Canadians can now live and work remotely in Japan for up to six months and here's how

Have you always wanted to live in Japan? If you're a remote worker, that dream could become a reality.

Japan has introduced a new digital nomad visa that would allow Canadians to live and work remotely in the country for half a year.

If working surrounded by cherry blossom trees and mountain views sounds like your ideal scenario, here's what to know about the new digital nomad visa.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled plans for the new digital nomad visa in early 2024 as part of a tourism push. The visa officially launched in April 2024.

The visa is intended for international remote workers, or "digital nomads," as well as their spouses and/or children.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the Digital Nomad Visa will allow holders to work remotely in Japan for up to six months. Once this period is exceeded, the applicant must wait for six months to reapply for the same visa status.

According to the Japan Times, the duration of the visa was chosen based on a survey of digital nomads, in which the majority said six months would be best.

Without the visa, Canadian passport holders are able to visit Japan for stays of up to 90 days.

"The new visa presents a great opportunity for those in the relevant sectors to immerse themselves deeper in Japan," said JNTO in a press release.

Besides Canada, residents of dozens of countries are able to apply for the visa, including those from Australia, the U.S., the U.K. and more.

What do I need for the Japan digital nomad visa application?

To be eligible for the visa, you must be a remote worker for a foreign company, or provide services for a fee or sell goods to persons located in a foreign country using information and communication technology in Japan (i.e., you own your own business).

Your annual income must also be at least 10 million yen (about $86,898) at the time of your application.

According to Japan's Immigration Services Agency, applicants must also hold private medical travel insurance which covers death, injury, and illness during their stay.

Other documents needed for the application include your passport and a certificate of eligibility (issued by a regional immigration bureau) or documents proving that the applicant meets the requirements for the visa in terms of planned activities, income, and insurance.

Upon preparing the required documents, you can submit a Digital Nomad Visa application to your nearest Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan.

Digital nomad visas

Around the same time that Japan launched their digital nomad visa, Italy also launched a new digital nomad visa for Canadians.

The visa allows workers from outside the European Union to work and live in Italy for up to a year, and opened for applications on April 4, according to Euronews, after being signed into Italian law in March 2022.

If you're a remote worker in Canada, whether independently or for a company, the new visa makes it easy to obtain a residence permit to spend a year working in Italy.

Other countries offer similar extended visas for remote workers, including Greece, Barbados, and the UAE. Some countries even offer digital nomad visas that allow Canadians to stay in a country for up to two years.

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.