Japan's Digital Nomad Visa is a residence status under the Designated Activities category that allows foreign nationals to stay in Japan for up to six months while working remotely for employers, clients, or businesses located outside Japan. The program targets remote workers including IT professionals, digital designers, online secretaries, and foreign business owners who use information and communication technology to perform their work. Applications opened on 29 March 2024, with the status of residence taking effect on 31 March 2024. In its first year of operation (April 2024 – March 2025), 257 digital nomad visas were issued.
The visa is valid for 6 months and is non-renewable and non-extendable. Total stay must not exceed 6 months within any 12-month period. After the authorized stay expires, the holder must leave Japan and remain outside the country for at least 6 consecutive months before being eligible to apply again. During the authorized stay, holders may freely exit and re-enter Japan provided their visa and passport remain valid.
Only remote work for employers, clients, or businesses located outside Japan is permitted. Employment by Japanese companies, services targeting the Japanese domestic market, and face-to-face work at Japanese locations are prohibited. Japanese-sourced income does not count toward the income threshold. Authorization for activities outside the designated scope is generally not granted.
Legal spouse and unmarried minor children may accompany the main applicant under Designated Activities Notification No. 54. The eligible nationality pool for dependants is broader than for main applicants, covering 73 countries and regions, because dependants need only be nationals of a visa-exempt country rather than also a tax-treaty country. No separate income requirement applies, but each family member must individually hold private health insurance meeting the JPY 10,000,000 minimum coverage requirement. De facto marriages are not accepted. Dependants cannot work in Japan and must depart when the main applicant departs.
Digital nomad visa holders staying 6 months or less are generally not considered Japanese tax residents. Japan's tax residency threshold requires living in the country for one year or more, and the visa's 6-month limit with mandatory 6-month gap prevents holders from triggering residency status. Income earned from overseas sources is not subject to Japanese income tax for non-residents, and bilateral tax treaties provide further protection against double taxation.
There are three routes to obtain the visa. The first is to have a representative in Japan submit a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application to the Immigration Services Agency, then apply for the visa at a Japanese consular post abroad with the COE in hand; consular processing typically takes about 5 business days with a COE. The second route is to apply directly at a consular post without a COE, which may result in significantly longer processing times (up to 8 months in some cases). The third route involves entering Japan on a Temporary Visitor visa and applying for a change of status to Designated Activities (Digital Nomad) at an ISA regional immigration office within Japan. The visa issuance fee is roughly JPY 3,000 (single-entry) or JPY 6,000 (multiple-entry). Note that the Japan eVisa online system does not currently support digital nomad visa applications.
Holders do not receive a Residence Card because they are not classified as mid- to long-term residents. As a result, they cannot register at a municipal office, open standard Japanese bank accounts, sign long-term rental or mobile phone contracts, or enrol in National Health Insurance. Holders should carry their passport with the visa sticker at all times. The visa offers no pathway to permanent residency or citizenship, and holders cannot change to a different status of residence while in Japan.