U.S. citizens can qualify for Japan's Digital Nomad status. It allows a stay of up to six months while you work remotely for an employer or clients outside Japan. It does not allow you to work for a Japanese company or individual.
The principal applicant must have annual income of at least JPY 10 million and insurance for the full stay, including at least JPY 10 million in medical-treatment coverage for injury or illness.
Japan Digital Nomad visa requirements for U.S. remote workers
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Nationality | You must be a national or citizen of an eligible country or region. The United States is currently eligible. |
| Purpose of stay | You must plan to perform international remote work in Japan for no more than six months. |
| Type of work | You can work remotely for a foreign organization under a foreign employment contract, or provide paid services or sell goods remotely to persons outside Japan when the activity does not require you to be physically in Japan to provide it. |
| Annual income | The principal applicant's individual annual income must be at least JPY 10 million at the time of application. |
| Insurance | You must have private medical or travel insurance covering the planned stay. Coverage must include death, injury, and illness, with at least JPY 10 million in medical-treatment coverage for injury or illness. |
| Stay length | Up to six months. No extension is granted for this Digital Nomad status. |
| Residence card | Japan does not issue a residence card to people staying under this Digital Nomad status. |
Eligibility by nationality comes from Japan's list of countries and regions covered by both its short-stay visa-exemption arrangements and applicable tax conventions. The United States is on the current list. Check the Immigration Services Agency's eligible-country list before applying in case it has changed.
What work is permitted?
Japan permits two main types of remote work under this status:
- Working for a foreign employer: doing your normal remote work from Japan for an organization established outside Japan.
- Serving clients or customers outside Japan: providing paid services or selling goods remotely when the work can be done without being physically present in Japan.
You cannot use this status to take a job or contractor role with a Japanese company or individual. Japan also says permission for activities outside the authorized Digital Nomad activity is generally not granted.
U.S.-based employees, freelancers, and owners of foreign businesses can qualify when their work stays outside the Japanese labor market. Anyone taking local employment needs a different Japanese immigration status.
Documents you need
For the principal applicant, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists these documents:
- completed Japanese visa application form with a photo,
- valid passport,
- a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), if you are using the COE route, or the supporting documents below if applying without one,
- documents explaining your planned activities and period of stay in Japan,
- proof that your annual income is at least JPY 10 million, and
- proof of qualifying insurance for your stay in Japan.
Proof of income
MOFA gives examples such as a tax payment certificate, income certificate, employment contract, or contract with a business partner that clearly states the contract period and amount. The documentation should support the principal applicant's individual annual income of at least JPY 10 million.
Proof of insurance
You can use documents such as an insurance certificate and policy summary. If you are relying on travel insurance included with a credit card, Japan says to provide a copy of the card and documentation showing the supplementary coverage.
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
MOFA allows applicants to submit a Certificate of Eligibility with the visa application. With a valid COE, the planned-activity, income, and insurance documents can be omitted from the visa application itself. A COE can shorten the amount of supporting material reviewed with the visa application, but it does not guarantee approval.
Check the Japanese embassy or consulate that serves your address before deciding whether to use a COE. Procedures differ among U.S. missions. The Chicago consulate, for example, publishes a Digital Nomad checklist that accepts the required supporting documents instead of a COE. Other Japanese missions describe a COE as required for work or long-term visa applications.
The Immigration Services Agency publishes a separate COE application process for Digital Nomads. That checklist asks for proof of current work, such as an employment contract or employment certificate, along with income and insurance evidence.
Can your spouse or children come with you?
Yes. An accompanying spouse or child can apply under a separate Designated Activities status.
An accompanying spouse or child generally needs:
- a visa application form and photo,
- a valid passport,
- a COE if using that route, or the required supporting documents if applying without one,
- a description of planned activities and stay,
- qualifying insurance for the stay,
- proof of the relationship to the principal applicant, and
- a copy of the principal Digital Nomad's passport and visa.
Family coverage under the principal applicant's insurance can be used if the policy documents show that the spouse or child is covered and the required benefits are met.
An accompanying spouse or child's status is for being supported by the Digital Nomad and carrying out ordinary daily activities. Japan says permission to engage in activity outside that status is generally not granted. Do not assume an accompanying spouse can work remotely or take a Japanese job under the family status.
