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Process and Contract

Length of Service

Length of Service (kinsokunensū)

Continuous time with your current employer, distinct from school year. Rental screening also considers income, employment type and other evidence.

Sources checked

Separate employment tenure from school year

Employment tenure is continuous time with your current employer, distinct from total work experience or school year. ELB suggests recording start month, employment type and current circumstances. Students should separately state school, year and expected graduation. Describe new employment, job changes or offers accurately.

Sources[1]

Confirm evidence for each property

MLIT’s screening checklist helps identify documents; it is not a nationwide scoring system. Neither “one year guarantees approval” nor “under a year cannot rent” is a universal rule. Confirm the management company’s, landlord’s and guarantor company’s requirements.

ELB suggestion: without a full pay history, ask whether an offer letter, employment contract or other evidence can explain future income and who pays the rent. Do not present projected income as earned income. Additional evidence does not guarantee approval.

Sources[2]

Practical checklist

  • Check your actual start month with your current employer.
  • Separate earned pay, projected income and family support.
  • Ask which evidence is accepted before preparing it.

References

Prepared from official and public sources. Checklists are ELB reading aids; confirm specific application, fee and contract terms with the relevant organization.

  1. MLIT: Apartment Search Guidebook (search and lease procedures)
  2. MLIT: Screening documents checklist (Appendix 2)

Use what you have learned in your rental plans

Start by estimating your budget, or share your move-in date, preferred area and questions with an advisor to check property-specific conditions.

Submit housing requirementsEstimate rental costsAsk an advisor about other questions
Japanese Real Estate Move-in QuestionnaireA questionnaire collecting housing preferences and applicant information. Its format, required fields and submission timing vary by agent, manager and property.Rent Guarantor CompanyA company that fulfils a guarantee to the landlord for unpaid rent or other events covered by its contract. Registration under the ministry’s rent debt guarantor scheme is voluntary.Status of Residence Categories in JapanLegal status categories for foreigners to legally stay and engage in activities in Japan (e.g., Student, Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Dependent, Permanent Resident, etc.).