Japan launched its digital nomad visa on April 1, 2024, and it is one of the most talked-about visas in the nomad world, for a simple reason: Japan is a dream destination for many remote workers, and this visa is the first legal route to living there for up to six months while working remotely. It is also one of the strictest nomad visas anywhere. The income threshold is high, the stay is capped at six months with no extension, and you will not get a residence card, which shapes daily life in ways applicants often do not expect.

The visa's official name is the Specified Visa: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad), and it covers the primary applicant plus a spouse or child under a linked status. It is designed for people whose work is entirely for clients or employers outside Japan. That last condition is absolute: providing services to Japanese companies is prohibited, and a Japanese contract on your books can put the application at risk. If your income comes from Japanese clients, this is the wrong visa.

The income and insurance requirements

The headline requirement is income: at least ¥10 million a year, roughly $63,000 to $68,000 depending on the exchange rate, judged on your most recent annual gross income. The income must be active, earned from work, not from passive investments. A retiree living off dividends does not qualify even if the dividends clear ¥10 million. You prove the income with tax certificates, income certificates, employment contracts or contracts with business partners that show the amount, and the safer your paperwork, the smoother the application. Self-employed applicants should make sure their contracts explicitly link the income to digital or IT-related work.

The second requirement is private health insurance with at least ¥10 million of coverage for medical treatment, covering death, injury and illness for the whole stay. Most standard employer health plans do not provide international coverage at this threshold, and even those that do rarely produce certificates in a format Japanese consulates accept. Plan to buy a dedicated nomad or expat policy, which typically costs a few hundred dollars for six months of coverage. The third requirement is nationality: you must hold a passport from one of the roughly 50 countries and regions that have a tax treaty or agreement with Japan, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and most of Europe.

How to apply

You apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your country of residence or nationality, before you travel. There is no route to switch to this visa after entering Japan as a tourist, and there is no fully online application. The process has two possible routes: with a Certificate of Eligibility issued in advance by Japan's Immigration Services Agency, or directly at the consulate. Both end in the same visa stamp, and the direct consular route is often simpler for applicants who do not have a proxy in Japan.

Processing typically takes five to ten business days, though it can take longer if the application is referred to Tokyo. The visa fee was revised on July 1, 2026, to around ¥15,000 for a single-entry visa, unless your nationality is exempt. You will need the application form, your passport, proof of income, proof of insurance, and a description of your intended activities. Prepare translations of any document that is not in English or Japanese, and check your local consulate's exact list, because requirements vary slightly by location.

What life on the visa actually looks like

The six-month limit is the defining feature of this visa. It starts the day you enter Japan, cannot be renewed or extended inside the country, and triggers a six-month cooldown outside Japan before you can reapply. If you stay 90 days or fewer, you do not need this visa at all: most nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. The nomad visa only makes sense if you want the full three-to-six-month stay, and you should plan your exit date before you arrive.

The absence of a residence card shapes daily life more than most guides admit. Without it, opening a bank account, signing a long-term lease or getting a local phone contract can be difficult or impossible, so most nomads on this visa use short-term furnished rentals, international banking and eSIMs. Foreign-sourced income is generally exempt from Japanese income tax during a stay of under a year, but tax rules depend on your home country and your total time in Japan, so get professional advice rather than relying on a blog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much income do I need for Japan's digital nomad visa?

A: At least ¥10 million a year, roughly $63,000 to $68,000 depending on exchange rates. The income must be active earnings from remote work, not passive investment income.

Q: How long can I stay in Japan on the digital nomad visa?

A: Up to six months. The visa cannot be extended or renewed inside Japan, and there is a six-month cooldown outside the country before you can reapply.

Q: Can I work for Japanese clients on this visa?

A: No. All of your work must be for employers or clients based outside Japan. Working for Japanese companies is explicitly prohibited under this status.