Japan Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Complete Guide for Remote Workers

Japan launched its first dedicated long-stay visa for remote workers in March 2024. Known officially as the Specified Activities Visa (Number 50 Activity), it allows professionals employed by companies outside Japan to live and work remotely in the country for up to six months.

This guide covers everything you need to know: who qualifies, how to apply, what you can and cannot do during your stay, and how to find housing in Tokyo once you arrive.

What Is the Japan Digital Nomad Visa?

The Japan Digital Nomad Visa is a Specified Activities Visa (在留資格「特定活動」第50号) introduced in March 2024. It targets remote workers who are employees or sole proprietors working exclusively for clients or companies based outside Japan.

It is not a standard work visa. You cannot take a job with a Japanese company on this status. The visa is designed specifically for people whose income comes from abroad and who want to base themselves in Japan while continuing that work.

Who Is Eligible?

Requirements as of 2026:

Income: approximately 10 million JPY per year (roughly 65,000 USD or 60,000 EUR). Japan does not accept part-time or casual income, the threshold applies to your total annual earnings from your foreign employer or clients.

Employment type: you must be employed by a company based outside Japan, or be self-employed with foreign clients. You cannot invoice Japanese clients.

Health insurance: you need private insurance that covers medical expenses in Japan for the duration of your stay. Japanese national health insurance is not available on this status.

Eligible countries: 50+ countries including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, South Korea, and most EU member states. Check the Japanese embassy website for your specific country.

Criminal record: clean record required.

Dependents: the visa now allows your spouse and minor children to accompany you under certain conditions (rules vary by nationality).

How Long Can You Stay?

Initial visa: up to 6 months, single or multiple entry depending on your nationality agreement with Japan.

Extension: you can extend once for an additional 6 months, bringing the maximum continuous stay to 1 year.

After 1 year, you must leave Japan. There is currently no pathway from the digital nomad visa to long-term residency directly.

What You Can and Cannot Do

Allowed:

• Work remotely for your foreign employer or foreign clients
• Travel freely within Japan
• Enroll in Japanese language classes
• Open a bank account (some banks accept this status, others do not, PayPay Bank and Sony Bank are the most flexible)
• Rent an apartment or share house

Not allowed:

• Work for a Japanese company or Japanese clients
• Receive income from any Japanese source
• Enroll children in public schools (international schools are an option)

Application Process

1. Prepare your documents: employment contract or business registration, bank statements covering the past 12 months, proof of income meeting the threshold, health insurance certificate, clean criminal record from your home country, passport valid beyond your intended stay.

2. Apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country before departure. Processing time is typically 5 to 10 business days.

3. Arrive in Japan with your visa and receive your residence card at the port of entry. Register at your local ward office within 14 days of finding accommodation.

Housing in Tokyo as a Digital Nomad

Tokyo's rental market is generally structured around 12-month leases. For a 6-month digital nomad stay, you have three realistic options:

Furnished monthly apartments: the most practical choice. Properties designed for medium-term stays, usually 1 to 3 months minimum. Utilities often included. Expect 130,000 to 220,000 JPY per month for a central 1K or 1LDK. Operators such as Sakura House Monthly, Oak House, and specialist furnished apartment services cater to this market.

Share houses with flexible terms: many share houses offer monthly contracts with no long-term commitment. Costs run 55,000 to 90,000 JPY per month all-in including utilities. No guarantor required. Good option for the first 1 to 2 months while you explore neighborhoods before committing to a longer stay.

Standard unfurnished lease: possible on a digital nomad visa, but landlords typically require 12-month minimum contracts and a guarantor. Starting with furnished or share house accommodation for the first 3 months, then transitioning to a standard lease, is a common approach for those who want to stay the full year.

See our furnished apartment guide for expats for a full breakdown of the monthly furnished market in Tokyo.

Cost of Living Estimate for Digital Nomads (Tokyo)

Total realistic range: 250,000 to 380,000 JPY/month if you take a furnished apartment, or 175,000 to 270,000 JPY/month in a share house.

At current exchange rates (approximately 155 JPY/EUR as of mid-2026), the furnished apartment scenario costs roughly 1,600 to 2,400 EUR per month.

Banks and Money

Opening a bank account in Japan on a digital nomad visa can be challenging. The most reliably accessible options:

• PayPay Bank: fully online, accepts various visa statuses including Specified Activities
• Sony Bank: online setup, multi-currency accounts available
• Wise Japan account: not a Japanese bank account but allows JPY transactions and card payments

For international transfers, see our guide to sending money to Japan.

FAQ

Can I bring my family?

In most cases yes, your spouse and minor children may accompany you under the dependent category of the same visa. Rules vary by nationality, so confirm with the Japanese embassy in your country.

Can I freelance for Japanese clients?

No. The digital nomad visa explicitly prohibits any remunerated activity with Japanese companies or individuals. Violation risks visa cancellation and future entry bans.

What happens if I overstay?

Overstay of any Japanese visa results in deportation and a minimum 5-year entry ban. Do not overstay.

Is Japan a good base for digital nomads?

Infrastructure-wise, Japan is excellent: fast fiber internet everywhere, coworking spaces in most Tokyo wards, reliable public transport, very low crime. The main challenges are the high income threshold for the visa and the cost of living relative to Southeast Asia.

For housing, start with our [furnished apartment guide](/blog/furnished-apartment-tokyo-expats) or [share house overview](/blog/share-house-tokyo-guide-2026). For visa and administrative steps after arrival, see our [complete Tokyo moving checklist](/blog/moving-to-tokyo-checklist-2026).