Can a foreign national get a mortgage in Japan?
Last verified: August 31, 2026
Answer
Mortgage eligibility for foreign nationals in Japan depends on the lender and product. As one official benchmark, the Japan Housing Finance Agency states that applicants for Flat 35 must be Japanese nationals, permanent residents or special permanent residents. Foreign nationals therefore need permanent-resident or special-permanent-resident status for this specific product.
Do not generalize this to all banks
The Flat 35 requirement is not proof that every private bank applies the same condition. Private-lender criteria can differ and may change. Product-by-product confirmation is required.
What to check with a lender
- Residence and immigration-status requirements
- Income and debt-service criteria
- Employment and length of service
- Down payment and source of funds
- Property type and intended use
- Current official product terms and confirmation date
This article confirms the cited Flat 35 eligibility only; it does not certify eligibility with any other lender.
Official sources & verification
2026-08-31 · 2 sources · 2 primary