Japan — founder
Japan — Japan Startup Visa (municipal pre-startup)
Guide last reviewed: . Check the linked official guidance for current rules and application availability.
Requirements we check
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2 more requirements for Japan Startup Visa (municipal pre-startup)
- ✓See every requirement this route actually checks
- ✓Find out which ones you already meet
- ✓Get your single highest-impact next action
The full guide
This is a preparatory visa, not a full business visa — it lets you enter or stay in Japan under 'Designated Activities' to actually get a business off the ground (secure an office, register a company, hire staff) before you'd otherwise qualify for the standard Business Manager Visa, which now requires ¥30,000,000 in paid-in capital plus an operating office. Since 1 January 2025 the program runs nationwide under METI's Foreign Entrepreneur Promotion Project — it's no longer restricted to a small list of designated municipalities — and the total preparation period was extended to up to 2 years (previously 6-12 months per grant). The real gate isn't a fixed number; it's a specific municipality's own review confirming your business plan is credible.
The full guide is locked
See exactly what Japan Startup Visa (municipal pre-startup) requires
- ✓Every document you'll need, with what assessors actually look for
- ✓The real stage-by-stage process, with fees and processing times
- ✓Common pitfalls that actually cause refusals for this route
- ✓See if YOU qualify — your real fit score, not a generic checklist
This is everything your application involves. Start a plan to get it done.
Check my own fitTurn your research into a relocation plan
Use these free resources alongside the official instructions for your chosen route.
- Relocation planning guide
Organise your destination research, preparation timeline and next steps.
- Visa document checklist and evidence tracker
Build a document list from your route's instructions and track what is still missing.
- Relocation budget calculator
Use your own cost estimates to calculate your budget, savings gap and monthly target.
Pasage provides immigration pathway information and preparation help based on official public criteria. We are not immigration lawyers, regulated advisers, or agents, and we do not guarantee any visa outcome. Rules and thresholds change — always confirm against the official source linked above before you apply.