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How to apply for Japan's digital nomad visa
Six months in Japan working remotely for clients or an employer abroad. It's officially a "Designated Activities" status, and it's strict: high income, specific nationalities, and serious insurance. Here's each step, from Japan's Immigration Services Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Income
- JPY 10,000,000 per year
- Insurance
- Required · ¥10M+ medical cover
- Stay
- 6 months, no extension
- Who
- 51 nationalities
Step by step
Step 1: check your nationality
Only nationals of countries and regions on ISA's chart can apply: places covered by Japan's short-term visa exemption that also have a tax treaty with Japan. That's 51 today.
Show all 51 countries and regions
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Spouses and children use a longer list (the visa-exemption countries, without the tax-treaty condition), so a family member may qualify even if their nationality isn't above.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad / spouse or child), English ↗, ISA: Eligible countries and regions (PDF) ↗ · read Nov 4, 2026
Step 2: check your work and income
Your work in Japan must be one of two things, done over the internet: working for a foreign company under an employment contract, or selling services or goods to people outside Japan (for example as a business owner or freelancer). Work that can only be done by being in Japan doesn't count, and you can't take on Japanese employers or clients.
You need personal annual income of JPY 10 million or more when you apply. ISA's Q&A says a recent raise or a new contract that puts you at that level going forward also counts. Freelancers are judged on profit after expenses, and stable income from several clients can be combined.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad / spouse or child), English ↗, ISA: Digital nomad Q&A (PDF, as of July 2024, Japanese) ↗ · read Nov 4, 2026
Step 3: get the required medical insurance
You need private medical insurance that covers death, injury and illness for your whole planned stay in Japan, with at least JPY 10 million for medical treatment. ISA explains why: you can't join Japan's public health insurance on this status. Death cover must include repatriation of remains or a death benefit (no minimum amount).
Credit-card insurance is accepted if you can prove it gives that cover. The official pages don't name insurers, and we don't say whether any plan meets the rule: check the policy wording against ISA's requirements.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad / spouse or child), English ↗, ISA: Digital nomad Q&A (PDF, as of July 2024, Japanese) ↗, MOFA: Specified visa, Designated Activities (Digital Nomad), 31 Mar 2024 ↗ · read Nov 4, 2026
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Step 4: apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate
ISA's Q&A says that if you're outside Japan you apply for the visa directly at the Japanese embassy or consulate where you're staying, because there's usually no one in Japan who can act as your agent for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
A COE is optional. MOFA says that if you do present one, you can skip the activity plan, income proof and insurance proof at the embassy. A COE doesn't guarantee a visa. If you apply for a COE with ISA, all documents in a foreign language need a Japanese translation, and ISA may ask for more documents during review.
The pages we read don't list a visa fee or processing time, so ask your embassy or consulate.
Sources: ISA: Digital nomad Q&A (PDF, as of July 2024, Japanese) ↗, MOFA: Specified visa, Designated Activities (Digital Nomad), 31 Mar 2024 ↗, Immigration Services Agency: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad / spouse or child), English ↗ · read Nov 4, 2026
What you'll need
Embassy documents checklist (5 items, MOFA)
- Visa application form with a photo
- Your passport
- A document explaining your planned activities and period of stay in Japan (MOFA/ISA reference form)
- Proof of annual income of JPY 10 million or more: tax payment certificate, income certificate, employment contract, or a contract with a business partner that states the contract period and amount
- Proof of insurance covering death, injury and illness during your stay, with at least JPY 10 million for medical treatment: a copy of the insurance certificate and policy summary (or, for credit-card insurance, a copy of the card and proof of the cover)
With a COE you only need the first two plus the COE itself.
Sources: MOFA: Specified visa, Designated Activities (Digital Nomad), 31 Mar 2024 ↗ · read Nov 4, 2026
Bringing a spouse or children
A spouse or child you support can come with you on their own Designated Activities status, also for up to six months with no extension. They need the visa form and photo, passport, activity plan, the same JPY 10M insurance (family cover under your policy is fine if you show its scope), proof of the relationship such as a marriage certificate, and a copy of your passport. Children born in Japan apply for the status through ISA's "permission to acquire status of residence" procedure.
Sources: MOFA: Specified visa, Designated Activities (Digital Nomad), 31 Mar 2024 ↗, Immigration Services Agency: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad / spouse or child), English ↗ · read Nov 4, 2026
After you arrive
No residence card, travel, and the 6-month limit
No residence card is issued. You can move between cities without any special procedure. If you leave Japan temporarily and plan to come back before your stay ends, you can use a re-entry permit or special re-entry permit and keep your status.
Your stay is capped at six months with no extension. You can return on the same status once six months have passed since you left Japan.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency: Designated Activities (Digital Nomad / spouse or child), English ↗, ISA: Digital nomad Q&A (PDF, as of July 2024, Japanese) ↗ · read Nov 4, 2026
Not legal or tax advice. Japan's embassies, consulates and the Immigration Services Agency decide every application and may ask for other documents. Questions: ISA's Immigration Services Information Center, 0570-013904 (from overseas +81 3-5796-7112). We don't summarise tax rules.
Quick answers
How much do I need to earn for Japan's digital nomad visa?
Personal annual income of JPY 10 million or more at the time you apply. ISA's Q&A says it's normally your most recent annual income, but a new contract or raise that puts you at JPY 10M+ going forward also counts. For self-employed people it's profit after expenses, not contract value, and stable income from several clients can be added together (moj.go.jp and moj.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).
Who can apply?
Nationals of 51 countries and regions on ISA's chart: places covered by Japan's short-term visa exemption that also have a tax treaty with Japan. You must work remotely for a foreign employer, or sell services or goods to people outside Japan, using the internet (moj.go.jp and moj.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).
How long can I stay?
Six months, with no extension. You can come back on the same status once six months have passed since you left Japan. ISA's outline adds that your digital nomad stays can't exceed six months in any one year (moj.go.jp and moj.go.jp and moj.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).
Do I need health insurance?
Yes. ISA and MOFA both require private medical insurance covering death, injury and illness for your whole stay, with medical treatment cover of JPY 10 million or more. ISA's Q&A adds that death cover must include repatriation of remains or a death benefit, with no minimum amount. Credit-card insurance is accepted if you can prove it meets the cover. We don't say whether any particular plan meets it (moj.go.jp and moj.go.jp and mofa.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).
Can I bring my spouse and children?
Yes, a spouse or child you support can get their own Designated Activities status for up to six months, no extension. They must be nationals of a country on ISA's (longer) family list and hold the same JPY 10M insurance; family cover under your policy is fine if you show its scope. They also need proof of the relationship and a copy of your passport (moj.go.jp and mofa.go.jp and moj.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).
Do I need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?
It's optional at the embassy: MOFA says that if you present a COE you can skip the activity plan, income proof and insurance proof. But ISA's Q&A says that because there's usually no one in Japan to act as your agent for a COE, if you're outside Japan you apply for the visa directly at the Japanese embassy or consulate where you're staying (mofa.go.jp and moj.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).
Will I get a residence card?
No. Digital nomads aren't "mid- to long-term residents" under Japanese law, so no residence card is issued, and ISA's Q&A says that's also why you can't join Japan's public health insurance. You can move between cities without any special procedure (moj.go.jp and moj.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).
Can I work for Japanese clients while I'm there?
No. You can't work under an employment or service contract with a Japanese organisation or individual, including people you meet while in Japan. Activities outside your status are not allowed in principle, and work that can only be done by being in Japan is excluded (moj.go.jp and moj.go.jp, read Nov 4, 2026).