Yokohama Startup Visa（FAQ）

This program is implemented by local governments (foreign entrepreneurship promotion organizations) that have been certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for their management support plans with the aim of expanding the number of foreign entrepreneurs and promoting business startups. In principle, this program is available to foreigners who will start a new business in Yokohama City within two years.

In Yokohama City, the following four business fields are eligible.
1) Business using innovative technologies such as AI and DX
2) Health and Medical Field
3) Knowledge-intensive, value-added business
4) Other businesses that aim to create new products, services, and business models
*General wholesale and retail businesses, trading companies, restaurants, lodging, service industry businesses, etc. are not eligible.
*Foreigners who are already residing in Japan with other residence statuses can also use this system.

This system was established as a special provision to the "Business Manager" status of residence. Normally, in order for a foreign entrepreneur to be certified for the "Business Manager" status of residence, they must fulfill two requirements:
1) opening a physical office and
2) employing two or more full-time staff OR having more than 5 million yen investment.
In this program, those who are deemed to have a high possibility of fulfilling these conditions within the next two years, whose preparatory activities for starting a business are appropriate for strengthening international competitiveness and forming a base for international economic activity, and whose business plan is deemed appropriate and sound will be granted the "Designated Activities" (aka: Startup Visa) status of residence for up to a maximum of two years (renewed every six months) as a period for preparation to start a business.
While normal certification of residence status is conducted by the Immigration Bureau, this program requires two steps. First, the preparatory activities plan for starting a business is to be confirmed by Yokohama City, and then, with the Certificate of Confirmation issued by Yokohama City (and other necessary documents), an application is made to the Yokohama Branch of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.

If you believe that you already meet the requirements for certification as a "Business Manager," we recommend that you apply directly to the Immigration Bureau in your jurisdiction.

The Certificate of Confirmation issued by Yokohama City can have a positive impact on the residence status screening by the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau Yokohama Branch, but having the certificate does not guarantee that the status will be granted.

The submitted Business Plan and other documents will be checked by Yokohama City from the perspective of whether there is a potential for the applicant to receive the Business Manager status of residence after a preparation period of up to two years.
Therefore, assuming that the requirements of "employment of two or more full-time staff" and/or "having more than 5 million yen investment" are met at the time of opening, the Business Plan and the others documents submitted must clearly include the following list of information.
If the submitted documents are not deemed to be sufficient to meet the requirements, the Certificate of Confirmation cannot be issued.

・What kind of business will the applicant be conducting? [Business description]
・Where will the business be carried out? [Area of Implementation]
・What preparations and activities will the applicant need to undertake before starting their business? [Specific Plans for Starting Their Business]
・How much money do applicants need to until they start their business (≒during the start-up preparation activities)?
・How will the applicant prepare the necessary funds? [Fund needed for startup preparation activities and procurement methods]
・Where and when will the applicant open their business? [Opening Time and Location]
・(When establishing a company) Who will be the board of directors and what roles will they play? [Corporate Officers]
・What will be the scale of the applicant's business? [Business Scale]
・Has the applicant secured a place to live until they start their business (≒start-up preparation activities)?
・Do they have enough funds to live on during the start-up preparation activities? [Accommodation, Living Expenses]

Yes, you can apply from overseas.
The persons listed below should submit the application form.
After the application is submitted, an interview will be conducted with the applicant either online or in-person.

<People who can submit the application>
1) The applicant himself/herself
2) A lawyer or administrative scrivener who has filed a report with the Director-General of the Regional Immigration Bureau that has jurisdiction over his/her location via the bar association or administrative scrivener association to which he/she belongs
3) Employees of the domestic establishment of the business that the applicant will operate
4) A person who has been entrusted by the applicant with the establishment of the business office in Japan (In the case of a corporation, an employee of the applicant)
*Persons described in #2~4 must submit an additional document to prove their relationship to the applicant as well as proof of their job position.

There are no restrictions on the current address of the applicant. However, the startup preparation activities (Maximum of two years) must be carried out within Yokohama City, and the newly established business addresses must be registered within Yokohama City.
If you live in an area that is not suitable for carrying out activities within Yokohama City during the startup preparation activities period, we cannot issue a Certificate of Confirmation.

This system is aimed at foreign nationals who are engaged in preparatory activities for starting a business in Yokohama City, and who will set up an office in Yokohama City in the future when starting their business, and therefore even if you were to apply, you would not be eligible to be issued a Certificate of Confirmation.

The address on your application form must be a place of residence where you can be contacted during your maximum two-year stay. If you have no choice but to change your address after application and before the end of your period of stay, please contact the Yokohama Startup Visa Coordinator with your contact information so that we can contact you at any time.

This program is targeted at those who are starting a new business (Managers, executives, etc.), so other family members are not included in the target audience. In addition, even if your family members are planning to work as employees, they would not be eligible. However, these cases may be eligible for other types of residence statuses, so we recommend that you consult with the Immigration Bureau of the appropriate jurisdiction.

