Japan Introduces New Digital Nomad Visa
Japan will introduce a new digital nomad visa in March 2024 that will allow people to stay and work remotely in the country for up to six months.
The new visa is double the length of the current "Short-Term Stay" visa, which allows people to stay in Japan for 90 days — but does not allow them to work.
Digital nomads are people who work online while traveling. In recent years, many countries have introduced new visas that allow digital nomads to come and stay.
Japan is especially attractive to digital nomads because of its low crime rate, its cheap cost of living thanks to the weak yen, and its unique mix of ancient traditions and modern pop culture.
People from 49 countries and territories will be able to apply for Japan's digital nomad visa. These include the US, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and all of the countries in the EU.
To get the new digital nomad visa, people will have to make at least 10 million yen a year — that's almost $68,000 — and they also have to have private health insurance.
Their spouses and children will also be allowed to come to Japan — if they have private health insurance.
Digital nomads won't be able to renew the visa for a longer stay, and will only be able to apply for a new one six months after leaving the country. They also won't be able to rent long-term accommodation, so they will have to stay in short-term rentals like Airbnb or hotels.
The new visa is part of the Japanese government's plans to boost the economy with increased tourism. However, the visa's length is quite short compared to other places in Asia.
South Korea, for example, offers a two-year digital nomad visa, while Taiwan offers one for three years, with the opportunity to apply for permanent residency when it is finished.
