Digital Nomad Visa in Japan: Who Is Eligible and How to Apply

Japan allows digital nomads to live and work remotely in the country for up to six months, but sets clear requirements regarding income, insurance, and citizenship. Learn more about the terms of the Digital Nomad Visa, the required documents, the application process, and the program’s main restrictions

The Digital Nomad Visa in Japan allows foreign remote workers to stay in the country for up to 6 months and work remotely for companies or clients outside Japan. To obtain it, the applicant must have an annual income of at least ¥10 million, meet the citizenship requirements, and secure private health insurance with the required level of coverage. The visa does not grant the right to work for a Japanese employer and cannot be extended beyond the specified period.

Read also, TOP-10 countries for digital nomads according to Global Citizen Solutions.

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What is the Digital Nomad Visa in Japan, and how long is it valid?

The Japanese Digital Nomad Visa is issued under the “Designated Activities” status and is intended for foreign nationals who work remotely for companies or clients outside of Japan. The maximum length of stay under this program is 6 months.

Important program rules:

- This status cannot be extended beyond 6 months

- The applicant does not receive a residence card

- Working under an employment contract with a Japanese company is not permitted

- After the stay ends, this status can only be reapplied for after a specified period spent outside Japan

This means the program is primarily suitable for those who want to spend a few months in Japan without changing their primary employer or clients. At the same time, it is not a path to long-term residency and does not replace standard work or business visas.

Learn more about the new naturalization rules in Japan by following the link.

Who is eligible for the Digital Nomad Visa in Japan?

The Japanese Digital Nomad Visa is available to foreign nationals who can perform their work entirely remotely from within Japan but receive income from companies or clients outside the country. The program was launched in March 2024 and is officially processed through the “Designated Activities” status.

To qualify for this status, an applicant must meet several conditions simultaneously:

- Be a citizen or national of a country or territory included on Japan’s approved list;

- Work remotely under a contract with a foreign company or provide services to clients outside Japan;

- Have an annual income of at least ¥10 million;

- Have private health insurance for the entire duration of the stay;

- Insurance coverage for medical treatment in the event of injury or illness must be at least ¥10 million.

In our previous article, we discussed the business manager visa in Japan.

What types of work are eligible?

The program is not limited to employees of IT companies. Remote workers for foreign companies, freelancers, and self-employed entrepreneurs may apply, provided the nature of their work allows them to perform it online from Japan.

The key condition is that the source of employment must remain outside the Japanese market. The Digital Nomad Visa does not allow you to be employed by a Japanese company or receive compensation for work performed for a Japanese employer. Such work requires an appropriate work visa status.

Learn more about the Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa in Japan by following the link.

How is the required ¥10 million in income calculated?

The ¥10 million annual threshold applies specifically to the applicant. The Japan Immigration Service accepts several methods of proving income depending on the type of employment.

For salaried employees, the annual salary specified in the contract may be taken into account. For example, even if a person did not work for the company for the entire previous tax year, a new contract with a salary of at least ¥10 million per year can be used to assess compliance with the requirement.

For freelancers, the situation is slightly different. If the applicant has several stable sources of income—such as contracts with multiple companies—these may be combined as long as their total confirms an annual income of at least ¥10 million.

For sole proprietors or other self-employed applicants with business contracts, it is not the total contract amount or revenue that is considered, but rather the profit after deducting necessary business expenses. This is an important distinction for entrepreneurs with high revenue but significant operating expenses.

Learn more about the digital nomad visa in South Korea by following the link.

What income is required for a Digital Nomad Visa in Japan?

One of the program’s key requirements is that the applicant’s annual income be at least ¥10 million. This refers specifically to the digital nomad’s personal income, not the family’s combined income.

Financial capacity can be verified with documents demonstrating stable and sufficient income.

Depending on the type of work, these may include:

- A tax return or official income statement

- An employment contract specifying the salary

- Contracts with clients

- Other documents confirming the source and amount of income

For freelancers, it is permissible to provide proof of income from multiple contracts, provided that their combined total meets the established threshold. For self-employed applicants, immigration authorities may consider not only gross revenue but also actual income after necessary business expenses.

It is important to note that the ¥10 million requirement is verified at the time of application; therefore, the documents must demonstrate the actual and current level of income, rather than just a one-time payment or the balance in a bank account.