This system is aimed at foreigners who are starting a new business, so you are not eligible. However, these cases may be eligible for other types of residence statuses, so we recommend that you consult with the Immigration Bureau of the appropriate jurisdiction.

Screening of the residence status applications are conducted individually. Please prepare and submit an application for each individual.
If two or more people are starting a business jointly, the contents of "2. Business Outline" through "5. Cash Flow Statement" of the Business Plan will likely be identical, but each person will need to prepare and submit the application documents separately.

The validity period is three months from the date of issue and cannot be extended. Please submit the document along with the required attachments to the Yokohama Branch of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau within this period to apply for recognition of your status of residence.

In startup preparation activities, it is not always necessary to generate profit; however, management efforts aimed at monetization in accordance with the plan submitted in the application documents are required. Progress will be reviewed during monthly meetings.
Please note that when transitioning to the “Business Manager” residence status, there is a possibility that whether the business is generating profit will be examined during the screening process.

The Yokohama Startup Visa Coordinator (Contracted business operator: An-Nahal Inc.), which is the contact point for inquiries, currently handles inquiries in Japanese and English.

Please contact the coordinator by using the Google Form on the website below.

Yokohama Startup Visa Website（外部サイト）（External Site）

The application form can be downloaded from the Yokohama City website.

Please submit it to the “Innovation Promotion Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, City of Yokohama.” Please note that a prior consultation at the Yokohama Startup Visa Support Desk is required before submission.

Yokohama Startup Visa Coordinator (Contracted business operator: An-Nahal Inc.)
Please contact the coordinator by using the form on the website below.

Yokohama Startup Visa Website（外部サイト）（External Site）
*Available in Japanese and English

After the submission of the application documents, a document screening and an interview will be conducted. Then, the Certificate of Confirmation will be issued to applicants whose application contents have been successfully confirmed. It will take approximately one month from the time of application to the issuance of the Certificate of Confirmation. Additionally, in order to obtain the residence status of "Designated Activities" (≒Startup Visa), applicants will need to submit documents separately to the Yokohama Branch of the Tokyo Immigration Bureau, which takes certain amount of time for screening.

If you wish to change your address (contact information), you will need to submit a notification of change. Please contact the Yokohama Startup Visa Coordinator or inform us during the monthly meeting. Regarding changes to your business details, please explain the changes during the monthly meeting.

＜Regarding the results of the application＞

Applicants will be contacted by the listed email address in their application. Please come to the Innovation Promotion Division, Economic Affairs Bureau at Yokohama City Hall to receive the original document of the result. If necessary, we can provide a copy of the original document via email.

＜Regarding fees＞

There are no fees. Issuance of the Certificate of Confirmation is free of charge.

Application for Confirmation of Business Activities and Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan must be prepared by the applicant. Additionally, the application documents must be submitted by the persons listed below.

<People who can submit the application>
1) The applicant himself/herself
2) A lawyer or administrative scrivener who has filed a report with the Director-General of the Regional Immigration Bureau that has jurisdiction over his/her location via the bar association or administrative scrivener association to which he/she belongs
3) Employees of the domestic establishment of the business that the applicant will operate
4) A person who has been entrusted by the applicant with the establishment of the business office in Japan (In the case of a corporation, an employee of the applicant)
*Persons described in #2~4 must submit an additional document to prove their relationship to the applicant as well as proof of their position.

If you wish to continue to reside in Japan and operate a business after the expiration of your "Designated Activities" (aka: Startup Visa) residence status, you must complete the procedures to change your status of residence to "Business Manager" at the Yokohama Branch of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.
If it becomes difficult to continue your business preparation activities during the maximum two-year period, or if your application to extend your period of stay as "Business Manager" is not approved, then you will be required to return to your home country.

It is possible to apply again. However, if the reasons for the previous rejection have not been addressed, applications with the same content will not be accepted. Additionally, for reapplication, you must first consult again with the coordinator at the Yokohama City Startup Visa Coordinator before proceeding with the application process.

If it is difficult to submit application documents and attend the interview in person due to reasons such as currently residing overseas, it is possible to submit the documents by email and conduct the interview online.

Entrepreneurs who have received the Certificate of Confirmation through the Yokohama Startup Visa program are eligible for financial support through Yokohama City's SME loan programs. Please use these as one of the funding methods when starting a business in Yokohama.

＜Startup Support Loan Program（スタートアップおうえん資金）＞
Offers low-interest loans with no collateral or guarantor required. In addition, the city fully subsidizes the credit guarantee fees, reducing the financial burden on startups. Available for startups those have stablished a company for less than 5 years.
＜Special Loan Program for Small Businesses – Startup Discount（小規模企業特別資金（スタートアップ割））＞
This is a loan program for small-scale businesses that have been operating for five to less than ten years. It offers preferential interest rates, and the city partially subsidizes the credit guarantee fees.

※When applying for a loan, the applicant will be examined by the handling financial institution and the Yokohama City Credit Guarantee Association.