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster
transfers for smaller amounts.
How do I use FXcompared?
First review the comparison results (such as for a table above) for a given amount
of money sending from USA to Japan. Then select a provider based on
factors such as price, speed, their rating and click the green button to be taken to
their website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have
done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be send
safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
What payments methods can I use to send money overseas?
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible
via some providers to pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit
cards as well but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also
give you different options for how the money will be received - to a bank account
(most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
What if the price shown above isn’t exactly what I am offered when I try to transfer money?
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different
to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all
the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different
pricing depending what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be
received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases
FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time
customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website.
As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider
before transferring money.
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