Japan Digital Nomad Visa and Working Holiday Visa: 2026 Guide
If you want to spend months in Japan without a Japanese employer, you have two routes: the digital nomad visa and the working holiday visa. Three things decide which one is open to you: your income, your nationality and your age. The digital nomad visa asks for ¥10 million a year. The working holiday visa asks you to be between 18 and 30. Check those first and the choice usually makes itself.
Which visa fits you?
| Digital nomad visa | Working holiday visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Length of stay | 6 months, no extension | Up to a year |
| Income | ¥10 million a year or more | Funds for a return ticket |
| Age | Not listed as a condition | 18 to 30 |
| Nationality | More than 50 countries | 32 countries and regions |
| US citizens | Eligible | Not eligible |
| Work | For employers or clients outside Japan | Work to fund the trip |
Digital nomad visa: who qualifies
Japan launched the digital nomad status in April 2024. It suits remote workers with high earnings who work for companies or clients outside Japan.
You need to meet all of these conditions:
- Nationality. You must hold citizenship of a designated country. More than 50 qualify, including the US, the UK, Australia and France.
- Income. You must earn at least ¥10 million a year from sources outside Japan. At mid-August 2026 exchange rates, that came to about $62,800, £46,300 or €54,200.
- Work. Your employer or clients must sit entirely outside Japan. You cannot work for Japanese companies or clients.
- Insurance. You need cover for death, injury and illness, with medical treatment cover of
