2024-02-17 06:07:50
February 17, 2024
New visa for digital nomads: focus on innovation and flexibility
Japan is rolling out a new visa that will allow guests from 49 countries, including the United States, to stay in the country for up to six months. This is a doubling of the previous stay of just 90 days for the traditional tourist visa. In addition, foreign workers who have an annual income of over 10 million yen (approx. €62,100) have the option to apply for this visa. The introduction of the new visa is planned for the end of March.
The initiative comes as Japan works hard to fulfill its promise of a national “digital revolution” in 2020. However, since 2019, Japan has fallen further behind compared to its G7 peers. In the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, which assesses the willingness of 64 countries to use digital technologies for economic and social change, Japan has lost nine places and is now ranked 32nd, well behind its Asian neighbors such as Singapore (3rd place). , South Korea (6th place), Taiwan (9th place), Hong Kong (10th place) and China (19th place).
Japan’s Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi expressed the view that digital nomads might be a significant source of innovation in a recent press conference. The number of countries offering digital nomad visas has skyrocketed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, as many remote workers worldwide have realized the benefits of location independence. According to a report, Millennials (37%) and Gen Xers (27%) make up two-thirds of digital nomads. Meanwhile, Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is growing up and already represents one in five (21%) digital nomads.
Text: Suzanne Rowan Kelleher
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