Proving ¥10 Million a Year for the Japan Digital Nomad Visa
Proving ¥10 Million a Year for the Japan Digital Nomad Visa What counts as income, how to document it, and where applications get rejected
The ¥10,000,000 income requirement sounds like a single number, but how you prove it depends heavily on whether you're employed, freelance, or a business owner — and that's exactly where applications tend to run into trouble. Here's how the Immigration Services Agency actually evaluates income.
Based on the official Designated Activity No. 53 requirements from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (出入国在留管理庁), cross-referenced with documented case practice from administrative scriveners handling these applications. Last verified: July 2026.
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The Requirement
The Rule, Precisely
The official condition is: at the time of application, your annual income must be ¥10,000,000 or more. A few things follow from how that's worded:
- It's a personal income test — not household income, not business revenue
- It's assessed at the point you apply, based on your current, ongoing income level
- It's converted to a yen-equivalent figure from whatever currency you're actually paid in
By Employment Type
What Counts as Income Depends on How You Work
This is the detail most guides skip: ISA doesn't apply one universal income test. What you submit — and what actually counts — differs by how you earn.
| Your situation | What "income" means | Typical documents |
|---|---|---|
| Employed by an overseas company | Your salary — gross, before tax | Employment contract, pay slips, annual salary certificate from your employer |
| Freelancer / independent contractor | Your net income after expenses — not your total client billings | Client contracts (with amounts and terms clearly stated), payment records, invoices, tax filings showing income after deductions |
| Business owner | Financial results relevant to you personally — e.g. officer compensation or dividends, not total company revenue | Financial statements, dividend certificates, board minutes documenting officer compensation |
Documentation
Documents That Typically Support Your Income Claim
- Tax certificate or income certificate from the country/region where you earned the income
- Employment contract and recent pay slips (if employed)
- Client service agreements clearly stating contract period and amount (if freelance)
- Invoices and proof of payment received (bank records, payment platform statements)
- Most recent tax filing (e.g. a self-assessment/confirmation return for the self-employed)
- Financial statements and officer compensation records (for business owners)
Every foreign-language document needs a Japanese translation attached. See the full document checklist
in the main application guide:
→ COE Application Walkthrough & Document Checklist →
A Useful Exception
What If You're Close But Not Quite There Yet?
Beyond the Number
What Else Gets Checked Alongside Income
Meeting ¥10 million on paper isn't the end of the review. In practice, ISA also looks at the credibility and legitimacy of that income as part of the same assessment:
- Tax compliance in your home/working country — are you actually filing and paying tax on this income?
- Source of funds — is the income clearly tied to a legitimate business activity?
- Consistency — does the income picture across your documents (contracts, invoices, tax filings) tell the same story, or are there contradictions?
This is also why processing times for this visa can run longer than expected — case officers frequently
follow up with additional questions specifically about income documentation.
→ Common Reasons for Rejection →
Related
Continue Your Eligibility Check
Once you're in Japan and receiving overseas income, you'll also need a reliable way to receive and convert it — see Wise for low-fee international transfers.
Frequently Asked
FAQ
Does ¥10 million mean gross income or after-tax income?
For employees, it's generally assessed on gross salary (before tax). For freelancers and business owners, it's based on net income after business expenses — not gross billings or company revenue. This is an important distinction, since the two can differ substantially.
Can I combine income from multiple clients or sources to reach ¥10 million?
Yes — what matters is your total personal annual income from your remote work activity, which can come from multiple clients or income streams, as long as each is properly documented.
My income fluctuates a lot month to month. How is that assessed?
ISA looks for a consistent, credible income picture rather than a single strong month. If your income is variable, it helps to submit a fuller history (e.g. the past 6–12 months of invoices and payments) rather than a snapshot, so the reviewing officer can see the underlying trend.
Do savings or assets count toward the ¥10 million requirement?
No — this is specifically an income requirement, not a net worth or savings requirement. Bank balance alone does not satisfy this condition.
Not Sure Your Documentation Is Strong Enough?
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