The Startup Visa System (Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project) was introduced in Hokkaido on September 29, 2019.
Formerly, the Status of Residence “Business Manager” was required in common for foreign people to live in japan for starting businesses; an office in Japan, an ordinary worker living in Japan (restricted to people with Japanese nationality, permanent residents and others) besides themselves, funds of 5 million yen and other conditions are necessary for “Business Manager”.
That was to say, even when they were still preparing for setting up business, they needed to have got offices, workers, and funds for staying in Japan for that purpose.
That is why the new system for starting a business has been introduced.
According to this system, a Status of Residence for starting a business is set as “Designated Activities (startup)”, which allows one year stay maximum.
The system is a part of promotion for foreign entrepreneurship, and eligible businesses in the system are as below.
- Businesses which promote growth and industrialization in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, which support local communities
- Businesses which promote the development of food-related industries that utilize regional resources
- Businesses which promote Hokkaido tourism, and help to elevate tourism in Hokkaido to that of an advanced region in the tourism industry
- Businesses which promote developing manufacturing industries which generate added high values
- Businesses which promote the creation of industries that correspond to market size and shifts in market needs
- Other businesses deemed necessary by the governor
If you are people from abroad thinking of starting a business in Japan, give a thought to this new system!
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