Digital Nomad Visa

Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa is a new residence status introduced in April 2024. Officially called “Designated Activities (Digital Nomad),” it allows for a maximum stay of six months.

Overview of the Digital Nomad Visa

The Digital Nomad Visa is a residence status for foreigners who work remotely under contracts with overseas companies. It is intended for individuals who receive work from companies or clients outside Japan without being employed by Japanese companies. Entrepreneurs and freelancers are also included.

Requirements

To obtain the Digital Nomad Visa, all of the following requirements must be met:

• You must be a national of one of the countries listed below.

• You must have an annual income of 10 million yen or more in the year immediately preceding the application.

• You must be enrolled in a private medical insurance policy that includes coverage for the following:

  • Treatment costs for injury and illness of 10 million yen or more.

  • Repatriation of remains or a death benefit in the event of death.

• The insurance must be obtained before applying for the visa.

The table below lists the eligible countries for the main applicant:

Iceland	Ireland	United States	United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom	Israel	Italy	Indonesia
Uruguay	Estonia	Australia	Austria
Netherlands	Qatar	Canada	Greece
Croatia	Singapore	Switzerland	Sweden
Spain	Slovakia	Slovenia	Serbia
Thailand	Czech Republic	Chile	Denmark
Germany	Turkey	New Zealand	Norway
Hungary	Finland	Brazil	France
Bulgaria	Brunei	Peru	Belgium
Poland	Portugal	Malaysia	Mexico
Latvia	Lithuania	Romania	Luxembourg
South Korea	Hong Kong	Taiwan

Accompanying Family Members

Spouses and children of Digital Nomad Visa holders may accompany them only if they are financially dependent on the digital nomad, under the status of “Designated Activities (Spouse or Child Accompanying a Digital Nomad)”.

Requirements for accompanying family members:

• You must be a national of one of the countries listed below.

• You must be enrolled in a medical insurance policy, same as the digital nomad.

• You must be financially dependent on the digital nomad. Economically independent spouses or children are not eligible.

• The period of stay for family members is the same as the digital nomad's period of stay.

The table below lists the eligible countries for accompanying family members:

Republic of Iceland	Ireland	United States of America	United Arab Emirates
Argentine Republic	Principality of Andorra	State of Israel	Italian Republic
Republic of Indonesia	Oriental Republic of Uruguay	Republic of Estonia	Republic of El Salvador
Commonwealth of Australia	Republic of Austria	Kingdom of the Netherlands	State of Qatar
Canada	Republic of North Macedonia	Republic of Cyprus	Hellenic Republic
Republic of Guatemala	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	Republic of Croatia	Republic of Costa Rica
Republic of San Marino	Republic of Singapore	Swiss Confederation	Kingdom of Sweden
Kingdom of Spain	Republic of Suriname	Slovak Republic	Republic of Slovenia
Republic of Serbia	Kingdom of Thailand	Republic of Korea	Czech Republic
Republic of Tunisia	Republic of Chile	Kingdom of Denmark	Federal Republic of Germany
Dominican Republic	Republic of Turkey	New Zealand	Kingdom of Norway
Republic of Panama	Commonwealth of the Bahamas	Republic of Paraguay	Barbados
Hungary	Republic of Finland	Federative Republic of Brazil	French Republic
Republic of Bulgaria	Brunei Darussalam	Republic of Peru	Kingdom of Belgium
Republic of Poland	Portuguese Republic	Republic of Honduras	Republic of Malta
Malaysia	United Mexican States	Republic of Mauritius	Principality of Monaco
Montenegro	Republic of Latvia	Republic of Lithuania	Principality of Liechtenstein
Romania	Grand Duchy of Luxembourg	Kingdom of Lesotho	Taiwan
Hong Kong	Macao

Application and Other Important Information

Application Process

There are two main ways to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa:

1. Apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country.

2. Enter Japan with a short-term stay visa and then apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the immigration bureau.

You cannot change your resident status to a Digital Nomad Visa from another type of visa. However, you can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) while in Japan.

Important notes:

• A residence card will not be issued with this visa.

• The visa cannot be renewed. You must leave Japan after the six-month stay period has expired. You can reapply after six months have passed since your departure from Japan.

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are prohibited under the Digital Nomad Visa:

• Entering into an employment contract with or receiving work from a Japanese company.

• Engaging in unauthorized activities such as part-time work in Japan.

• Providing or selling services or goods that can only be offered or sold by physically being in Japan (e.g., services provided only at a store in Japan, goods sold only at an event in Japan).

Required Documents

The following documents are generally required for the application:

Document Name	Applicant	Accompanying Family	Notes
Application Form for Certificate of Eligibility	Required	Required
Face Photo	Required	Required	4cm x 3cm, adhere to specified standards
Copy of Passport	Required	Required
Documents Explaining Planned Activities in Japan	Required	Required	Can be omitted if details are included in the application form
Documents Proving Annual Income	Required	Not Required	Tax certificates, income statements, employment contracts, bank account copies, etc.
Proof of Medical Insurance	Required	Required	Copy of insurance certificate and policy. Must confirm coverage amount and period.
Documents Proving Relationship (for accompanying family)	Not Required	Required	Marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.

Other Notes

• Review Period: The review process typically takes about three to four months.

• Taxes and Social Insurance: The Digital Nomad Visa is not treated as a mid- to long-term residency, so you are not obligated to pay Japanese pension or taxes.