Japan Digital Nomad Visa vs DTV
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. The DTV is a five-year multiple-entry Thai visa allowing 180 days per entry, aimed at remote workers and at people enrolled in approved Thai cultural activities. It requires 500,000 THB in liquid savings and, since 31 August 2026, a criminal record certificate.
| Japan Digital Nomad Visa | DTV | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | japan | thailand |
| Stay per entry | 6 months from the date of entry | 180 days |
| Total validity | 6 months, non-renewable; the designated stay must not exceed 6 months within any one-year period | 5 years |
| 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. | ฿10,000 |
| 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. | None |
| Savings required | None | ฿500,000 — liquid funds in a personal account, shown on a 6-month statement and maintained through at least the final 3 months |
| Deposit required | None | None |
| Minimum age | None | None |
| Health insurance | Required — ¥10,000,000 | Not required |
| Processing time | Not published | Typically 2–6 weeks, varying widely by embassy |
| Apply from | Outside Thailand, at the Thai embassy or consulate covering your place of residence |
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 DTV if
- Five years of validity from a single application, with unlimited re-entry.
- No income floor — savings alone qualify you, which suits people between contracts.
- Covers dependants (spouse and children under 20) on the same basis.
Japan Digital Nomad Visa last checked 11 September 2026; DTV last checked 10 September 2026. Sources are listed on each visa page.