Startup visa is now nationwide, with a 2-year grace period

Since January 2025 the startup visa schemes were unified nationwide: foreign founders can stay up to 2 years to prepare (office, ¥5M capital or 2 staff) before switching to Business Manager. Apply via a certified local government/organisation.

Check first: 2024 post; check current rules

Type

Hack

Category

Visa & Admin

Place

Japan-wide

Saving

2-year grace period

For

builder

Posted

Dec 26, 2024

Last checked

Oct 21, 2026

Source

@charlesmok ↗

What the sources say

METI page lists the certified local governments running the scheme; an immigration-lawyer guide confirms the Jan 2025 unification and up to 2 years. Original was a 2024 post — now in force.

公式 Official. An official or primary page confirms it.

Also confirmed by

• meti.go.jp ↗
• gyousei-shikama-office.com ↗

Open the source ↗

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