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Japan

Digital Nomad Visa · Tokyo

A high-income passport to six tax-free months in the world's most seamless society — a bucket-list season rather than a long-term home.

0% on foreign incomeNo residency pathTax-free (short stay)Ultra-safeWorld-class transit
Model your move
Income needed

¥833,333/mo

Processing

14–30 days

Visa length

6 months

Safety index

92/100

Internet

250 Mbps

English

Low

Climate

Four distinct seasons

Time zone

UTC+9

The real numbers

Model your move to Japan

Set who's coming and what you earn. We'll handle eligibility, taxes, contributions, living costs and what you'd have left — and compare it to home.

Staying more than ~183 days?

Affects tax residency for territorial & exempt regimes.

Your monthly life in Japan

Pre-filled with typical costs in Tokyo. Drag or type to match your life.

Rent & housingEssential
$1,300

A nice place in a popular area

UtilitiesEssential
$180

Power, water, gas

Internet & mobileEssential
$40

Home fibre + data

GroceriesEssential
$380

Food at home

Getting around
$70

Transit, rideshare, fuel

Health insuranceEssential
$90

Private cover nomads usually need

Dining & fun
$350

Eating out, coffee, going out

Everything else
$289

Shopping, gym, subscriptions, misc.

Total living costs$2,699/mo

You meet the income requirement

Needs $5,500/mo.

Your qualifying income

$6,000

Take-home / month

$6,000

100% of income
Living costs / month

$2,699

45% of income
Left over / month

$3,301

55% of income
Where your $6,000 goes each monthSavings rate 55.0%
Per month$6,000

Tax in Japan

Effective rate

0.0%

Not tax-resident
Income tax / mo
$0
Social security / mo
Not charged

Under 183 days you stay outside the local system; your home country keeps covering you.

Total deductions / mo
$0
Take-home / mo
$6,000

Private health insurance isn't required for this visa, but most nomads carry it — it's already counted in your living costs above.

Non-resident status during the short visa means foreign income isn't taxed.

vs. United States

Tax

22.8% at home → 0.0% here

+$1,367/mo

Same lifestyle costs

$3,969 at home → $2,699 here

+$1,270/mo

Money left over

$664 at home → $3,301 here

+$2,637/mo
Your money goes 1.5× further here than in New York (PPP-adjusted).

Estimates for planning only — actual tax depends on treaties, your residency and personal circumstances. Confirm with official sources and a qualified advisor before you move.

Requirements

What it takes to qualify

Income & savings

Monthly income (single)
¥833,333
Basis
¥10 million per year (~$67,000)
Combine two incomes?
No — main applicant only

A high bar of ¥10 million (~$67,000) annually.

The visa

Program
Digital Nomad Visa
Introduced
2024
Duration
6 months, non-renewable
Max total stay
6 months
Fees
$60 (approx)
Who can apply
Employees, Freelancers, Business owners
Bring family?
Yes

Modest application fee. A 6-month, non-renewable visa for 49 eligible nationalities (countries with both a tax treaty and visa-exemption agreement); you must wait before re-applying.

Taxes & contributions

What you'll actually pay

Income tax

Treatment
Foreign income not taxed for nomads
Headline rate
45%
Tax residency at
183 days
Employee social
Usually home-covered

Non-resident status during the short visa means foreign income isn't taxed.

Good news

There's effectively no local income tax to worry about on your foreign earnings here.

Reviewed Source: Japan immigration

The long game

Path to residency & citizenship

This is a lifestyle visa: great for living here now, but time on it doesn't count toward permanent residency or a passport.

Dual citizenship: Not allowed

Short-stay only; Japan does not allow dual citizenship.

Reviewed Source: Japan immigration

On the ground

Typical costs in Tokyo

Rent (1-bed)

$1,300

Rent (family)

$2,100

Groceries / person

$380

Utilities

$180

Internet

$40

Transport / person

$70

Health insurance

$90

Dining / person

$350

Cost index 68/100 vs New York · prices are about 83% of US levels (PPP). Monthly figures shown in USD.

The honest take

Highlights & watch-outs

What makes it great

  • Among the safest, most efficient countries on earth.
  • Tax-free thanks to the 6-month cap.
  • Unbeatable food, transit and connectivity.

What to watch

  • Only 6 months, non-renewable.
  • High ¥10m income bar; language barrier.

Reviewed Source: Japan immigration

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