How much is the NHK fee, and do foreigners have to pay it?
Last checked: 2026-11-06
A terrestrial NHK contract costs 2,200 yen every 2 months, and a satellite contract costs 3,900 yen every 2 months, tax included. NHK says anyone with equipment that can receive its broadcasts must sign a contract and pay. The pages we read make no exception by nationality, so a foreign resident with a TV should expect the same rule. Okinawa has its own rates.
What it costs
NHK publishes these fees. The monthly column and the yearly totals are our own arithmetic.
| Contract | Every 2 months | About a month | 6 months in advance | 12 months in advance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | 2,200 yen | 1,100 yen | 6,309 yen | 12,276 yen |
| Satellite (also covers terrestrial) | 3,900 yen | 1,950 yen | 11,186 yen | 21,765 yen |
NHK gives a 4.4% discount for paying 6 months ahead and 7.0% for 12 months.
| One year | Six 2-month payments | 12 months in advance | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | 13,200 yen | 12,276 yen | 924 yen |
| Satellite | 23,400 yen | 21,765 yen | 1,635 yen |
Who needs a contract
| Your situation | What NHK says |
|---|---|
| TV, PC with a TV tuner, one-seg receiver, or car navigation with a TV tuner | A contract is needed |
| Equipment that can receive satellite | Satellite contract |
| Only a smartphone or PC, with no TV tuner | Owning one is not enough to need a contract |
| You start NHK's online service, NHK ONE | Terrestrial contract, if you have no TV |
| Radio only | No contract |
A household needs one contract, even with several TVs in one home. A person living alone counts as a household. A student or worker living away from the family home needs a separate contract, though a discount or exemption may apply.
If you do not sign up
- Deadline. NHK says the contract is due by the end of the second month after you install the equipment. For a TV set up in April, that is the end of June.
- Surcharge. If you miss the deadline without good reason, NHK can claim the unpaid fees plus a surcharge of twice that amount. This counts periods from April 2023 onward. The same applies to avoiding the fee by improper means, such as false details on a cancellation form.
- Legal steps. NHK calls these a last resort, after visits and letters. It says it may seek a payment order, or bring a civil suit against unregistered households.
Watch for fake contacts. NHK warns about false visits, calls, emails, messages and videos using its name.
Exemptions and discounts
| Type | Who, in short |
|---|---|
| Full exemption | Public assistance recipients, some tax-exempt people with disabilities, residents of social welfare facilities, and some students |
| Students living away from family | Full exemption if one test is met, such as income of 1.87 million yen or less last year, being a health insurance dependent, a scholarship, or a tax-exempt household |
| Half exemption | People with visual or hearing disabilities, and people with severe disabilities listed by NHK |
| Family discount | The second and later contracts are half price, for separate members of the same household, such as a student away from home |
NHK says to apply promptly if you qualify. Check the list for the exact conditions.
How to pay
- Bank debit. Taken on the 26th of even-numbered months.
- Credit card. Charged automatically.
- Payment slip. Mailed around the 20th of even-numbered months.
If you do not yet have an account, see Japan Post Bank's requirements.
Moving house or leaving Japan
If you move within Japan, NHK has an address change process. NHK lists a move overseas as a reason to cancel. You contact NHK's call center and send in its form, and payments for months after it accepts the cancellation are refunded. Add this to your moving out of Japan checklist.
What we could not confirm
- Foreign residents. The pages we read do not mention nationality or foreign residents at all.
- English support. We found no English version of these pages.
- Furnished homes. We did not find a page on a TV supplied with a rented room. Ask NHK.
- Phone number. The cancellation page does not list it, so check NHK's contact page.
- Okinawa rates. NHK publishes these separately, and we leave them out.
To budget for this, add it to the first-year cost calculator under other monthly costs.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, ask NHK.