Japan Digital Nomad Visa vs Malaysia digital nomad visa
Japan's digital nomad route grants "Designated Activities (6 months)" under Public Notice No. 53 and cannot be extended — the Immigration Services Agency Q&A states the stay is "最長６か月間であり、在留期間の更新は認められません", after which you must spend six months outside Japan before applying again. You need personal annual income of at least 10,000,000 yen at the time of application and private medical insurance whose treatment-cost cover for injury and illness is at least 10,000,000 yen, plus cover for death. Only nationals of the 51 countries and regions on the ISA's Notice 53 list (visa-exempt and with a tax treaty with Japan) qualify, and since 1 July 2026 the single-entry visa fee is 15,000 yen rather than the long-quoted 3,000 yen. Malaysia's DE Rantau Nomad Pass grants 12 months, renewable to 24, to remote workers earning at least USD 24,000 a year in tech and digital roles, or USD 60,000 in other remote professions. The insurance policy must name Malaysia explicitly.
| Japan Digital Nomad Visa | Malaysia digital nomad visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | japan | malaysia |
| Stay per entry | 6 months from the date of entry | 12 months |
| Total validity | 6 months, non-renewable; the designated stay must not exceed 6 months within any one-year period | 12 months, renewable once |
| Government fee | ¥15,000 — Single-entry visa issuance fee for applications submitted on or after 1 July 2026 (multiple-entry 30,000 yen). Paid at the Japanese embassy or consulate; the local-currency equivalent is charged. | None |
| Income required | ¥10,000,000 — Personal annual income at the time of application. Sole traders are judged on profit after deducting necessary expenses, not on contract value; income from several stable contracts can be added together. | $24,000 — per year for tech and digital professionals; USD 60,000 for other remote professions |
| Savings required | None | None |
| Deposit required | None | None |
| Minimum age | None | None |
| Health insurance | Required — ¥10,000,000 | Required |
| Processing time | Not published | 4–8 weeks |
| Apply from | Online, via the MDEC DE Rantau portal, from inside or outside Malaysia |
Choose the Japan Digital Nomad Visa if
- Six months in Japan with no employer sponsorship and no Certificate of Eligibility — you apply directly at the embassy or consulate where you live
- Spouse and dependent children can accompany you under Designated Activities (Notice No. 54), and the eligible-nationality list for them is wider: 73 countries and regions versus 51 for the nomad
- You can move around the country freely; the ISA Q&A says no special procedure is needed to live in different cities during the stay
- A re-entry permit or deemed re-entry permission keeps the status alive if you travel out and back before the expiry date
- Where the applicable tax treaty's conditions are met, remuneration for the work you do in Japan can be exempt from Japanese income tax
Choose the Malaysia digital nomad visa if
- The lowest income threshold in the region for tech workers, at USD 24,000.
- No savings or deposit requirement at all.
- Kuala Lumpur offers first-world infrastructure at Southeast Asian cost.
Japan Digital Nomad Visa last checked 11 September 2026; Malaysia digital nomad visa last checked 10 September 2026. Sources are listed on each visa page.