Japan digital nomad visa: Requirements, benefits & how to apply

Remote work is more popular than ever, and moving to Japan has emerged as a goal for many professionals who want to work remotely while immersing themselves in a new culture. Although Japan was once known primarily for tourism or short business trips, the introduction of a new digital nomad visa in Japan has changed the landscape. 

This specialized permit—also known as the Japan nomad visa, Japan remote work visa, or Japanese digital nomad visa—allows professionals to enjoy living in Japan while working remotely for clients or employers abroad. From dynamic Tokyo to serene countryside towns, the country has plenty to offer for remote workers seeking innovation, stability, and adventure.

In this article, we’ll explore what this new digital nomad visa entails, how it differs from other visas, and why moving to Japan to work remotely can be an extraordinary experience. Whether you’re an HR manager aiming to advise your employees or a freelancer looking for your next home base, this guide will walk you through eligibility, application steps, tax implications, and more.

Japan’s digital nomad visa

The Japanese digital nomad visa allows foreign freelancers and full-time remote employees to stay in the country longer than a tourist visa would allow.

The digital nomad visa is often referred to as a Japan work visa for remote professionals. But unlike a traditional working visa or employment permit, the digital nomad visa doesn’t allow individuals to secure direct local employment at a Japanese company—it only lets them work remotely while staying in Japan for the duration of the visa term.

A Japanese tourist visa grants short-term access, and before the digital nomad visa was available, many remote workers used tourist visas to stay in Japan for up to a few months while working remotely. The new Japan nomad visa allows for longer stays so remote workers can experience daily life in places like Tokyo, Osaka, or smaller cities. 

This differs from other visas Japan offers—such as work visas, business visas, or working holiday permits—because the Japanese government specifically intends the nomad option for digital professionals who aren’t planning on taking local jobs. That said, it still requires sufficient documentation, including proof of financial means, travel insurance, and a valid passport, before the holder can gain entry into the country.

If you dream of living in Japan while staying connected to clients in the US or elsewhere, the digital nomad visa route can open up an exciting new chapter of personal and professional development.

Benefits of the Japan digital nomad visa

A Japanese digital nomad visa can be a game-changer for professionals seeking both adventure and a stable environment. Let’s look at some of the notable upsides:

Experience Japan’s innovation and advanced infrastructure

Japan has long been synonymous with technological advancement. From Tokyo’s cutting-edge robotics to everyday conveniences like vending machines on nearly every corner, the country thrives on innovation. As a digital nomad, you’ll benefit from the country’s infrastructure while collaborating with Japanese companies and foreign clients. 

Reliable high-speed internet and remote work-friendly locations

Whether you settle in Tokyo or explore less crowded regions, you’ll find dependable internet that supports seamless remote work all over Japan. Cafes, co-working spaces, and even some traditional inns and ryokans are well-prepared for individuals working remotely. No matter where you settle down in Japan, you should be able to collaborate and conduct business calls with team members or clients in countries across multiple time zones.

Access Japan’s world-class healthcare system

Japanese healthcare is highly regarded, offering modern facilities and world-class medical expertise. While residency requirements and length of stay might affect your insurance options, having access to reliable healthcare provides extra peace of mind compared to some other countries.

Stay longer than a tourist visa allows

A standard tourist visa in Japan doesn’t cut it if you plan to spend more than a few months soaking up local culture. With a digital nomad visa, you can remain in the country for a more extended period, opening the door for a richer experience without constantly worrying about overstaying your visa or inadvertently skirting immigration rules.

Networking opportunities with Japan’s startup and tech ecosystem

Japanese cities—especially Tokyo—are hotbeds for innovation, boasting tech meetups, startup accelerators, and a thriving entrepreneurial and digital nomad scene. By securing a digital nomad visa, you gain a more substantial window to build relationships with Japanese companies, other nomads, and local founders, potentially leading to future collaboration opportunities.

