外国人向け保証会社ガイド
なぜ保証会社が必要か、外国人を受け入れる会社はどこか、必要書類を詳しく解説。
なぜ外国人には保証会社が必要なのか
日本の賃貸では、ほぼすべての物件で連帯保証人（保証人となる日本人）または保証会社の利用が求められます。日本に身内がいない外国人が個人保証人を用意するのは現実的に難しく、保証会社がその代替手段となります。ただし、多くの保証会社は審査基準が保守的で、勤続年数が短い・非正規雇用・収入が少ないなどの外国人は審査落ちになることがあります。
承認率：外国人vs日本人
会社と申請者の状況によって大きく異なりますが、業界での概算推定値は以下の通りです。
収入・雇用形態・在留資格・保証会社によって大きく異なります。永住権や配偶者ビザをお持ちの方は承認率が大幅に上がります。
外国人が利用できる保証会社
外国人受入れに積極的とされる保証会社を紹介します。審査基準は変わる可能性があるため、仲介業者に最新情報を確認してください。
ROOM iD（ルームアイディ）
外国人に最も優しい保証会社のひとつ。学生・就労・配偶者など多くのビザ種類に対応。英語でのサポートも可能。
レオパレス保証
レオパレス21関連の保証会社ですが、他の物件にも利用可。さまざまな雇用形態の外国人にも対応実績あり。
Casa（カーサ）システム
大手保証会社で比較的柔軟な審査基準を持つ。外国人向け仲介業者との提携も多い。収入証明書類が必要。
グローバルトラストネットワークス（GTN）
外国人専門の保証会社。学生ビザを含む多くのビザカテゴリーに対応。英語サポートと物件紹介サービスも提供。
必要書類
外国人申請者が保証会社審査に必要な標準書類です。事前に揃えておくとスムーズです。
- →パスポート（写真ページのコピー）
- →在留カード（表裏両面のコピー）
- →収入証明：直近3ヶ月分の給与明細、または在職証明書
- →課税証明書または納税証明書（市区町村役場で取得）
- →通帳コピー（直近3〜6ヶ月分、給与入金の確認用）
- →雇用契約書（勤続1年未満の場合は特に重要）
審査落ちした場合の対応策
1社に断られても諦めないでください。複数の選択肢があります。
別の保証会社に申請する
仲介業者に他の保証会社への申請を依頼しましょう。各社で審査基準が異なるため、A社に断られてもB社が通ることがあります。
敷金を増額して交渉する
一部の貸主は、保証会社の代わりに敷金を多め（2〜3ヶ月分）に積むことを条件として受け入れる場合があります。仲介業者を通じて交渉してみましょう。
外国人専門の不動産業者を利用する
サクラハウスやボーダレスハウス、外国人専門の仲介業者は、あらかじめ外国人の入居を前提とした物件を持っているため、保証会社審査での落選リスクが下がります。
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Try Free Preview →Why Japan Requires a Guarantor
Japan's rental market has historically required tenants to provide a rentai hoshōnin (joint guarantor) — typically a Japanese national relative — who agrees to pay rent if the tenant defaults. For foreigners who have no family or close acquaintances in Japan, this requirement has long been one of the biggest barriers to renting a home.
The landscape shifted significantly with the April 2020 Civil Code reform, which mandated a kyokudo gaku (maximum liability cap) for individual guarantors. Landlords can no longer expose personal guarantors to unlimited liability, making it harder to recruit willing individuals. As a result, the market has rapidly migrated toward rent guarantee companies (保証会社, hoshō gaisha) as the primary safeguard — a change that ultimately benefits foreigners seeking to rent without a Japanese guarantor.
How Rent Guarantee Companies (保証会社) Work
A rent guarantee company acts as an institutional guarantor on behalf of the tenant, paying the landlord if the tenant misses rent. In exchange, the tenant pays a guarantee fee — not to the landlord, but to the guarantee company.
Typical fee structure:
| Fee Item | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Initial guarantee fee | 30–100% of one month's rent (commonly 50–60%) |
| Annual renewal fee | 10–20% of monthly rent, or a flat ¥10,000 |
| Screening criteria | Income proof, employment verification, rental history, credit info (CIC/JICC) |
There are two main types: shinpan-kei (信販系) companies affiliated with credit card issuers, which screen based on Japanese credit history (difficult for new arrivals), and dokuritsu-kei (独立系) independent companies that focus on income verification and employment status rather than credit scores — making them far more accessible for foreigners.
Options for Foreigners Without a Japanese Guarantor
Beyond standard guarantee companies, several alternatives exist specifically suited to foreigners:
- UR Housing (UR都市機構) — Japan's public housing corporation requires no guarantor, no deposit, and no agency fee. Foreigners with a valid residence card may apply. Income requirements apply (monthly rent × 4 or more). Ideal for budget-conscious renters.
- Foreigner-friendly agencies — Specialist agencies in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka know which landlords and guarantee companies welcome foreign applicants, significantly improving your chances.
- Share housing — Multiple tenants share a single property. Most operators do not require a personal guarantor or guarantee company, and initial costs (key money, deposit) are minimal. Many share houses have international communities.
- Monthly apartments (マンスリーマンション) — Furnished short-term rentals (1–6 months) with no guarantor required. Monthly rates are higher than standard leases but move-in is fast and paperwork minimal.
✅ UR Housing at a Glance
No key money, no agency fee, no guarantor, no guarantee company. Requires a residence card and income above the monthly rent × 4 threshold. Deposit (shikikin) of several months' rent is required upfront. Widely used by expats and foreign residents across Japan.
FAQ
Q. Can I rent in Japan without any guarantor?
A. Yes. Apply through a rent guarantee company (especially dokuritsu-kei independent type), or choose UR Housing, share housing, or a monthly apartment — all of which do not require a personal or institutional guarantor.
Q. What if the guarantor company rejects me?
A. If a shinpan-kei (credit-affiliated) company rejects you, try a dokuritsu-kei independent company — their screening focuses on income and employment, not credit history. Alternatively, apply to UR Housing or consider share housing.
Q. Does my visa type affect approval?
A. Yes. Most guarantee companies prefer a residence card with more than one year of remaining validity. Work and engineer visas fare better than student or short-stay visas. Expired or short residency periods can trigger rejection.
Q. What documents do I need?
A. Standard requirements: residence card (在留カード), passport, employment certificate (在職証明書), recent pay stubs or tax return as proof of income, and sometimes a recent utility bill. Requirements vary by company and property.
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