Living in Japan Without a Residence Card: Banking, Phones and Housing for Digital Nomads

Most long-stay foreigners in Japan get a residence card (在留カード, zairyu card). Digital nomads don't. You're not classed as a "mid- to long-term resident," so the card is never issued, and a lot of everyday systems in Japan assume you have one. Here's how daily life actually works without it.

Your passport is your ID

Without a residence card, foreign nationals have to carry their passport at all times. Keep it in a zipped pocket, keep photos of the data page, landing sticker and designation document on your phone and in the cloud, and know how to reach your embassy if it's lost.

Banking: use what you already have

Japanese bank accounts generally require a residence card, so plan to live on your home accounts. In practice that means:

• A multi-currency account such as Wise or Revolut for converting money at fair rates
• A home debit or credit card without foreign transaction fees
• Convenience store ATMs, especially at 7-Eleven, which accept many foreign cards when you need cash

Credit cards are widely accepted in big cities, but small restaurants and independent shops, especially in the countryside, may still be cash only.

Payments: get an IC card

An IC card such as Suica or PASMO works on trains and buses across most of Japan, and you can tap it at convenience stores, vending machines and many shops. Many people add one to their phone's wallet so they can top it up without cash.

Phone and internet: eSIM or visitor SIM

Standard phone contracts with Japanese carriers usually need a residence card. Instead:

• Use an eSIM data plan or a visitor SIM, which you can set up before you land
• Rent a pocket Wi-Fi if you'll be working in rural areas or on long train rides
• Remember that some services ask for a Japanese phone number; a data-only plan won't give you one

You can leave the phone field on the visa's activities form blank if you don't have a Japanese number yet. My approved application did.

Housing: skip the regular lease

Regular Japanese leases usually need a residence card, a guarantor and a long contract, so they rarely work for a six-month stay. The realistic options are:

• Monthly apartments (sometimes called monthly mansions), furnished and rented by the month
• Share houses, with a private room and shared kitchen and lounge, often the cheapest option in big cities
• Serviced apartments or apartment hotels, with a kitchen, laundry and front desk
• Workation stays in smaller towns, including some unusual places like temples and campsites

Healthcare: your private policy is your cover

Digital nomads can't join Japan's National Health Insurance, which is exactly why private insurance is required for the visa. Keep your policy details on your phone. At many clinics you may pay up front and claim the cost back, so check how your insurer handles payment before you need it.

No city registration, no My Number

Because you're not a mid- to long-term resident, there's no city-hall registration and no My Number card. You don't need to do anything here. It's simply not part of this status.

A word on taxes

Pay for work you do in Japan can be exempt from Japanese tax under your country's tax treaty, typically if you stay 183 days or fewer and your employer and pay aren't based in Japan. Earlier tourist trips can count toward those 183 days, so if you visited recently, get tax advice before you go. This isn't tax advice, and your home country's rules still apply.

Leaving and coming back

You can leave Japan and come back during your six months, but tick box 1 on the embarkation card for re-entrants at departure, or get a re-entry permit first. Otherwise your status ends when you leave.

Want to check you qualify before planning all this? The free eligibility check takes a minute. The book covers daily life, re-entry and taxes in more detail, with the official forms.