As of April 4, 2025, business support facility, ‘XOSS POINT’ has established the ‘Foreign Entrepreneur Specialized Consultation Desk’ (herein referred to as Consultation Desk) and launched the ‘Foreign Business Startup Activity Promotion Program (Startup Visa), following certification from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The ‘Startup Visa’ is implemented in municipalities certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as part of the Foreign Business Startup Activity Promotion Plan, which supports foreign nationals preparing to launch startups.
Normally, for a foreign national to launch a startup in Japan, they must obtain residency status of 'Business Manager.' To qualify for this status, the following requirements must be met at the time of application to the Immigration Bureau: (1) establishment of an office; (2) employment of at least two full-time staff members; and (3) capital or total investment of at least 5 million yen.
This program supports foreign nationals who wish to launch a startup in Kumamoto City and utilize the Startup Visa by assisting them in preparing the 'Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan Application Form.' A confirmation certificate will be issued to applicants deemed likely to meet the requirements for 'Business Manager' residency status within one year (extendable to a maximum of two years).
Submit the confirmation certificate along with the required documentation to the Immigration Bureau for review. If approved, the applicant will be granted residency status of 'Designated Activities (Business Startup Preparation Activities).'
2 Eligible Participants of This Program
For foreign nationals who wish to launch a startup in Kumamoto City (including foreign nationals already residing in Japan under a different residency status) and who plan to change their residency status to ‘Business Manager’ within one year (extendable to a maximum of two years)
3 Applicable Business Fields in Kumamoto City
（1）Semiconductor / AI / IoT / Information Transmission
（2）Life Sciences / Wellness
（3）Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries / Food Technology
（4）Traditional Manufacturing Industries / Advanced Manufacturing Industries
（5）Culture / Art / Content
（6）Environment / Energy
（7）Social Business
（8）Tourism
（9）Other fields deemed as essential by the mayor
4 Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan Application
Receiving confirmation of the Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan is mandatory to utilize this system and obtain certification of ‘Designated Activities (Business Startup Preparation Activities)’ residency status.
Confirmation of the Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan refers to the process of evaluating whether the contents of the application are likely to meet the requirements for ‘Business Manager’ residency status within one year (extendable to a maximum of two years) of entering Japan or changing residency status.
（1）Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan Application Form (Form No.1)
（2）Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan (Form No. 2)
（3）Business Startup Activity Process Schedule (Form No. 3)
（4）Applicant’s Resume (Form No. 4)
（5）Contract (Form No. 5)
（6）Document confirming the applicant's one-year residency period upon arrival in Japan or following a change in residency status (copy of lease agreement, etc.)
（7）Document confirming the applicant’s ability to cover travel expenses for returning to their home country in the event that accommodation or business startup activities become unsustainable during the one-year period after arriving in Japan or following a change in residency status (copy of the applicant’s bank book, etc.)
（8）Documents certifying that the applicant meets any of the conditions listed in Article 5, Section 6 (1), Items (i)イto (v)ホ, under "(5) The applicant must meet one of the following conditions" (such as a copy of the graduation certificate, employment certificate, etc.)
（9）Copy of applicant’s passport
（10）Other documents certified as essential by the mayor
5 How to Apply
Please consult with the Consultation Desk for assistance in creating a Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan and submit the required documents.
Apply for consultation using the application form below.
(Consultation Desk)
Opening Hours: Every Tuesday (9時00分 AM – 12時00分 PM)
*Open the following day if Tuesday falls on a public holiday
Location: Business Support Facility [XOSS POINT.], Kumamoto Shintoshin 2F
Consultation Method: In-person, phone (JETRO Kumamoto: 096-354-4211), online, etc.
Consultation Application Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrQEGNyCXxs1WHm21YAXamc0xsiiHYGLuvL9ysmFRFXSl-oA/viewform?usp=sharing
（external link）
6 Who Can Apply
(1) The applicant (not a proxy or representative)
(2) A person who has submitted a notification to the Director of the Immigration Bureau with jurisdiction over their location through the Bar Association or Administrative Scrivener Association to which they belong as a lawyer or administrative scrivener. (However, if the applicant is residing outside Japan, the person must be someone entrusted by the applicant to establish a business office in this city on their behalf—if the entrusted party is a corporation, this refers to one of its employees.)
*If the applicant falls under category (2), please submit documents certifying their position and relationship with the relevant foreign parties.
