Details compiled from secondary sources and not yet checked against the official page. 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.
- Competitive and strict. Business plans are scored against other applicants and many are rejected. Eligibility rules on company size, ownership and tax compliance are applied to the letter.
- 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 | 外国人起業活動促進事業（スタートアップビザ） |
|---|---|
| Level | National (inward investment) · National (METI-certified municipalities) |
| Administered by | METI + certified bodies |
| Type | startup visa |
| Maximum amount | 0 |
| Subsidy rate | n/a |
| Who can apply | Foreign founders via about 24+ certified bodies (Fukuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Osaka City, Mie, Hokkaido, Sendai, Yokohama, Ibaraki, Oita, Kyoto, Niigata, Hyogo, Shibuya, Hamamatsu, Kaga, Toyama, Tokyo, Kumamoto, Okinawa, Narita, Hiroshima, Kitakyushu, Kanagawa, Tsukurie Inc.) |
| Support organisation | Certified body support |
| How to apply | n/a |
| Rounds and deadlines | Rolling |
| Adoption rate | n/a |
Can a foreign-owned company apply?
Foreign founders only
Points to note
Up to 2 yrs 特定活動. Certificates issued after 2025-10-15 lead to the new 経営・管理 criteria.
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
Oak is a licensed gyoseishoshi (administrative scrivener) firm. We check eligibility before you spend time on an application, help set up the GビズID Prime account most programmes require, prepare and organise the supporting documents within the programme's rules, and handle the reporting that follows an award.