Eligibility quiz
Do you plan to work remotely from Japan under an employment contract for an organisation established under another country's law, at its office outside Japan?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Japan
You can live in Japan for your authorized stay, up to six months.
You can rent accommodation, travel around Japan and make ordinary contracts.
Work remotely in Japan
You can work remotely for an employer’s business outside Japan under an employment contract governed by another country’s law.
You can also use the internet to sell goods or provide paid services to people outside Japan, except activities that require entering Japan to perform.
Leave and return
You can leave Japan and return before your stay expires with permission to re-enter or special permission to re-enter.
Leaving and returning does not extend the six-month limit.
How to apply
From outside JapanFrom outside Japan
Find your consulate
Find the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for the country or region where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Japanese embassy or consulate covers your city for a Designated Activities Digital Nomad visa?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your chosen application steps.
See required documentsGet the certificate form
You can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility before applying for your visa, but it is optional. To do so, get the Application for Certificate of Eligibility; otherwise, skip to the visa application form.
Find the certificate formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I get Japan's Certificate of Eligibility application form for Designated Activities Digital Nomad?”
Fill in the certificate form
If you want a Certificate of Eligibility, fill in and sign the form and attach your photograph. Leave the organisation sections blank.
See how to completeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in Japan's Certificate of Eligibility application form for Designated Activities Digital Nomad?”
Find the immigration office
Ask your proxy in Japan to find the regional immigration office that can take your Certificate of Eligibility application.
Find the immigration officeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does my proxy find the Japanese immigration office for a Designated Activities Digital Nomad Certificate of Eligibility application?”
Submit the certificate application
Ask your proxy to submit your completed form and documents to the regional immigration office, including an addressed return envelope with enough registered-mail postage. Online submission may also be available through Japan's residence application system.
Find submission instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a proxy submit a Japan Designated Activities Digital Nomad Certificate of Eligibility application?”
Wait for your certificate
Wait for the Certificate of Eligibility to be issued and received by email or the return method selected. Submit it with your visa application within three months of issue.
Check application progressDownload the visa form
Get the Visa Application Form and, if you are applying without a Certificate of Eligibility, the Digital Nomad activity-plan form.
Download the visa formFill in the visa form
Fill in and sign the visa form and attach your photograph. If you are applying without a Certificate of Eligibility, also complete the activity-plan form.
See how to completeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in Japan's Designated Activities Digital Nomad visa application and activity-plan forms?”
Submit your visa application
Submit your application and documents to your consulate in the way it requires. It may accept them directly, through a representative or agency, or online.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Japan Designated Activities Digital Nomad visa application at the Japanese consulate covering your city?”
Pay any visa fee
Pay any fee your consulate requires, using its payment instructions.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Japan Designated Activities Digital Nomad visa fee at the Japanese consulate covering your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate's decision and respond if it asks for more documents or an interview.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I check the progress of my Japan Designated Activities Digital Nomad visa application at the Japanese consulate covering your city?”
Receive your visa
Collect your visa or receive it electronically, as instructed by the consulate. You can then travel to Japan.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my Japan Designated Activities Digital Nomad visa from the Japanese consulate covering your city?”
Once in JapanOnce in Japan
Enter Japan
Present your passport, visa and Certificate of Eligibility, if you obtained one, at passport control and request permission to enter. Once admitted, you can do your permitted remote work during your stay; no residence card is issued for this status.
Find entry instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter Japan with a Designated Activities Digital Nomad visa?”
Documents needed
Required to applyRequired to apply
Passport photo
Attach one photo of yourself to your application form. Make sure it meets the photo standards for the application.
Application forms
For a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), use the COE application form; you do not need to fill in the organisation sections. For a visa, use the Visa Application Form.
Proof of income *
Show that your personal annual income is at least ¥10 million when you apply. For a COE, submit a tax or income certificate issued where you worked; for a visa, you can also use an employment or client contract that clearly states its period and amount.
* Only if you apply for a COE or apply for a visa without a COE.
May need translationProof of insurance *
Show that your private insurance covers death, injury and illness in Japan for your planned stay, including at least ¥10 million for medical treatment. For a COE, include the insurance coverage explanation form and copies of your enrolment certificate and policy terms; for a visa, you can use your insurance certificate and policy summary. If you rely on credit-card insurance, include proof of that coverage and any supplementary coverage.
* Only if you apply for a COE or apply for a visa without a COE.
May need translationPassport *
Submit your passport with your visa application.
* Only if you apply for a visa.
Certificate of Eligibility *
Submit your Certificate of Eligibility, also called a COE, with your visa application. It must be submitted within three months of issue.
* Only if you apply for a visa and have obtained a Certificate of Eligibility.
Activity plan *
Describe the work you plan to do in Japan and your planned schedule and length of stay. For a visa application, use the official Digital Nomad activity-plan form.
* Only if you apply for a COE and your application does not fully describe your plans, or you apply for a visa without a COE.
May need translationProof of current work *
Show your current work status, for example with an employment contract or certificate of employment.
* Only if you apply for a COE.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Limits on work
You cannot work for or contract with a Japanese company, public body or individual.
Permission to do work outside your authorized activities is generally unavailable.
Private insurance requirement
You must keep private insurance for your stay that covers death, injury and illness.
It must cover at least ¥10 million in medical expenses.
Status can end
Your stay cannot be extended or renewed in Japan, and you must leave by its expiry.
After leaving Japan, you must wait six months before using this same status again.
Your status also ends if you leave without permission to keep it when you return.
Immigration authorities can cancel it or take enforcement action for false information, unauthorized work, staying after expiry or another legal reason.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
r/AkiyaSplit
English Reddit group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on RedditFor Foreigners Living In Japan
English Facebook group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on Facebookr/movingtojapan
English Reddit group for people living in Japan interested in Japanese visas
Join on RedditConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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