The Japan digital nomad visa is a “Designated Activities” status that lets nationals of about 50 listed countries work remotely from Japan for a foreign employer or their own overseas business for up to six months. You need an annual income of at least JPY 10 million and private medical insurance with at least JPY 10 million of cover, and you cannot extend the stay.
Last checked: October 2026
In short:
- Japan’s digital nomad status launched at the end of March 2024 and requires an annual income of at least JPY 10 million, with sole proprietors assessed on profit after expenses.
- The maximum stay is six months, it cannot be renewed, and you must spend six months outside Japan before you can come back on the same status.
- Holders are not issued a residence card, because the Immigration Services Agency does not treat them as mid- to long-term residents.
Who it’s for
This is for people who are already earning well from abroad and want a long, legal working stay in Japan, not a move there. The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) publishes the list of eligible nationalities. Its current list for the main applicant has 51 countries and regions, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most of the EU, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the UAE and Mexico. The logic, as Masuda Funai and KPMG describe it, is that you must be from a country that is both visa-exempt for Japan and has a tax treaty with Japan.
The list for spouses and children is longer (adding places such as Cyprus, Malta and the Bahamas), but the main applicant must be on the shorter list.
Income and financial requirements
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Annual income | At least JPY 10 million |
| Sole proprietors | Assessed on profit after expenses, not turnover |
| Medical insurance | Private cover for death, injury and illness for the whole stay |
| Minimum medical cover | JPY 10 million or more for injury and illness |
| Death cover | Must cover transport of remains or pay an equivalent benefit |
The ISA allows some flexibility, such as an expected pay rise or combining stable income sources. RSM stresses that recent annual income counts, not a large bank balance. You can’t use Japan’s National Health Insurance, so the private policy is your only cover.
Length, renewal and family
- Six months, no extension. The ISA states the maximum period is six months and renewal is not permitted. The Finnish embassy puts it as no more than six months out of one year.
- Six-month gap. After you leave, you can only return on this status once six months have passed.
- No residence card. You won’t get a zairyu card. RSM notes this makes it hard to open a Japanese bank account, sign a lease or get a local phone number, so plan to live on foreign cards and serviced or short-let housing.
- Spouse and children can come with you under a separate Designated Activities status for family. They need their own private medical insurance, and Masuda Funai notes children can’t attend Japanese public schools.
How to apply
There are two routes, according to the ISA:
- From outside Japan (the usual route). Apply for a visa directly at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering your place of residence. No Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is needed.
- From inside Japan. A COE application can be made in Japan. In practice this means someone filing for you there (verify how your consulate wants this handled).
Documents (Japanese Embassy in Finland list): passport with two blank visa pages and a copy of the photo page, application form, a 4.5 x 3.5 cm photo, a description of your planned activities, proof of income (a tax certificate is accepted), proof of employment and proof of insurance. Family members add proof of relationship and a copy of the main applicant’s passport.
Timing. The Consulate-General in Los Angeles says it refers these applications to Tokyo and a response can take up to two months. Once issued, the visa is valid for three months and is single-entry, so don’t apply too early. The fee depends on your nationality and consulate, so check its visa fee page.
Tax: when you become tax resident
Japan’s National Tax Agency treats you as a non-resident unless you have a domicile in Japan or have lived there continuously for one year or more. A six-month stay should keep you non-resident.
Non-residents are taxed only on Japan-source income, and the NTA’s list includes employment income for work performed in Japan. That’s why the tax treaty requirement matters. Masuda Funai’s view is that holders aren’t subject to Japanese income tax during the stay and that your foreign employer isn’t treated as having a permanent establishment in Japan. That depends on the treaty between your country and Japan, so read its employment and business profits articles, or ask an adviser, before you rely on it. Your home country’s tax rules still apply as normal.
Practical tips
- Check nationality first. Plenty of people with the income are simply not on the list. Being visa-exempt for Japan isn’t enough.
- Read the insurance policy wording. Get a certificate that states the JPY 10 million figure in writing.
- Time the three-month visa validity. With up to two months’ processing and a three-month validity window, work backwards from your arrival date.
- Use income that’s easy to evidence. A tax certificate or return showing JPY 10 million is simpler than a mix of invoices.
See the full list: Digital nomad visa countries: which countries have one (2026 list)
Related guides: Digital Nomad Visa Index 2026: income requirements for 28 open visa routes, ranked · Visa processing times tracker (2026): real dates from members · Expat health insurance for digital nomads: SafetyWing vs Genki vs Cigna and more · Cost of living in Japan (2026): Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kyoto · Japan permanent residency (2026): the rules revised on 1 October
Quick answers
Q: How much income do I need for the Japan digital nomad visa?
You need an annual income of at least JPY 10 million. Sole proprietors are assessed on profit after expenses, not turnover. You also need private medical insurance for the whole stay that pays at least JPY 10 million for injury and illness and covers death, including transport of remains.
Q: Can I extend the Japan digital nomad visa?
No. The Immigration Services Agency says the maximum stay is six months and renewal is not permitted. After you leave Japan, you have to wait six months before you can come back on the same digital nomad status. Holders aren’t issued a residence card during the stay.
Q: Do I pay Japanese tax on the Japan digital nomad visa?
Usually not, because a six-month stay leaves you non-resident under the one-year rule. Non-residents are taxed on Japan-source income, which includes employment income for work done in Japan. Masuda Funai says holders avoid Japanese income tax, but this relies on your country’s tax treaty with Japan.
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Digital nomad status guidance (July 2024)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Eligible countries and regions for digital nomads
- Embassy of Japan in Finland: Visa for Digital Nomad and their Spouse or Child
- Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles: Digital nomad visa requirements
- National Tax Agency: Resident status and taxable income
- Masuda Funai: Japan to implement digital nomad visa
- KPMG: Japan digital nomad visa flash alert 2024-082
- RSM Shiodome Partners: Japan’s digital nomad visa application guide
This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.
Over to you: If you’ve been through this, which consulate did you apply at, and how long did it actually take from submission to visa? And how did you handle housing and banking without a residence card?