What is Japan's digital nomad visa?
Introduced in 2024, the digital nomad status (デジタルノマド, dejitaru nomado) is a designated-activity permit (指定活動, shitei katsudō, designated activities) rather than a classic work visa. It allows a stay of up to 6 months, not renewable on the spot: afterwards you must leave the country and observe a cooling-off period before any new application.
It targets people who work remotely for an employer or clients outside Japan: developers, consultants, freelancers, staff on international remote contracts. It cannot be used to take a local Japanese job.
In practice it is an "enhanced" long stay: more comfortable than the 90-day visa-free tourist window, but far from a resident status. For living in Japan over the long term, other routes exist, detailed in our article on permanent residence in Japan.
Income condition: about ¥10M per year
The main barrier is financial. According to the ISA, the applicant must show an annual income of about ¥10M (~€67,000). It is a deliberately high bar that rules out most early-stage freelancers.
That income must come from remote work and be documented (contracts, tax returns, statements). The authorities value stability and regularity, not a one-off spike.
A practical case
A French developer salaried by a US company at €75,000 gross/year, fully remote, meets the income test. A freelance consultant at €45,000/year, by contrast, is probably below the threshold and would need a tourist stay or another category.
| Criterion | Indicative requirement (per the ISA) |
|---|---|
| Annual income | About ¥10M (~€67,000) |
| Length of stay | 6 months max, not renewable on the spot |
| Private health insurance | Mandatory (death/illness/accident cover) |
| Source of income | Employer or clients outside Japan |
Exact amounts and documents may change: always check the ISA's official page before filing.
Eligible nationalities and mandatory insurance
The scheme is open only to nationals of countries that have a visa-exemption agreement with Japan and, usually, a tax treaty. France is included, along with most EU countries, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and others.
Two technical conditions come up every time:
- Private health insurance covering illness, injury and death for the whole stay (enrolment in Japan's public scheme 国民健康保険 is not provided for under this status).
- Proof of means and of the remote activity.
Family members (spouse, children) may, under conditions, accompany the holder. Here too, the list of nationalities and the terms are set by the ISA and the 外務省 (MOFA): that is the source to check first.
What the visa allows — and does not
The digital nomad can stay and work remotely from Japan, open certain services and rent short-term housing. But the status stays constrained.
What it allows
- Living in Japan for up to 6 months while working for abroad.
- Travelling around the country, testing a future move, scouting a property project on the ground.
What it does not allow
- Taking a salaried Japanese job.
- Obtaining a long-term zairyū card (residence card): the stay is short by nature.
- Registering durably as a resident and building seniority toward permanent residence.
If your goal is to manage a rental portfolio from Japan, this is not the right tool: look instead at the Business Manager visa keiei kanri, which implies setting up a company in Japan and real capital.
Buying property grants NO visa — the rule to repeat
This is the most common misunderstanding, and it must be blunt: buying an apartment, a house or a building in Japan grants absolutely no visa, no right to stay and no seniority toward residence. Japan runs no "golden visa": real estate and immigration are two separate worlds.
You can perfectly buy in full freehold (shoyūken, shoyūken) without a visa or residence — we explain it in foreigner: buying in Japan without a visa — but owning that property will never, on its own, let you live in Japan longer than your status allows.
Another practical point consistent with this separation: the Japanese mortgage market is reserved for people who are both resident AND salaried in Japan. A digital nomad, non-resident in the banking sense, buys in cash. The acquisition budget stays contained, with closing costs capped at 6% of the price (details in our article on property purchase costs in Japan).
The right way to frame it: the digital nomad visa is a way to test the country and prepare a project; buying property is a wealth or rental investment. The two can combine, but one never unlocks the other.
Conclusion: a great trial, not a door to residence
Japan's digital nomad visa is an excellent option to live six months on the ground while keeping foreign income, provided you meet the income bar (about ¥10M, ~€67,000), hold an eligible nationality and take out private health insurance. It is a great way to scout the terrain before investing.
But stay clear-headed on two points: this visa builds no seniority toward permanent residence, and buying property grants no visa. To build a durable project — relocation, company, rental portfolio — you must combine the right statuses. If you want to secure both the purchase and the stay strategy, from finding the property to receiving the keys, discover our personalised support, and compare real properties now in our hand-picked listings.
Frequently asked questions
Does Japan's digital nomad visa allow staying more than 6 months?
No. The status is capped at 6 months and not renewable on the spot. Afterwards you must leave Japan and observe a cooling-off period before a new application. For a durable stay, you need another residence status.
What income is needed for Japan's digital nomad visa?
According to the ISA, you must show a high annual income, on the order of ¥10M (~€67,000), from remote work for an employer or clients outside Japan. The exact threshold and required documents may change: check the official page before filing.
Are French citizens eligible for Japan's digital nomad visa?
Yes. France is among the eligible nationalities, alongside most EU countries, the UK, the US, Canada and others. You also need private health insurance covering the whole stay and must prove the required income.
Does buying an apartment in Japan grant the digital nomad visa?
No, never. Japan does not tie real estate to immigration: buying property grants no visa or right to stay. You can buy in full freehold without a visa, but the status of residence is always obtained through a separate route.
Can a digital nomad get a mortgage to buy in Japan?
In practice, no. Japanese mortgages are reserved for people who are both resident AND salaried in Japan. A digital nomad therefore buys in cash, by transfer, with closing costs capped at 6% of the price.
Official sources
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