I'm a US citizen, and I was impacted by a mass company-wide layoff a couple of months ago. I was in Japan on vacation for about 29 days and now I'm considering living there temporarily because I found a great expat/local community and made a few friends, it's more affordable than where I currently live, I primarily do remote freelance work, and I figured that this could be a wonderful life experience that I might not be eligible for again in the near future. The eligibility requirements of the digital nomad visa are:
- Proof of Income: Earn an annual income of over 10 Million Yen/$65,000 USD.
- Insurance: Obtain private health insurance that covers at least JPY 10 Million in expenses related to injury, illness, and death.
- Can I still qualify for a digital nomad visa after being laid off at the company? My annual income from the former company + freelance work definitely exceeds the annual income criteria. However, the freelance work alone does not meet the criteria, and I don't anticipate that the freelance work in 2026 will amount to more than $65,000. I have savings and a long-term plan, so the financial aspect of living in Japan isn't a concern. It is now December, so I wanted to apply and submit my documents before 2025 ends, if this is a time-sensitive matter.
- If I apply in early 2026, can I submit my annual income from 2025 and still qualify?
by TaroPuddingPie