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Digital Nomad — international remote work

JapanRemote work and digital nomads

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Which remote workers qualify: foreign employees, freelancers, company owners or other remote professionals?

The programme permits foreign nationals from countries with which Japan has a relevant visa-waiver arrangement to live in Japan for up to six months while working remotely for an employer or clients based outside the country.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The evidence does not expressly resolve whether freelancers, company owners, or other remote-professional categories qualify beyond the general remote-work description.
  • program_overview
    permitting foreign nationals from countries with which Japan has a relevant visa-waiver arrangement to live in Japan for up to six months while working remotely for an employer or clients based outside the country
  • how_to_qualify
    The visa does not authorise employment with a Japan-based company

What income threshold applies, how must it be demonstrated, and how does family affect it where stated?

Annual income of JPY 10 million or more is required, evidenced by a tax payment certificate, income certificate, employment contract, or client contract specifying the contract period and amount. Dependants are not separately subject to the income test.

See recorded sources
  • how_to_qualify
    Annual income of JPY 10 million (approximately US$68,000) or more, evidenced by a tax payment certificate, income certificate, employment contract, or client contract specifying the contract period and amount
  • how_to_qualify
    dependants are not separately subject to the income test

Where must the employer, company or clients be located? Is local work restricted?

Income must be derived from work for an employer or clients based outside Japan. The visa does not authorise employment with a Japan-based company.

See recorded sources
  • how_to_qualify
    evidence that income is derived from work for an employer or clients based outside Japan
  • how_to_qualify
    The visa does not authorise employment with a Japan-based company

Can family accompany? How long is the status granted and can it be renewed?

Spouse or child may accompany the main applicant on a matching Designated Activities visa, provided they also meet the insurance requirement (minimum JPY 10 million coverage). The maximum stay is six months, with no extension or renewal available under this status.

See recorded sources
  • how_to_qualify
    Spouse or child may accompany the main applicant on a matching Designated Activities visa, provided they also meet the insurance requirement (minimum JPY 10 million coverage)
  • how_to_qualify
    Maximum stay of six months, with no extension or renewal available under this status

What immigration-relevant tax/residence information is officially stated, and what longer-term residence direction exists?

Applicants must be nationals of listed countries or regions that are covered by visa-exemption arrangements and are also subject to Japan's tax conventions. The stay is six months with no extension; after the six months the person must wait six months before reapplying for the same status, and no residence card is issued. No longer-term residence direction is stated.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No longer-term residence direction is stated; no tax liability information is given.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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