The NHK Fee in Japan: Do Foreigners Have to Pay? Cost, Exemptions & How to Cancel

Quick answer (30 seconds): The NHK fee (NHK受信料) is not a tax and not optional if you qualify — but it's not based on nationality. Under the Broadcast Act (Article 64), anyone in Japan who installs equipment that can receive NHK (a TV, a TV recorder, even a one-seg phone or car navigation with a TV tuner) must sign a receiving contract and pay. Foreigners are treated the same as everyone else. If you have no TV and no tuner (you only stream on a laptop/phone with no TV function), you generally don't have to contract. When you get rid of your TV or leave Japan, you cancel — it doesn't stop automatically.

Disclaimer: General information, not legal advice. The obligation, fees, exemptions, and cancellation rules are set by NHK and the Broadcast Act and can change — confirm the current details directly with NHK.

Is the NHK fee really mandatory?

Yes, if you have receiving equipment. The Broadcast Act (Art. 64) requires a person who installs equipment capable of receiving NHK's broadcasts to enter into a contract with NHK. It is a contractual/legal duty, not a voluntary donation, and there is no exemption just for being a foreigner.

What counts as "receiving equipment":

• A television (the main case)
• A TV recorder / tuner
• A one-seg (ワンセグ) mobile phone — Japan's Supreme Court has held this counts
• Car navigation with a TV function

What generally does not trigger the duty:

• A laptop, tablet, or phone with no TV tuner used only for internet/streaming.

So the honest test is simple: do you have a device that can receive NHK? If yes, you're expected to contract. If genuinely no, you're not.

How much is it? (approximate)

Fees depend on whether you take terrestrial only or terrestrial + satellite, and on your payment method/period. As a rough guide (amounts change — confirm current figures with NHK):

Contract type	Rough monthly cost
Terrestrial (地上契約)	about ¥1,100 / month
Satellite (衛星契約, includes terrestrial)	about ¥1,950 / month

Paying annually or by direct debit/credit card is usually cheaper than monthly. Treat these as ballpark figures only.

Who can be exempt or pay less

• Full exemption for households on public assistance (生活保護) and certain households with a disability and low income.
• Student discounts/exemptions can apply to students living alone under certain conditions.
• Apply through NHK with the right paperwork — exemptions are not automatic.

The door-to-door visit — what to know

NHK uses collection agents who visit homes to sign people up. Key points:

• The duty to contract comes from having equipment, not from the visit.
• If you have a TV, you're expected to contract; refusing the contract while owning a TV doesn't remove the legal duty, and since 2023 NHK can add a surcharge (割増金) on people who have equipment but avoid contracting despite notice.
• If you genuinely have no receiving equipment, you are not obliged to contract — you can say so. You're not required to let anyone into your home.
• Be cautious of anyone pressuring you; you can always contact NHK directly to verify.

How to cancel (解約)

You can cancel only when your situation changes so that you no longer have receiving equipment — for example, you dispose of your TV, or you leave Japan. Contact NHK, explain the change (no equipment / moving abroad), and complete their cancellation procedure. It does not stop on its own, so cancel before you move out of Japan to avoid being billed for months you're not here.

FAQ

1. I'm a foreigner — am I really liable? If you have a TV or other NHK-receiving equipment, yes. The duty is based on equipment, not nationality.

2. I only watch Netflix/YouTube on my laptop. Do I pay? If your device has no TV tuner and you don't have a TV, you generally have no contract duty.

3. Does a one-seg phone count? Yes — the Supreme Court has held a one-seg phone is receiving equipment.

4. Can I just ignore the agent at the door? You don't have to let anyone in. But if you do own a TV, the legal duty still exists, and a surcharge can apply for avoiding it. If you have no equipment, simply say so.

5. How do I stop paying when I leave Japan? Cancel with NHK before you go (state that you no longer have equipment / are leaving). It won't cancel automatically.

Sources

• NHK — receiving fee (official; current fees, discounts, exemptions, procedures): https://www.nhk.or.jp/
• Broadcast Act, Article 64 (放送法第64条) — e-Gov 法令: https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=325AC0000000132
• Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省) — broadcasting / receiving-fee policy: https://www.soumu.go.jp/

Related guides

• Japan utilities setup checklist — electricity, gas, water, internet (and NHK)
• Best home internet in Japan — stream without a TV
• Moving in Japan checklist — what to set up and cancel
• UR rental housing for foreigners — low-cost public rentals

Last updated: 2026-06-19