How to read Japan’s startup visa options
11 September 2026 · All posts
Ask about a “startup visa” for Japan and you’ll get conflicting answers, because the name covers a family of related routes rather than a single program. Here’s how to read the landscape before you talk to anyone official.
The shape of the thing
The core idea is a bridge. Normally, running a company in Japan requires a Business Manager status of residence — which itself requires an office, capital, and a track record. The startup visa gives you a preparation period first: you arrive, set up the company, open the bank account, and then switch to Business Manager once the business is real.
Who runs it
The program is national — overseen by METI — but administered locally. Tokyo, Fukuoka, and a growing list of other municipalities each run their own version with their own application desk and their own preparation-period length. That means two things: the exact requirements differ by city, and the quality of English-language support differs even more. Shibuya’s counter and Fukuoka’s Startup Cafe are the two we hear praised most often.
Where to start
Read METI’s official overview first — it’s short and it’s the source the local desks work from. Then pick your city before you pick your paperwork, and book a consultation with that city’s support counter. They will tell you plainly whether your plan fits, which is more than most immigration processes offer.
One caution: rules around the Business Manager status tightened recently, including a higher capital requirement. Don’t plan from a blog post — ours included. Confirm the current thresholds with the city desk or an immigration lawyer before you commit to a timeline.