Visa exemption (tourist entry without a visa): The United States is on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa exemption list for short term stay, and the general period granted on landing for listed countries is 90 days (15 days for Indonesia and Thailand, 30 days for Brunei and Qatar are the stated exceptions). The exemption covers tourism and other short term purposes. It does not authorize work in Japan, and repeated back to back stays are not a lawful long stay route.
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Living in Japan long term
Japan has no retirement visa and no golden visa. Long stays run through work statuses, the points based Highly Skilled Professional route, the Business Manager status, study, or family statuses, with permanent residence normally after 10 years of residence. Shorter options are the 90 day visa exemption, the 6 month Digital Nomad status for remote workers earning JPY 10,000,000 or more per year, and a sightseeing long stay of up to 1 year backed by JPY 30,000,000 in savings.
Numbers on this page apply to holders of a US passport. Page last verified: 2026-10-15
Rules change. Confirm the current rules with the official source or the consulate for Japan before you apply, pay a fee, or book travel around a date in this table.
Every route, with the math
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| Route | Income required | Investment required | Total cost | Processing time | Days allowed | Renewal rules | Tax residency trigger | Years to permanent residency | Years to citizenship | Last verified | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa exemption (tourist entry without a visa) Tourist allowance | Not applicable | Not applicable | No fee. Entry under the visa exemption is free. | No application. Entry permission is granted on landing. | 90 days granted on landing for US passport holders | The visa exemption stay is not extendable as a long stay route. A person who wants to stay longer needs a status of residence, applied for before the exemption stay runs out. | The National Tax Agency test is based on domicile and residence, not on this entry stamp: a person with a domicile in Japan, or a residence in Japan continuously for one year or more, is taxed as a resident. A 90 day tourist stay alone meets neither test. | Not a residence status. Permanent residence is counted from years lived in Japan on mid to long term statuses of residence (10 years in principle, with at least 5 of those years on a work status or a residence status). Visitor stays under the exemption do not build that residence. | Not a residence status. Naturalization requires 5 years of continuous domicile in Japan under Article 5 of the Nationality Act, and a visitor stay is not domicile. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Digital Nomad (Designated Activities) Digital nomad | Annual income of JPY 10,000,000 or more at the time of application | Not applicable | The Certificate of Eligibility application is free, per the Immigration Services Agency. Where a visa is issued at a Japanese consulate in the United States, the single entry visa issuance fee is USD 101 from July 1, 2026, per the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco fee notice. There is no extension, so no extension fee applies. | No Digital Nomad specific processing standard is published. The Immigration Services Agency standard period for a Certificate of Eligibility is 1 to 3 months. | 6 months. No extension is granted, and the total stay on this status cannot exceed 6 months within one year. | Cannot be extended and cannot be renewed. The Immigration Services Agency states the period cannot be extended and total time on the status cannot exceed 6 months within a year. | The National Tax Agency test turns on domicile or a residence held continuously for one year or more. This status is capped at 6 months within a year and no residence card is issued, so the stay alone does not meet the one year residence test. | No path from this status. No residence card is issued and the stay is capped at 6 months within one year, so time on this status does not count as residence toward the 10 years that permanent residence requires. | No path from this status. Naturalization requires 5 years of continuous domicile in Japan under Article 5 of the Nationality Act, which a non-resident status capped at 6 months within a year cannot supply. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation (Designated Activities) Passive income | Savings of more than JPY 30,000,000 held by the applicant and spouse combined | Not applicable | The Certificate of Eligibility application is free, per the Immigration Services Agency. The single entry visa issuance fee at a Japanese consulate in the United States is USD 101 from July 1, 2026, per the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco fee notice. Extending the period of stay costs JPY 25,000 at a counter or JPY 21,000 online from October 1, 2026, under the Immigration Services Agency fee band for a period granted of over 6 months and under 1 year. | No route specific processing standard is published. The Immigration Services Agency standard period is 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension of period of stay. | 6 months, extendable to a maximum total of 1 year | One extension path only: the stay can be extended up to a maximum total of 1 year. It cannot be renewed beyond that on this status. | The National Tax Agency test turns on domicile or a residence held continuously for one year or more. A stay of up to 1 year on this status can approach the one year line, so anyone using the full year should take tax advice on their own facts. | No path from this status alone. It runs for at most 1 year and is neither a work status nor a residence status, so it cannot supply the 5 years on a work status or a residence status that the permanent residence test requires. | No path from this status alone. Naturalization requires 5 years of continuous domicile in Japan under Article 5 of the Nationality Act. This status lasts at most 1 year, so the domicile would have to continue on another status. