Who can rent UR housing?
UR accepts foreign residents under the same rules as Japanese applicants. You don't need a guarantor — instead you show that you can afford the rent through your income, your savings, or by paying rent in advance.
1. Residence status (for foreign nationals)
You must be able to understand the UR lease, and have one of the following:
- Permanent Resident, Diplomat or Official status
- Special Permanent Resident
- Mid- to long-term resident — anyone issued a residence card (zairyu card): for example work visas such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Highly Skilled Professional or Specified Skilled Worker, as well as Student, Dependent and spouse visas
Short-term stays (tourist visas) are not eligible.
2. Income standard
Your average monthly income (normally last year's taxable income divided by 12, and only income you can prove) must be at least the amount below. The standard depends on the rent and on whether you live alone.
Living alone
| Monthly rent | Required monthly income |
|---|---|
| Under ¥62,500 | 4 × the rent (e.g. rent ¥50,000 → ¥200,000) |
| ¥62,500 – under ¥200,000 | ¥250,000 (fixed) |
| ¥200,000 or more | ¥400,000 (fixed) |
Living with family
| Monthly rent | Required monthly income |
|---|---|
| Under ¥82,500 | 4 × the rent (e.g. rent ¥60,000 → ¥240,000) |
| ¥82,500 – under ¥200,000 | ¥330,000 (fixed) |
| ¥200,000 or more | ¥400,000 (fixed) |
3. If your income is below the standard
Savings option
If you have savings (bank deposits) of at least 100 × the monthly rent — for example ¥6,000,000 for a ¥60,000 apartment — the savings replace the income requirement.
Prepay rent
If you pay rent and common fees in advance for 1 to 10 years(chosen in whole years), there is no income requirement, and the prepaid rent is discounted according to the period. Prepayment generally can't be cancelled midway.
Combining with family
If your own income or savings are at least half of the standard, you can usually combine them with a family member living with you, or receive support from a relative or your employer. Ask the UR sales office for details.
4. Who can live with you
You can live alone or with relatives (a spouse — including a common-law partner or a fiancé(e) marrying within 6 months — and relatives within the degrees UR allows). Everyone must be able to move in within one month of the available date.
5. Documents UR will ask for
- Resident record (juminhyo) for you and everyone moving in — an original issued within the last 3 months, without your My Number. For foreign nationals it must show your nationality, residence status, period of stay and its expiry date, and residence card number, so ask the city office to include these items.
- Proof of income— for employees, last year's withholding tax slip (gensen choshu-hyo) and this year's tax certificate; if you've been employed less than a year, UR's own income certificate form and a copy of your employee ID. Self-employed: tax payment certificate. Savings option: a bank balance certificate issued within 7 days. Prepay option: no income proof needed.
- If you don't use a personal seal (hanko), a signature certificate from your embassy or consulate can be used at contract.
6. Other conditions
- You need the home to live in yourself, continuously.
- Nobody in the household may be a member of an organized crime group.
- People with unpaid debts to UR, or a history of serious lease violations, may be refused.
Source: UR Urban Renaissance Agency, application requirements (ur-net.go.jp, Japanese). Rules can change — the UR sales office makes the final decision.