Accepting applications for the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project (AKA“Startup Visa”)

　Osaka city has set the Startup Visa Support Desk at Osaka Business Develpoment Agency,and accept applications for business startup plan related to The Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project.

　The Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project is an effort by regional and local governments (“Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Organizations”), with management support plans certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The project is intended to expand acceptance into Japanese society of foreign entrepreneurs and to promote enterprise. Osaka City was certified on March 27, 2019, and became a Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Organization.

　Normally, if foreign people want to open their own business in Japan, in order to acquire certification for the “Business Manager” residence status, they need to meet various criteria when applying to the Immigration Services Agency (ISA). These criteria include things like opening up an office, employing at least two full-time employees, having an amount of capital or total investment of at least 5 million yen, and so on.

　This Osaka city startup visa  project allows these entrepreneurs to go to the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion & Support Desk, receive assistance in producing a business startup plan※, which they then submit to city hall. If the city determines that within one year the entrepreneur will be able to meet the criteria for the Business Manager visa, a confirmation certificate is issued. By submitting this certificateand the other necessary documents to the ISA and undergoing an examination, the entrepreneur can be issued with the “Designated Activities”status for a maximum of two years.

※Please make sure to fill out all the items yourself before receiving support.

※The maximum period of stay has been changed from up to one year to up to two years starting in 2025 due to the revision of amendment to the notification.

People planning to start a business in Osaka CITY within a year

（Foreigners already residing in Japan under other statuses of residence may also apply.）

(1)Growth manufacturing

(2)IoT,business using innovative technology

(3)Green energy

(4)Healthcare,Life Sciences

(5)Tourism,sports,culture,town development

≪Required documents≫

The following documents must be submitted with the application.

Applicants must write the following applications in Japanese.

1　Application for Confirmation of Business Activities

2　Business plan sheets

3　Supplementary materials for the Application for Confirmation of Business Activities

4　Applicant resume

5　Pledge

6　Copy of applicant's passport

7　A document that shows the applicant's place of residence for one year after arriving in Japan/changing visa status (copy of a rental contract, application for rentalcontract,etc.)

8　A document that shows the cost of the applicant's accommodation for one year after arriving in Japan/changing visa status (copy of the applicant's bank book.etc.)

9　When applying, if the applicant falls under any category listed under the Notification, Article 5:6(1)(v) Sections I, RO, HA, or NI, verifying documents are required to be presented.(e.g., certificate of graduation, certificate of employment)

10　(If applicant has already been approved for the Foreign Entrepreneurs promotion pqoject) A copy of the Certificate of Eligibility or a copy of the Certificate of Confirmation of Startup Activities issued by the local government

※In addition to these documents, you may be asked to submit other documents.

  If you can get the“Designated activities”status of residence, you will have to renew your visa at the Immigration Services Agency after six months.

  Before you apply to the Immigration Services Agency,fill out the documents below and turn them. We screen them whether you can meet the requirement to get“business manager”status of residence.

≪Required documents≫

1 Application for Confirmation of Business Activities

2 Business plan sheets

3 Supplementary materials for the Application for Confirmation of Business Activities

4 Copy of applicant’s passport

5 A document that shows the applicant’s place of residence for six months after renewing the visa (copy of a rental contract, application for rental contract,etc.)

6 A documents that clarifies the cost of the applicant's accommodation for the six months after renewing the visa (copy of the applicant's bank book,etc.)

※In addition to these documents, you may be asked to submit other documents.

　The Startup Visa Support Desk both accept the business plan sheet's application and  provide support for the creation of a plan document needed for the above Osaka City Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project. They also assist in preparatory activities with the end goal of foreign entrepreneurs who hold the Designated Activities status (the “Startup Visa”) acquiring a full Business Manager status.

　Make sure to receive “Assistance in creating the business startup plan document” before applying. After that, please submit the application documents.

※All application documents should be filled out in Japanese.

※If you are including additional documents in languages other than Japanese, you are requested to also attach a Japanese translation.

Please contact the support desk using the contact form. （https://forms.gle/2QipwCmKAtKTZ13A7）

 1 The applicant

 2 A lawyer or an administrative scrivener who has notified the Director-General of the Immigration Services Agency having jurisdiction over his/her location via the bar association or administrative scrivener association to which he/she belongs.

※If the applicant is outside of Japan, a person who has been entrusted by the applicant

※If the applicant is a corporation, a staff member of said corporation.

※Please submit documents that show your relationship with the foreigner and documents that prove that you are in that position.

　After confirming that there are no deficiencies in the required documents and hearing opinions from those who have knowledge about starting and managing a business, we screen them whether you can meet the requirement to get“business manager”status of residence.

 In the confirmation screening,as a general rule, face-to-face interviews will be conducted with the applicant himself/herself.

※We will respond in Japanese, so if you do not speak Japanese, please prepare an interpreter.

　A confirmation certificate will be issued to the applicant who has received confirmation of business plan sheets. At the time of issuance, we will contact the contact information provided on the application form, so please come to pick it up.

  If the applicant passes the screening, they can get certification from the City of Osaka. Certification is valid for three months. Within three months, go to the Immigration Services Agency and apply for the “Designated Activities” status of residence. If you have any questions about application procedures, please contact the Immigration Services Agency. 

　≪The Immigration Services Agency≫

　After you get the visa from the Immigration Services Agency, contact  Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion & Support Desk as soon as possible.

≪Required documents≫

1 Notification of Acquisition (Renewal) of Status of Residence "Designated Activities"

2 Copy of residence card

※If you're waiting for issuance of a residence card, please submit a copy of your passport（Check the landing permit stamp）.

　Once you obtain a startup visa, you must have a monthly interview with us. If we observe that you are not conducting any activities related to your business, or you do not come to the interview, we will have to invalidate your visa.

　Through these interviews we will provide support for your business startup activities in order to allow you to meet the criteria for the standard“Business Manager”status when you renew your residence status after one year. The interviews will allow us to check on the progress of your startup activities, answer any questions you might have, and soon. As the need arises, you can also talk with another specialist such as a small business consultant or tax accountant.

　In addition, we cannot provide support for other aspects of daily life, so please contact a consultation desk for foreigners at the Osaka International House Faundation.

〇HP：Information Counter for Foreign Residents

〇Reception hours

・Monday-Friday: 9:00-19:00

・Saturdays-Sundays and public holidays:9:00-17:30

※closed during the year-end and New Year holidays

　(December 29th ~ January 3rd).

〇Telephone number:06-6773-6533（English is also available.）

　If there are any changes to the contents of the Business Startup Activities Confirmation Application, contact Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion & Support Desk or tell us when we meet at the monthly interview.(ex: changing your address, telephone number, mail address)

≪Required documents≫

1 Application of Changes

2 Documents to confirm modifications

　If we find proof of any false declarations or wrongdoing, we will revoke the certificate of confirmation. In such cases, you will be asked to return the certificate of confirmation to the City of Osaka immediately.