Share the article
Last updated
Asia is becoming increasingly popular for digital nomads looking to embrace new cultures while benefiting from lower crime rates and lower costs of living.
There are currently more than 35 million digital nomads working worldwide, and that number is only growing.
Many governments are keen to attract digital nomads, and the benefits this often brings to their economies. These two hugely popular Asian countries join many others launch of visas for digital nomads.
But there’s a catch:
Visa for digital nomads in Japan
Japan has long been a popular destination for digital nomads drawn to its unique blend of modern life and culture.
In response, Japan has finally introduced its own digital nomad visa and the program is expected to launch at the end of March.
Applicants from 49 countries, including the US, are eligible to apply for the visa, and you can use it whether you work remotely or are self-employed.
But this is not a digital nomad visa that will work for everyone.
The big catch is that to qualify for the six-month visa for digital nomads, you must have an annual income of 10 million yen ($68,300) or more, which excludes a large percentage of digital nomads who don’t earn enough to qualify for the visa.
You must also have your own private health insurance, although visa applicants can travel with their spouses and dependent children.
Contrary to popular belief, Japan is not an expensive country to live in, and the cost of living is not as high as you might think. One report shows that the average cost of living in Japan is 46% cheaper than the average cost of living in the US
With that in mind, it’s surprising that the earning threshold for the new digital nomad visa is so high. And no doubt disappointing for the aspiring nomads in Japan who don’t meet the earning threshold.
Visa for digital nomads in South Korea
South Korea is rising in popularity with travelers and has also announced plans to launch its own digital nomad visa.
The South Korean Digital Nomad Visa allows nomads to stay in the country for up to 2 years, which is four times longer than the Japanese visa.
Like the Japanese digital nomad visa, the main drawback to the Korean digital nomad visa is the prohibitively high income requirements that nomads will have to prove they meet.
Each nomad must prove that they earn an annual income of more than 84.96 million won ($65,000) to qualify for this visa.
That figure is as much as twice the gross national income per capita, with the cost of living in South Korea being lower than the cost of living in the US.
Again, these numbers are both surprising and disappointing for those digital nomads who do not meet the earning requirements.
Other requirements for this new visa include having private health insurance, written proof of your employment status and a clean criminal record check.
Why Japan and Korea?
Japan and Korea are currently the two most popular tourist destinations in Asia. Both boast areas of outstanding natural beauty, rich historical sites and attractive modern cultures.
From Korean K-pop to Japanese manga, both cultures have entered the US zeitgeist and it’s their pop culture that attracts so many younger tourists and digital nomads.
For digital nomads, both countries are incredibly safe, convenient and have fast internet connections. They are affordable, clean and dynamic.
Tokyo emerged as the world’s fastest growing destination for digital nomads in 2023, with a 369% increase in the number of nomads in the country, with Korea close behind.
US travelers can stay in both Japan and Korea for up to 90 days (or 3 months) with a regular tourist visa, so if you don’t meet the high income requirements, you can secure a digital nomad and stay longer term, then both destinations are on the shorter term still worth visiting and exploring as part of your digital nomad adventure.
Read more:
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans from $10 per week
How to easily earn points for free travel
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
