Can a spouse or child come with you on Japan's Digital Nomad visa?

Last checked: 2026-11-06

Yes. A spouse or child supported by the digital nomad can come, if their own nationality is eligible and they hold their own qualifying insurance cover. Their stay is also six months with no extension. Income is tested on the digital nomad, not on them. The status allows daily life as a supported family member, and other activities are not granted, in principle.

What each person must meet

Test	Digital nomad	Spouse or child
Nationality	51 countries and regions	73 countries and regions. See the full chart.
Income	10 million yen a year	No test listed
Private insurance	Required, 10 million yen or more for treatment	Same rule. Family cover under the nomad's policy is accepted with proof of its scope.
Stay	Six months, no extension	Six months, no extension
Residence card	Not issued	Not issued
Work in Japan	Only the two listed remote activities	Other activities are not granted, in principle

Mixed-nationality families

Each person's nationality is tested on its own list. This sorting is ours, from the official chart, which has no date. Check it with your embassy or consulate.

Applicant	Spouse	Our reading
United States	Canada	Both on their lists
United Kingdom	Argentina	Spouse is on the family list, though Argentina is not on the nomad list
Argentina	United Kingdom	Argentina is on the family list only, so this person cannot be the digital nomad. The UK spouse could apply as the nomad instead, if they meet the tests.
Australia	India	India is on neither list. See nationals not on the list.

Documents for family members

On the Certificate of Eligibility route, a spouse or child gives:

Application form, with a photo and reply envelope
Activity schedule for the stay
Proof of the relationship, such as a marriage certificate
Explanation of insurance coverage
Copy of the insurance certificate and terms
Copy of the passport of the digital nomad

The San Francisco checklist asks for a marriage or birth certificate with a professional translation, and says all documents must be in English or Japanese. The Immigration Services Agency asks for a Japanese translation of foreign-language papers on its route. Ask which applies to you.

A baby born in Japan

The Immigration Services Agency lists a separate application for a child born in Japan, called Permission to Acquire Status of Residence. It asks for proof of birth, passport, activity schedule, proof of the relationship and insurance papers. The child's parent's policy can count, with proof of its scope.

Cost and paperwork, per person

Offices differ. Brisbane says each applicant, including children, needs their own appointment slot and their own set of documents. Sydney says a family can attend under one booking. San Francisco says each applicant submits a separate set. These are general rules at Brisbane and Sydney, so ask if they apply here.

Worked example, our own arithmetic: a family of three pays about 45,000 yen in total if each person pays the general single-entry fee of about 15,000 yen. Nationals on an office's exemption list, such as US citizens, pay nothing. The Chicago checklist points to the general single-entry fee, and other offices do not state one for this visa. See documents and fees.

Insurance for a family

Each person must be covered for death, injury and illness during the stay. Check three things on the policy: that each family member is named or clearly in scope, that the dates cover the whole stay, and that treatment cover meets 10 million yen. Ask whether that amount is per person.

The rule and our comparison of SafetyWing's terms are on the insurance page. We have not confirmed that SafetyWing meets Japan's requirement. Get written confirmation from the insurer and from your embassy or consulate.

What we could not confirm

Partners: the rules say spouse. The UK embassy says a common-law partner cannot apply for a Dependent visa, which is a different status. We found nothing specific to this status on unmarried or same-sex partners.
Age of a child: we found no age limit, and no definition of a supported child.
Higher income: we found no extra income test for each dependent. Offices may still ask how you support them.
Arriving separately: the rule says "accompany". We found no text on arriving on different dates.
School: we found nothing official on schooling for this status.
Other work: we found no statement on whether a spouse can get permission for other activities. The text says "in principle" only.

We have not confirmed that SafetyWing Nomad Insurance meets Japan's visa rules. Read its current terms and get written confirmation before you buy.

Read SafetyWing Nomad Insurance details