Japan will require TB clearance for Indonesian nomad visa applicants Jan. 4

Indonesian nationals applying for Japan's Digital Nomad status will need a tuberculosis clearance certificate from a government-designated clinic starting Jan. 4. Until now, Indonesia sat outside Japan's Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening program, which already covers the Philippines, Nepal and Vietnam. Panel clinics in Indonesia are scheduled to begin screening Nov. 2 and the health ministry lists both dates as scheduled.

What Indonesian nomad applicants must now submit

The rule covers Indonesian nationals entering under Notification No. 53 (Digital Nomad) or No. 54 (Spouse or Child of Digital Nomad) on Designated Activities, along with anyone planning a mid- to long-term stay. Applicants get a medical exam and chest X-ray at a designated panel clinic in Indonesia.

If no active TB is found, the clinic issues a TB Clearance Certificate, which goes in with the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) application or with the visa application at a Japanese embassy or consulate when there's no COE.

• Cost: paid by the applicant and set by each clinic, as is the processing time.

• Validity: 180 days from the chest X-ray in principle, though it can be cut to 90 days depending on conditions.

• After arrival: holders must keep their copy, since officials may ask for it inside Japan.

Indonesian nomads living abroad and short-stay visitors are exempt

Indonesians whose residence permit or similar official document shows they live outside the target countries don't need the test.

Short stays are outside the scheme too: the mid- to long-term category excludes Temporary Visitor status and stays of three months or less. The nomad status is covered by name, even though it lasts only six months with no extension.

Nationals of countries outside the six on the list aren't affected and start dates for Myanmar and China haven't been set.

Timing for Indonesian nomads planning 2027 stays

Any Indonesian applicant filing a COE or visa on or after Jan. 4 needs the certificate in hand first. Special rules may apply to applicants who file a COE before that date, so early filers should check the immigration agency's guidance.

Those filing later need to book a clinic slot after Nov. 2 and time the X-ray so the certificate, possibly valid for only 90 days, doesn't lapse before the application. The other entry rules are covered in our Japan guide.