Digital Nomad Visa to Japan: Duration, Requirements, and How to Apply

For many digital nomads, Japan is a dream destination that tops their must-visit list. With the launch of Japan’s digital nomad visa in the spring of 2024, remote workers now have the opportunity to live and work in this captivating country for up to six months.

This article will guide you through everything you need to know about Japan’s digital nomad visa, including eligibility requirements, and application procedures. Whether you’re considering a short stay or planning an extended adventure, we’ve got you covered.

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Visas to Japan for Digital Nomads

Japan initiated its eagerly awaited digital nomad visa program in 2024. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you need to know about the Japan Digital Nomad Visa.

Duration of Japan Digital Nomad Visa

The Japanese digital nomad visa allows you to stay in the country for 6 months, with no option for extension. It is designed for individuals seeking an immersive experience in Japan while working remotely, even though it’s shorter compared to digital nomad visas from some other countries.

Note that after the initial visa’s expiration date, you need to wait for at least 6 months to apply for a new one.

Who are Eligible to apply

• People who plan to engage in remote work from Japan for up to 6 months, including roles like IT professionals, digital designers, and remote secretaries, or those managing overseas businesses.

• Citizens of one of the 49 specified countries/regions:

These 49 countries are visa-exempt nations that have a tax treaty with Japan.

Spouse and Children Eligibility

Spouses and children can accompany the applicant, provided they are citizens of one of the 70 specified countries:

• 49 countries mentioned above
• Additional 21 countries below:

Nationals of these countries are not eligible to apply for Japan’s digital nomad visa on their own but can obtain a visa to accompany a digital nomad as a spouse or child.

Requirements

Japan requires applicants to prove a certain level of income and have medical insurance to cover potential injuries or illnesses during their stay, similar to the requirements of digital nomad visas in other countries.

• Annual Income: You must prove an annual income over 10 million JPY (around $65,000 USD as of January 2025) earned from business outside Japan, with necessary documentation like tax payment certificates or employment contracts.

• Medical Insurance: You must hold medical insurance providing a minimum coverage of 10 million JPY.

Required Documents to apply for Japan Digital Nomad Visa

The application process involves submitting the following documents:

• Visa Application Form: A filled visa application form with a photograph
• Valid passport: Must have at least six months of validity remaining and two blank visa pages
• Activity Plan: A plan of your intended activities and duration of stay in Japan (The form is here).
• Proof of income: Documentation showing an annual income of at least JPY 10 million (approximately $65,000 USD), such as tax certificates, income statements, or employment/business contracts.
• Proof of medical insurance: Insurance covering death, injury, or illness during your stay in Japan, with a minimum coverage of JPY 10 million (approximately $65,000 USD).

If family members are accompanying you, their documentation and proof of insurance are also required. For a spouse, a marriage certificate must be submitted, and for children, a birth certificate is necessary.

About Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

Japan provides international visitors with the option to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) before arriving in the country. If you have a COE, you are not required to submit the Activity Plan or proof of income when applying for a digital nomad visa.

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is an official document issued by Japan’s Immigration Services Agency, verifying that the applicant meets the requirements for entry into Japan under their intended status of residence. This document serves as a preliminary screening tool, confirming eligibility for activities such as work, study, or designated activities in Japan.

Although a COE is not mandatory and does not guarantee visa approval, it can simplify the visa application process both at the embassy or consulate and upon entry into Japan.

About COE, Immigration Service Agency

How to apply for Japan Digital Nomad Visa

To apply for Jaoan Digital Nomad Visa, you’ll need to visit your nearest Japanese embassy or consulate. Make sure all your documents are prepared carefully and accurately—this step is crucial to avoid any issues or delays in getting your visa approved.

For the latest details and application procedures, refer to Japan Immigration Services Agency’s website.

For those eyeing the digital nomad lifestyle in Japan, the new visa offers a chance to explore the country beyond the typical tourist timeframe. Yet, the six-month timeframe, with no extension available, may indeed feel somewhat brief for truly settling in and feeling at home.

Traveling to Japan as a Digital Nomad?

