Starting from the end of March 2024, Japan is gearing up to launch a program for digital nomads.
Citizens of 49 countries, including the entire European Union and the United States, will be eligible for the corresponding visa. The visa is designed for highly skilled professionals, especially in IT, and allows remote work for up to six months.
In addition to residents of European Union countries, citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom can also obtain the digital nomad visa. Outside of Europe, citizens of Australia, South Korea, Singapore, and the United States can apply for Japan’s digital nomad visa.
The main requirement is a minimum annual income of at least 10 million Japanese yen (approximately €62,672) with mandatory private health insurance. Spouses and children can also join, but the visa cannot be extended without leaving the country.
The visa program is open for public discussion until the anticipated launch by the end of March 2024. The goal of the visa is to attract highly skilled specialists, especially in the field of IT. The visa is also available for those working remotely for a company outside of Japan or as freelancers serving clients beyond Japan. It is expected that YouTubers earning income from foreign advertisers may also qualify for the nomad visa.
Useful links:
- Hotel booking – Booking.com
- Flight search and purchase – Aviasales
- Car rental – Local Rent or Rentalcars