Avoid misclassifying contractors in Japan

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Japan digital nomad visa eligibility requirements

Before applying for a Japan nomad visa, you’ll need to understand the baseline eligibility criteria set forth by immigration services. While the rules can (and do) evolve, here are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s requirements for the digital nomad visa (or spouses or children of digital nomad visa applicants):

• Minimum income requirement: You’ll need to show that you can financially support yourself while living in Japan. Expect to prove your annual income is JPY 10 million or more by showing bank statements or similar documentation.

• Employment status: Provide evidence that you will be working remotely, whether as a freelancer or an employee at an international firm. You should have no intention of local employment for a Japanese company. 

• Valid health insurance: You’ll need to maintain adequate travel insurance or international health coverage against death, injury, or illness for the duration of your stay in Japan, with minimum coverage of JPY 10 million. In many countries, including Japan, proof of insurance is a critical part of any visa application form.

• Other documentation: In addition to the visa application form, you’ll need to include your passport, a passport photo, and a form from immigration services explaining your planned activities during your stay.

If you meet these baseline standards, you’ll likely be eligible to proceed with your digital nomad visa application, but note that, as per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.

How to apply for a Japan digital nomad visa

When it comes to moving to Japan for remote work, navigating the visa process can seem overwhelming. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you stay on track:

1. Gather required documents

Collect the documentation the embassy requests to apply for the digital nomad visa. Currently, this includes:

• A completed visa application form

• Your passport

• A passport photo

• A certificate of eligibility issued by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan

• A form explaining your planned activities during your stay

• Documents proving your annual income exceeds JPY 10 million

• Documents proving your health insurance coverage for the duration of your stay

• Documentation for your spouse and/or children (if applicable)

Note that documentation requirements can change at any time, so check the latest requirements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan before submitting your visa application.

2. Submit your application to the Japanese consulate

In most countries, you’ll visit a Japanese embassy or consulate in person to submit your visa application form, pay the relevant fees (in JPY or your local currency, depending on where you apply from), and provide supporting materials. Some embassies or consulates allow online scheduling, so check your local website for details.

3. Attend an interview (if required)

Not all applicants must interview, but be prepared. You might be asked about your employment, reasons for living in Japan, and ability to support yourself.

4. Wait for processing and approval

After turning in your documentation, you’ll wait for processing. If something’s missing, the embassy may contact you to provide additional proof of income or further clarification about your residency plans in Japan.

5. Receive your visa and enter Japan

Once approved, you’ll receive a visa sticker in your passport or a separate document. You can then arrange entry into Japan. Immigration officers will review your visa, your passport, and possibly your travel insurance details or other documents as you move through passport control at your port of entry.

Alternative working visas in Japan

If the digital nomad visa isn’t the right fit, there are other working visas worth exploring for those who want to live and work in Japan. Below are common types of work permits in Japan that you might consider if you’re eligible or looking for different options:

Intra-company transferee visa

If you’re employed at a multinational company with a branch in Japan, this visa allows internal transfers. It’s useful for professionals who want to gain experience working in Asian markets, but it can be competitive to secure.

Highly skilled professional visa

Japan only offers working visas to individuals in certain occupations that require higher education or levels of professional knowledge or skill. The Highly-Skilled Professional Visa comes in three main categories:

• Advanced Academic Research Activities: A visa for workers conducting research or working in education with public or private companies in Japan

• Specialized/Technical Activities: A visa for workers who require special skills or expertise in fields like natural sciences or humanities

• Business Management Activities: A visa for workers in management or operational roles for public or private companies in Japan

Specified skilled worker visa

Certain sectors in Japan need skilled labor, so qualified workers in specified industries may qualify for entry under a specialized working visa arrangement. To be eligible for a skilled worker visa, you need training in the field and between three and 10 years of experience.

The country’s skilled labor visa includes these authorized activities:

• Architecture

• Civil engineering

• Foreign cooking

• Sports instruction

• Sommeliers

• Piloting aircrafts

• Processing fur, metals, and precious stones

• Training animals

Student visa with work permission

Generally, a student visa in Japan is considered a non-working visa. However, under certain circumstances, foreign students studying at Japanese universities may be granted permission to work part-time.

