How to Apply for Japan’s New Digital Nomad Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide

There are two ways to apply for Japan’s new digital nomad visa: you can apply at your local Japanese consulate in your home country, or you can apply while on a tourist visa in Japan by changing your visa status to a digital nomad resident. In this step-by-step guide, we recommend applying at the consulate in your home country to ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork completed before crossing the border.

We will walk you through everything you need to know about applying for Japan’s new digital nomad visa, from requirements to the step-by-step application process. For those looking to make the transition smoother, we explain ROKKONOMAD’s digital nomad services to help you adjust to life in Japan, including accommodations, a co-working space, and expat support.

Japan Digital Nomad Visa Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Japan’s digital nomad visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of one of the 49 eligible countries.
• Hold a valid passport.
• Provide proof of income of 10 million JPY or more.
• Have valid medical insurance of 10 million JPY or more.

Digital Nomad Visa Required Documents

Ensure you have the following documents ready before applying:

1. Valid passport.
2. Proof of income (e.g. tax return).
3. Medical insurance documentation.
4. Description of activities you will be engaged in while in Japan.
5. Completed application form.

How To Apply For a Japan Digital Nomad Visa At Your Consulate

We recommend scheduling an appointment at your local consulate and submitting your digital nomad visa documents there. The consulate will be your best point of contact for your questions and will ensure you have all the correct documents.

» Step 1: Gather Required Documents

Before you begin the application process, ensure you have all the necessary documents:

• Valid Passport: Your passport should be valid for the entire duration of your stay.
• Proof of Income of 10 Million JPY: This needs to be a government-issued tax return. If you cannot provide one, then Japan Immigration may accept a signed contract by an employer or business partner.
• Medical Insurance of 10 Million JPY: This should be a contract provided by your insurance coverage provider. If your credit card covers supplementary medical compensation, then Immigration will also accept this.
• Description of Activities: This official form should be filled with information about the work activities you will be engaged in while in Japan.
• Completed Application Form: Fill out the visa application form from the Japanese Immigration website.

Additional Documents for Family Members: If you are bringing a spouse or children, you will need:

• Proof of Relationship: Marriage certificate for your spouse or birth certificates for your children.
• Medical Insurance: Document proving 10 Million JPY coverage per family member.
• Passport Copies: TCopies of the passports of each family member.

» Step 2: Verify Specific Consulate Requirements

Each Japanese consulate may have its own specific rules and appointment schedules:

• Check with Your Local Consulate: Visit the consulate’s website or contact them to confirm their specific requirements and appointment procedures. Some consulates allow you to drop off documents without an appointment, while others may require you to schedule a visit.

» Step 3: Submit Your Application In-Person

• Visit the Consulate: Take all your gathered documents to the Japanese consulate in your country.
• Document Check: The consulate staff will review your documents to ensure everything is in order. If any documents are missing, they will let you know and you’ll have to submit them.
• Pick-up Time: After verifying your documents, the consulate will give you a pick-up time, usually a few days later.

» Step 4: Collect Your Visa

• Return to the Consulate: Go back to the consulate on the designated pick-up day.
• Pay the Fee: Pay any applicable visa fees.
• Receive Your Visa: The visa will be stamped into your passport, allowing you to enter Japan as a digital nomad at immigration and customs at the airport.

» Step 5: Plan Your Arrival in Japan

• Book Your Flights: The visa will have an expiration date of three months after issuance. Make sure to book your flights so that you enter Japan within three months of receiving your visa.
• Book Accommodation: On your customs forms, you need to provide a local address. You can sign up for ROKKONOMAD’s digital nomad services to use our virtual address.
• Entering Japan: When you arrive in Japan, present your passport with the visa stamp at the border to enter as a digital nomad.

How to Apply for a Digital Nomad Visa at an Immigration Office in Japan

Applying for a digital nomad visa while in Japan involves switching from a 90-day tourist visa to a digital nomad visa. Although it is possible, we don’t recommend this method. If you don’t have the proper paperwork, you may need to return to your home country to make your corrections, which is inconvenient and costly. 

Applying at your consulate at home will allow you to prepare your documents (especially official ones like birth certificates) without time constraints. The documents required will be the same for both methods.

» Step 1: Gather Required Documents

• Collect All Documents: Ensure you have a valid passport, proof of income, medical insurance, description of activities, and a completed application form.
• Prepare Documents for Spouse and Children: If you are bringing your family, make sure you get marriage certificates and birth certificates issued.

» Step 2: Visit an Immigration Office

• Choose an Immigration Office: Go to any immigration office in Japan. Offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka, and other large cities are most familiar with the digital nomad process.
• Avoid Tokyo If Possible: The Tokyo office often has crowded lines and long waits.
• Consider Language Requirements: Most immigration offices do not have English-speaking staff. While some officers may understand English, they conduct all work in Japanese. You should speak at least N4 level Japanese or bring a translator.

