Hello, this is Shimoyama from IMS. I recently attended a study session with a guest speaker from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). This METI official spoke about the "Investment in Startups" part of the new policy introduced by the Kishida Cabinet, as well as METI's support for startups in general. In today's blog, I would like to explain the "Startup Visa" mentioned in the discussion.
What is a Startup Visa?
The Startup visa is a METI-approved program to promote entrepreneurial activities by foreign nationals in Japan.
- Established by METI in a public notice in December 2018, the Startup visa is a new program to attract foreign entrepreneurs. This system allows foreign entrepreneurs who receive entrepreneurial support from local governments to enter and stay in Japan for up to 1 year.
- METI approves local governments' management and support programs, and the regional Immigration Bureaus grant the "Designated Activities" status of residence.
*As of June 2021, Fukuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Kobe, Osaka, Mie, Hokkaido, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Sendai, Oita, Kyoto, Niigata, Hyogo, and Shibuya have certified the program. - As of November 2020, foreign entrepreneurs who have graduated from a Japanese university and are residing in Japan on a Startup visa will be able to change their residence status. They can now switch to a status of residence that allows them to stay in Japan for a maximum of 2 years if they meet specific requirements.
Immigration and Naturalization Service website: Measures for foreign students who graduated from Japanese universities to start their businesses (Japanese Only)
Process for certification of local government management and support programs
- Foreign entrepreneurs submit a "Plan of Preparatory Activities for Starting a Business."
- Examine whether the local government meets the requirements of the public notice. Consult with external experts for their opinions.
- If the requirements in (2) are met, a "Certificate of Confirmation of Plan for Preparation of Entrepreneurial Activities" will be issued.
- The foreign entrepreneur submits a "Certificate of Confirmation of Preparatory Activities for Starting a Business" to the regional immigration office, which grants the "Designated Activities for 6 Months" status of residence.
- The local government will manage and support the project for six months.
*Below is during visa renewal
- Foreign entrepreneurs submit a "Plan of Preparatory Activities for Starting a Business."
- Examine whether the local government meets the requirements of the public notice. Consult with external experts for their opinions.
- If the requirements are met in (2), a "Certificate of Confirmation of Plan for Preparation of Entrepreneurial Activities (For Renewal)" will be issued.
- The foreign entrepreneur submits a "Certificate of Confirmation of Preparatory Activities for Starting a Business (For Renewal)" to the regional immigration office, which grants the "Designated Activities for 6 Months" status of residence.
- The local government will manage and support the project for six months.
- Upon fulfilling the requirements for the status of residence "Management/Administration," the Regional Immigration Office grants the status of residence "Management/Administration" to the foreign entrepreneur.
While the Startup Visa in the Special District System has a maximum period of stay of six months, the METI version of the Startup Visa has a maximum period of stay of 1 year.
Difference from the Start-up Visas in the Special District System
- While the Startup visa under the Special District System has a six months' period of stay, the METI version of the Startup visa has a maximum period of stay of 1 year.
- The Startup visa under the special zone system does not allow a change of status of residence from a status other than "College Student," but the METI version of the Startup visa allows a change of status of residence without returning to Japan.
- Whereas the Startup visa under the Special District System has the status of residence "Management/Administration," the METI version of the Startup Visa has the status of residence "Designated Activities."
- Relaxed office requirements that can be used for renewing Startup visas under the Special District System cannot be used for METI's version of a startup visa.
I hope the information was useful. I am looking forward to this program being more utilized and attracting many more talented entrepreneurs worldwide!
Please be free to contact us if you are interested in Startup visas. We would be glad to assist you with your application.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
