We’ll explain the conditions and application method.
You may have heard the term “digital nomad” recently, but you may not be sure what it refers to.
Digital nomads are people who work without being bound by place or time. They are characterized by being able to work anywhere in the world, making full use of IT tools such as laptops and smartphones.
Good news for digital nomads!
From April 1st 2024, the Digital Nomad Visa has started in Japan.
In this article, we will explain the visa for working as a digital nomad in Japan.
What is the Digital Nomad Visa?
The Digital Nomad Visa is a new status of residence for people who belong to a company overseas and want to work remotely in Japan.
Until now, in order to work remotely in Japan, it was necessary to use a work visa or working holiday visa. However, these visas require that you be affiliated with a company in Japan, so they were not suitable for digital nomads who are affiliated with a company overseas.
The Digital Nomad Visa was introduced to solve this problem.
Conditions for Applying for the Digital Nomad Visa
The conditions for applying for a Digital Nomad Visa are as follows.
- You must be affiliated with a company overseas.
- Your annual income must be at least 10 million yen.
- You must be enrolled in Japanese medical insurance.
- Your stay in Japan must be for a period of six months or less.
- You must be a foreign national from a country or region that is either visa-exempt or has a tax treaty with Japan.
If you meet these conditions, you can apply for a Digital Nomad Visa.
Documents required for application
The documents required for applying for a Digital Nomad Visa are as follows.
| Application for permission to acquire status of residence |
| Passport |
| Documents explaining the applicant’s planned activities during their stay in Japan |
| Documents proving the applicant’s relationship with their supporter (e.g. birth certificate) |
| Copy of private medical insurance policy and terms and conditions |
| Other documents as required by the Minister of Justice |
You will need to prepare these documents and submit them to the Immigration Bureau.
Merits of the Digital Nomad Visa
The merits of the Digital Nomad Visa are as follows
- You can work remotely in Japan
- You can experience Japanese culture and life
- You can expand your business opportunities with companies in Japan
- You can stay in Japan with your family
Using the Digital Nomad Visa makes it easier to work remotely in Japan.
Points to note about the Digital Nomad Visa
The points to note about the Digital Nomad Visa are as follows.
- The period of stay must be within 6 months
- There may be restrictions on work activities
- Tax and social insurance procedures are required
When using the Digital Nomad Visa, you need to be aware of these points.
Summary
In this article, we have explained the visa for working as a digital nomad in Japan.
The Digital Nomad Visa is a very convenient system for those who want to work remotely in Japan. Please use this article as a reference and consider obtaining a Digital Nomad Visa.
Reference materials
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