With the amendment to Japan's Immigration Control Act effective March 31, 2024, a new residency status for digital nomads has been introduced, and applications are now open. This visa allows a stay of up to six months in Japan and permits spouses and children to accompany the visa holder. In April 2024, our firm successfully submitted and obtained Japan’s first Certificate of Eligibility for the Digital Nomad Visa. Based on this achievement, we are pleased to provide further details below.

Digital Nomad Visa Overview

☑ Period of Stay:
6 months

☑ Renewal:
Not permitted. You can re-enter and stay in Japan on the Digital Nomad Visa after six months from departure.

☑ Eligibility:
・Must be a remote worker with clients located outside Japan.
・Must hold citizenship from one of 49 countries designated by the Japanese government.

☑ Minimum Annual Income Requirement:
Annual income of at least 10 million yen as a remote worker.

☑ Family Members’ Stay:
Spouses and children of digital nomads may stay, but their eligibility is limited to certain nationalities (70 countries).

☑ Processing Time:
Average of 1–3 months

☑ Application Location:
Apply at Immigration Office in Japan or at a Japanese embassy/consulate in your home country.

☑ Temporary Exit During Stay:
Permitted.

目次

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

A "Digital Nomad" refers to individuals who leverage IT skills to work remotely without being tied to a specific location. This lifestyle often combines remote work with travel, popularized as part of the “workation” trend.

With the growing trend of introducing digital nomad visas in Europe and Southeast Asia, Japan is also actively promoting the attraction of digital nomads. Japan has created its own version of the digital nomad visa, allowing longer stays than a tourist visa, with restrictions on annual income, contracts, nationality, and other factors.

Eligible Professions

A wide range of remote work professions qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa. Specific examples include:
・Freelance Writers
・Graphic Designers
・Programmers and Digital Marketers
・Online Language Instructors, IT Engineers, and more

Visa Requirements

To qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Remote Work - Must have a contract for remote work utilizing IT skills, with the contracting company or client based outside of Japan.
  • Annual Income Requirement - A minimum annual income of 10 million JPY as a remote worker.
  • Health Insurance - Must be enrolled in insurance that provides medical coverage during the stay in Japan, including death, injury, and illness, with treatment coverage of at least 10 million JPY.
  • Visa Exempt Nationality - Must hold citizenship in a country that has a visa exemption agreement and a tax treaty with Japan.

Visa for Family Members Accompanying Digital Nomads

Spouses and children can obtain visas to accompany a digital nomad. However, the following requirements must be met:

1.　Visa Requirements:
・Visa Exempt Nationality - The spouse and children must hold citizenship from a country with a visa exemption agreement with Japan.
・Dependent Requirements - The spouse and children must be financially supported by the digital nomad.
・Health Insurance - The family members must be covered by insurance providing medical coverage during their stay in Japan, including death, injury, and illness, with treatment coverage of at least 10 million JPY.

2.　Accompanying the Digital Nomad
Family members do not have to enter Japan at the same time as the digital nomad, but they cannot enter before the digital nomad. Additionally, they cannot remain in Japan after the digital nomad has left the country.

3.　Dependent Spouse or Child
To be considered a "dependent," the digital nomad must have the intention and financial means to support the spouse or child. For spouses, this typically means living together and being financially dependent on the digital nomad. For children, this means being under the care and custody of the digital nomad.

4.　Spouse
A "spouse" refers to someone whose marriage is legally valid and currently ongoing. Separated individuals or common-law partners are not eligible.

5.　Children
"Children" includes legitimate children (born during a valid marriage), adopted children, and recognized illegitimate children.

6.　Employment Restrictions
Spouses and children are not permitted to work, including part-time jobs, while in Japan. They cannot obtain permission for activities outside the scope of their visa.

Eligible Countries and Regions

The Digital Nomad Visa for Japan is available only to citizens from 49 countries. Additionally, for spouses and children accompanying the digital nomad, 21 more countries are eligible, bringing the total to 70 countries. Please refer to the list below for complete details.

List of Eligible Digital Nomad Countries and Regions

Residency Status, Duration, and Other Details

1.　Residency Status
In Japanese law, "visa" and "residency status" are distinct concepts. The residency status granted to digital nomads is "Designated Activities (Notification No. 53)." For accompanying family members, the status is "Designated Activities (Notification No. 54)."

2.　Duration of Stay
Digital Nomads:
A stay of 6 months is granted, and extensions are not allowed. However, if the digital nomad obtains the residency status again after leaving Japan and staying outside for at least 6 months, re-entry is possible.

Accompanying Spouse or Children:
In principle, a 6-month stay is granted, and extensions are not allowed. Similar to the digital nomad, re-entry is possible if the spouse or child obtains the residency status again after leaving Japan and staying outside for 6 months.

3.　Residence Card
A residence card will not be issued. Instead, a stamp will be placed in the passport during immigration inspection or upon approval of the residency status change

Application Methods

1.　Application Methods
There are two methods for applying for the Digital Nomad Visa:

（１）Application at Japan’s Immigration Office
・You can apply during a short stay in Japan by gathering the required documents and submitting them to the
　Immigration Office.
・Once approved, a Certificate of Eligibility will be issued.
・If the Certificate of Eligibility is issued during your short stay, you can apply for a change of status without leaving
　Japan. To proceed with this option, you should promptly apply for the Certificate of Eligibility at the Immigration Office
　once you arrive in Japan.
・If the examination takes too long and the Certificate of Eligibility is not issued during your short stay, you will need to
　return to your home country and wait for the result.
・An Immigration Lawyer can handle the entire process, from application to receipt of the result, on your behalf.

