Japan Startup Visa

Legal basis

The Japan Startup Visa program is designed for foreign entrepreneurs who want to found and grow a business in Japan. The main requirements are:

• Municipal support. You need the backing of one of the Japanese municipalities taking part in the startup visa program.
• Business plan. A detailed plan is required, covering the goals, strategy and expected results of the project.
• Financial standing. You must prove you have the funds to run the project and to live in Japan.
• Office space. A physical office in Japan is required to operate the business.
• Hiring. A plan to employ at least two people living in Japan.

How Japan's startup visa works in 2026

Japan's startup visa is a Designated Activities status for preparing a business. Since 1 January 2025 the programme of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry runs nationwide, and the earlier prefecture and special zone schemes have been merged into it. The preparation period has been extended to up to 2 years. The applicant submits a business preparation plan to one of the certified foreign entrepreneur support organisations working with local governments. If the plan is approved, the organisation issues a confirmation, on which the regional immigration bureau grants the status.

The startup visa is an interim step. During it you must meet the Business Manager visa requirements, otherwise you have to leave. Municipalities with long-running programmes include Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Yokohama, Kyoto, Nagoya with Aichi, Sapporo with Hokkaido, Sendai and others.

What changed on 16 October 2025

The Ministry of Justice tightened the Business Manager visa that founders move to after the startup visa. The rules apply to new applicants and to extensions for those already living in Japan.

• Capital - at least $190,000 (30 million yen) instead of the former 5 million yen.
• Full-time employee - at least one, a Japanese national, permanent resident or foreigner with an unrestricted status.
• Japanese language - JLPT N2 or higher for the applicant or the full-time employee.
• Experience or education - at least three years of business management or a relevant degree.
• Business plan - verified by a certified professional, such as a tax accountant or SME consultant.
• Office - separate premises in Japan; a home does not count.

What it costs in 2026

• Company capital for the Business Manager visa - from $190,000 (30 million yen). The money stays in the business.
• Company registration - registration and licence tax of 0.7% of capital: $1,400 (210,000 yen) on 30 million yen. The minimum is JPY 150,000 for a joint-stock company and JPY 60,000 for a Japanese-style limited liability company.
• Notarising the articles of a joint-stock company - JPY 30,000-50,000 depending on capital, plus JPY 40,000 stamp duty for paper articles; electronic articles are exempt.
• Immigration fees from 1 October 2026 depend on the period granted: from $64 (10,000 yen) for up to three months to $480 (75,000 yen) for five years or more when filed in person, $420 (65,000 yen) online. One year is $210 (33,000 yen), $180 (27,000 yen) online; one to three years $310 (48,000 yen), $270 (42,000 yen) online. Permanent residence is $1,300 (200,000 yen), up from $64 (10,000 yen) until 30 September 2026.
• Office - rent for separate premises, much higher in Tokyo than in regional cities.
• Japanese translations - on request from a manager.
• Our support - quoted after a consultation, depending on the city, plan and whether you need a company registered.

Steps and timeline

1. Choosing the city and organisation - 1-2 weeks: where the programme runs and whose support fits your sector.
2. Business preparation plan - 2-4 weeks: product, market, team, two-year budget, plan to meet Business Manager requirements.
3. Review by the organisation - usually a few weeks, often with an interview.
4. Certificate of Eligibility - the regional immigration bureau reviews the application, one to three months under its service standards.
5. Visa at a Japanese consulate and entry, residence card at the airport, address registration.
6. Preparing the business - up to 2 years: office, company, capital, hiring, progress reports to the organisation.
7. Switching to Business Manager - change of status once all requirements are met.

Documents

• Passport and photos to the Japanese standard.
• Business preparation plan on the organisation's form, with budget and schedule.
• Proof of funds - statements covering living costs and business preparation.
• CV and proof of experience - degrees, letters on management roles.
• Company documents if one already exists abroad, and the office lease once signed.
• Marriage and birth certificates for the family. Documents in other languages are translated into Japanese.

Requirements and how to get approved

• Weak plan - no clear market in Japan, budget or timeline to meet Business Manager requirements.
• No JPY 30 million - the startup visa cannot be extended indefinitely; after 2 years without capital and an employee the status cannot be changed.
• No Japanese in the team - since October 2025 N2 is needed for the applicant or a full-time employee.
• Office in residential premises - not accepted by immigration.
• No progress reports - the organisation may withdraw support.

Taxes in Japan

• Income tax - national tax from 5% to 45% plus a 2.1% reconstruction surtax, and local inhabitant tax of about 10%.
• Corporate tax - national rate 23.2%, 15% on the first JPY 8 million of profit for small companies; with local taxes the burden is usually about 30-34%.
• Consumption tax - 10%, 8% on food.
• Tax residence - a foreigner who has lived in Japan for less than 5 of the last 10 years is taxed on foreign income only to the extent it is remitted to Japan.

Details on the Japan taxes page.

Path to permanent residence

The standard rule is 10 years in Japan, including at least 5 years on a work status, which includes Business Manager. The faster route is the points system for highly skilled professionals: 70 points allow a permanent residence application after 3 years, 80 points after 1 year. Points are awarded for education, experience, income, Japanese language and business investment. From 1 October 2026 the permanent residence fee is $1,300 (200,000 yen).

First weeks in Japan: what you must do

• Residence card - issued at major airports on entry with a Certificate of Eligibility, otherwise mailed later.
• Address registration - within 14 days of moving in, at the municipal office for your address.
• National Health Insurance - mandatory for residents with status of three months or more; contributions depend on income and municipality. The insured usually pay 30% of medical costs.
• Pension system - enrolment is also mandatory; part of contributions can be refunded on departure.
• Bank account - banks open it with a residence card and address; some want several months of residence, so companies sometimes first open an account through a resident founder or partner.
• Company seal - a joint-stock company registers its seal with the Legal Affairs Bureau; without it you cannot sign contracts with Japanese counterparties.

Which city to choose

Tokyo offers the biggest market, investors and corporate clients, but office and living costs are the highest and competition for support organisations' attention is intense. Fukuoka started working with foreign founders earlier than others and is known for low office and housing costs, a convenient airport and many English-language startup events. Osaka and Kyoto suit manufacturing, tourism and health projects. The city determines which organisation reviews your plan and how much it helps with the office and hiring.

Alternatives to compare

• Japan digital nomad visa - 6 months for high-earning remote workers, no business in Japan.
• Chile startup visa - cheaper, with a state support programme, but a different market.
• Company registration in Japan - if you need a Japanese company without relocating.
• Permanent residence in Japan - all routes in detail.

How we work

1. We assess whether reaching JPY 30 million and a full-time employee within 2 years is realistic, and only then start.
2. We choose the city and organisation and help with the business preparation plan and translation.
3. We prepare documents for the Certificate of Eligibility and visa.
4. We register the company, find an office and support the bank account opening.
5. We prepare the switch to Business Manager.

We fix our fee in writing after a consultation.

Every way to get residency in Japan

This is one route. All the other grounds for residency in Japan, with conditions, amounts in dollars and timelines, are compared on How to get residency in Japan in 2026: every route.

Benefits of the Japan Startup Visa

How to get the Japan Startup Visa: step by step

FAQ