How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan • Hacker News Board

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#121

Post by chrisfosterelli » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:40 PM UTC

hotspot_one wrote: post #110

grecy wrote: post #59

> My first thought was to work remotely and use the 90 days permitted by the tourist visa. Yet working in Japan on this visa is a gray zone at best and a practice I would stay away from. In fact, the US Embassy in Japan strictly advises against this I’ve always wondered why countries care about this. If I’m employed in my home country, earning money there and paying taxes, what difference does it make if I happen to…

> If I’m employed in my home country, earning money there and paying taxes, what difference does it make if I happen to sit in another country? Why does "home country" have tax priority over "sitting in" country? How does that make sense vs having the taxes paid in "sitting in" country instead of "home country"? with perhaps the strongest argument being jurisdiction. What gives "home country" the legal right to claim…

> with perhaps the strongest argument being jurisdiction. What gives "home country" the legal right to claim taxes on income earned in "sitting country"?

Usually a treaty. At least here in Canada the government has tax treaties with most other countries whereby both countries agree the citizen should pay taxes to the country they reside in the majority of the year.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#122

Post by Mistletoe » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:40 PM UTC

Klonoar wrote: post #73

d13 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one will ever know or care if you’re working remotely while in Japan on a tourist visa. Just AirBnB and get ordinary travel insurance. For a paltry 6 months this nomad visa seems like a massive amount of paperwork for no benefit.

There is technically a “hidden” six month tourist visa if you can show you have a significant amount of money in your bank account. In practice all it does is save you an entry/exit.

Who do you show the significant amount of money to and how?

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#123

Post by hiatus » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:42 PM UTC

onlyrealcuzzo wrote: post #94

laurieg wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is you are on a tourist visa then you cannot work. Actively working as a nomad ok a tourist visa waiver is breaking the law. Of course, nomads often did come and with in this status. They would exist in a grey area, arguing their with was more incidental in nature and bit the reason to be in Japan (just like replying to a few with emails while in holiday). The nomad visa is essentially formalizing this grey area. As…

What is the definition of work? If you mainly passively own a business in a different country, is that work? If you mainly passively manage your portfolio of foreign assets, is that work?

Seems like a question better directed to the relevant country's authorities.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#124

Post by chrisfosterelli » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:42 PM UTC

grecy wrote: post #59

> My first thought was to work remotely and use the 90 days permitted by the tourist visa. Yet working in Japan on this visa is a gray zone at best and a practice I would stay away from. In fact, the US Embassy in Japan strictly advises against this I’ve always wondered why countries care about this. If I’m employed in my home country, earning money there and paying taxes, what difference does it make if I happen to…

> I’ve always wondered why countries care about this. If I’m employed in my home country, earning money there and paying taxes, what difference does it make if I happen to sit in another country?

Based on the practical enforcement I get the feeling that most countries don't really care about this, but this situation started happening much faster than visa law changes. Hence the grey area.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#125

Post by wdrw » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:42 PM UTC

triceratops wrote: post #99

grecy wrote: post #59

> My first thought was to work remotely and use the 90 days permitted by the tourist visa. Yet working in Japan on this visa is a gray zone at best and a practice I would stay away from. In fact, the US Embassy in Japan strictly advises against this I’ve always wondered why countries care about this. If I’m employed in my home country, earning money there and paying taxes, what difference does it make if I happen to…

> go to another country for those six months > paying tax in my home country Don't you think you've answered your own question?

This makes no sense... consider these scenarios:

A) You work for a US company, earn money from the US company, pay income taxes in the US, live and spend money (and thus sales taxes) in the US

B) You work for a US company, earn money from the US company, pay income taxes in the US, but live and spend money (and thus sales taxes) in Japan

Clearly (B) is better for Japan economically? I think these laws are mostly enforced out of inertia and not any rational reason.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#126

Post by hiatus » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:46 PM UTC

Mistletoe wrote: post #122

Klonoar wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is technically a “hidden” six month tourist visa if you can show you have a significant amount of money in your bank account. In practice all it does is save you an entry/exit.

Who do you show the significant amount of money to and how?

This page appears to have more information:

https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page22e_000738.html

The amount seems to be 30 million yen or just under $200k.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#127

Post by therein » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:49 PM UTC

KennyBlanken wrote: post #119

hardwaresofton wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And a world of difference in stability and perception. If you have $35k+ to dedicate to this (and note that it does not cost $35k, these are more like initial capital requirements), you should 100% go the investor route. People underweight how amazing it is to be able to pay less than $50k for the equivalent of a golden visa to a top 5 GDP nation that is well regarded, safe, has some opportunity and is generally easy…

> People underweight how amazing it is to be able to pay less than $50k for the equivalent of a golden visa to a top 5 GDP nation that is well regarded, safe, has some opportunity and is generally easy to live in. The Japanese are incredibly racist and xenophobic. Numerous businesses outright place signs barring foreigners (particularly russians, chinese, etc) Japanese citizens are almost always completely trusted by…

I am glad they prioritize and look out for their own. That's how it should be. Not everywhere needs to be in love with globalism. And yes, I would say the same should be the case in other places as well.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#128

Post by grecy » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:50 PM UTC

elzbardico wrote: post #93

returningfory2 wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But why is the law this way? Why not permit it?

Those laws where designed before you had the relativelly new phenomenon of digital nomads. They were created so the local companies wouldn't hire foreign citizens under the table, skirting taxes and depressing wages for local workers, which would be an unpopular outcome amongst voters.

Working for a local company is an entirely different thing, and not what I’m asking about at all.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#129

Post by digging » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:51 PM UTC

grecy wrote: post #59

> My first thought was to work remotely and use the 90 days permitted by the tourist visa. Yet working in Japan on this visa is a gray zone at best and a practice I would stay away from. In fact, the US Embassy in Japan strictly advises against this I’ve always wondered why countries care about this. If I’m employed in my home country, earning money there and paying taxes, what difference does it make if I happen to…

When you put it that way, the answer seems obvious. You're not paying taxes to the country you're residing in. You're not paying taxes for the infrastructure you're using.

Why is it ok for pure tourism? Because tourism is expected to be shorter-term, and you're likely to be putting more money into the local economy as a tourist.

So they need to register this at the very least. I don't know if they tax digital nomad work but they do obviously want to have some control over it.

Re: How I Got a Digital Nomad Visa for Japan

#130

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:53 PM UTC

jonatron wrote: post #107

andy_ppp wrote: post #106

When the girlfriend was living in Japan I stayed for 89 days and then went to Taiwan (amazing country, highly recommended) and came back for another 87 days and nobody cared. I guess if you did this a lot it would be an issue but you’re reasonably fine to do it once I think. I was not working but I did have “free” accommodation in the smallest apartment I’ve ever been in so I’d be more concerned about this if I was a…

"You are only allowed to stay as a "Temporary Visitor" for a total of 180 days during a 12-month period." Similarly, the EU has a 90/180 day rule, so it doesn't work long term.

[deleted]