Yes, there is a digital nomad visa for Japan. Is it worth the hassle to get it? Probably not. Read on for all the details.
Digital nomad and Mt Fuji
The Details on Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa
From March 2024, Japan has been offering a digital nomad visa. Here are the details:
- The visa allows a six-month stay in Japan.
- The visa allows you to work as a digital nomad anywhere in Japan.
- The visa cannot be renewed within Japan. You can reapply from outside Japan but only six months or more after leaving Japan.
- If you qualify, you can bring your dependent children and spouse with you.
- The visa does not lead to a long-term visa or permanent residence/citizenship.
- The visa does not allow you to participate in Japan’s socialized medical system (but you can pay for medical care in cash).
- The visa is available to citizens of 49 countries including the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
- You must apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate outside of Japan.
Requirements for Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa
The requirements are as follows:
- You must show an annual income of at least JPY10 million (about US$65,000).
- You must show proof of travel/health insurance covering injury or death with at least JPY10 million of coverage.
- It may be necessary to get a police clearance form to show a clean criminal record (this is mentioned but not explained on the Los Angeles Japan Consulate page).
- If this is all too daunting, scroll down to the end of this article for some workarounds.
The best source of information on Japan’s digital nomad visa is the Los Angeles Japan Consulate digital nomad visa page.
Digital nomad at work in a coffee shop
Is It Worth It to Apply for Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa?
To be honest, we cannot think of any reason why a digital nomad would go through the extraordinary hassle of applying for this visa. First, citizens of most nations can already get a 90-day tourist visa to Japan with no application process – you just fly to Japan and you get a visa on arrival (usually with no questions asked). And citizens of some nations can get a 90-day extension without leaving Japan (this includes citizens of the UK, Germany, Ireland and Austria).
Another thing that some people do is called a “visa run.” This means leaving Japan and traveling for a while and then returning to Japan to enter on another tourist visa. As long as you have been out of the country long enough and can show funds sufficient to stay in Japan another 90s days, you may be admitted. But keep in mind that it is illegal to work in Japan on a tourist visa. Also be warned that immigration authorities have been known to turn away people who return to Japan after a short trip out of the country without a convincing explanation of why they need to spend such long periods in Japan. Doing “visa runs” is risky and we don’t recommend it.
Digital nomad hard at work in Japan
Concluding Thoughts
Japan’s new digital nomad visa is a classic example of the government doing something just for the appearance of doing something. I wish they had studied other countries’ digital nomad visa programs more carefully, and listened more closely to the needs of actual digital nomads. What they’ve produced is pretty much a glorified tourist visa that takes way more effort to get than Japan’s regular tourist visa. I would guess that fewer than 100 of these visas will ever be issued.
This is a real loss for Japan because Japan would be one of the world’s best places to be a digital nomad: with ultra-fast and reliable internet, a low cost of living, incredible infrastructure, wonderful people and amazing culture, Japan could not be more attractive to potential digital nomads. The people who created this absurd and useless scheme failed to understand this key point about digital nomads: Digital nomads are a group of savvy content creators who will come to your country and spend all their efforts promoting your country to the outside world – FOR FREE!
Is There a Workaround?
There are several illegal workarounds including working on a tourist visa (see above) or working on a cultural visa. We cannot recommend these methods and the Japanese authorities are much stricter about this than they used to be. We know of one person who was working illegally on a tourist visa, and ducked out of the country briefly and tried to return on another tourist visa and he was detained at the airport and forced to buy a one-way ticket home (at airport counter prices).
Another option would be to get a work visa for a normal job and do your digital nomad stuff on the side. But you must work within the field for which you’ve received your work visa and you won’t have much time left over after doing your main job. If you’re an actual journalist and you work for a well-established media company, you may be able to get a journalist visa and you could then do your own media work on the side. Just keep in mind that Japan does not grant these visas easily (I know, because I’ve had these visas in the past).
A final option would be to get a Business Manager Visa. This requires significant capital and you’d be less of a digital nomad and more of an expat living and working in Japan. For more on this visa, check out this page.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help