Can Foreign Buyers Get a Mortgage in Japan? Flat 35 Eligibility in 2026
Foreign nationals considering a Japanese home loan should not assume that one rule applies to every lender. Eligibility varies by product, income, residence status, property and repayment capacity.
Flat 35 requires permanent-resident status for foreign nationals
Under Japan Housing Finance Agency conditions current as of April 1, 2026, applicants must be Japanese nationals, permanent residents or special permanent residents. A foreign national applying for Flat 35 therefore needs permanent-resident or special-permanent-resident status.
Residence status is only one requirement
Applicants must also satisfy other conditions such as age, income-related repayment ratios and property standards. Private-bank mortgages have their own underwriting rules, so Flat 35 criteria should not be treated as the rule for every mortgage in Japan.
Check financing before committing to a property
Foreign buyers should organize residence documentation, income evidence, employment information, down payment and requested loan amount and confirm lender eligibility before making a purchase commitment.
This article was reviewed on September 2, 2026 against official Japan Housing Finance Agency guidance.