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Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

asia.nikkei.com

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Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#41

Post by mytailorisrich »

informatimago wrote: post #21
mytailorisrich wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obviously this type of visa is aimed at getting people to spend money in the country. Why would they want people with no money?

Well, the digital nomad doesn't spend a lot of money. Some on accommodation, some for internet, some for food, and that's it. He spends his time remote working on his laptop. His income is paid offshore. Apart from the tourist aspect of it, the point of a digital nomad is to save money on rent, food and taxes, not to spend all your money in a foreign country. Of course, a business hub, or a technological hub can attr…

I would have thought that the point of spending 6 months in Japan was to experience Japan in a deeper and more relaxed way than a short-ish trip as a tourist.

Spending money on living expenses, including rent, and touristy stuff is indeed spending money in the country. And if you are well paid then that may be more than the average local: the threshold for this visa is $68k while the average annual pay in Japan is apparently $41-45k.

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#42

Post by ChatGTP »

alibarber wrote: post #14
walthamstow wrote: post #10

180 days with a salary threshold and country restrictions, or 90 days pretending to be a tourist. I know which I'd choose.

Pretending to be a tourist is a good way to get deported usually in a lot of places.

If you’re in Japan on a 90 day tourist visa and working remotely, there is next to zero chance you’ll be found out an deported.

Many many people are doing this already.

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#43

Post by cynicalkane »

alibarber wrote: post #14
walthamstow wrote: post #10

180 days with a salary threshold and country restrictions, or 90 days pretending to be a tourist. I know which I'd choose.

Pretending to be a tourist is a good way to get deported usually in a lot of places.

There's digital nomads everywhere, and it's not hard to do legally under tourist visas. I know for a fact there are FAANG employees who do it today -- companies who would certainly shut that down if it was illegal.

There are legal gotchas and grey areas. I would guess the Japan visa is aimed at clarifying the matter for long stays, because there's certainly no shortage of digital nomads in Japan.

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#44

Post by MattGaiser »

oldtownroad wrote: post #16

“The most similar existing status is usually used by tourists, does not allow work and allows a maximum stay of just 90 days” I don’t think that’s correct. A tourist visa doesn’t allow you to work locally but they do not limit working remotely for an overseas company. For example, if you’re on vacation in Japan from the US and an emergency happens at work, you can join a call without risk of deportation.

> you can join a call without risk of deportation.

Is that a definite interpretation of the law or just an in-practice one? I have had friends have issues are borders with this, albeit not with Japan. That countries feel the need to clarify this the world over tells me that this isn't totally settled.

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#45

Post by treprinum »

I spent 1 month around Kyoto's UNESCO sites 10 years ago while working remotely for a company in the US and am not sure I'd want to spend whole 6 months in Japan when there are so many interesting places all around the world. One needed to know basic Japanese as very few people spoke English, finding an accommodation was a chore as AirBnB was non-existing and hotels with unlimited fast WiFi scarce and one had to book an apartment in some of their temporary housings months in advance. Overall a nice and unique country though people looked overworked (young people complaining about working 996 lifestyles) and isolated from foreigners, similar to Germans (except their children that always wanted to practice Engrish with anyone not looking Japanese).

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#46

Post by makeitdouble »

oldtownroad wrote: post #23
alibarber wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, this is the correct interpretation in a lot of countries, you are performing paid work there regardless of who and where the employer is. Emergencies are all well and good, but turning up at the immigration desk and saying you don’t plan on working when you actually do will lead to trouble in a lot of places.

Can you share the tourist visa regulations for Japan that say this? I haven’t been able to find any. Thank you :)

That's implied. If you're working with your tourist visa you're changing the purpose of your stay and thus lying regarding your visa declaration:

> Single-entry short-term stay visa for the purpose of Tourism (for a period of up to 90 days) (Note).

> [...]

> If you wish to visit Japan for other purposes or for a long-term stay, please submit your application to the Japanese Embassy, Consulate General or Consular office with jurisdiction over your place of residence.

https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/visaonline.html

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#48

Post by dvngnt_ »

prg20 wrote: post #29
andybak wrote: post #2

The salary requirement seems harsh for people working on non-profit, self-funded or early-stage.

Totally. They should allow anyone, even those with no income, to come to their country and use their services for nothing in return. We can see how well that's worked in the US.

US has a bigger economy though so something is working

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#49

Post by sersi »

datpiff wrote: post #32
j4yav wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The kinds of activities someone does while travelling for 3-6 months?

I believe renting somewhere to live often does, so yes.

If you rent for short term (6 months), monthly mansions don't need bank accounts or proof of residency. It costs about 50% more than you'd pay for long term but you don't have to pay reikin (key money you don't get back), shikikin (deposit for damages).

Re: Japan to introduce six-month residency visa for 'digital nomads'

#50

Post by nerdbert »

alibarber wrote: post #20
oldtownroad wrote: post #16

“The most similar existing status is usually used by tourists, does not allow work and allows a maximum stay of just 90 days” I don’t think that’s correct. A tourist visa doesn’t allow you to work locally but they do not limit working remotely for an overseas company. For example, if you’re on vacation in Japan from the US and an emergency happens at work, you can join a call without risk of deportation.

No, this is the correct interpretation in a lot of countries, you are performing paid work there regardless of who and where the employer is. Emergencies are all well and good, but turning up at the immigration desk and saying you don’t plan on working when you actually do will lead to trouble in a lot of places.

In what places has it led to trouble for tourists to work remotely in their hotel rooms or Airbnbs? Leaving aside cases when those tourists brought that trouble and scrutiny on themselves through other actions like getting into barfights or shoplifting.
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