Japan · Retire or live on savings
Japan Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M)
Savings needed: ¥30M+ ≈ $189k
Designated Activities: long-term stay for sightseeing and recreation (特定活動 観光・保養等を目的とする長期滞在者)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M) is a retire or live on savings route for Japan. Applicants need savings of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k. You can stay 1 yr. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- ¥30M+ ≈ $189k
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
Shown, not spent¥30M+ ≈ $189k
- JPY 30,000,000 (≈ $189,000)Combined deposits of the applicant and spouse at the time of application; JPY 60,000,000 (≈ $378,000) when the spouse also holds this status or is applying for it in their own right.
Renewal1 year max, no extension
The stay may not exceed 1 year in total.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Can't be renewed: 1 year in total at most
- Work rights are limited
- Only for passports from 74 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is aged 18 or older.
- The applicant is a national of a country or region listed in Annex 9 whose citizens enter Japan visa-free for short stays.
What you must show2
- Combined deposits of the applicant and spouse total at least JPY 30 million (≈ $189,000) at application.
- The threshold is JPY 60 million (≈ $378,000) when the spouse also holds or is applying for this status.
Documents2
- Bank records show the current balance and the past 6 months of transactions.
- Private insurance covers death, injury and illness for the whole stay.
Steps1
- Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility, with a stay plan and the insurance policy and terms.
After you arrive1
- The stay may not exceed 1 year in total.
When you become tax resident
How Japan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 1 year in total
- Tax residence
Resident individuals are domiciled in Japan or have continuous residence of 1 year or more.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis
Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.
- Special regime
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment · Tax relief
All tax rules for Japan Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Private insurance covers death, injury and illness for the whole stay
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Stay of up to 1 year for sightseeing, recreation and similar activity, open to adults from the visa-exempt countries and regions on Annex 9 of the Designated Activities Notification who hold at least JPY 30 million (≈ $189,000) in savings, with their accompanying spouse. 1 2 3
What you must show
- Savings of at least JPY 30,000,000 (≈ $189,000) · Combined deposits of the applicant and spouse at the time of application; JPY 60,000,000 (≈ $378,000) when the spouse also holds this status or is applying for it in their own right. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is aged 18 or older. 1
- The applicant is a national of a country or region listed in Annex 9 whose citizens enter Japan visa-free for short stays. 1
- Combined deposits of the applicant and spouse total at least JPY 30 million (≈ $189,000) at application. 1
- The threshold is JPY 60 million (≈ $378,000) when the spouse also holds or is applying for this status. 1
- Bank records show the current balance and the past 6 months of transactions. 2
- Private insurance covers death, injury and illness for the whole stay. 1 2
- Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility, with a stay plan and the insurance policy and terms. 2
- The stay may not exceed 1 year in total. 1
Stay
- Stay for sightseeing and recreation not exceeding 1 year.
- First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
Nationality
Nationals of the 74 countries and regions on Annex 9 of the Designated Activities Notification, all of which are visa-exempt for short stays. Open to: Iceland, Ireland, United States, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Andorra, Israel, Italy, Indonesia, Uruguay, Estonia, El Salvador, Australia, Austria, Netherlands, Qatar, Canada, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Greece, Guatemala, United Kingdom, Croatia, Costa Rica, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Suriname, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Thailand, South Korea, Czechia, Tunisia, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Dominican Republic, Türkiye, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, The Bahamas, Paraguay, Barbados, Hungary, Finland, Brazil, France, Bulgaria, Brunei Darussalam, Peru, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Honduras, Malta, Malaysia, Mexico, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Romania, Luxembourg, Lesotho, Taiwan, Hong Kong, MO.
Work
Sightseeing, recreation and similar activity only; employment is not covered by the status.
Family
The spouse may accompany under item 41 of the notification, counted in the combined savings test. Your spouse or partner may not work in Japan on this visa.
Official sources
- Designated Activities Notification (MOJ Notice No. 131 of 1990, as amended 8 April 2026): items 40 and 41 and Annex 9 · Ministry of Justice, Japan · checked 2026-10-11
- Status of residence Designated Activities (long-term stay for sightseeing and recreation, and accompanying spouse) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-11
- Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted (Immigration Control Act Article 19) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M) | Needs savings of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k | 1 yr | Limited |
| LTR · Wealthy Pensioner Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Second Home visa Indonesia | Needs savings of $130k+ | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Retirement visa United Arab Emirates | Needs income of AED 240k+ a year ≈ $65k | – | – |
| MM2H Platinum Malaysia | Needs savings of $1M+ | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M)?
Savings of at least JPY 30,000,000 (≈ $189,000). Combined deposits of the applicant and spouse at the time of application; JPY 60,000,000 (≈ $378,000) when the spouse also holds this status or is applying for it in their own right.
How long can I stay on the Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M)?
Stay for sightseeing and recreation not exceeding 1 year.
Can I work on the Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M)?
Limited. Sightseeing, recreation and similar activity only; employment is not covered by the status.
Can I bring my family on the Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M)?
The spouse may accompany under item 41 of the notification, counted in the combined savings test.
Who can apply for the Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M)?
Nationals of the 74 countries and regions on Annex 9 of the Designated Activities Notification, all of which are visa-exempt for short stays. Open to: Iceland, Ireland, United States, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Andorra, Israel, Italy, Indonesia, Uruguay, Estonia, El Salvador, Australia, Austria, Netherlands, Qatar, Canada, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Greece, Guatemala, United Kingdom, Croatia, Costa Rica, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Suriname, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Thailand, South Korea, Czechia, Tunisia, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Dominican Republic, Türkiye, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, The Bahamas, Paraguay, Barbados, Hungary, Finland, Brazil, France, Bulgaria, Brunei Darussalam, Peru, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Honduras, Malta, Malaysia, Mexico, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Romania, Luxembourg, Lesotho, Taiwan, Hong Kong, MO.
Is there a tax break for Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M) holders in Japan?
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment: Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more
Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.
Taxed on
Income tax on all Japan-source income plus foreign-source income that is paid in Japan or remitted to Japan from abroad, at the progressive national rates of 5% to 45%.
Who it applies to
- Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more.
- Non-Japanese nationality.
- Domicile or residence in Japan for an aggregate of five years or less within the preceding ten years.
Exclusions
- Japan-source income, including pay for work performed in Japan, is taxed in full.
- Residents who are not non-permanent residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Tax residence
Resident = domicile, or continuous residence of one year or more. Non-permanent resident = non-Japanese national resident for an aggregate of five years or less in the preceding ten years. Based on facts, not visa type.
Visas
No visa grants this treatment; it follows tax residence and nationality.
Other taxes
Consumption tax: standard rate 10% (7.8% national plus 2.2% local) and reduced rate 8% (6.24% national plus 1.76% local). Local inhabitant tax and social insurance are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Japan
Retirement and live-on-savings visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Designated Activities Notification (MOJ Notice No. 131 of 1990, as amended 8 April 2026): items 40 and 41 and Annex 9 · Ministry of Justice, Japan · checked 2026-10-11
- Status of residence Designated Activities (long-term stay for sightseeing and recreation, and accompanying spouse) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-11
- Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted (Immigration Control Act Article 19) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.