Bhutan or Japan
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| Bhutan | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | — | $ 24 467 |
| Citizenship | 20 years | 5 years |
| Partner can work | no | — |
| Parents | no | no |
| Pets | difficult | difficult |
| Pet limit | no limit | no limit |
| Quarantine | 20 days | 180 days |
| Residence permit fee | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 196 · estimate | $ 1 606 · estimate |
| Basket | $ 16,2 | $ 34,9 |
| Life expectancy | 73.26 | 84.04 |
| Homicides/100k | 2.47 | 0.23 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 2.8 | 8.3 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: Bhutan — 13, Japan — 88. Types present in both: work, study, family, investment and talent. Japan adds: remote work, startup, repatriation, retirement, job seeking and working holiday.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
Bhutan: the fee is 40 USD wherever it is published. Routes with a published decision deadline: 8; the shortest is 5 days. Japan: fees range from 6,000 to 10,000 JPY. Routes with no fee: 72. Routes with a published decision deadline: 87; the shortest is 14 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: Japan after 10 years; the other country publishes no term. Citizenship: Bhutan after 20 years, Japan after 5 years. Neither recognises a second citizenship. Parents cannot be brought to either country.
Bhutan in brief
Bhutan is the most closed case for long-term relocation in this guide. Grounds for staying are limited to a narrow list: a tourist visa through a licensed tour operator with a mandatory daily Sustainable Development Fee (US$100 per day plus a one-off US$40 visa fee for most foreigners; a separate "entry permit"/visa-on-arrival arrangement with a reduced fee applies to citizens of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives), work permits tied rigidly to a specific employer and position (up to one year for skilled workers, up to three years for highly skilled workers), and student and business visas. There is no separate permanent resident status between a temporary permit and citizenship. Naturalisation is governed by the Bhutan Citizenship Act 1985: 15 years of residence for those with a Bhutanese parent or for civil servants, 20 years in all other cases, plus an exam in the Dzongkha language and knowledge of the country's culture; the government expressly retains the right to reject an application without giving reasons. Dual citizenship is not permitted — acquiring another citizenship automatically terminates Bhutanese citizenship. Marriage to a Bhutanese citizen gives the foreign spouse a residence status (Special Residence Permit or Immigration Card depending on the date of marriage) but does not speed up naturalisation. Land and real estate are reserved by the Land Act of Bhutan 2007 for citizens, the institution of the monarchy, the state and recognised Bhutanese organisations — foreigners, including spouses of Bhutanese citizens, are not on this list and may only rent housing. The country lies in a zone of high seismic hazard in the Himalayas.
Japan in brief
Japan combines low crime, good healthcare and a fast route to permanent residence through the Highly Skilled Professional points system with high natural hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, volcanoes), a ban on dual citizenship and practically no route for parent reunification outside a narrow HSP exception.
Other comparisons
Bhutan or… Taiwan · South Korea · Thailand · Kazakhstan · Lebanon · Uzbekistan · Malaysia · Azerbaijan
Japan or… Philippines · Bangladesh · Kuwait · Iraq · Mongolia · Oman · People's Republic of China · Sri Lanka
More on each: Bhutan · Japan. Build your own comparison — up to four countries
This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.