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16 June 2026
Japan introduced a digital nomad visa in 2024, giving remote workers a legal way to live in Japan for up to six months while working for employers or clients outside the country. It's aimed at well-paid remote professionals from a defined list of countries — not a back door to a normal work visa, and not a route to residency. This guide explains who qualifies, the income and insurance bars, the six-month limit, and how it differs from a standard work visa, so you can tell quickly whether it fits you.
Stay length: Up to 6 months; not renewable into a long stay
Who it's for: Remote workers/freelancers earning from foreign employers or clients
Income requirement: A high annual-income threshold (in the region of ¥10 million)
Insurance: Private health insurance covering your stay is required
Eligible nationalities: Citizens of countries with the relevant visa/tax agreements with Japan
Residence card: Not issued; you don't become a registered resident
Family: A spouse and children may accompany under the scheme
The digital nomad visa is deliberately narrow. To qualify you generally need to:
Work remotely for an employer or clients outside Japan — your income can't come from a Japanese company's domestic operations.
Meet a high annual-income threshold — set around ¥10 million, so it targets established, well-paid professionals and freelancers.
Hold a nationality on Japan's eligible list — citizens of countries that have the relevant visa-exemption and/or tax arrangements with Japan.
Carry private health insurance covering medical costs for the duration of your stay.
Because eligibility is tied to nationality and the income bar is high, the first thing to check is whether your passport is on the list and whether your income clears the threshold. If you're moving to Japan to work for a Japanese employer, this is the wrong visa — you want a work status instead (see our Japan Work Visa guide).
This is a short-stay scheme, not a residency route. Key consequences:
You can stay up to six months, after which you must leave; it isn't a stepping stone you can renew into a long-term status.
You generally don't receive a residence card and don't register as a resident at a ward office the way long-stay visa holders do.
Because you're not a registered resident, you typically won't join National Health Insurance or the pension — which is exactly why private insurance is mandatory.
Think of it as a long, legitimate working stay rather than the start of a move. If your goal is to settle, a work, student, or other long-term status is the path; the nomad visa is for testing life in Japan or basing yourself there for a season while keeping a foreign job.
Employer
Digital nomad visa: Foreign — outside Japan
Work visa: Japanese sponsor required
Length
Digital nomad visa: Up to 6 months
Work visa: 1–5 years, renewable
Residence card
Digital nomad visa: No
Work visa: Yes
Path to residency
Digital nomad visa: No
Work visa: Yes, over time
Public insurance/pension
Digital nomad visa: No (private insurance required)
Work visa: Yes
Even for six months, the practicalities matter: short-term housing, connectivity, and budget. A data eSIM or short-term SIM covers connectivity without a long contract, monthly or serviced apartments suit a half-year stay, and you'll still want to know your costs — model them on the Budget Calculator and scope out where to base yourself on the Neighborhood Map.
What is Japan's digital nomad visa?
A visa introduced in 2024 that lets eligible remote workers live in Japan for up to six months while working for employers or clients outside Japan. It's a short-stay scheme, not a route to residency.
Who qualifies for the digital nomad visa?
Remote workers and freelancers earning from foreign employers/clients, who meet a high annual-income threshold (around ¥10 million), hold a nationality on Japan's eligible list, and carry private health insurance for their stay.
How much income do I need?
The threshold is high — set in the region of ¥10 million per year — so the visa targets established, well-paid professionals rather than budget travellers. Confirm the exact current figure with official sources before applying.
How long can I stay?
Up to six months. It isn't renewable into a long-term stay, and it doesn't lead to permanent residence. For a longer or permanent move, you'd need a work, student, or other long-term status.
Do I get a residence card?
No. Digital nomad visa holders generally don't receive a residence card or register as residents, which is why they don't join National Health Insurance or the pension and must hold private insurance instead.
Can my family come with me?
The scheme allows an accompanying spouse and children under its conditions. Check the current requirements for accompanying family with official sources, as documentation and income proof apply.
Which nationalities are eligible?
Citizens of countries that have the relevant visa-exemption and/or tax agreements with Japan. The eligible list is defined by the government, so verify that your country is included before planning.
Can I work for a Japanese company on this visa?
No — your income must come from employers or clients outside Japan. If you want to work for a Japanese company, you need a work visa with a Japanese sponsor, not the digital nomad visa.
Japan's digital nomad visa is a clean fit for a specific person: a well-paid remote professional from an eligible country who wants up to six months in Japan while keeping a foreign job — and who doesn't need it to become a residency route. Check the nationality list and income bar first, line up private insurance, and plan the practical stay with the Budget Calculator and Neighborhood Map. If your real goal is to settle, start instead with the Path Finder to find the long-term route that fits.
Authoritative references: Immigration Services Agency of Japan; Ministry of Foreign Affairs — visa.
This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. The digital nomad visa's income threshold, eligible nationalities, insurance rules, and conditions can change; verify the current requirements with the Immigration Services Agency or MOFA before applying.