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Zagdim Reader Desk · Japan digital nomad visa

Japan digital nomad visaIncome, insurance and conditions of stay

If you want to work remotely from Japan for a short period, first confirm that your nationality, personal income and insurance meet the digital nomad rules. The Zagdim Reader Desk first establishes your work and family situation, then shortlists suitable administrative scriveners in Japan.

Book a free 20-minute callSee what the service covers
The Tokyo skyline
Who it is forRemote workers with an overseas employer or overseas clients
Handled byAdministrative scriveners in Japan
LanguagesEnglish or Japanese; other languages on request
Reader Desk feeFree of charge
Rules differ by nationality

Eligibility for the digital nomad scheme depends on nationality: the main applicant and accompanying family members are each checked against separate lists of eligible countries and regions, and consular visa fees and procedures can also vary by nationality and by embassy or consulate. This page describes the general rule; passport holders of the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Australia, Canada and other countries should confirm the position for their own nationality.

Information checked: 29 October 2026

01 · ABOUT

Who is the digital nomad visa for? Start with how you work

The digital nomad scheme falls under Designated Activities (特定活動) and applies to people working remotely for an overseas employer or overseas clients. The period of stay is 6 months and cannot be renewed; it is not a route to long-term residence or to employment in Japan.

  • Income is assessed individuallyThe main applicant’s own annual income must be at least ¥10 million (about US$62,500), and a couple’s incomes cannot be combined.
  • Insurance: amount and periodCover must run for the whole stay, with treatment for injury and illness of at least ¥10 million (about US$62,500).
  • Check each nationality listThe main applicant and family members each have their own list; short-stay visa exemption does not mean you qualify.

Where it is handled

Immigration Services AgencyImmigration Services Agency

Examines status of residence and related applications.

Logos belong to the respective bodies and are shown only to identify where a matter is handled. Zagdim is not affiliated with them.

Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Konan, Minato
Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Konan, Minato
Sample residence card (image: Iwate Prefectural Government)
Sample residence card (image: Iwate Prefectural Government)

Start with how you work

Start with the closest situation:

Working for an overseas employer

  • What to prepareEmployment contract, certificate of employment, proof of your own income and tax payment, and insurance certificate.
  • Application routeEither obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) first and then apply for the visa, or submit documents directly to a Japanese embassy or consulate without a COE. How applications are accepted is confirmed with the embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction.
  • What the budget consists ofCOE application ¥0, single-entry visa about ¥15,000 equivalent, insurance premiums and professional fees.

Next steps

  1. Confirm your nationality is on the list and gather proof of your own income

Freelancing for overseas clients

  • What to prepareClient contracts, your own income and tax records, a description of your activities, and insurance certificate.
  • Application routeEither obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) first and then apply for the visa, or submit documents directly to a Japanese embassy or consulate without a COE. How applications are accepted is confirmed with the embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction.
  • What the budget consists ofCOE application ¥0, single-entry visa about ¥15,000 equivalent, insurance premiums and professional fees.

Next steps

  1. Confirm your nationality is on the list and gather client contracts and your own income records

Bringing a spouse or children

A dependent spouse or child applies separately under the family category. Their period of stay is likewise no more than 6 months and cannot be renewed, and family members must also meet their own nationality list and insurance conditions. Working on family status is, in principle, not permitted.

  • What to prepareDocuments showing the family relationship and dependency, the main applicant’s application documents, and a separate insurance certificate for each person.
  • What the budget consists ofA consular visa fee and insurance premium for each person; professional fees are quoted by the number of applicants.

Next steps

  1. Confirm whether each family member’s nationality is on the list that applies to family members

Sources: Immigration Services Agency – Designated Activities page for digital nomads / Ministry of Foreign Affairs – visa page for digital nomads and family members. Checked 29 October 2026.

02 · SERVICE

What do the professionals do for the application?

Checks nationality, the remote work involved, personal income and insurance, and prepares the Designated Activities application for digital nomads.

