Money: what it costs, what you earn, what gets home
Three numbers matter: how much you spend before leaving, how much you actually take home each month in Japan, and how many pesos arrive when you send it.
1. Before you leave
Legitimate costs for an SSW worker are small and paid to the organization providing the service. If someone asks for more than about PHP 20,000 in total, ask what each peso is for.
| Item | Who pays | PHP | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport (new or renewal) | You | 950 to 1,200 | DFA fee. Do not pay a fixer. |
| JFT-Basic test fee | You | About 3,000 | Paid to the test center only. |
| Skills evaluation test | You | About 3,000 to 4,500 | Varies by field. |
| Medical exam (DOH-accredited clinic) | You | 3,000 to 8,000 | Only at clinics accredited for Japan. |
| NBI clearance | You | About 130 to 200 | Online appointment. |
| PDOS / PEOS | You | Free | OWWA / DMW. |
| Placement fee | Nobody | 0 | Not allowed for Japan-bound workers. |
| Visa application | You | Free for Filipinos (Japan waives the fee) | Via accredited agency or embassy. |
| Airfare | Employer (usually) | Check your contract | Many SSW contracts cover it. Confirm in writing. |
| Japanese language classes (optional) | You | 5,000 to 40,000 | Depends on the school. Free materials exist. |
Amounts are typical as of 2026 and change. Confirm on the official sites.
2. What you take home in Japan
Your contract shows gross salary. Deductions for health insurance, pension, employment insurance, income tax, and often housing come out before you see it. Use the calculator to estimate. Residence tax starts in your second year and surprises many workers.
- Health insurance
- -¥10,000
- Pension
- -¥18,300
- Employment insurance
- -¥1,100
- Income tax (approx.)
- -¥6,412
- Residence tax
- -¥0
- Housing
- -¥30,000
Estimate only. Food, phone, and transport are not included. Pension paid can be partly refunded when you leave Japan.
3. Sending money home (JPY → PHP)
The same JPY 50,000 can arrive as a difference of several hundred pesos depending on the service. We compare the rate and fee of major services every hour. Some links are affiliate links: Hanapon may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and the order is always by pesos received, not by who pays us.
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Two things nobody tells you
- Pension refund (Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment): when you leave Japan for good, you can claim back part of the pension you paid, within two years. Many workers forget and lose it.
- Residence tax after you leave: it is charged on last year's income, so a bill can arrive after you have gone home. Appoint a tax representative before leaving.