- Digital nomad visa
- Yes
Overall5/10Harder visas than about 65% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Don't assume you automatically get 90 days just because your country is exempt — Indonesia and Thailand get only 15 days, and Brunei and Qatar get 30 days, so always check your specific nationality's entry against the official MOFA list before booking.
- Visa-free entry never allows paid work of any kind, including remote work for a foreign employer paid into a local account is generally viewed as a legal gray area — for genuine remote work while resident, look into Japan's dedicated Digital Nomad visa route instead.
- Carry proof of an onward or return ticket and accommodation details, as immigration officers can and do deny entry to visa-exempt travelers who can't show these, even with a valid exempt passport.
- Repeated 'visa runs' (leaving and quickly re-entering just to reset the 90-day clock) are tracked by immigration and can lead to questioning or refusal of entry — this is not a reliable long-stay strategy.
- Japan's Digital Nomad Visa is a single, non-renewable 6-month stay — plan your Osaka trip accordingly rather than expecting to extend from inside the country.
- The JPY 10 million income bar is notably higher than many other countries' digital nomad visas, so this route mainly suits established freelancers, remote employees at higher salary bands, or business owners.
- You cannot take on any Japan-based client or employer work while on this visa — it must be 100% tied to overseas income sources.
- Because no residence card is issued, day-to-day logistics like banking, long-term mobile plans, and apartment leases can be harder; most people on this visa use short-term furnished rentals in Osaka.
- If you're only in Japan on the short 90-day visa-waiver tourist entry (common for many nationalities) rather than the Digital Nomad visa, remote 'work from a cafe' is technically not authorized activity under a tourist entry.
- Family members can join under the same framework without needing to separately prove income, which is more generous than several European digital nomad visa programs.
Duration
- Default Days
- 90
- Notes
- The period of stay granted on landing is 90 days for most exempt nationalities; Indonesia and Thailand get 15 days, and Brunei and Qatar get 30 days.
Exceptions
- Days
- 15
Countries
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Days
- 30
Countries
- Brunei
- Qatar
Extension Beyond 90 Days
- Details
- Tourist/Temporary Visitor stays are generally not extendable. In special circumstances (illness, flight cancellations, humanitarian reasons) a traveler can apply for an extension at a local immigration office, but this is rarely granted for citizens of standard 90-day visa-exempt countries. Separately, a handful of nationalities under specific bilateral notes (Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland, United Kingdom) are eligible to apply for a further extension of their period of stay at the Ministry of Justice's Regional Immigration Bureau before their initial 90 days expire, for a total stay of up to roughly 6 months.
- Generally Possible
- No
Who Is Eligible For Extension
- Austria
- Germany
- Ireland
- Liechtenstein
- Mexico
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Process
- How It Works
- There is no advance application for eligible nationalities; travelers are simply granted 'landing permission' by an immigration officer on arrival if they meet entry requirements. A visa cannot be obtained on arrival or while already in Japan — it must be arranged in advance only for non-exempt nationalities.
- Future Change
- Japan is developing an electronic pre-travel authorization system (JESTA, modeled on the US ESTA) that will eventually require online pre-approval for visa-exempt travelers before flying to Japan, though it is not yet in effect.
- Advance Visa Needed
- No
- Requirements On Arrival
- Immigration officers can still refuse entry if a traveler cannot show onward/return travel, sufficient funds, or a credible reason for the visit. Carrying proof of accommodation and an onward or return ticket is recommended.
- Digital Pre Registration
- Japan uses the 'Visit Japan Web' service for optional digital pre-registration of immigration and customs, though paper arrival cards are still accepted.
Japan (which includes Osaka) has reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with 74 countries and regions, letting passport holders from those countries enter as a 'Temporary Visitor' for short-term stays without applying for a visa in advance.
Purpose Scope
Visa-free entry covers tourism, business meetings, conferences, and visiting friends or relatives, but does not permit any remunerated/paid work or long-term study inside Japan. The status granted is officially called 'Temporary Visitor.'
Who Qualifies
Nationals of the 74 countries/regions on Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) exemption list, including the US, Canada, UK, EU/Schengen states, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, and most of the Americas and Europe. A number of these require a specific passport type (e.g. an ICAO-compliant ePassport) to qualify, and a few nationalities (e.g. Colombia) are technically listed but advised by MOFA to obtain a visa in advance anyway.
Official Source URL
Digital Nomad Visa And Tax
- Overview
- A national-level visa allowing eligible remote workers to live and work remotely in Japan, including Osaka, for a single stay of up to six months. It is not a residence status in the traditional sense — no Zairyu (residence) card is issued.
- Visa Name
- Digital Nomad Visa (デジタルノマドビザ) — a 'Designated Activities' (特定活動) status, launched nationally by Japan's Immigration Services Agency on March 31, 2024; applies uniformly across Japan including Osaka since it is a national visa program, not a city-specific one.
- Dependents
- Spouses and children can accompany the main applicant under linked dependent visa categories, and (unlike some European digital nomad visas) do not need to show separate income, but must independently meet health insurance and documentation requirements.
