Japan’s announcement to introduce ‘Digital Nomad Visa’

Japan These remote workers working from all over the world Digital Nomads For six months visa have announced the introduction of those whose annual income is at least 10 million yen.

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) announced the move earlier this month, which is expected to begin by the end of March.

According to a report by local newspaper The Japan Times, digital workers from 49 countries and territories are eligible for the scheme.

Eligible individuals can stay in Japan under the ‘Specified Activity’ visa category, including self-employed, provided their home countries have tax and visa exemption agreements with Japan, such as the US, Australia and Singapore.

However, the newly introduced six-month visa for digital workers in Japan will not be immediately extended after it expires.

According to travel website ‘Travel Daily Media’, those wishing to reapply can do so again six months after departure from Japan.

According to the ISA, visa holders are allowed to bring their spouses and children with them to Japan. However, they must have private health insurance.Furthermore, holders of this visa will not be issued a certificate or residence card in Japan.

Following the scheme, Japan joins a growing group of countries and regions, including Estonia, Mexico, Portugal and Taiwan, that offer similar programs for digital workers.

Japan’s move is part of a broader strategy to attract more remote workers and boost its tourism sector, The Straits Times reports.

Japan believes digital workers will contribute to the country’s innovation drive and mobilize the country’s aging workforce.

Meanwhile, Japan’s announcement of the Digital Nomads Visa has sparked a new debate on social media platform Reddit, with hundreds of users commenting on it.

But many potential digital workers say the new visa, like other digital nomad visas, imposes tough qualification requirements.

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The Japan Digital Nomads Association is advocating for the government to take a more proactive stance and formalize the popularization process from 2020.

According to ABC News, Rio Osira, the association’s executive officer, expressed support for the newly introduced digital nomad visa, but also called it difficult in light of the more lenient policies offered by other Asian countries. Also supported reduction.

‘It’s not a competitive race at the moment but Japan is a really popular destination now,’ said Rio Osira. We are still talking to the government. This is indeed a big step but it is still insufficient.’

Japan emerged as the fastest-growing destination for remote workers in 2023, according to data from ‘Nomad List’, a website with more than 300,000 check-ins and a database of remote workers, according to CNBC. It is also stated in the report.

“They don’t have the wholesale and open immigration that we’re used to or that we recognize,” Shiro Armstrong, director of the Australia Japan Research Center at the Australian National University, told ABC News. But there are about two million foreigners or foreign nationals living on various visas living in Japan, and such a large number is not unusual.’

He added: ‘They have a huge public debt. According to our observation, government debt slows down (growth). They need to increase revenue. So if they bring foreigners into their country at (lower tax rates), it will be very interesting to see how the local population reacts.’

In contrast, applicants for the Digital Nomad visa in Japan’s neighboring South Korea must have an annual income of more than 84.96 million won and be employed by a foreign company that allows them and their families to stay in the country for two years. will be allowed.

Malaysia offers nomad visa for two years to those earning more than $32,500 per year, provided they work in digital fields such as IT and digital marketing and have health insurance.

Taiwan’s ‘Gold Card’ is clearly not a digital nomad visa but grants applicants unlimited entry, work and residence rights for three years, with applicants assessed on their professional skills.

Thailand’s long-term resident visa allows digital workers to stay in the country for up to 10 years.

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