Who charges what

What the Reader Desk does at no charge

Establishes what you need, sets it out in a written brief, introduces professionals in Japan and follows up.

Professional fees

Quoted by the administrative scrivener handling the matter once they understand your situation; receipts are issued by them after engagement.

How payments flow

Zagdim does not charge readers a matching fee and does not handle payments for professional services. Providers quote case by case, and you contract with and pay the provider directly.

  1. 01Eligibility and activity review

    Nationality, overseas work and plans for the stay are checked.

  2. 02Organising income evidence

    Income, tax payment and work contracts are reviewed.

  3. 03Insurance document check

    The policy terms are checked to see that they state the required cover.

  4. 04Preparing application documents

    Documents for the main applicant and family members are put in order.

03 · CASES

Which situations do not fit, or need extra care?

In every caseThis status does not permit employment by a Japanese organisation; accompanying as family does not confer the right to work; and neither the main applicant nor family members are issued a residence card.

This service may not suit you: if you are to be employed by a Japanese company, see “Japan work visa”; if you want to live in Japan long term or stay on after 6 months, other statuses of residence should be assessed separately.

04 · SERVICE PROCESS

From consultation to filing: who does each step?

Establish how you work first; an administrative scrivener (行政書士) then checks and prepares.

English or JapaneseOther languages on request

  1. Explain your work and family

    You tell the Reader Desk your nationality, who you work for, your income and any accompanying family.

  2. The administrative scrivener checks the conditions

    The administrative scrivener checks the nationality lists, income and insurance, then lists missing documents and quotes.

  3. Complete the documents

    You prepare income, tax and insurance certificates; the administrative scrivener puts the application together.

  4. File the application

    The COE or visa application is filed by the chosen route; the outcome is decided by the immigration authorities or the Japanese embassy or consulate.

Not included

  • Selling insurance products or handling claims
  • Job placement in Japan
  • Renewal services for a status that cannot be renewed

What you need to prepare

  • Passport of each applicant
  • Overseas employment or client contracts
  • Proof of personal income and tax payment
  • Insurance certificate terms and family relationship documents

05 · TIME

From preparation to departure: who does what, and how long do you wait?

How fast preparation goes depends on your income and insurance documents; the pace of review is set by the immigration authorities or the embassy or consulate.6 monthsThe period of stay and the interval before reapplying are limits on your plans, not processing times.

  1. Your preparation

    Work contracts, income and insurance documents

  2. Professionals

    Checks the conditions and prepares the application

  3. Immigration authorities / embassy or consulate

    COE or consular visa review

  4. Within 6 months of approval

    Remote work and departure arranged as permitted

  5. 6 months after departure

    Using the scheme again requires a fresh application

06 · FEES

What money should you prepare before starting?

Taxes and official fees

  • Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application¥0
  • Single-entry consular visaAbout ¥15,000 equivalent(Accepted from 1 July 2026; charged in local currency; exceptions by nationality are checked separately.)

Professional and service fees

  • Professional application servicesQuoted once your situation is understood(By the number of applicants, main and family.)
  • Medical and travel insuranceAs quoted by the insurer(Must meet the required cover amount and period.)
  • Zagdim Reader DeskFree of charge(Consultation, clarifying what you need and shortlisting professionals)

The table above takes a single main applicant as the example (an illustration of the components, not a quote); each family member incurs a separate visa fee and insurance. Professional fees are quoted by the administrative scrivener once the case is understood, and depend mainly on the number of people, the application route and the volume of documents. Ask the provider to state in the written quote whether out-of-pocket costs such as translation are charged separately.

07 · EXPERTS & PROFESSIONALS

Who helps with the application?

Depending on the case, different Japanese professionals are involved.

Administrative scrivener

行政書士 · gyōsei shoshi

A suitably qualified administrative scrivener can be engaged to prepare documents and submit residence applications on your behalf; where the law requires you to attend in person, you must still do so.

