Japan digital nomad visa
Japan's 2024 nomad visa is short and demanding — six months, no renewal, ¥10 million yearly income — but it's six legal months in Japan, which tourist entries never reliably gave remote workers. For high earners who've always wanted a Tokyo or Kyoto season, this is the clean way to do it.
Digital Nomad Visa at a glance ✓ Verified 2026
- Income requirement: ~$5600/month
- Visa cost: ~$25
- Length of stay: up to 6 months
- Processing time: 2–4 weeks
- Official source: government site
Requirements
- Annual income of at least ¥10 million (roughly $65,000–70,000 depending on exchange rate)
- Citizenship of one of ~50 eligible countries/regions (visa-waiver countries with tax treaties — US, UK, EU members, Australia, etc.)
- Remote work for employers/clients outside Japan
- Private health insurance covering the stay (death/injury/illness, ¥10M+ coverage)
- Spouse and children can accompany you under a linked status
How to apply
- Confirm nationality eligibility and the income bar
- Prepare income evidence, insurance certificate, and the activity description
- Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility / visa at the Japanese embassy
- Enter Japan with 'designated activities' status — 6 months, non-extendable; reapply after at least 6 months outside Japan
Moving abroad means more than the visa — sort your travel insurance (many visa applications require proof of coverage), set up borderless banking, and land with data working.
Frequently asked questions
No — six months is the ceiling, it doesn't renew, and it grants no residence card or path to longer status. You can apply again after spending six months outside Japan. It's built for seasons, not settling.
Generally no — under six months you typically remain a non-resident, and the eligible-country list was built around tax treaties precisely to keep remote income taxed at home. Keep your stay within the visa term and ordinary cases stay clean.
Japan's tourist status doesn't authorize work, even remote work for foreign employers — it's a grey zone people used quietly. The nomad visa makes the same stay legal, insurable, and honest on landing cards.
More visas in Asia
Visa rules, income thresholds, and fees change — always confirm the current requirements on the official government source (linked here) before applying. This page is informational, not immigration advice.