Visa & residencyVisas and renewals
Japan's digital nomad visa needs ¥10M a year and lasts 6 months, no renewal. How it differs from J-Skip and J-Find, and why most Asian nationalities miss it.
Japan's digital nomad visa is a Designated Activities status for people who work remotely for a foreign employer or clients. As of November 2026 it needs personal income of ¥10 million a year, medical insurance covering ¥10 million of treatment, and a nationality on a list of about 50 visa-waiver, tax-treaty countries. It lasts up to 6 months, cannot be renewed and gives no residence card. J-Skip and J-Find are different: J-Skip is for very high earners, J-Find for graduates of top overseas universities.
Japan’s digital nomad visa lets you stay up to 6 months while working remotely for a foreign employer or clients, if you earn ¥10 million a year or more and hold a nationality on a short government list. As of November 2026 it cannot be renewed and comes without a residence card. J-Skip and J-Find are separate schemes for very high earners and for graduates of top universities.
The status is Designated Activities (特定活動) under notification No. 53. The ISA lists these conditions:
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Income | Personal annual income of ¥10 million or more at the time of application |
| Insurance | Travel or other medical insurance covering death, injury and illness for the whole stay, with treatment costs covered up to at least ¥10 million |
| Nationality | A country or region on the ISA list (see below) |
| Stay | Up to 6 months, not renewable |
| Residence card | Not issued |
| Family | A spouse or child you support can get a matching status (notification No. 54), also for up to 6 months |
You may do remote work for a foreign company under an employment contract using ICT, or sell paid services or goods to people abroad, as long as the work does not require you to be in Japan. Work for Japanese organizations is not allowed, and the ISA says permission to work outside this scope is generally not granted. The ISA says you can return after 6 months outside Japan.
The ISA list covers about 50 countries and regions. It includes the US, UK, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Turkey and much of Europe. India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and China do not appear on it. The ISA publishes a separate, longer list for accompanying spouses and children.
First-time entrants apply for a certificate of eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) through the immigration bureau. The ISA asks for the application form, a photo, a return envelope, an activity plan, income proof such as a tax or income certificate, proof of your job, and a copy of the insurance policy. Documents issued in Japan must be less than 3 months old, and foreign documents need a Japanese translation. Our certificate of eligibility guide explains the process. A change of status exists only for children born in Japan to a holder.
Then this visa is probably not for you. It was designed for short stays by people who live abroad, and it gives no residence card, no right to renew and no work in Japan for a Japanese employer. If you are on a work or spouse status and want to freelance, read freelance and side-job rules instead. For long-term plans, see the permanent residency requirements.
J-Skip (特別高度人材制度) gives Highly Skilled Professional No. 1 status directly, without the points system. The ISA sets these conditions:
Benefits include a 5-year stay, spouse employment, and a permanent residency requirement of 1 year of residence, according to the ISA page. Since the January 2026 system update, J-Skip can be applied for online. See our Highly Skilled Professional guide for the points route.
J-Find (未来創造人材制度) started in April 2023. If you graduated from an eligible overseas university, you can stay in Japan for up to 2 years to job-hunt or prepare a startup, under Designated Activities. The ISA sets these conditions:
A spouse and children can apply too. See our guides to job-hunting visas and the startup visa for what comes next.
| You are… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Employed abroad, earning ¥10M or more, from a listed country, staying under 6 months | Digital nomad visa |
| Earning ¥20M or more with a master’s degree or 10 years of experience | J-Skip |
| A recent graduate of a top-100 university who wants to find work in Japan | J-Find |
| Anyone else who wants to work in Japan | An employer-sponsored work status such as Engineer/Specialist |
It is built for people who come to Japan for a short remote-work stay. The ISA page describes a certificate of eligibility for first-time entrants and a change of status only for children born in Japan to a holder. Residents on a work, spouse or other long-term status have no reason to switch to it.
Only those on the ISA's list of about 50 countries and regions, which are visa-waiver countries with a tax treaty. It includes the US, UK, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Turkey and much of Europe. India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and China are not on it.
The ISA requires personal annual income of ¥10 million or more at the time of application, plus a travel or medical insurance policy that covers at least ¥10 million of treatment costs.
No. The permitted work is for a foreign company or organization under an employment contract using ICT, or providing paid services or goods to people abroad. Work for Japanese organizations is not allowed, and permission to work outside this scope is generally not granted.
J-Skip is a fast track to Highly Skilled Professional status for very high earners, starting at ¥20 million a year. J-Find is a Designated Activities status of up to 2 years for graduates of top-ranked overseas universities who want to job-hunt or prepare a startup in Japan.
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