Japan
Asia
Key facts
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Population
- 123,366,734
- 2025
- Area
- 377,975 km²
- Official language
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese Yen
- JPY
- GDP per capita
- US$35,951
- 2025
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Japan does not permit dual nationality for adults: naturalising foreigners must give up their nationality, and Japanese who voluntarily acquire another nationality lose Japanese nationality.
Japan (Asia) has data on 12/14 Prosperous Intelligence indices. Strongest relative position: Passport Index — #2/198 (96.8/100). Lowest relative position: Tax Freedom Index — #143/145 (36.8/100). The passport ranks #2/198 and reaches 203 destinations without a consular visa in advance. Global Citizenship Score 82.0/100 (#16/199). On the entry side, 74/197 passports can enter Japan without a consular visa in advance. The dataset records 4 active citizenship and residence programmes in Japan.
Scores on 12 indices
- Health & Longevity86.8
- Safety & Stability96.5
- Economy & Income82.4
- Education80.0
- Environment & Clean Water82.1
- Infrastructure97.4
- Digital Connectivity83.2
- Equality67.5
- Learning Quality100.0
- Expected Years of Schooling77.2
- Education Spending58.5
- Basic Access70.2
- Violent Crime100.0
- Stability & Absence of Terrorism93.7
- Law Enforcement & Order93.9
- Road Safety94.5
- Absence of Armed Conflict100.0
- Health Outcomes99.7
- Coverage & Access98.1
- Health Workforce & Facilities79.6
- Spending & Investment61.9
- Financial Protection86.5
- Personal Income Tax0.0
- Capital Gains & Dividends49.2
- System & Incentives45.0
- Net Wealth Tax100.0
- Inheritance & Gift Tax20.0
- Corporate & Social Security24.6
- Rule of Law & Property Rights88.5
- Political Stability93.7
- Institutions & Regulation93.7
- Financial Soundness49.2
- Monetary Stability95.4
- Freedom of Capital Movement98.0
- Education80.0
- Healthcare86.8
- Safety96.5
- Quality of Life84.2
- Cost of living63.5
- Passport96.8
- Passport96.8
- Quality of Life84.2
- Safety96.5
- Healthcare86.8
- Purchasing power & price stability64.0
- Education80.0
- Wealth Protection86.0
- Tax36.8
- Cost of living63.5
- Healthcare86.8
- Safety96.5
- Quality of Life84.2
- Tax36.8
- Wealth Protection86.0
- Affordable Prices49.8
- Price Stability95.4
- Purchasing power56.2
At a glance
Entering Japan
- Visa-free: 72 passports
- Visa on arrival: 0 passports
- eTA: 2 passports
- e-Visa: 6 passports
- Consular visa required: 117 passports
Regional position and data sources
- First in Asia on 1/12 indices: Healthcare Index
- Above the regional median on 10/12 indices
- Each index lists its source and data date on the Data sources page
Citizenship and residence programmes in the dataset
- Business Manager Visa
- Designated Activities (Digital Nomad)
- Startup Visa (Foreign Nationals startup program)
- and 1 more programmes
Frequently asked questions about Japan
What is the capital of Japan?
The capital of Japan is Tokyo.
What is the population of Japan?
According to the World Bank, Japan had a population of 123,366,734 in 2025.
What is the official language of Japan?
The official language of Japan is Japanese.
What currency does Japan use?
Japan uses the Japanese Yen (JPY).
Does Japan allow dual citizenship?
Japan does not permit dual nationality for adults: naturalising foreigners must give up their nationality, and Japanese who voluntarily acquire another nationality lose Japanese nationality.
How strong is the Japan passport?
The Japan passport ranks #2 of 198 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Passport Index and reaches 203 destinations without applying for a consular visa in advance (visa-free, visa on arrival or eTA).
How many destinations require a visa for Japan passport holders?
Holders of the Japan passport must apply for a consular visa before travelling to 16 destinations and need an e-Visa for 28. Full list: Japan passport page.
How many passports can enter Japan without applying for a visa in advance?
74 of 197 passports can enter Japan without applying for a consular visa in advance: 72 visa-free and 2 with an eTA. 6 need an e-Visa and 117 must apply for a consular visa.
What citizenship and residency programmes does Japan offer?
The Prosperous Intelligence dataset records 4 active citizenship and residency programmes in Japan: Business Manager Visa, Designated Activities (Digital Nomad), Startup Visa (Foreign Nationals startup program) and 1 more. Details: Opportunity Map.
What is the minimum investment for residency or citizenship in Japan?
In Japan, Business Manager Visa requires a minimum investment of US$200,000 (reference USD conversion).
How long does an application take in Japan?
In Japan, an application under Business Manager Visa takes about 1–3 months, Designated Activities (Digital Nomad) about 0–2 months and Startup Visa / Business Manager Visa about 1–3 months (reference processing time).
How long does it take to become a citizen of Japan through these programmes?
Through Business Manager Visa, citizenship of Japan is possible after about 5 years, after a period of permanent residence; through Startup Visa / Business Manager Visa, citizenship of Japan is possible after about 5 years, after a period of permanent residence (reference time).
How many days a year do you need to spend in Japan?
In Japan, Designated Activities (Digital Nomad) requires 180 days of physical presence a year and Startup Visa / Business Manager Visa 0 days (reference figure).
Can family members join programmes in Japan?
Family members included: Business Manager Visa: spouse; Designated Activities (Digital Nomad): spouse and children under 18; Startup Visa (Foreign Nationals startup program): spouse.
Where is Japan strongest and weakest in Prosperous Intelligence’s indices?
Relative to other countries, Japan is strongest on the Passport Index (#2 of 198) and weakest on the Tax Freedom Index (#143 of 145).
How does Japan rank for quality of life?
Japan scores 84.2/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Quality of Life Index, ranking #15 of 211.
Is Japan expensive to live in?
Japan scores 63.5/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Cost of Living Index, ranking #120 of 200. This is the affordability-of-living-costs score: a higher score means lower prices.
How safe is Japan?
Japan scores 96.5/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Global Safety Index, ranking #4 of 203.
How does Japan rank for healthcare?
Japan scores 86.8/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Healthcare Index, ranking #8 of 192.
How does Japan rank for education?
Japan scores 80.0/100 on Prosperous Intelligence’s Education Index, ranking #30 of 191.
What the profile contains
- Key facts from government and international sources
- Scores and global ranks on 12 Prosperous Intelligence indices
- Entry rules, passport strength and residency programmes
Why the profile matters
- Compare one country across many criteria on a single page
- Not a substitute for legal, tax or investment advice
Method
- How each index is scored and weighted
- The limits of the data and how to check official sources
