特定活動（デジタルノマド）
Designated Activities: digital nomad
What it allows
For people who keep working remotely for an employer or clients outside Japan while staying in Japan for a short period. It is not a status for working for a Japanese employer.
Period of stay
Up to 6 months, without extension; you can use the status again only after 6 months have passed since leaving Japan.
Requirements
- Annual income of JPY 10 million or more, earned from outside Japan
- Private medical insurance for the whole stay that covers at least JPY 10 million of treatment costs and also death · Confirm with the official source
- A nationality on the official list of eligible countries and regions (visa-exempt for short stays and with a tax treaty with Japan) · Confirm with the official source
Related rulebook entries
What it is
- The Digital Nomad status is a Designated Activities category that lets a remote worker stay in Japan for no more than six months while working remotely for a foreign employer or selling services or goods to people abroad using ICT.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） 特定活動（告示５３号）の活動 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- The ISA explains the insurance requirement exists because people in this status are not mid-to-long-term residents and therefore cannot join Japan's public health insurance.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ１０／Ａ１０ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- People staying under the Digital Nomad status are not issued a residence card.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） 在留期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Who qualifies
- Income is normally judged on the most recent annual income, but a post-promotion or new-hire contract salary that is expected to reach 10,000,000 yen going forward can also satisfy the test.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ９／Ａ９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- For a sole proprietor, income is assessed on profit after necessary expenses, not on the contract amount.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ９／Ａ９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- Several income streams, such as contracts with multiple companies, can be added together to reach 10,000,000 yen if they are regarded as stable income.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ９／Ａ９ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- The applicant must hold private medical insurance, such as overseas travel accident insurance, that covers death, injury and illness for the whole planned stay in Japan.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） その他要件 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- Per the ISA Q&A, the policy must also cover death, by including either repatriation of remains or an insurance payout on death; no minimum amount is set for the death benefit.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ１０／Ａ１０ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- To apply for the Digital Nomad status a person must hold the nationality of a country or region that is a short-stay visa-exemption country, is a tax-treaty partner (or a designated reciprocal tax-exemption country), and appears in Appendix 14 of the Designated Activities notice.出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の規定に基づき同法別表第一の五の表の下欄に掲げる活動を定める件（特定活動告示） 本則第五十三号ロ・別表第十四 · Checked on 2026-10-22
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- Digital Nomads cannot work under an employment contract with any organisation in Japan, and permission to engage in other activities is in principle not granted.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） 在留資格に該当する活動 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- The ISA states that income earned in Japan is often tax-exempt under a tax treaty when the person stays 183 days or fewer in the tax year or in any consecutive 12 months, but conditions differ by treaty.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ７／Ａ７ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Numbers and tests
- The applicant's personal annual income must be at least 10,000,000 yen at the time of application.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） 必要年収 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- The Designated Activities notice itself (No. 53) sets the same income test: annual income of at least 10,000,000 yen as of the application date.出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の規定に基づき同法別表第一の五の表の下欄に掲げる活動を定める件（特定活動告示） 第五十三号ハ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- The insurance must provide treatment-cost coverage of at least 10,000,000 yen for injury and illness.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） その他要件 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Periods
- The permitted stay is six months and cannot be renewed; a person can use the status again only after six months have passed since leaving Japan.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） 在留期間 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- Under the Designated Activities notice, total time spent in this status must not exceed six months in any 12-month period that starts or ends on a day within the calendar year of landing.出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の規定に基づき同法別表第一の五の表の下欄に掲げる活動を定める件（特定活動告示） 第五十三号イ · Checked on 2026-10-22
How it works
- Applicants must submit proof of the 10 million yen income, such as a tax certificate or income certificate issued in the country where they worked, plus evidence of their current work status.在留資格「特定活動」（デジタルノマド（国際的なリモートワーク等を目的として本邦に滞在する者）及びその配偶者・子） 提出書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- Because there is usually no sponsor in Japan to act as proxy for a certificate of eligibility, an applicant located outside Japan applies for the visa directly at the embassy or consulate in their place of residence.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ１１／Ａ１１ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- A Digital Nomad who leaves Japan temporarily can use a re-entry permit or the deemed re-entry permit and keep the status as long as they return before the period of stay expires.デジタルノマド向けの在留資格「特定活動」Q&A（令和６年７月時点） Ｑ６／Ａ６ · Checked on 2026-10-22
Lists and tables
- South Korea (大韓民国) is among the countries and regions listed in Appendix 14 of the Designated Activities notice, so Korean nationals are eligible for the Digital Nomad status; the appendix lists 51 countries and regions in total.出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の規定に基づき同法別表第一の五の表の下欄に掲げる活動を定める件（特定活動告示） 別表第十四 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Open the official page ↗ · As of 2026-10-23
Information only. Not legal advice and not an official service. Check the official source and consult the Immigration Services Agency or a licensed administrative scrivener (行政書士) before you decide.