Startup Visa

- New residential status and supporting entrepreneurs coming to Japan -

What is the “Startup Visa”?

You can start a business in Japan, if you obtain a status of residence under the category of “business manager”. However, you have to meet certain requirements such as securing an office in Japan. When you take advantage of the “Startup Visa”, you can stay in Japan for up to two years and prepare for starting a business, before the requirements are met. In the meantime, Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Organization firmly support you.

Please see the website below, for application of the status of residence under the category of “business manager”.

How do you take advantage of the “Startup Visa”?

You apply to one of the municipalities or private organizations approved by the Japanese government (hereinafter referred to as a "Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Organization"), with a business plan and other documents. If you pass an examination by the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Organization and a subsequent immigration examination by the Immigration Services Agency, you can take advantage of the “Startup Visa”.

Contacts for the “Startup Visa”

A list of the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Organization that provide specific support related to the "Startup Visa" along with links to their contact information, is available on the website below. Please contact them, if you are interested in obtaining a “Startup Visa”.

 

*Requirements including business field and required documents vary depending on the municipality or private organization.

List of Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Organization

Name Website
Fukuoka City https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/keizai/g-startup/business/R7nd/startupviza_2.html
Aichi Prefecture https://www.pref.aichi.jp/soshiki/kinyu/gaikokujinkigyo.html
Gifu Prefecture https://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/page/20243.html
Osaka City https://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/keizaisenryaku/page/0000468842.html
Mie Prefecture https://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/SHINSAN/HP/000227069.htm
Hokkaido https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/kz/dxs/kz_csk_startup-visa_index.html
Sendai City https://www.city.sendai.jp/startup-sogyo/jigyosha/kezai/jigyosho/joho/startupvisa-kigyo.html
Yokohama City https://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/business/keizai/sougyo/venture/yokohama_suvisa.html
Ibaraki Prefecture https://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/eigyo/kokusyo/kokusyotop/documents/startupvisa_japanese.pdf
Oita Prefecture https://www.pref.oita.jp/soshiki/14040/startupvisa.html
Kyoto Prefecture https://www.kyoto-obc.jp/startupvisa/
Niigata Prefecture *In preparation
Hyogo Prefecture https://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/sr10/statupvisa/startupvisa.html
Shibuya City Office https://www.shibuya-startup-support.jp/startup-visa
Hamamatsu City https://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/hamact/support/startup-visa.html
Kaga City https://www.city.kaga.ishikawa.jp/senryaku_tokku/original_service/12737.html
Toyama Prefecture https://www.pref.toyama.jp/100222/sougyo/startupvisa/startupvisa_top.html
Tokyo Metropolitan https://www.investtokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/jp/oursupports/bdc-tokyo/startupvisa.html
TSUCREA Co.,Ltd https://startupvisa.tsucrea.com/
Kumamoto City https://www.city.kumamoto.jp/kiji00363391/index.html
Okinawa Prefecture  https://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/shigoto/keizai/1009879/1035742.html

Division in Charge

Startup and New Business Promotion Office, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau

Last updated:2025-10-28