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Work statuses (Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services and other working statuses) Work | No single official income threshold covers the work statuses. Eligibility turns on the job with a Japanese organization, the employer, and the applicant education or experience. Specified Skilled Worker and other statuses have their own criteria. | Not applicable | The Certificate of Eligibility application is free, per the Immigration Services Agency. The single entry visa issuance fee at a Japanese consulate in the United States is USD 101 from July 1, 2026, per the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco fee notice. From October 1, 2026, change of status and extension fees depend on the period granted: JPY 10,000 to JPY 75,000 at a counter and JPY 10,000 to JPY 65,000 online, including JPY 33,000 at a counter or JPY 27,000 online for a 1 year grant, and JPY 75,000 at a counter or JPY 65,000 online for a 5 year grant, per the Immigration Services Agency fee revision notice. Permanent residence permission, when applied for later, costs JPY 200,000 at a counter from October 1, 2026. | Immigration Services Agency standard periods: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status, and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension of period of stay. | Periods of 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months, depending on the status. The Immigration Services Agency status page for Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services shows that set of periods. | The period of stay can be extended while the holder keeps doing the activity of the status and meets the conditions. From October 1, 2026 the extension fee depends on the period granted; see the cost field. | A person is taxed as a resident if they have a domicile in Japan or have had a residence in Japan continuously for one year or more, per the National Tax Agency. Most work status holders pass the one year line in their first grant. | 10 years of continuous residence in principle, with at least 5 of those years on a work status or a residence status, per the Immigration Services Agency permanent residence guidelines. Revised guidelines published on October 1, 2026 apply to applications filed on or after April 1, 2027. | 5 years of continuous domicile is the statutory test in Article 5 of the Nationality Act. Japanese newspapers reported in 2026 that screening practice would in principle expect 10 years of residence from April 1, 2026; no Ministry of Justice page stating that change was found in this pass, so the statutory figure is the one recorded here. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Highly Skilled Professional (points based route) Work | Points based: at least 70 points across academic background, professional career, and annual salary, plus bonus items. For (i)(b) and (i)(c), an annual salary below JPY 3,000,000 disqualifies the applicant even if the points total is 70 or more. | Not applicable | The Certificate of Eligibility application is free, per the Immigration Services Agency. The single entry visa issuance fee at a Japanese consulate in the United States is USD 101 from July 1, 2026, per the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco fee notice. Change of status and extension fees from October 1, 2026 follow the Immigration Services Agency fee bands by period granted: a 5 year grant costs JPY 75,000 at a counter or JPY 65,000 online. Permanent residence permission costs JPY 200,000 at a counter from October 1, 2026. | Preferential processing targets in the Immigration Services Agency FAQ: Certificate of Eligibility applications processed within 10 days of receipt, and change or extension examinations within 5 days of receipt, with stated exceptions. | 5 years for Highly Skilled Professional (i), granted uniformly. Highly Skilled Professional (ii) has an unlimited period of stay. | Highly Skilled Professional (i) can be extended while the holder still scores 70 or more points. After 3 years on (i), the holder can move to (ii), which has no period limit. | A person is taxed as a resident if they have a domicile in Japan or have had a residence in Japan continuously for one year or more, per the National Tax Agency. | Fast tracks under the Immigration Services Agency guidelines: 3 years for applicants holding 70 or more points, and 1 year for applicants holding 80 or more points. The standard rule outside this route is 10 years. | 5 years of continuous domicile is the statutory test in Article 5 of the Nationality Act. A widely reported 2026 tightening of naturalization screening practice could not be verified on a Ministry of Justice page in this pass; see the work statuses route note. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Business Manager Investor | Not applicable | Capital or total investment of JPY 30,000,000 or more, under the criteria in force from October 16, 2025 | The Certificate of Eligibility application is free, per the Immigration Services Agency. The single entry visa issuance fee at a Japanese consulate in the United States is USD 101 from July 1, 2026, per the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco fee notice. Change of status and extension fees from October 1, 2026 follow the Immigration Services Agency fee bands by period granted, from JPY 10,000 to JPY 75,000 at a counter and JPY 10,000 to JPY 65,000 online. The JPY 30,000,000 capital requirement is separate from these government fees. | Immigration Services Agency standard periods: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status, and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension of period of stay. | 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 4 months, or 3 months, per the periods set for this status in the Immigration Control Act enforcement regulations | Renewable while the business continues to meet the criteria in force. Renewals check tax, labor insurance, and social insurance compliance, and long absences from Japan without good reason can count against renewal. | A person is taxed as a resident if they have a domicile in Japan or have had a residence in Japan continuously for one year or more, per the National Tax Agency. | 10 years of continuous residence in principle, with at least 5 of those years on a work status or a residence status, per the Immigration Services Agency permanent residence guidelines. From the 2025 reform, permanent residence applications from Business Manager are refused if the new Business Manager criteria are not met. | 5 years of continuous domicile is the statutory test in Article 5 of the Nationality Act. A widely reported 2026 tightening of naturalization screening practice could not be verified on a Ministry of Justice page in this pass; see the work statuses route note. