Checked against the official page on 2026-10-20. Part of Oak’s directory of Japanese business grants.
Before you apply
- The money is not up front. You pay for the whole project yourself. The grant reimburses a share of it (often half to two-thirds) after a completion report has been checked, typically 6 to 18 months after applying.
- Do not spend before approval. Costs ordered, contracted or paid before the official grant decision (交付決定) are usually not eligible.
- Strict conditions. Employment grants are paid only if every condition is met and documented on time. A missed deadline or an incomplete record can void the claim.
- Obligations continue after payment. Reports for up to five years, inspections, and targets in your plan. Missing them can mean repaying part or all of the grant.
| Japanese name | キャリアアップ助成金 賃金規定等改定／賃金規定等共通化／賞与・退職金制度導入／短時間労働者労働時間延長支援／障害者正社員化 |
|---|---|
| Level | National · Nationwide |
| Administered by | MHLW |
| Type | Employment (joseikin) |
| Maximum amount | Pay rule raise 3–6%+: ¥40,000–70,000 per person; common pay rules ¥600,000/site; bonus/retirement ¥400,000/site; hours extension ¥400,000 per person (small firms ¥500,000) |
| Subsidy rate | Fixed amounts |
| Who can apply | Employers covered by employment insurance |
| Support organisation | Plan filed in advance |
| How to apply | Portal or paper |
| Rounds and deadlines | Rolling |
| Adoption rate | n/a |
Can a foreign-owned company apply?
Any employer running a 雇用保険適用事業所 can apply, including foreign-owned companies and registered Japanese branches of foreign companies (no Japanese-HQ test). SME vs non-SME rate is judged on enterprise capital OR regular headcount (小売/サービス/卸/その他 thresholds), so a branch of a large foreign group usually gets the lower 中小企業以外 rate.
Points to note
From the R8 guide.
Grant rules, amounts and deadlines change every round. Always work from the current application guidelines (公募要領) on the official page. This page is general information, not advice on your eligibility.
How Oak can help
Employment and training grants (助成金) from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare are filed by licensed labour and social security attorneys (sharoshi), not by gyoseishoshi. Contact us and we will point you to a qualified sharoshi; we can still check the rest of your grant options.