Lawyer

弁護士 · bengoshi

Gives legal advice on disputes and complex cases; submitting residence applications on your behalf requires separate qualification and notification.

MATCHING

How Zagdim shortlists the right professionals

What you need
Zagdim Reader Desk
  • Clarifying the need
  • Matching providers
  • Follow-up at key points
The right professional

Zagdim Reader Desk

Free consultation · clarifying the need · matching · follow-up

No charge to readers

Professionals in Japan

Professional advice and handling

Quote · contract · payment · receipt

Whether a professional can be arranged

Based on the number of applicants and the state of the documents, the Reader Desk confirms whether an administrative scrivener registered with the immigration authorities can be arranged.

  1. You tell the Reader DeskHow you work, the nationalities of the main applicant and family members, and when you plan to travel to Japan
  2. The Reader Desk checksWhether a suitable administrative scrivener can be arranged to take on the main and family applications
  3. The Reader Desk repliesIf it can be arranged, we say which kind of professional will take it on. If no suitable provider is available for now, we say so plainly

08 · CONSULTATION

What happens next?

Zagdim Reader DeskFirst understand the situation, then shortlist the right professionals

Four steps after you get in touch

  1. Contact the Reader DeskExplain your situation by WhatsApp or email and arrange a call.
  2. A written briefThe Reader Desk sets out nationality, income, insurance and family circumstances. Once you confirm it, the introduction is made.
  3. Introduction to a professionalIntroduction to an administrative scrivener. Before the introduction, the written quote, out-of-pocket costs and conditions for extra charges are confirmed with them.
  4. Quote and engagementThe professional explains what is missing and quotes; you decide whether to engage, and contract with and pay them directly.

Have the points below ready before you get in touch.

  • The passport nationality of the main applicant and of each family member
  • Whether you are employed by an overseas employer or freelance for overseas clients
  • Your own annual income and the documents that can prove it
  • What your insurance covers and for how long, and when you plan to travel to Japan
WhatsAppEmail the Reader Desk

The Zagdim Reader Desk handles contact and follow-up.

Send us your details

The more you tell us, the better the Zagdim Reader Desk understands your situation before we speak.

09 · FAQ

Japan digital nomad visa: common questions

Does ordinary short-stay visa exemption mean you qualify as a digital nomad?

No. The digital nomad scheme has its own nationality lists, checked separately for the main applicant and for family members, and the income and insurance conditions must also be met.

Can a couple’s combined annual income of ¥10 million qualify?

No. The main applicant must reach ¥10 million in personal annual income; a couple’s combined income cannot stand in for it.

Can you accept employment with a Japanese company?

No. Digital nomad status does not permit work as an employee of a Japanese organisation; to be employed in Japan you need a separate work status.

Can you extend after six months?

It cannot be renewed. Only once 6 months have passed since departure can you apply again under the scheme.

Can your spouse accompany you and work?

A dependent spouse or child can apply to accompany you under the family conditions; working on accompanying family status is, in principle, not permitted.

Will you receive a residence card?

No. Neither the digital nomad main applicant nor accompanying family members are eligible for a residence card.

Is any travel insurance acceptable?

Not necessarily. It must cover death, injury and illness for the whole stay, with cover for treatment of injury and illness of at least ¥10 million; this must be checked for both the main applicant and family members.

Check your work and income first, then prepare the application.

Book a free 20-minute call

Residence applications are examined by the Immigration Services Agency, and consular visas are handled by Japanese embassies and consulates. Official fees follow the current notices of the Japanese authorities. Quotes, contracts, payments and receipts for professional services are handled by the professional concerned; neither the Zagdim Reader Desk nor the professionals guarantee that any application or review will succeed. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.

Photographs of institutions (Wikimedia Commons): Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, Konan, Minato, Nesnad (CC BY 4.0); sample residence card (image: Iwate Prefectural Government), Iwate Prefecture Government website (CC BY 4.0)

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