Japan
Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation)
Japan's Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation) status allows foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries to reside in Japan for up to one year for sightseeing, recreation, and similar leisure activities. Introduced in 2015 as part of Japan's tourism revitalization strategy, this is the closest equivalent to a retirement visa that Japan offers. It targets financially independent individuals aged 18 and over who hold substantial savings and wish to experience an extended stay without working.
- National of one of Japan's 74 visa-exempt countries and regions
- Minimum age of 18 years
- Personal savings of at least JPY 30,000,000 (approximately USD 200,000) in bank deposits
- Bank deposit certificate and 6 months of bank transaction history showing the required balance
- Private overseas travel or medical insurance covering death, injury, and illness for the entire stay
- Travel itinerary for planned activities in Japan
- No employment of any kind is permitted
- Application form and valid passport
- Recent photograph (4cm x 3cm, taken within 3 months)
- Bank deposit certificate and 6 months of bank transaction history showing JPY 30,000,000 or more
- Proof of enrollment in overseas medical/travel insurance with policy terms
- Travel itinerary for planned activities (using the Ministry of Foreign Affairs format)
- Marriage certificate (if spouse is accompanying)
The initial period is 6 months, which may be extended once for an additional 6 months at a regional immigration office. The maximum total stay is 1 year with no further extensions possible. After the 1-year maximum, the holder must leave Japan and cannot simply reapply for continuous residence. This status does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship.
Only the applicant's spouse may accompany under Notification No. 41. Children, parents, and other family members are not eligible under any circumstances. If the spouse travels together with the primary applicant on the same itinerary, combined savings of JPY 30,000,000 are sufficient. If the spouse enters separately or has a different itinerary, each must demonstrate JPY 30,000,000 individually (JPY 60,000,000 combined). The spouse must also hold a passport from a visa-exempt country.
Holders residing for less than 1 year without establishing a domicile are generally classified as non-residents and taxed only on Japan-sourced income. Those who establish a domicile or reside for 1 year or more may be classified as residents, though as non-permanent residents they are taxed only on Japan-sourced income and foreign income remitted to Japan.
There are two pathways. From overseas, the applicant submits the visa application directly to the Japanese embassy or consulate in their country of residence. From within Japan, the applicant enters on a short-term stay (tourist visa or visa waiver) and applies for a Certificate of Eligibility at a regional immigration office, then changes their status without leaving Japan. The COE is valid for 3 months from issuance. Upon entering Japan, the holder receives a Residence Card at major international airports and must register at the municipal office within 14 days.
- Only nationals of visa-exempt countries are eligible, excluding citizens of many countries including China (mainland), Russia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and most of Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East
- Only cash deposits count toward the savings requirement -- real estate, stocks, and other assets are not accepted
- The holder may not work in any capacity
- Holders are not eligible for Japan's National Health Insurance system and must maintain private insurance
- Despite the high financial threshold, only approximately 214 people held this status as of the most recent available data
Links
Other Digital Nomad Visas in Asia
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Funds Required↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Highly Skilled Migrant Programme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Investor Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Property Owners | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Talented Individuals | — | — | — | — | |||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Property Owner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Retired Foreigner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Digital Nomad Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Investor Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Cambodia My 2nd Home (CM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Retirement Visa (ER Extension of Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Private Affairs Residence Permit (Entrepreneurship) | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Investment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | IT Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Remotely from Georgia | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Short-Term Residence Permit (Property Ownership) | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Quality Migrant Admission Scheme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Top Talent Pass Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇳 India | Permanent Residency Status for Foreign Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Global Talent) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Remote Worker KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Retirement KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Silver Hair Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Special Residence Permit for Non-Iranian Elites | — | — | — | — | |||
🇮🇶 Iraq | Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | B/5 Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | Innovation Visa for Foreign Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Business Manager Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation) | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Future Creation Individual Visa (J-Find) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇯🇵 Japan | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Annual Residence Permit Based on Bank Deposit | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Residency by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | A6 Investor Visa (Golden Visa) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | C5 Business Immigrant Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Digital Nomad Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Neo Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Permanent Residence Visa for In-Demand Professions | — | — | — | — | |||
🇰🇼 Kuwait | Investor Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Digital Nomad Status | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇦 Laos | Investor Visa (NI-B2) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Permanent Residence Permit (Financial Independence) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Major Investment Temporary Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Talent Recruitment Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | DE Rantau Nomad Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇻 Maldives | Corporate Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇳 Mongolia | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Persons of Exceptional Merit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Retirees | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Golden Residency Program | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Retiree Residence Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Business-Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Long-Term Residency (LTR) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Talent) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Real Estate Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Entrepreneur Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Gifted Premium Residency | — | — | — | — | |||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Investor Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Real Estate Owner Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Global Investor Programme (GIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Tech.Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | D-10 Job Seeker Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Permanent Residence for Overseas Pension Beneficiaries | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Technology Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Colombo Port City Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Condominium Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Golden Paradise Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Individual Investor Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇾 Syria | Investment Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Digital Nomad Visitor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Employment Gold Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Entrepreneur Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Investor Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Plum Blossom Card (Investment APRC) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Investor Visa (Category C) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professionals) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Global Citizens) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Pensioners) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa (Investment) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-X (Long Stay 10 Years) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | SMART Visa S (Startup) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Business Visa Class II | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Investor Residence Authorization | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Short-Term Residence Permit (Tourism Purpose) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turkiye TechVisa (Startup) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turquoise Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Talented Individuals) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Freelancer / Self-Employed) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Investor/Partner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Job Exploration Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Retirement Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Virtual Work Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Golden Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | IT Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Investor Visa (DT1-DT4) | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Special Visa Exemption Card | — | — | — | — |