How to Qualify for Japan's Digital Nomad Visa 2025

Japan finally launched its digital nomad visa (officially "Designated Activities" No. 53 for workers, No. 54 for dependents) on March 31, 2024. This new digital nomad visa lets eligible remote workers stay in Japan for up to 6 months (with their spouse/children) while working for a foreign company or clients. To qualify, you must meet all of the following digital nomad visa requirements:

Stay length: The visa allows a single stay of up to 6 months in Japan, and cannot be renewed.

Nationality: You must be a citizen of a visa-exempt country that also has a tax treaty with Japan. In practice, this includes about 49 countries (e.g. the U.S., UK, most EU nations, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, etc.). (Family members can come from up to 70 eligible countries with digital nomad visas under the dependent visa.) If your country is not visa-waiver or lacks a tax treaty (for example, China, India, etc.), you are not eligible.

Income: Your personal annual income (as a remote worker) must be at least ¥10,000,000 (around US$70–75K) at the time of application. You will need to submit official proof (e.g. a tax or income certificate, or employment/contract documents showing your earnings).

Insurance: You must have comprehensive health/travel insurance that covers sickness and injury during your Japan stay. The insurance must include at least ¥10,000,000 in medical coverage per person. (Credit-card travel insurance often meets this, but double-check the policy limits and that Japan is covered.)

Remote Work: You should be engaged in "international remote work" – i.e. employed by or contracted to a company outside Japan, or working freelance for clients outside Japan. All your paid work must be for foreign entities (you cannot take a new job from a Japanese company under this work visa).

These core requirements are summarized below:

Requirement	Visa Rule
Stay length	≤6 months (no extension allowed).
Nationality	Citizen of a visa-waiver country and with a Japan tax treaty. (See examples below.)
Annual income	≥ ¥10,000,000 (¥10M) at time of application.
Health insurance	Covers illness/injury ≥ ¥10,000,000 per person for full stay.
Work requirement	Employed/contracted to foreign company or clients.

Step 1: Check Your Digital Nomad Visa Eligibility

Before applying for the Japan digital nomad visa, confirm all of the above. In particular, check your passport country. Eligible countries include most Western and industrialized nations. For example, the visa covers citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, EU members (France, Germany, Italy, etc.), Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, and many others. (In total, 49 countries are eligible for the nomad worker visa, and up to 70 if you include family; see below.) Notably, countries like China, India, Vietnam, and most of Southeast Asia are not on the list, as they do not enjoy visa exemption with Japan.

Also verify your income and work situation. You must have ¥10M+ annual income from remote work (for example, a salary from a foreign employer or consultancy fees from foreign clients). Make sure you can document this (e.g. obtain a tax certificate or a letter from your employer). Finally, purchase a suitable travel/health insurance policy that explicitly covers medical treatment in Japan up to at least ¥10M.

Tip: If you have questions about eligibility, consult an immigration lawyer or the Japanese embassy or consulate. A Japan-based legal firm reports the new digital nomad visa launched in 2024 and has detailed guides.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents for Your Japan Digital Nomad Visa

Once you confirm eligibility, collect all necessary paperwork. The immigration authorities will require:

• Passport & Photos: A valid passport and recent passport-sized photos (4cm×3cm).
• Visa application form: The standard Japan visa form (if applying outside Japan) or the "在留資格認定証明書交付申請書" form (if applying in Japan). These can be downloaded from Japan's Immigration website.
• Planned Activity Statement: A brief document explaining your stay plan – e.g. that you will be in Japan for remote work and describing what you will do each day (this shows immigration your purpose is legitimate).
• Proof of Income: Official proof that your annual income ≥ ¥10M. Acceptable items include a Japanese-issued tax certificate or income certificate, an employment contract, or a contract with your foreign clients (showing salary or fees). If you're self-employed, a copy of your foreign company's business registration plus contracts can help.
• Insurance documents: The policy certificate and terms of your travel/medical insurance, showing it covers illness and injury up to at least ¥10M for the entire planned period in Japan. (If family is coming, ensure their coverage meets the same criteria.)
• Return envelope: If applying for the visa in Japan (by mail), prepare a stamped self-addressed registered envelope for immigration to send you documents.

These items officially list these items for the nomad visa. In practice, it's wise to prepare each in Japanese or English, and have official translations if needed. Keep extra copies of every document.

Checklist: Below is a quick checklist of core documents to prepare before applying for the Japan digital nomad visa:

Document	Purpose / Example
Passport/Photos	ID and visa application photos
Visa Application Form	Standard Japan visa form
Activity Plan	Outline of your remote work & schedule
Income Proof	Tax certificate, pay slips, or contracts
Insurance Proof	Policy cert & terms (≥¥10M coverage)
(For Dependents)	Relationship documents (marriage/birth certificate if bringing family)

Step 3: Submit Your Digital Nomad Visa Application Process

There are two main ways to apply for the visa:

(A) Apply from Japan (recommended):

Enter Japan as a short-term visitor under the visa-exemption program (most eligible nationals get a 90-day stamp on arrival). Then, immediately apply for the digital nomad status at a local Immigration Bureau. The typical process is:

• Enter Japan as tourist. Book a flight and arrive in Japan (you cannot overstay the initial tourist visa, so plan to apply soon).
• Prepare your application. Fill out the "在留資格認定証明書交付申請書" for Designated Activities (Digital Nomad). Attach all the documents from Step 2. Include the stamped tourist landing slip you received on arrival.
• Submit to Immigration. Visit the Immigration Bureau that covers your place of stay (e.g. Tokyo, Osaka, etc.) and hand in your application. (Alternatively, you can mail it in by registered post with your return envelope.)
• Wait for COE. If approved, Immigration will issue a 在留資格認定証明書 (Certificate of Eligibility, COE) for "Designated Activities (Digital Nomad)". This confirms your eligibility.

