In this guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about Japan’s Startup Visa—from eligibility and application steps to the major 2025 reforms that make it easier than ever to build your venture. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for applying, understanding benefits, and plotting your path to a Business Manager Visa.

What Is the Japan Startup Visa?

Japan’s Startup Visa is a short-term permit designed to give foreign entrepreneurs time and resources to test their business ideas before incorporating. Unlike the Business Manager Visa, it doesn’t require you to have a registered company, a physical office or a set capital amount when you apply. This visa acts purely as a preparation phase, allowing you to focus on refining your plan without the immediate administrative burdens of permanent residency, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s overview of the Startup Visa Program{:target=”_blank”}.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify, you must:

• Be a non-Japanese national
• Have a scalable business idea in deep tech, AI, sustainability or another high-risk sector
• Present a detailed business plan backed by potential investors or a certified incubator
• Secure letter(s) of support from local government or an approved incubator

As of 2025, you can apply nationwide, not just in select cities, following Nikkei Asia’s report on the visa’s expansion{:target=”_blank”}.

Key Features of the New System

Japan overhauled its Startup Visa in 2025 to fast-track its goal of nurturing 100,000 startups and 100 unicorns by 2027, a milestone highlighted by The Japan Times in its analysis of government innovation targets. Here’s what’s changed:

• Nationwide availability: No more geographic limits—apply from any region.
• Two-year validity: Up from six months, giving you more runway to launch.
• No upfront office, capital or company: Begin work immediately upon arrival, as detailed in JETRO’s briefing on the revamped visa{:target=”_blank”}.
• Streamlined process: Consolidates former regional and national schemes into one system.
• Deep-tech focus: Tailored for ventures with longer R&D and funding cycles.

Office Requirements

You must secure a physical office—virtual addresses won’t suffice. Most local governments offer subsidized coworking spaces or incubators to meet this rule.

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Develop your business plan
   Detail your product, target market, revenue model and milestones.
2. Partner with a local government or incubator
   Obtain a support letter confirming they’ll help you launch.
3. Gather required documents
4. Valid passport
5. Detailed business plan
6. Proof of financial backing or incubation support
7. Office lease agreement
8. Submit your application to the nearest Immigration Bureau office.
9. Await approval, typically within 30 days.

Required Documents

• Application form
• Business plan (10–15 pages)
• Support letter from local government/incubator
• Lease contract for office space
• Bank statements or investor commitment letters
• Curriculum vitae

Benefits of the Startup Visa

This visa isn’t just paperwork—it unlocks a toolkit for success:

• 2 years to validate your business concept
• Access to government grants and local subsidies
• Mentorship through certified incubators
• No minimum capital requirement
• Clear path to a Business Manager Visa once you meet conditions

“The Startup Visa gives entrepreneurs the breathing room they need. Two years is a game-changer.”
— Ayumi Nakamura, co-founder of TechBridge Labs, in an interview with Startup Go! Go!{:target=”_blank”}

Transitioning to the Business Manager Visa

Once your venture meets these criteria, you can upgrade:

• Register a Japanese company (Kabushiki Kaisha or Godo Kaisha)
• Invest at least ¥5 million in capital
• Maintain a physical office
• Employ at least two full-time staff (or yourself plus one)

After meeting these requirements, you’ll qualify for the Business Manager Visa (経営・管理ビザ), which grants renewable three-year residency and broader business privileges, as outlined by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan{:target=”_blank”}.

Tips to Maximize Your Chances

• Join local startup networks and attend pitch events
• Learn basic Japanese phrases; it signals commitment
• Seek mentors within your industry
• Leverage regional subsidies—each prefecture offers unique incentives

Ready to Launch?

With the 2025 reforms, Japan has made it simpler to arrive, innovate and expand. Use these insights to craft a bullet-proof application, partner with the right incubator and pave your path to becoming one of the nation’s next unicorns. Your Japanese startup adventure begins now.