For the latest information see “Japan’s New Digital Nomad Visa: Extended Stays and Remote Work Opportunities in 2024“

“New Era Inbound Expansion Action Plan” has been published by the Japanese Government.

The inbound demand in Japan, which had vanished temporarily due to COVID-19, has been recovering steadily since the easing of border measures in October of the fourth year of Reiwa (Japanese calendar), but not yet to pre-COVID levels.

In March of the fifth year of Reiwa, the government formulated a new basic plan for tourism promotion, aiming to implement policies up to 2025 with three strategies: creating sustainable tourist regions, recovering inbound demand, and expanding domestic exchange.

One of the specific goals is to surpass the pre-COVID travel consumption number of foreign visitors to Japan, aiming for an early achievement of 5 trillion yen.

Although past policies have focused on attracting tourists to Japan, the plan now includes rooting effective and sustainable tourism demand in Japan, overcoming inward-looking attitudes spread by prolonged COVID-19 effects, and revitalizing exchanges on Japanese stages to create and transmit further value.

This section looks in particular at the part on promoting human interaction.

In the business sector, the aim is to expand business networks in Japan by stimulating not only the flow of goods but also the movement of people. Business visitors to Japan can also be repeat visitors with high spending power, so it is important to create business opportunities and promote longer stays in order to achieve a spending value of JPY 5 trillion for visitors to Japan.

Promotion of human exchange

Promote an environment and other measures to promote international human exchange, such as easing visa requirements, creating new visas and relaxing requirements for residence status.

Relaxation of requirements for start-up visas

Currently, as a start-up visa (foreign entrepreneurship promotion project), foreign entrepreneurs are allowed to enter and stay in Japan for up to one year, but those responsible for confirming this are limited to local authorities authorized by the Japanese government. In order to further accelerate the attraction of foreign entrepreneurs, not only local governments but also private organizations such as venture capitalists and accelerators authorized by the Japanese government will be able to carry out start-up visa confirmation procedures and extend the maximum period of stay.

Promotion and awareness-raising of J-Skip Visa System and J-Find System

In order to further promote the acceptance of highly-skilled foreigners so as not to lose out in the global competition for human resources, the Special Highly Skilled Professional Visa System (J-Skip), which aims to accept highly skilled professional with top-level abilities, and the Future Creation Individual Visa System (J-Find), which aims to attract young people with high potential, were newly established. These new schemes have been established and have been in operation since April 2023.

Promotion and awareness-raising of these systems will be promoted in cooperation with JETRO and other relevant organizations.

Partial relaxation of the system for accepting fourth-generation Nikkei

In order to further strengthen the role of developing human resources who can act as a bridge between Japan and the local Nikkei community, necessary measures will be taken to partially relax the system for accepting the fourth generation of Nikkei.

Institutional environment for attracting ‘digital nomads’

In order to attract international remote workers (so-called ‘digital nomads’), issues including visas and status of residence will be identified and examined, and institutionalized during this year.

 

Summary

The number of countries offering Digital Nomad Visas has increased enormously. Many people may wonder whether Japan also has a digital nomad visa.

Unfortunately, the Japanese Government has not issued a digital nomad visa, but now that a new one is being created, expectations are high.

Apart from that, there is the Working Holiday visa, the J-Find visa, the HSP visa and the Long Stay visa for long-term stays in Japan, but we welcome the addition of a new option – the Digital Nomad visa.

The digital nomad life is enjoyable, with the opportunity to explore the world while earning enough to save and meet day-to-day expenses. Digital nomads are generally familiar with remote working and have the goal of staying in a country for at least a few months. And for digital nomads, since Japan is not only a beautiful country filled with much history and tradition, and with amazing modern technology that we know and use every day, but also because the YEN is now at a historic low and prices in Japan are surprisingly reasonable for western citizens, It will never be a boring country.

For the latest information see “Japan’s New Digital Nomad Visa: Extended Stays and Remote Work Opportunities in 2024“