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Student Study | No single official yen figure. Applicants must show the ability to pay tuition and living costs; the Immigration Services Agency publishes no fixed amount for this status. | Not applicable | The Certificate of Eligibility application is free, per the Immigration Services Agency. The single entry visa issuance fee at a Japanese consulate in the United States is USD 101 from July 1, 2026, per the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco fee notice. Change of status and extension fees from October 1, 2026 follow the Immigration Services Agency fee bands by period granted, from JPY 10,000 to JPY 75,000 at a counter and JPY 10,000 to JPY 65,000 online. Tuition is set by each school and is not a government fee. | Immigration Services Agency standard periods: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status, and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension of period of stay. | A period designated in each case, up to a maximum of 4 years and 3 months, per the Immigration Services Agency status page for Student | The period can be extended while the holder continues to study at the institution. Fees from October 1, 2026 follow the Immigration Services Agency bands by period granted. | A person is taxed as a resident if they have a domicile in Japan or have had a residence in Japan continuously for one year or more, per the National Tax Agency. A student in Japan for a course longer than one year can meet the residence test. | 10 years of continuous residence in principle, with at least 5 of those years on a work status or a residence status, per the Immigration Services Agency permanent residence guidelines. Student status is neither a work status nor a residence status for that 5 year element, so study years alone do not complete the test. | 5 years of continuous domicile is the statutory test in Article 5 of the Nationality Act, but domicile normally starts once a person settles in Japan on a longer term basis. A widely reported 2026 tightening of naturalization screening practice could not be verified on a Ministry of Justice page in this pass; see the work statuses route note. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
| Spouse, child, and Long-Term Resident statuses (family routes) Other | No fixed official income threshold. The household must be able to support itself, and tax and social insurance compliance are checked, including in the permanent residence guidelines. | Not applicable | The Certificate of Eligibility application is free, per the Immigration Services Agency. The single entry visa issuance fee at a Japanese consulate in the United States is USD 101 from July 1, 2026, per the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco fee notice. Change of status and extension fees from October 1, 2026 follow the Immigration Services Agency fee bands by period granted, from JPY 10,000 to JPY 75,000 at a counter and JPY 10,000 to JPY 65,000 online. Permanent residence permission costs JPY 200,000 at a counter from October 1, 2026. | Immigration Services Agency standard periods: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status, and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension of period of stay. No official standard period for a permanent residence application was found on an Immigration Services Agency page in this pass. | Spouse or Child of Japanese National and Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months. Long-Term Resident: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 6 months in cases designated by ministerial notice, or an individually designated period in other cases. | Spouse and Long-Term Resident periods can be extended while the qualifying relationship or designated basis continues. Fees from October 1, 2026 follow the Immigration Services Agency bands by period granted. | A person is taxed as a resident if they have a domicile in Japan or have had a residence in Japan continuously for one year or more, per the National Tax Agency. | Spouse of a Japanese national, permanent resident, or special permanent resident: under the guidelines in force for applications filed before April 1, 2027, a real marital life of 3 years or more plus 1 year or more of continuous residence in Japan; the revised guidelines published October 1, 2026 raise this to 5 years of marital life plus 3 years of residence for applications filed on or after April 1, 2027. Biological child of a Japanese national or permanent resident: 1 year of residence, rising to 3 years under the revised guidelines. Long-Term Resident: 5 years of continuous residence in both versions. | Statutory tests in the Nationality Act: 5 years of continuous domicile under Article 5, with a reduced path for spouses of Japanese nationals under Article 7 (3 years of domicile or residence plus a current domicile, or 3 years since marriage plus 1 year of domicile). A widely reported 2026 tightening of screening practice could not be verified on a Ministry of Justice page in this pass; see the work statuses route note. | 2026-10-15 | Official source |
Route notes
Digital Nomad (Designated Activities): For remote work for an organization based outside Japan, or services and sales to clients outside Japan. Work under an employment contract with a Japanese organization is not permitted. Applicants must be nationals of a country that is both on Japan's visa exemption list and covered by a tax convention with Japan; the United States meets both tests. Private medical travel insurance covering death, injury, and illness is required, with compensation for medical treatment of JPY 10,000,000 or more. No residence card is issued on this status, so holders are not registered as mid to long term residents. A spouse or child can apply under the matching Designated Activities status (Notification No. 54) and must meet the same nationality and insurance tests. Secondary reporting describes a six month wait after departure before applying again; no Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Services Agency text stating that rule in those words was found in this pass, so the official rule recorded here is the 6 months within one year cap.
Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation (Designated Activities): Japan has no retirement visa. This Designated Activities status is the closest passive long stay route: it is for sightseeing and recreation only and does not authorize work. Applicants must be 18 or older and nationals of a visa exemption country or region, which includes the United States. An accompanying spouse must live at the same address and travel with the applicant; dependent children cannot accompany. A spouse who stays separately under this scheme needs combined savings of more than JPY 60,000,000. Applicants show bank records covering the balance and six months of deposits and withdrawals, and must hold private medical travel insurance covering death, injury, and illness during the stay; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page states no coverage amount. Extension is applied for at a Regional Immigration Bureau before the first 6 months expire.
Work statuses (Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services and other working statuses): Summary level. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs long stay index lists the working statuses: Professor, Artist, Religious Activities, Journalist, Legal and Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Instructor, Engineer and Specialist in Humanities and International Services, Intra-company Transferee, Nursing Care, Entertainer, Skilled Labor, Specified Skilled Worker, and Technical Intern Training, plus Business Manager and Highly Skilled Professional, which have their own routes on this page. Periods of stay for most working statuses are 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, or 3 months. Specified Skilled Worker (i) is granted for a designated period of up to 3 years per grant with a 5 year total cap, and Specified Skilled Worker (ii) for 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, or 6 months, per the Immigration Services Agency Specified Skilled Worker FAQ. Work is limited to the activity of the status held.
Highly Skilled Professional (points based route): Three activity types: (i)(a) advanced academic research, (i)(b) advanced specialized or technical work, and (i)(c) advanced business management. The period for (i) is 5 years and can be extended, but if the points total falls below 70 at extension the status cannot be extended. Highly Skilled Professional (ii) opens after 3 or more years of (i) activities with 70 or more points and good conduct, carries an unlimited period of stay, and allows a broader range of work. A separate Special Highly Skilled Professional track (J-Skip) exists and carries a 1 year permanent residence track in the guidelines; its detailed criteria were not fetched in this pass.
Business Manager: The criteria were tightened by a ministerial ordinance revision that took effect on October 16, 2025, published by the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration Services Agency. The new tests require: at least 1 full time employee (Japanese national, special permanent resident, or a holder of a Table II status such as Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident); capital of JPY 30,000,000 or more (paid in capital for a stock company, total contributions for a GK, or for a sole proprietor the total invested including office, one year of staff salaries, and equipment); Japanese ability at B2 level or above on the Japanese reference frame for the applicant or a full time employee (JLPT N2 or above, BJT score of 400 or more, 20 or more years as a mid to long term resident, graduation from a Japanese higher education institution, or completion of Japanese compulsory education and high school); the applicant holds a doctorate, a masters degree, or a professional degree in a relevant field, or has 3 or more years of business management experience; and a business plan confirmed by an expert such as a certified SME management consultant, CPA, or tax accountant. A home office is in principle not allowed. Applications filed before October 16, 2025 are judged under the old criteria, and current holders renewing by October 16, 2028 are judged with their circumstances considered even if they do not yet meet the new tests. Renewals check labor insurance, social insurance, and tax compliance, and permanent residence applications from this status are refused if the new criteria are not met. There is no personal income threshold for the applicant under this status; the financial test is the capital or total investment figure in the investment field.
Student: For study at a Japanese university, college of technology, high school, special needs school, vocational school (senshu gakko), or a comparable institution, including Japanese language schools. The granted period is set case by case within the 4 years and 3 months ceiling. Part time work is not part of this status itself and needs separate permission for activity outside the status; that permission and its hour limits were not verified from an official page in this pass and are not recorded here.
Spouse, child, and Long-Term Resident statuses (family routes): Summary level. These are the status based routes listed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs long stay index: Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, and Long-Term Resident, which covers cases such as Nikkei descendants and others designated by notice. Holders of these statuses may work without the activity limits that apply to work statuses. Divorce or the death of the sponsor can end the basis for a spouse status, and a change to another status is needed to stay on; the details were not verified from an official page in this pass. Dependent (family stay) for spouses and children of work and student status holders is a separate status and is not covered in this route entry.