Japan's digital nomad visa, explained
Japan's digital nomad visa in 2026: six-month stays, the ¥10 million income floor, eligible nationalities, insurance rules, and what happens after it ends.
Key takeaways
- The visa grants up to six months under "designated activities" for remote work on foreign income — no extension, though you can reapply after time outside Japan.
- The income floor is roughly ¥10 million/year (about $65k–$70k), one of the highest among nomad visas.
- Only nationals of eligible (visa-waiver / tax-treaty) countries qualify, and private health insurance is mandatory; spouses and children can accompany.
Japan entered the nomad-visa race in 2024 with a deliberately narrow offer: six months, high income bar, no renewal ladder. It is not a residency path — it is a legal, comfortable window for well-paid remote workers to actually live in Japan instead of squeezing it into tourist entries. Official terms live with the Immigration Services Agency.
Who qualifies
Remote employees, freelancers, and business owners earning from abroad at roughly ¥10 million/year or more, holding passports from eligible countries (broadly the visa-waiver list with tax treaties — US, UK, Australia, Singapore, and most of the EU included). Private health insurance covering the stay is required; national health insurance is not available on this status.
What six months buys — and what it doesn't
You can live anywhere in Japan, bring a spouse and children, and work normally for foreign employers or clients. You cannot extend, take Japanese employment, or convert directly into residency. When it ends, you leave; reapplication is possible after a period outside Japan. Treat it as a long sabbatical structure, not a migration route.
If you want longer
The Highly Skilled Professional points visa, work visas, and the business-manager route offer multi-year residence with real paths to permanence — each with its own thresholds published by the ISA and consulates via MOFA. Many nomads use the six-month visa as a paid trial before committing to one of these.
Where to base
Tokyo for scale, Osaka for value, Fukuoka for the startup-friendly compact-city play, Sapporo and Kyoto for lifestyle. The visa is national — Jonzy compares every Japanese catalog city for your income, including the rent gaps that matter most on a fixed six-month window.
Frequently asked questions
How much income does Japan's digital nomad visa require?
About ¥10 million per year (roughly US$68,000) in remote income, plus private health insurance and citizenship of a visa-waiver treaty country.
How long can I stay in Japan on the digital nomad visa?
Six months, with no renewal and no path to residence. Longer stays require work visas, the Highly Skilled Professional route, or a business manager visa.
Can digital nomads bring family to Japan?
Yes, spouses and children can accompany the main applicant for the same six-month window, provided they hold eligible nationalities and insurance.