Japan is said to be one of the safest countries in the world, but things can still happen. It is important to have insurance that covers you if you get sick or injured during your stay.

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance is a travel medical insurance designed for digital nomads that covers not only Japan, but 180+ countries around the world. So, if you decide to hop over to neighboring South Korea or extend your journey to Thailand or the Philippines, you don’t need to worry about your insurance.

You can choose to pay for the whole travel period in advance, or automatically renew every 4 weeks, so if your nomad journey becomes longer than you thought, you can keep your peace of mind and focus on exploring and experiencing new places without worrying about unexpected medical expenses.

👉 More Details about SafetyWing Nomad Insurance on their official website

Having travel medical insurance that fits the digital nomad lifestyle is crucial. It is ideal to have a policy that covers multiple countries and can be easily extended as you wander around the world. SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides one of the most affordable and comprehensive options available, making it an excellent choice for digital nomads seeking reliable and flexible coverage.

Types of Long Term Visas Available in Japan

If you’re planning to extend your stay, understanding all the available visa options is key. This guide will help you navigate those options, so you can fully immerse yourself in Japan’s captivating culture for even longer.

When we talk about the “working visa” in Japan, there are a variety of options to choose from. There is not just one kind of visa for everyone, as they differ in the type of work you can do, the length of stay, among other restrictions you need to follow, based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. >> Visa for Work or Long-term stay in Japan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Just like other countries, there are different visas you can get, namely working and non-working visas.

Here are the two main types of visas you can look into, made for work and/or long-term stays:

Working Visa

Working visas would only cover occupations that require higher levels of professional knowledge and/or skills. If you are a foreigner engaging in manual or simple labor, there is a low chance of being eligible for this kind of visa, unless you have a visa granted according to your family visa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan also states you may also be able to obtain a trainee visa or have part-time simple work on a student or dependent visa. (https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html)

For instance, there are no work visas available for hairdressers, masseurs, waiters, salespeople, construction workers, and the like. Rather, these are the five different industries that are typically granted work visas in private companies.

Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, or International Services

This visa type permits the following authorized activities:

• Engineers who work in the field of engineering, physical science, or other natural sciences. They require a University degree in their field, or at least ten years of professional experience.
• Specialists in humanities who work in legal, economic, and/or social fields, or in human sciences. Like engineers, they require a University degree in their field or at least ten years of professional experience.
• International services who work in translation, interpretation, or language instruction. They may also work in public relations, fashion or interior design, product development, and international trade. They require at least three years of professional experience in their field, though, for interpretation, translation, or language instruction, they only require a university degree.

Intra-Company Transferee

These are ex-pats of foreign companies or subsidiary companies of Japanese firms from overseas. This requires at least one year of working in the overseas office.

Skilled Labor

This type of visa includes the following authorized activities:

• Architecture
• Civil engineering
• Foreign cooking
• Sports instructors
• Sommeliers
• Piloting aircrafts
• Processing fur, metals, precious stones
• Training animals

Such workers in this visa type require between three to ten years of professional experience, which already includes their period of training.

Startup Visa in Japan

In an effort to promote to increase foreign entrepreneurs in Japan, the Japanese government introduced a Start-up visa program which allows you a status of residence for 6 month/1 year with more relaxed requirements, in certain designated regions like Tokyo, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, etc.

In April 2021, Shibuya ward located in central Tokyo announced to launch a new startup visa for entrepreneurs from around the world. The 1-year start up visa will be issued for the qualified entrepreneurs working in the field of Health/Medical/Welfare, Environment/Energy, Food/Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries, Information Technologies, Culture/Art, and Fashion.

Many municipalities in Japan offer such programs to boost their local economies, including the following that provide Startup Visas:

• Shibuya, Tokyo (1 year)
• Kyoto (1 year)
• Osaka City, Osaka (1 year)
• Aichi (1 year)
• Kobe City, Hyogo (1 year)
• Fukuoka City, Fukuoka (1 year)
• Gifu (1 year)
• Hokkaido (1 year)
• Oita (1 year)
• Ibaragi (1 year)
• Mie (1 year)

Business Manager Visa

These are people who are currently starting or investing in businesses in Japan or are managing businesses on behalf of investors. This requires a physical and dedicated office space in Japan and at least 5 million yen investment for new business applications, as well as 10 million yen in sales and 5 million yen for renewal expenses.