（２）Application at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in Your Home Country
・Applicants can also apply at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate that has jurisdiction over their place of residence.
・This method may take longer than applying within Japan, and as it requires specialized knowledge, we do not
　recommend this option through our firm.

2.　Required Documents
・Activity Schedule During Stay
A detailed plan of the activities you will engage in while staying in Japan.
・Proof of Annual Income
Documentation verifying your annual income as a remote worker.
・Private Health Insurance Certificate and Policy Copy
A certificate and a copy of the policy showing coverage for injury, illness, and treatment costs with a minimum coverage
amount of 10 million JPY.
・Marriage Certificate (1 copy)
Required if your spouse is accompanying you.
・Birth Certificate or Equivalent (1 copy)
Required if your child is accompanying you.

Important Points to Consider When Applying

When submitting your visa application, it is crucial to clearly organize documents that demonstrate the applicant meets the visa requirements. This may include remote work contracts, proof of income, and proof of insurance coverage. In the case of private health insurance documents, the policy terms can be extensive. To make it easier for immigration officers to review, it is effective to highlight the necessary sections with a highlighter.

At our firm, we always prepare a Statement of Reasons based on the submitted documents before filing the application. This helps to ensure a smoother visa approval process.

Visa Application Support by Our Immigration Lawyer

1. Assessment of Visa Eligibility
We conduct a detailed assessment of the applicant’s visa eligibility based on their occupation, income, educational background, and previous residency history. This helps to avoid uncertain applications and increase the chances of approval.

2. Guidance and Verification of Required Documents
We provide a tailored list of required documents based on the applicant’s specific situation and assist in their preparation. A thorough review is conducted to prevent any errors or missing documents.

3. Preparation of Application Documents
Our Immigration Lawyer prepares the application documents carefully and precisely, tailored to the applicant’s unique circumstances. We ensure compliance with the relevant laws and immigration standards.

4. Application Submission to Immigration Bureau
Upon the applicant’s request, our Immigration Lawyer will submit the application on their behalf to the Immigration Services Agency. We handle the complex procedures smoothly, reducing the burden on the applicant.

5. Receipt and Notification of Application Results
We receive the application results from the Immigration Services Agency and promptly inform the client of the outcome. We also provide guidance on the next steps, if necessary.

Approved Applications

We confirmed with the Immigration Office that the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for the Digital Nomad Visa, issued on October 2, 2024, was the first ever granted in Japan. This was obtained for an author, with the entire application process handled by our firm. Following this, on October 3, 2024, Certificates of Eligibility were also issued for engineers and other applicants. After obtaining the Certificate of Eligibility, some individuals successfully applied for a change of status in Japan and received approval.

COE 01
COE 02
COE 03
Digital Nomad Visa Permit Stamp
Digital Nomad Visa

Real Application Experiences

In April 2024, our firm submitted the first-ever application for a Certificate of Eligibility at the Tokyo Immigration Office for the Digital Nomad Visa. As the system had just been launched, the agency's preparations for processing applications were not fully established, and the staff informed us that this was their first case. Our Immigration Lawyer explained the purpose of the legal revision and the operation of the new system, which allowed the application to be accepted.

Due to the lack of established internal guidelines for processing such applications at the Immigration Office, the review process took quite some time. The Certificate of Eligibility was issued after nearly six months. However, since the agency has now finalized its internal procedures for handling such cases, they anticipate faster processing in the future.

Future Challenges

Compared to Japan, many foreign countries' digital nomad visas offer longer stay periods, with most of them allowing for renewals. Additionally, a 6-month stay period in Japan can impose limitations on securing housing. The Japanese government has indicated that it will consider revising the digital nomad visa system based on actual needs, so we will be watching for future developments.

Media Coverage

Our Immigration Lawyer has been interviewed regarding the digital nomad visa. Please refer to the following publications for more information:
-Travel Voice
-Nikkei Newspaper

FAQ

Q1: 　Can I reapply for the Digital Nomad Visa multiple times?
A:  Yes, there is no limit on the number of times you can reapply. However, you must wait six months after leaving Japan before reapplying and re-entering.

Q2: 　I am currently staying on a work visa. Can I apply to switch to the Digital Nomad Visa?
A:  No, this is not allowed. Digital Nomad Visa applications are not eligible for a change of visa status; you must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility instead.

Q3: 　Can I rent housing with a 6-month stay period?
A:  It may be challenging to sign a lease for a typical rental property. Consider alternatives such as short-term rentals, Airbnb, weekly apartments, or hotels.

 Q4: 　Can I switch to another visa after entering Japan? 
A:  Yes, it is possible. For example, you can change to another visa type if you decide to start a business or marry a Japanese national.

Expert Commentary

Digital nomads and their accompanying families are not classified as mid- or long-term residents under the law, like tourists. As such, they are not eligible to receive a residence card. However, similar to short-term stay or official status, a stamp is affixed to their passport, allowing for temporary departure from Japan.

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