- Renewal Path
- None — this is explicitly a one-time, non-renewable stay. Anyone wanting to continue living in Japan after 6 months must either leave and later reapply after a 6-month absence, or transition to a different visa category entirely (this Designated Activities visa is not generally a stepping stone to work, tourist, or residence visas from inside Japan).
- Visa Ease Tier
- low
- Practical Limitations
- Because no residence card is issued, holders may find it difficult to open a standard bank account, sign a 2-year mobile contract, or rent a long-term apartment; most nomads on this visa rely on short-term/furnished accommodation.
- Visa Ease Tier Rationale
- Japan offers a non-renewable 6-month digital nomad visa with a high $61,700 income requirement and no path to longer-term residence, despite generous 90-day visa-free entry for many nationalities.
Tax Notes
- Resident Tax Rates Context
- Full residents (non-permanent or permanent) face Japan's progressive national income tax of up to 45% plus roughly a 10% inhabitant tax, whereas non-residents are generally subject only to a flat 20.42% withholding tax on Japan-source income.
- Advice
- Tax residency determination is fact-specific (family location, housing, contract length, intent) rather than a pure day-count, so individuals near the edge of thresholds should consult a qualified Japanese tax accountant (zeirishi) or Japan's National Tax Agency guidance directly.
- Short Stay Treaty Exemption
- Under many of Japan's tax treaties, a short-term visitor exemption can apply if the individual is present in Japan no more than 183 days in the relevant 12-month or calendar-year period (definition varies by treaty), the compensation is paid by a non-Japanese employer, and that cost is not borne by a Japanese permanent establishment.
- Non Permanent Resident Regime
- For anyone who later does become a tax resident (e.g. through a different long-stay visa), Japan grants a 'non-permanent resident' concession for the first five years (out of the preceding ten) as a non-Japanese national: only Japan-source income plus any foreign-source income actually remitted into Japan is taxed, while foreign income kept entirely offshore is exempt.
- Residency Classification System
- Japan uses three tax-residency tiers for individuals: non-resident, non-permanent resident, and (permanent) resident — determined primarily by domicile and length/continuity of residence, not a single fixed day-count.
- Digital Nomad Visa Tax Treatment
- Digital Nomad visa holders whose income is sourced entirely from overseas generally remain non-resident for Japanese tax purposes during their 6-month stay and are not subject to Japanese income tax on that foreign-sourced income, since they are unlikely to establish 'domicile' or a full year of continuous residence.
- Day Count Context
- Japan's domestic tax law does not use a simple 183-day trigger; residency instead hinges on whether an individual has a 'jusho' (domicile/center of vital interests) in Japan or has maintained a place of abode there continuously for one year or more. The 183-day figure is primarily relevant to the separate 'short-term visitor' exemption found in many of Japan's bilateral tax treaties, not domestic residency itself.
Eligibility
- Employment Type
- Applies to remote employees of overseas companies as well as self-employed freelancers/business owners whose income is earned from abroad.
- Work Restriction
- Holders may not work for or be paid by a Japan-based employer or client; the visa is exclusively for remote work tied to non-Japanese entities.
- Nationality Restriction
- Only citizens of specific countries/territories with which Japan has relevant tax treaties and visa-waiver arrangements can apply — around 49 countries/territories, including the US, Canada, UK, most EU states, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Application Paths
- Coe Route
- Applicants may (optionally) apply in advance for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) through Japan's immigration authorities, which pre-vets income/insurance/activity documents and can streamline the later embassy/consulate visa application.
- Processing Time
- Roughly 2 weeks to 1 month once a complete application is submitted, though actual timelines vary by mission.
- Direct Embassy Route
- Alternatively, applicants can apply directly at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad without a COE, submitting a fuller set of supporting documents at that stage.
Documents Required
- Completed and signed visa application form with a recent passport photo
- Valid passport with at least six months' remaining validity and two blank visa pages
- Proof of private health insurance meeting the JPY 10 million minimum coverage
- Proof of annual income of at least JPY 10 million (tax certificates, income certificates, employment or business contracts, or invoices/bank statements for freelancers)
- A written description of planned work activities and intended duration of stay (required if not applying via COE)
- Additional civil documents (marriage/birth certificates, passports) for any accompanying spouse or children
Income Requirement
- Minimum Annual Income
- ¥10,000,000
- Notes
- Applicants must prove annual income of at least JPY 10 million from sources outside Japan. Income must not derive from Japanese clients or employers.
Duration And Renewal
- Max Stay
- Up to 6 months, granted as a single, non-extendable period.
- Renewable
- No
- Reapplication Path
- Not renewable or extendable from inside Japan. To become eligible again, an applicant must leave Japan and spend six consecutive months outside the country before reapplying for the same status.
Health Insurance Requirement
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Coverage Type
- Private health insurance covering death, injury, and illness for the full duration of stay; must cover the applicant and any accompanying dependents.
- Minimum Coverage
- ¥10,000,000
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.