Tax obligations for digital nomads in Japan

Generally, those living in Japan on a digital nomad visa aren’t responsible for paying the same taxes as a Japanese citizen or resident (such as Japanese income tax, for example). That’s one of the benefits of the digital nomad visa—it gives you the ability to stay in the country longer than a tourist visa while working legally for foreign companies, without having to navigate the intricacies of Japanese tax residency. 

You may need to pay Japan’s consumption tax, which is similar to VAT in other countries. And if you stay in Japan long enough to obtain a residence card or become a Japanese citizen, your tax situation will likely change; however, the specifics will depend on your individual situation, whether Japan has a tax treaty with your home country, and other factors. It’s always best to consult a tax professional, since taxes are highly specific to each individual country and every worker’s own situation.

Japan digital nomad visa common challenges

While the Japanese digital nomad visa opens up exciting possibilities, it’s not always smooth sailing moving to a new country, so expect a few hurdles, too. Here’s how to tackle them:

Navigating Japan’s language barrier

While Tokyo, Osaka, and Japan’s other major cities have plenty of English speakers, day-to-day tasks in other areas can be tricky without Japanese language skills. Language apps and translators can smooth out necessary jobs like reading apartment contracts or dealing with local immigration paperwork, but navigating the language barrier is still a challenge for non-speakers.

Managing high living costs in major cities

Tokyo and other metropolitan areas in Japan can be expensive. Co-living spaces or moving to smaller towns can help manage costs. It’s also strategic to keep an eye on the JPY exchange rate relative to your home country to time your move and plan your finances effectively.

Adapting to Japan’s unique work culture

Even if you’re working remotely, local etiquette might affect how you communicate with clients or colleagues at Japanese companies. Familiarize yourself with Japan’s hierarchical work structures and polite communication norms to prevent misunderstandings.

Dealing with Japan’s strict rental market for foreigners

Renting a home in Japan can be challenging for foreign residents who don’t have a Japanese guarantor. Specialized real estate services can assist you in finding places that rent to foreign residents without hefty deposits.

Hire employees and contractors in Japan with Rippling

With Rippling, you can hire, onboard, and pay employees and global contractors in 185+ countries—including Japan—within minutes. They can sign their employment or contractor agreement, enter payroll details, get a company email address, and more—all in one workflow.

Whether you hire your workforce in Japan on digital nomad visas or another type or work permit, Rippling offers global contractor management, employer of record services, and HR and global payroll services for employees on your own entities—so you don’t need to replace your systems as your business scales and your needs evolve. 

Unlike other providers, Rippling can transition workers when you switch employment models while keeping all their data across documents, time tracking, expenses, and more intact.

Managing an international workforce goes way beyond just hiring and paying—it’s headcount planning, time and attendance, learning and performance management, device ordering, app provisioning, and more. Other solutions only offer native EOR and HRIS or rely on clunky integrations for these other tools, slowing you down and requiring you to constantly reenter information between systems. Rippling’s HRIS software is the only platform that offers a whole suite of tools on a unified employee data model so that you can manage your entire global workforce in one system. 

Support your Japanese contractors right out of the box

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Japan digital nomad visa FAQs

Below are some commonly asked questions about living in Japan with a digital nomad visa:

Can a US citizen work remotely from Japan?

Yes, a US citizen can apply for a Japan remote work visa if they meet the eligibility requirements. Make sure to follow local immigration office guidelines for a smooth entry.

How long can you stay in Japan as a digital nomad?

The duration varies based on your specific visa. Some visas can be renewed for additional time if you continue to meet criteria. Japan’s digital nomad visa is valid for six months.

Is Japan a good place for digital nomads?

Absolutely. Between the world-class infrastructure, robust technology scene, and a rich cultural tapestry that differs from other countries, Japan is an excellent place for remote workers. Just be sure you can handle the cost of living and cultural differences.

Do digital nomads need to pay taxes in Japan?

If you become a tax resident according to Japanese law, you may be responsible for certain taxes. Always consult local authorities or tax professionals to clarify your personal obligations.