Visas for founders

If you want to build a company in Japan, the path usually runs in two steps: get in on a Startup Visa, then move to a Business Manager visa once the company is real.

The Startup Visa

The Startup Visa gives you a window (commonly six months to a year) to get set up without first meeting the full capital and staffing requirements of the Business Manager visa. It is run through participating local governments. Tokyo wards such as Shibuya offer English-language support to walk you through it, including help with housing, banking, and a registered address.

Use this stage to incorporate, open a business bank account, sign an office lease, and build the foundation the next visa asks for.

The Business Manager visa

This is the longer-term visa for running a business in Japan. It has minimum capital and substance requirements, and those rules were revised in 2025, so the exact thresholds change. Check the official source below for the current figure before you plan around a number.

Where to get help

JETRO runs free support centers for founders and investors, and ward programs like Shibuya Startup Support exist specifically to help non-Japanese founders land. Start with them rather than going it alone, the process is very paperwork-heavy.

Always confirm current requirements on the official pages linked above. Rules and amounts change, and this guide is an orientation, not legal advice.