If you want to establish a business in Japan, you can apply for Business Manager visa which allows you to obtain a residence card, register your business and open a bank account. Opening a business as a foreign national requires a physical and dedicated office space in Japan and at least 5 million yen investment or hire at least 2 full time employees.

Highly-Skilled Professional

The Highly-Skilled Professional Visa offers three main categories: Advanced Academic Research Activities, Specialized/Technical Activities, and Business Management Activities.

1. Advanced Academic Research Activities involve conducting research or education under a contract with public or private organizations in Japan.
2. Specialized/Technical Activities require expertise or specialized skills in fields such as natural sciences or humanities, also based on a contract with public or private organizations in Japan.
3. Business Management Activities pertain to roles in managing or operating public or private organizations within Japan.

If you are recognized as a highly skilled professional, this special visa provides several benefits, including:

• The flexibility to engage in multiple activities across different visa categories or work full-time for your spouse, subject to specific conditions.
• The ability to bring your parents to Japan or hire a domestic helper, subject to certain conditions.
• A five-year visa duration with faster access to a Permanent Resident visa.
• Priority processing for immigration procedures.

Eligibility for this visa is determined by a points system, which evaluates your academic and professional background, income, and achievements. Detailed information about the points system is available in this document provided by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

Other Types

There are also other types of work visas granted to those who own certain knowledge, skills, or status, such as:

• Diplomats and Officials
• Professors
• Instructors
• Artists
• Missionaries for religious activities
• Journalists
• Legal and accounting services
• Medical services
• Researchers
• Entertainers
• Specified skilled workers

Non-Working Visa

You can also work under non-working visas, but only when working below the limited hours weekly and after obtaining permission from the immigration office. These are the following visas you may use:

• Student visas for students enrolled in Japanese schools
• Trainee visas for those training to learn and acquire any technologies, skills, or knowledge in private and public organizations in Japan
• Technical Internships for internships after training under trainee visas
• Dependent visas for spouses or children of those staying in Japan on work and non-working visa
  Cultural Activities visas without providing income, such as studies and researches
• Temporary visitor visas for tourism, vacations, family visits, seminars, and the like
• Designated Activities, such as student internships, housekeepers for diplomats, of long stays for sightseeing and recreational activities. These visas are granted on a case-to-case basis.

How to Apply for Japan Visas

Now that you know about the different kinds of visas you can obtain for working, what is the procedure to prepare for?

Besides the educational and/or work experience required, the specific documents you need to prepare for visa application varies on the type of visa you need.

In general, these are the following requirements for Japan visa applications:

• Application form
• Visa application fee
• Certificate of Eligibility
• Passport size photos
• Old and current passport
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if married)
• There are also other requirements needed, again, depending on the visa you want to apply for. Some work visas require proof of employment, University diploma, among others. You may also need to undergo an interview before being granted a visa.

There may be a chance of denial, but don’t let that discourage you, as you can apply again after a specific period!

Once you have been granted a working or non-working visa, you are now able to prepare for your trip ahead, knowing how long you’re able to stay there. If you were denied, don’t fret! You can learn from the situation and see what went wrong, so you can prepare better and be granted a visa for you to become a digital nomad in Japan.

Wrapping It Up

Before heading to Japan to pursue your life as a digital nomad, you first have to know about the visa requirements, among other travel documents you may have to submit. This will help avoid any trouble in immigration, removing the risk of being rejected and flown back to your country. With the right visa, you can stay for the long-term without worrying about breaking any laws or restrictions.

Now that you know which visa option suits you best, learn more about its exact requirements, and how to obtain them for a smooth trip to Japan!

If you have any queries or want to share your travel experiences in Japan as a digital nomad, share it in our Digital Nomad Japan Facebook Group! We would love to hear your thoughts.