How to apply from the United States
1. Check your eligibility
Confirm that your nationality is eligible, your work fits the remote-work rules, your individual annual income is at least JPY 10 million, and your insurance meets the coverage requirement.
2. Find the Japanese mission that serves your address
Your application goes to the Japanese diplomatic mission with jurisdiction over where you live. Use the Embassy of Japan's U.S. visa page to find the office for your state.
3. Read that mission's Digital Nomad instructions
Check whether the office requires a COE, accepts the supporting-document route, allows applications by mail, requires an in-person application, or asks for anything else locally.
4. Prepare the application
Use the MOFA Digital Nomad requirements together with your mission's checklist. Older guides may list documents that do not appear on the current national MOFA list, including a police clearance certificate.
5. Submit the visa application
Japan eVISA currently covers single-entry short-term tourism visas, not the Digital Nomad status. Submit the Digital Nomad application through the Japanese embassy, consulate general, or consular office that serves your address.
6. Allow time for processing
Japanese missions in the United States commonly quote about five business days after accepting a complete application. A case can take longer, especially without a COE or when additional review is needed. Expedited visa processing is not available.
U.S. citizens are currently exempt from Japanese visa issuance fees. If a family member holds another nationality, check the fee rules for that person's nationality.
After you enter Japan
- Your authorized stay is up to six months.
- You will not receive a residence card under the Digital Nomad status.
- Travel within Japan: no special city-to-city immigration procedure applies.
- You can temporarily leave and return before the authorized stay expires if you follow Japan's re-entry or special re-entry procedures.
- Your work must remain within the permitted Digital Nomad activities. Employment or contract work for a Japanese company or individual is not permitted under this status.
Separate passport and arrival rules still apply. See our Japan entry requirements for U.S. citizens.
Extensions and longer stays
The Digital Nomad status cannot be extended. The maximum stay is six months.
After leaving Japan, you must wait at least six months before returning under the same Digital Nomad status again.
If you later qualify for another Japanese status of residence, such as one based on study or employment in Japan, you must follow the rules for that status. The Digital Nomad status does not automatically convert to another work or residence category.
Japan Digital Nomad visa FAQs
Yes. U.S. citizens are currently on the eligible-country list. The principal applicant must also meet the remote-work, JPY 10 million annual-income, insurance, and other requirements.
Up to six months. Japan does not grant an extension of this Digital Nomad status.
Not immediately. The status cannot be extended. Japan says you can apply to use the Digital Nomad status again after at least six months have passed since you left Japan.
MOFA publishes both a COE route and a route that uses supporting activity, income, and insurance documents. Procedures can vary by the Japanese mission handling your U.S. application, so check the embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over your residence before filing.
No. Japan eVISA currently covers single-entry short-term tourism visas, not the Digital Nomad status. Follow the paper visa procedure of the Japanese embassy or consulate that serves your place of residence.
No. Employment or contractor work for a Japanese public or private organization or an individual in Japan is not permitted under the Digital Nomad status.
Yes, if the work fits Japan's rules for remote paid services or sales to people outside Japan and you meet the income, insurance, nationality, and document requirements.
Yes, if they qualify for the accompanying spouse or child Designated Activities status and submit the required relationship, insurance, passport, and other documents. Their status does not automatically authorize work.
Japanese missions in the United States currently exempt U.S. citizens from visa issuance fees. Check the mission handling your application before filing because fee rules can change.
Japanese missions commonly quote about five business days after accepting a complete application. Applications without a COE or cases needing additional review can take longer. Expedited processing is not offered.
Official Japan sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Digital Nomad / Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad
- Immigration Services Agency: Digital Nomad Designated Activities status
- Immigration Services Agency: Eligible countries and regions
- Embassy of Japan in the United States: Visa information and jurisdiction
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Japan eVISA eligibility and visa types
Last reviewed: September 28, 2026.
Our role: U.S. Passport Service Guide is an independent passport and travel-document information resource. This page explains Japan's Digital Nomad requirements for U.S. applicants and links to the Japanese government offices that decide visa and immigration cases.
