Startup visa program, unofficially labeled as Startup Visa, is a temporary conditional residence permit for entrepreneurs who want to build a company in Japan but don’t have enough time and money to apply for a business manager visa. To qualify for the visa, it is necessary to prove that the applicant will launch and operate an innovative business in one of the selected municipalities, or so-called National Strategic Special Zones. The startup visa scheme allows entrepreneurs for a maximum of one year to get an innovative new business off the ground.
Local municipalities offering a Startup Visa (as of May 2020)
Tokyo: 6 months
Kanagawa Prefecture: 6 months
Sendai City: 6 months
Kitakyushu City: 6 months
Niigata City: 6 months
Kyoto: 1 year
Aichi Prefecture: 1 year
Kobe City: 1 year
Ibaraki Prefecture: 1 year
Hokkaido: 1 year
Mie Prefecture: 1 year
Fukuoka City: 1 year
Gifu Prefecture: 1 year
Osaka City: 1 year
- Business related degree
- Business Plan
- Business related experience
- Interest in Japan
No need to have some established operations in Japan before applying.
No need to deposit a minimum of 5 million yen capital.
No need to have an office space before applying
Can you apply from Overseas?
Yes, you can. However, you need to hire an administrative scrivener (行政書士, gyosei shoshi), often known as a immigration specialist, to submit all the paperwork on your behalf. You can’t ask any Japanese person or friend residing in Japan — it should be a certified person with an appropriate license.