Japan has long been a dream destination for many. The island nation has some amazing cities and beautiful countryside, not to mention a heap of underrated destinations well worth exploring. And excitingly, it looks like the opportunity to live and work in Japan will soon become a whole lot more accessible.
That’s because the government has finally confirmed some of the details of its new digital nomad visa, a type of visa that enables travellers to live in one country while working for clients or companies based in another. Plans were announced in 2023, but now we know a little more about what the scheme will look like. So, what are the requirements?
Well, the Japanese government is asking that applicants earn at least ¥10 million (€62,711, £53,485, $68,340) per year and that they have private healthcare, as the country’s national health service won’t be available to nomads.
It looks like there will be pretty strict rules about the kind of accommodation you can live in, too. As the visa is only for a six-month period – significantly shorter than similar visas elsewhere – digital workers in Japan won’t be able to rent long-term accommodation. But the good news is spouses and children will be able to obtain visas if they are also covered by private health insurance.
So, while this news is pretty exciting, it’s not going to be the simplest visa to obtain – and certainly won’t be accessible on the average worker’s salary. Still keen to apply? You won’t need to wait long, as Japan’s digital nomad visa is set to launch in March.
For some inspo in the meantime, why not have a look at our recommendations for the best things to do in Tokyo and Osaka?
Digital nomad visas on Time Out
At Time Out, we’ve been covering the growing popularity of life as a digital nomad. Check out our guide to the best digital nomad visas right now and discover what it's really like to work from anywhere.
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