Conditions for obtaining a digital nomad visa in European countries in 2026 in this article.

What documents are required for a Digital Nomad Visa in Japan?

The set of required documents depends on whether the applicant is applying with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), but the basic list remains similar. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends preparing proof of income, employment, insurance, and a plan of stay in advance.

Typically required:

- A valid passport

- A completed visa application form and a photograph

- A document outlining the plan of stay and describing remote work

- Proof of annual income of at least ¥10 million

- An employment contract or contracts with clients

- A private health insurance policy covering the entire duration of the stay

- If available—a Certificate of Eligibility

The insurance must cover medical treatment in the event of illness or injury for at least ¥10 million. If the applicant is traveling with a spouse or children, separate applications and documents confirming family ties must be prepared for them.

Before submitting your application, check the list of required documents on the website of the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence: the diplomatic mission may require additional proof depending on the specific case.

We previously wrote about digital visas without tax residency: 15 countries for remote work in 2026.

How to Apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Japan?

The application process is relatively simple if the applicant already meets the requirements regarding income, citizenship, and insurance. In most cases, documents are submitted through the Japanese embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.

Key steps:

1. Check eligibility for the program. First, you need to make sure your citizenship is on the approved list.

2. Prepare the documents. The application package includes an application form, passport, proof of income, employment, insurance, and an itinerary.

3. Submit the application to a Japanese diplomatic mission.

4. Wait for a decision. If necessary, the consulate may request additional documents or clarification.

5. After receiving the visa, enter Japan and adhere to the permitted length of stay of up to 6 months.

If the applicant has a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), some of the checks can be completed in advance through Japanese immigration authorities. However, the COE does not guarantee automatic visa approval: the final decision is still made by the consulate.

Before applying, it’s worth checking the specific embassy’s rules separately, as the application format, translation requirements, and list of additional documents may vary by country.

We previously discussed which countries allow digital nomads to live comfortably on 500 euros and how to prepare for the move.

Can I move to Japan with my family?

Yes, a Digital Nomad Visa holder can come to Japan with their spouse and children. Family members are granted a separate “Designated Activities” status, and the maximum length of stay is also up to 6 months.

To apply, you typically need to prepare:

- Passports and separate visa application forms

- Documents proving family ties

- A copy of the primary applicant’s documents

- Private health insurance covering the entire duration of stay

It’s important to note that family members do not automatically receive the right to work in Japan. If a spouse also plans to work remotely, they should check separately whether they meet the requirements of the digital nomad program.

Learn more about the digital nomad visa for Panama in 2026 by following the link.

Taxes and other important rules to know

The six-month digital nomad status does not make the applicant a regular long-term resident of Japan. A Residence Card is not issued under this program, and the status cannot be extended beyond six months. After leaving the country, you can reapply for a Digital Nomad Visa only after 6 months.

Taxes require special attention. The Japanese Immigration Bureau notes that income from work actually performed while in Japan may not be taxable in the country if the applicant meets the conditions of the relevant double taxation avoidance agreement. In many such agreements, one of the criteria is staying in Japan for no more than 183 days; however, the specific rules depend on the country and the nature of the income.

A few more important details:

- While your status is valid, you may temporarily leave Japan and return before the end of the permitted period under the re-entry rules

- You may change your city of residence within the country without special notification to immigration authorities

- The Digital Nomad Visa does not allow you to work for a Japanese employer

- Private health insurance must remain in effect for the entire duration of your stay

Therefore, before traveling, you should separately verify not only the immigration rules but also the provisions of the tax treaty between Japan and the country of your tax residency.

Have you chosen a country from the rating and are ready to apply for long-term residence? Even if it is a digital visa, and not a classic work permit, the lack of one certificate or an incorrectly filled out application form can delay the processing of your application for months - and in Portugal, as the practice of 2026 shows, the queues are already long.

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We remind you! In 2026, Sri Lanka is actively developing the Digital Nomad Visa program, opening up new opportunities for foreign remote professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers. We have already told you who can apply for this type of residence permit, what financial requirements are set for applicants, how long they are allowed to stay in the country and what benefits Digital Nomad Visa holders receive.

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