» Step 3: Submit Your Application

• Present Your Documents: Submit your application to the immigration officer. They will review your documents to ensure everything is in order.
• Be Prepared For Corrections: If documents are missing or incorrect, you’ll need to prepare new ones.

» Step 4: Provide Contact Information and Address

• Give Your Contact Details: The immigration office will take your contact information and address to send you updates. They will likely send you a pick-up date through physical mail.

» Step 5: Leave Your Passport

• Submit Your Passport: The immigration office will retain your passport during the application process. You will not be able to leave Japan until the process is complete.

» Step 6: Wait for Notification

• Await Approval: Once your application is processed, you will receive a notification for pickup. This letter can take up to 2 months or as little as 3 weeks to arrive.

The length of time depends in part on the application (we suspect that digital nomad visas will be processed fairly quickly because they are not as complicated as other statuses, such as permanent residency). It also depends on whether the immigration office is located in a densely populated city. In our experience, Kobe’s immigration office is much quicker than its counterparts in Tokyo.

» Step 7: Pick Up Your Visa

• Collect Your Passport: Return to the immigration office to collect your passport with the new visa stamp.
• Enjoy Your New Status: Your status will be changed to digital nomad, allowing you to stay in Japan for six months uninterrupted.

Important Tips for Applying for Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa

Keep these tips in mind before you go through the digital nomad visa application process:

1. Keep an Eye on Visa Expiration: You have three months after you receive your visa in your passport to enter Japan. If it expires, you’ll need to go through the entire application process again. 
2. Family Members Need Their Own Visas: If you’re bringing your children or spouse, remember that they need to apply for their own visas via their own applications. They’ll need to provide documents like proof of relationship, medical insurance, and passport copies.
3. Keep Things Simple by Applying at Your Consulate: Keep things simple by applying for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at your consulate. While you can apply for a COE online or at immigration offices in Japan, consolidating the process at your consulate will reduce complexity and make the application process more straightforward.

ROKKONOMAD’s Digital Nomad Visa Service

To make your stay in Japan even more convenient, consider accommodating with us at ROKKONOMAD for a few days to take advantage of our co-working space in the lush mountains of Kobe and to get expat support from our local, English-speaking staff. ROKKONOMAD offers a comprehensive 66,000 JPY package for the whole 6 months of your visa to enhance your digital nomad life:

• Accommodation: Enjoy 6 nights of accommodation. We recommend spending the first four nights settling into Japan and the last two nights gathering your mail and luggage before departing.
• Luggage Storage: Store your luggage safely with us, which you can pick up and store during ROKKONOMAD’s open hours.
• Emergency Phone Support: Get help anytime with our emergency advice phone line.
• Mail Service (optional): Reliably receive and securely store your mail, for an additional 11,000 JPY for the whole 6 months.
• Business Address (optional): Use our virtual address service to use on your official documents, and to receive mail and packages during your stay, for an additional 22,000 JPY per month.

We’ve designed these services to make your transition to and from Japan as smooth as possible, so you can focus on enjoying your stay and working effectively.

Please reach out to us at ROKKONOMAD to take the next step in your digital nomad journey! To learn more and purchase, please fill in this form.

FAQs About How To Apply For Japan’s Digital Nomad Visa

Q: Can I apply for a visa to Japan online?
A: No, you need to submit your documents in person. While you can try to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) online, we highly recommend applying in person at your consulate at home. It will be much more straightforward to do everything in one place.

Q: Do digital nomads pay tax in Japan?
A: No, digital nomads do not pay tax in Japan if they are from one of the 49 countries with which Japan has tax treaties. These treaties eliminate double income taxation for those who stay in Japan for under six months.

Q: Does Japan have a digital nomad visa?
A: Yes, Japan offers a six-month digital nomad visa.

Q: What is the cheapest country to live as a digital nomad?
A: The cheapest countries to live as a digital nomad include Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and St. Lucia

Q: Is it hard to get approved for a Japan visa?
A: Japan’s immigration process is very straightforward if you have all the legitimate documents they ask for. You need to be very organized and detailed, as immigration officers will thoroughly review your documents and ask questions if something is off.

Q: How long is the digital nomad visa valid?
A: The visa is valid for six months and is not extendable.

Q: Can I work for a Japanese company with this visa?
A: No, the digital nomad visa does not permit you to work for a Japanese company.

Q: Is there a pathway to citizenship with this visa?
A: No, this visa does not provide a pathway to citizenship.

Author Bio

Naoko Jansen is the manager of ROKKONOMAD and has many years of experience working with digital nomads and running a co-working space. As a native Japanese with experience living abroad, Naoko understands the ins and outs of Japanese culture and the needs of digital nomads.

References
MOJ. Japan Digital Nomad Visa Application.
MOJ. Online COE Application.
MOFA. Designated activities visa.
US Embassy. Visa and Travel Information.