A very common question from foreign tenants is:

“Once I decide on an apartment, how long will it take until I can actually move in?”

This is especially important when you have a flight date, a job start date, or your current lease ending soon.

Based on our experience helping international tenants rent apartments in Tokyo, the realistic answer is:

From choosing the apartment to moving in, the fastest is about 1.5 weeks, and the slowest is usually around 25 days.

Of course, there are exceptions, but most cases fall within this range.

Why It Takes Time in Japan

In Japan, moving into an apartment usually requires several steps:

Screening (審査) → contract preparation → contract signing → payment → key handover → move-in

Even if screening is fast, other steps can still take time depending on the management company and the move-in schedule.

Typical Timeline: 1.5 Weeks to 25 Days

1) Screening (Guarantee Company + Management Company)

Most apartments require a rent guarantee company (保証会社).

They check income, visa status, documents, and general reliability.

This usually takes a few business days, but it can take longer if additional documents are needed.

2) Contract Preparation and Scheduling

After approval, the management company prepares:

lease contract documents and important explanation documents

Then the signing method is arranged (online / in-person), and the final amount is confirmed.

This stage can take several days depending on how busy the management company is.

3) Payment and Key Handover

In many cases, you must complete the payment first (initial costs + first month rent).

Only after payment is confirmed will the management company proceed with key handover.

The key handover timing depends on the move-in date and the building rules.

What If the Apartment Is Not Vacant Yet?

This is very important and often misunderstood.

In Tokyo, many tenants apply for apartments before the current tenant moves out.

So even if you pass screening and sign the contract quickly, you may not be able to move in immediately.

In that case:

You sign the contract in advance, and the move-in date is scheduled after cleaning.

This is very common for popular buildings.

What Makes the Process Faster?

In our experience, the process is much faster when:

Documents are ready immediately (residence card, passport, COE, income proof, etc.)
You can sign the contract quickly
You can pay initial costs without delays

When everything goes smoothly, moving in within about 1.5 weeks is possible.

What Makes the Process Slower?

The timeline becomes longer when:

Additional screening checks are required
Documents are missing or need translation

The management company is busy (peak season)

In these cases, it may take closer to 20–25 days from choosing the apartment to moving in.

Final Answer: How Long Should You Expect?

To summarize clearly: 

From choosing the apartment to moving in:

• Fastest: about 1.5 weeks

• Slowest: around 25 days

If you are working with a specific moving deadline, it’s always best to start early and choose properties based on availability + approval likelihood.

Need Help Moving In Quickly?

If you need to move into an apartment in Tokyo on a tight schedule, we can help.

At Mitsumaru Real Estate, we assist international tenants with:

property search based on your timeline
screening preparation
contract explanation in English / Chinese / Spanish
fast communication with management companies

If you tell us your target move-in date, we can suggest properties that are realistic for your schedule.

Feel free to contact us anytime.