Japan Digital Nomad visa for US citizens: what changes by consulate

Last checked: 2026-11-06

Yes. US citizens are on the official list, but you must apply through the consulate that covers where you live, and each office has its own checklist. The income test is about 63,500 US dollars at the October 30, 2026 rate, by our arithmetic. US citizens pay no visa fee, say San Francisco, Denver, Nashville and New York. Read your own office's current checklist.

What is the same at every office

The core tests come from the Immigration Services Agency: 10 million yen income, private medical insurance, and a six-month stay with no extension. Consulate checklists describe a single-entry visa, valid for three months from issue.

How US offices differ

Office	Area on its page	Proof of residence on its page	Other points
San Francisco	Northern and Central California, Nevada	CA or NV driver's license or ID, or recent utility bill, bank statement, health insurance bill or lease	At least one blank visa page. Excludes employer-provided insurance.
Los Angeles	Not stated. Lists CA and AZ documents.	CA or AZ ID, utility bill, car insurance, lease or similar. A bank statement is not acceptable.	At least one blank visa page. Referral to Japan may take up to two months.
Portland	Not shown on its checklist	Driver's license or ID, utility bill or lease matching your address	Applications are referred to Japan's head office. Response may take up to two months.
Chicago	IL, IN, WI, MO, KS, MN, NE, ND, SD, IA	Not shown on its checklist	At least two blank pages. Asks for a contact number reachable in Japan. Says "earn/hold" for the money test.
Denver	CO, NM, UT, WY	Not shown on its visa page	Mail applications limited to residents of those states. No applications from people on B-1 or B-2 visas or the US visa waiver program.
Nashville	AR, LA, KY, MS, TN	Driver's license, state ID or utility bill. This page is for Certificate of Eligibility holders.	No applications from people on B-1 or B-2 visas.
Houston	Not shown on its page	Not shown on its page	At least one and a half blank pages. Drop-off 9:30 to 12:00, Monday to Friday.
Washington, DC	Not shown on its page	Driver's license, state ID or utility bill. This page is for Certificate of Eligibility holders.	Does not accept applications from people on B-1 or B-2 visas.

We found no Digital Nomad checklist for Seattle, New York, Boston, Atlanta or Honolulu in our searches. That does not mean those offices lack one.

Points specific to US applicants

"US company" wording: the San Francisco and Los Angeles checklists describe work for a US company with no pay from a Japanese company. The official rule is wider, and covers services to people abroad. A second Los Angeles notes sheet and the Portland checklist use the wider wording. If you are a freelancer or work for a non-US employer, ask how your office reads this.
Fee: US citizens pay no visa fee. San Francisco's checklist for this visa says so, and Denver, Nashville and New York say it on their visa pages. Other nationals applying in the US pay the general fee, for example 101 dollars for a single entry. Offices take exact cash or money order, and the rules differ.
Signatures: Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago do not accept an electronic signature. Chicago needs an authorization form if someone else applies for you.
Insurance terms: the San Francisco and Los Angeles checklists mention accidental death and dismemberment cover. The Immigration Services Agency does not use this term.

Income in dollars

At 157.47 yen per dollar on October 30, 2026, 10 million yen is about 63,504 dollars. At 150 yen it is about 66,667 dollars. At 165 yen it is about 60,606 dollars. This is our arithmetic. We found no official rate. See income rules for freelancers.

US tax points

This is not tax advice. Article 14 of the US convention uses a test of 183 days in any twelve-month period starting or ending in the taxable year. Article 1 says the convention does not affect how the United States taxes its citizens. So you may still have US filing duties. A six-month stay can exceed 183 days, as shown in our day count.

A checklist for your office

Confirm which office covers your state, and whether a recent move matters.
Check blank passport pages.
Ask which proof of residence is accepted.
Ask whether freelance or non-US income fits.
If you are not a US citizen, ask how to pay, and how much.
Ask how long it takes. See the timeline page.