7 Examination and Issuance of the Confirmation Certificate for the Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan
For the application documents submitted by a foreign entrepreneur, any deficiencies or missing required materials will be first confirmed. Then, after obtaining opinions from individuals with relevant expertise in entrepreneurship and business management, if the submitted Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan (or, at the time of renewal, the plan for renewal) meets the criteria set forth in either (1) or (2) of Notice 5-6 of the Foreign Business Startup Activity Promotion Program, a Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan Confirmation Certificate (or, in the case of renewal, a confirmation certificate for renewal) will be issued.
As a general rule, the applicant will be required to attend the in-person meetings as part of the examination process.
Additionally, the Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan Confirmation Certificate will, in principle, be issued in electronic format via email or similar means.
8 Application for Certification of Eligibility for ‘Designated Activities’ Residency Status to the Immigration Bureau
Foreign entrepreneurs that have been issued a confirmation certificate must apply for the Certification of Eligibility for Residency Status at the Fukuoka Immigration Bureau, Kumamoto Branch Office within the 3-month validity period. When applying, please confirm the Regional Immigration Bureau that has jurisdiction over your residential address.
For more information about procedures, please directly contact the Fukuoka Immigration Bureau, Kumamoto Branch Office (TEL: 096-362-1721).
Fukuoka Immigration Bureau | Immigration Services Agency (moj.go.jp) （external link）
9 Procedures After Obtaining Residency Status
Foreign nationals who have received certification of their ‘Designated Activities (Startup Business Preparation Activities)’ from the Fukuoka Immigration Bureau are to report to the Consultation Desk as soon as possible.
Subsequently, during the period you prepare to start a business under this program, a meeting to review the progress of your business plan will be implemented at the Consultation Desk once per month.
Furthermore, you may be requested to submit documents necessary for the meeting (such as a bank book or a document that describes your financial situation, contract details on office leasing or employment of staff, a Certificate of Registered Matters, or a corporate charter). If it is discovered that you are not engaging in business-related activities, or if you do not come to the meetings, your ‘Designated Activities’ status of residency may be revoked.
10 Support for Business Startup Preparation Activities
To facilitate business startup preparation activities of foreign nationals within the city, support will be offered for the following: preliminary consultation for the Startup Business Preparation Activities Plan and application procedures, application for renewal of residency status before the expiration of the one-year period stay, and application to change residency status to ‘Business Manager’.
11 Application for Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities Plan (For Renewal)
Foreign entrepreneurs under this program who have received certification of ‘Designated Activities’ status of residency can extend their period of stay to up to a maximum of two years (1 year + 6 months x two times).
Foreign entrepreneurs who wish to renew their residency must receive confirmation of their Business Startup Preparation Activities Plan (For Renewal) before the expiration of the one-year period stay (2-3 months prior).
The purpose of the confirmation of the Business Startup Preparation Activities Plan is to determine whether the content of the submitted Business Startup Preparation Activities Plan (For Renewal) indicates a likelihood that the applicant will meet the requirements for the 'Business Manager' status of residence within six months after the renewal of the current 'Designated Activities' status.
〈Documents Required For Renewal〉
（1）Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities Plan Application Form (For Renewal) (Form No. 6)
（2）Business Startup Preparation Activities Plan (For Renewal) (Form No. 7)
（3）Business Startup Activities Schedule (For Renewal) (Form No. 8)
（4）Document outlining applicant’s residential address six months after renewal of residency period (copy of lease contract, etc.)
（5）Document that clarifies the applicant's living expenses for six months after the extension of the period of stay, and travel expenses for returning to their home country in case it becomes difficult to continue their business startup activities (such as a copy of the applicant’s bankbook or savings account)
（6）Other, documents required by the mayor
12 Changes to the Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan
If there are any changes to the details of your Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan, you are required to submit a Notification of Change (Form No. 9). In the event of such changes, please either contact the ‘Consultation Desk’ or inform us during the progress review meeting held every month.
Cases where submission of the ‘Notification of Change (Form No. 9)’ is required: changes to the applicant’s residence or contact information within Japan, etc.
＜Required Documents for Changes＞
（1）Notification of Change (Form No. 9)
（2）Documents that can verify the changes
13 Cancellation of Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activity
If it is found that false confirmation was obtained through false declarations or other fraudulent acts, the Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activity will be revoked. In such cases, please immediately return the confirmation certificate to the city.
14 Reference Materials
Notice regarding the Foreign Business Startup Activity Promotion Program
FAQ of Foreign Business Startup Activity Promotion Program (Startup Visa)