Head to head
Japan vs Spain: the digital nomad visas compared
Verified data
Last verified June 10, 2026
The short version
- Spain has the lower entry bar: €2,442 per month versus €4,500 for Japan.
- Spain grants a longer initial stay (36 months vs 6), and it is renewable.
- Only Spain offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
- Tax treatment differs: Japan — foreign income exempt; Spain — special tax regime. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Japan DN | Spain DNV |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €4,500 | €2,442 (better) |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 6 months | 3 years (better) |
| Renewable | No | Yes (better) |
| Maximum total stay | 6 months | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | No | Yes (better) |
| Path to citizenship | No | Yes |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Limited |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt | Special tax regime (Régimen especial para trabajadores desplazados a territorio español (art. 93 LIRPF, 'Beckham regime') – optional) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit), min. €53,999 | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €16.20 (better) | ≈ €73.26 |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate, In country | Embassy / consulate, In country, Online |
| Processing time | 1 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Japan DN →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Spain DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Sources
- Government ISA - Status of Residence of 'Designated Activities' (for Digital Nomad / Spouse or child of Digital Nomad) - income, stay, application procedure accessed 2026-06-10
- Government ISA Digital Nomad page - insurance requirement (private medical travel insurance, JPY 10M medical treatment cover, policy period = entire planned stay) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government ISA outline PDF - Status of Residence for Digital Nomad (annual income >= JPY 10 million, 6 months within a year, insurance >= JPY 10M) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government ISA Q&A on Digital Nomad Designated Activities (as of July 2024) - income assessment (A9), insurance purpose/coverage (A10), tax convention exemption (A7), no public insurance enrollment (A5/A10) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government ISA chart of eligible countries/regions for Digital Nomad (No. 53, 51 countries/regions) and Spouse/Child (No. 54) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MOFA - Specified visa: Designated activities (Digital Nomad, Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad) - 6 months no extension, JPY 10M income proof, JPY 10M insurance proof, COE optional, embassy application accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago - Digital Nomad visa requirements (processing time 5 business days with COE / TBD without; single entry, 3-month validity) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MOFA (EN) - Visa Fees (approx. JPY 3,000 single entry, JPY 6,000 double/multiple, JPY 700 transit; exemptions by nationality/purpose; no fee if refused) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MOFA (JA) - 査証手数料 visa fee page, fresh scrape confirming approx. JPY 3,000 single-entry standard fee still current accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit - VISA FEES effective April 1, 2026 (standard single entry USD 20.00; exemption list) - refutes media claims of JPY 15,000 fee accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Guideline for Japan's Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (ISA/MOFA/MHLW, 2024-12-26, revised 2025-02-19) - explicitly applies to Designated Activities Notifications No. 53/54; Philippines/Nepal mandatory from 2025-06-23, Vietnam from 2025-09-01, Indonesia/Myanmar/China to be scheduled accessed 2026-06-10
- Government ISA white paper data section - acceptance of digital nomads from 2024-03-31; requirements: visa-exempt + tax-convention nationality, annual income >= JPY 10M, max 6 months accessed 2026-06-10
- Government ECB euro foreign exchange reference rates - JPY 185.19 per EUR (2026-06-10) accessed 2026-06-10
- Law firm Fragomen - Japan Digital Nomad Visa now available (states effective 2024-03-29) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE – Teletrabajadores (Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE – Solicitudes iniciales de autorización para teletrabajadores de carácter internacional (requirements PDF; 200% SMI monthly, 75%/25% family, savings top-up) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE requirements PDF – sickness insurance and social security sections (arts. 62.3.e and 62.5 Ley 14/2013; exclusions of travel/reimbursement/copay/waiting-period policies) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE – Preguntas frecuentes: Autorizaciones de Residencia y Trabajo de Teletrabajadores Internacionales (tasa EUR 73.26 initial; income 200% SMI monthly; insurance; 20% Spanish-client cap; no switch from non-lucrative) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government UGE FAQ – general eligibility, social security, family work rights, local clients, switching rules accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Instrucción conjunta DGEEAC/DGM sobre teletrabajadores de carácter internacional (signed 29/03/2023) – Tercera: 'mensualmente el 200% del SMI', 75%/25% family accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Instrucción conjunta – Quinta: seguro público o privado de enfermedad, insurer authorized in Spain, active for the full authorization period, travel insurance invalid accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Real Decreto 126/2026, de 18 de febrero – salario mínimo interprofesional 2026 (EUR 1,221/month, EUR 17,094/year, retroactive to 1 Jan 2026) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in Washington – Telework (Digital Nomad) Visa (DGSFP-registered insurer, no copay/coverage limit, travel insurance not accepted, full authorization period) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in Washington – Telework visa (200% monthly SMI worked example for 2025; reciprocity fees from 1 Jan 2026 incl. USD 190 for US nationals; 10-day legal decision term; 1-year validity) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in Santiago de Chile – Visado de teletrabajo PDF (1-year visa, 3-year authorization, 2-year renewals, 20-day UGE term, in-country filing without prior visa, 200%/75%/25% SMI, DGSFP insurance) accessed 2026-06-10
- Embassy Consulate General of Spain in London – Digital Nomad Visa (200% of monthly SMI with 2024 worked example, 75%/25% family, insurer authorized in Spain, 10-day decision term) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa (PRIE) – Nómadas digitales (1-year visa / 3-year authorization, 20% Spanish-client cap, 3-month relationship, qualifications) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agencia Tributaria – Régimen especial de impatriados (art. 93 LIRPF): covers remote teleworkers incl. digital nomad visa holders since 2023; 24%/47% over EUR 600,000; year of move + 5; 5-year prior non-residence accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agencia Tributaria – Plazo para el ejercicio de la opción (Modelo 149): 6 months from activity start date per Spanish Social Security registration accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Agencia Tributaria – Persona física residente en España (>183 days in the calendar year triggers tax residence) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Orden ESS/1571/2014 – tasas for Ley 14/2013 international-mobility authorizations (EUR 70.40 initial / EUR 75.60 renewal base, indexed by budget laws) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Orden PJC/617/2025, de 13 de junio – LO 4/2000 immigration fee restructuring after RD 1155/2024, in force 16 Jun 2025 (separate from the Ley 14/2013 teleworker tasa) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Ley 28/2022, de 21 de diciembre (Startup Law), BOE 22-Dec-2022 – creates the telework visa/authorization; preamble: 1-year visa, 3-year authorization renewable for 2 years, permanent residence possible at 5 years accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette BOE consolidated page for Ley 28/2022 – metadata: published BOE núm. 306 de 22/12/2022, entrada en vigor 23/12/2022 accessed 2026-06-10