Japan Digital Nomad visa vs Long Stay for sightseeing: which fits?

Last checked: 2026-11-06

The Digital Nomad status suits people who earn at least 10 million yen and need to work remotely, while Long Stay suits people with savings above 30 million yen who come for sightseeing and recreation. Long Stay can reach one year, but we found no official text that allows remote work on it.

Side by side

Item	Digital Nomad	Long Stay for sightseeing and recreation
Purpose	Remote work for a foreign employer, or for customers abroad	Sightseeing and recreation
Money test	Annual income of at least 10 million yen	Savings above 30 million yen, owned by you and your spouse
Proof of money	Tax or income certificate, proof of current work	Bankbook or similar, with balance and six months of deposits and withdrawals (Singapore list)
Length	Six months, no extension	Six months, then up to one year in total if you apply to immigration before the six months end
Age	We saw no age rule in the sources we read	18 or older
Nationality	Must be on a list of 51 countries and regions	Visa-waiver countries or regions. The Foreign Ministry lists 74 as of September 1, 2025.
Spouse	May accompany	May accompany, same residence and travel together
Children	May accompany	Dependent children cannot accompany
Private insurance	Required, 10 million yen or more for treatment	Required, covering death, injury and illness. We saw no set amount.
Public health insurance	Cannot join	Fukui City and Fukuoka Prefecture list this group as excluded
Remote work	Allowed within the two listed activities	Not confirmed. Ask before you apply.

Money tests in dollars

This is our own arithmetic, using the Federal Reserve rate of 157.47 yen per US dollar on October 30, 2026. Neither program names this rate.

Test	Yen	About in US dollars
Digital Nomad, annual income	10,000,000	63,504
Long Stay, savings	More than 30,000,000	190,512

Our decision rule

This is our own summary, not official guidance.

Will you work during the stay? Start with the Digital Nomad status. Long Stay is described only as sightseeing and recreation.
Are children coming? The Foreign Ministry says dependent children cannot accompany a Long Stay. The Digital Nomad status allows a supported child.
Do you need more than six months and will you not work? Long Stay is the one of these two that may reach a year.
Do you have high income but lower savings? Only the Digital Nomad test looks at income.
Do you have high savings but little income? Only Long Stay looks at savings. The Chicago checklist uses the words "earn/hold" for the Digital Nomad test, which differs from the Immigration Services Agency wording. See income proof.

What we could not confirm

Changing between the two: we found no official text on moving from one status to the other. Do not assume it is possible.
Separate spouse: the Foreign Ministry says that if your spouse will stay separately under this scheme, you and your spouse must own more than 60 million yen. A spouse applying separately gives a copy of the partner's visa. Ask the Immigration Services Agency about the details.
Certificate of Eligibility: the Foreign Ministry says that with a certificate you can skip the schedule, savings and insurance papers.

Comparing other routes? See Digital Nomad vs working holiday and remote work on a tourist stay.