This summarizes this flow. Note that since this visa launched recently, processing can take time (averaging a few months). Immigration officers may ask follow-up questions, so be prepared. It's advisable to apply as soon as you arrive so the certificate of eligibility can be issued before your tourist permission expires. If your tourist stay is about to run out, you should leave Japan and re-enter (with your new visa status) rather than overstaying.

(B) Apply via Japanese Embassy or Consulate abroad:

Alternatively, you can apply from your home country. This involves submitting the same documents to the Japanese embassy or consulate, which will forward the request to Immigration. You may also submit a COE application directly from abroad. However, this route is slower: one source notes processing could take several months because the request goes through extra channels. Use this option only if you cannot enter Japan first.

Regardless of method, once Immigration approves your certificate of eligibility:

• If applying in Japan: The Immigration office will grant you the digital nomad residency status immediately (japan for up to 6 months). You do not receive a residence card with this visa, but you are allowed to stay legally under that status.
• If applying outside Japan: Present the COE at a Japanese embassy or consulate to obtain the visa sticker in your passport, then travel to Japan. With the COE, visa issuance is usually smoother.

Either way, the final outcome is the same: you get permission to stay in Japan for up to 6 months under the Digital Nomad status.

Step 4: After Approval – Entering and Live in Japan

Once you have the visa/status, you can enter (or re-enter) Japan and start your remote work. A few important points and tips:

• Six-month limit: Your stay will be valid for exactly 6 months. You must leave Japan by the expiration (and cannot extend or renew it). If you want to return as a digital nomad again, you must exit Japan and wait 6 months after departure before reapplying.
• Re-entry: You are allowed to temporarily exit and re-enter Japan during your 6-month stay. Just inform immigration that you intend to "return before expiration" – no new visa is needed as long as you return before the date on your residence permission.
• No part-time/Japanese work: Under this work visa you cannot take any part-time or local jobs. Both the nomad and any accompanying family members are barred from salaried work in Japan. In particular, you cannot switch to a Japanese company or start a local business unless you obtain a different visa.
• No residence card: Note that this status does not issue a residence card. In Japan, you'll rely on your passport/visa stamp as ID. Carry your passport when needed.
• Family members: If you plan to bring a spouse or child, they can obtain the dependent nomad status ("Designated Activities No. 54") alongside you. They must also be from a visa-exempt country (the list is even broader: 70 countries total) and be financially dependent on you. Each family member still needs insurance coverage. The application process for them is similar (you include marriage/birth certificate and your COE/passport copies).

Example: As of April 2024, Tokyo immigration offices saw their first approvals. One legal firm reported filing Japan's first nomad visa COE on April 18, 2024 and successfully obtaining it. This demonstrates the process is workable. (They note average processing was about 3 months.)

Step 5: Important Tips and Caveats for Digital Nomads

• Apply Early: Because this visa is new, some Immigration officers are still learning it. Apply as early as possible and stay responsive if they request more information.
• Document Everything: Keep copies of all submission materials and correspondence. If anything is unclear (e.g. proving income), get official translations or letters from your employer to avoid delays.
• Follow Your Plan: Stick to Japan offer planned activities you submitted. If you change jobs or plans after applying, inform Immigration in writing.
• Future Visa Changes: After you've obtained the nomad visa, you can later switch to other visa options (for example, if you get a full-time offer in Japan). However, be cautious: some visa types (like student or working visas) have their own requirements and may not allow your family to stay in Japan. Research this in advance.
• Stay Informed: Immigration policies can evolve. For the latest official guidance, check Japan's Immigration Services Agency website or consult the visa page.

Summary Checklist for Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

In summary, the key to qualifying is meeting all eligibility criteria, and following the proper application process. The table below recaps the main eligibility checks for the nomad applicant:

Criteria	Requirement
Nationality	Visa-waiver & tax treaty with Japan country (e.g. US, UK, EU, etc.)
Income	≥ ¥10,000,000/year (proof via tax or contract)
Insurance	Valid coverage ≥ ¥10,000,000 for illness/injury
Duration	≤ 6 months (no extensions)
Employment	Employed/contracted by foreign org (remote work)

If you tick every box and gather the documents (passport, photos, visa application form, income/insurance proofs, etc.), you can then follow Steps 2–4 above to apply. With careful preparation, Japan's digital nomad visa provides a clear, step-by-step path to live and work in Japan for half a year.