Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project (Yokohama Startup Visa)

English page: English

Yokohama City has been certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on December 25, 2019 as an organization that implements a project to promote foreign entrepreneurship by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on December 25, 2019, with the aim of forming an international startup ecosystem to realize the "Innovation City Yokohama".
This project promotes entrepreneur preparation activities by foreigners aiming to start a business in Yokohama City (hereinafter referred to as "foreign entrepreneurs").
Normally, in order for foreigners seeking to start a business to be certified as a "management / management" status, when applying to the Immigration and Immigration Bureau, in addition to opening an office, employ two or more full-time employees, or It is necessary to prepare requirements such as the amount of capital or the total investment of 5 million yen or more.
In this project, if a foreign entrepreneur submits a entrepreneurship preparation activity plan to Yokohama City and determines that Yokohama City is expected to meet the requirements for a "management and management" visa within two years, a certificate of confirmation will be issued. By submitting this confirmation certificate and required documents to the Immigration and Immigration Bureau and undergoing a review, you will be granted a status of residence for up to two years (required to be renewed every June).

yokohama_startupvisa@an-nahal.com
※It is available in Japanese and English.

Foreigners wishing to start a business in Yokohama within 2 years
(Foreigners who have already resided in Japan with other status of residence can also be used.)

1. Business using innovative technologies such as AI and DX
2. Health and medical field
3. Knowledge consolidation and value-added creation business
4. Other businesses that aim to create new products, services, and business models

※It does not cover general wholesale and retail businesses, trading companies and trade, food and beverage, accommodation, service, etc.

Before submitting the application form, it is necessary to consult with the coordinator of the Yokohama City Startup Visa Support Desk in advance. Essential
You need to make a reservation in advance for the interview.
Please make an appointment for an interview from the contact below.

yokohama_startupvisa@an-nahal.com
※It is available in Japanese and English.

After the prior consultation, the applicant must submit required documents to Yokohama City.
Yokohama City will confirm whether the contents of the application for entrepreneur preparation activity plan etc. are expected to meet the requirements pertaining to the status of residence "management / management" within two years after landing or change of status of residence.

1. Entrepreneurship preparation activity plan confirmation application (style first) (word: 20KB)
2. Entrepreneurship preparation activity plan (2 of style first) (word: 46KB)
3. applicant's resume (Form No. 1-3) (word: 30KB)
4. Pledge (4 of style No. 1) (word: 16KB)
5. Entrepreneurship preparation activity plan supplementary explanation document (word: 14KB)
6. A copy of applicant's passport
7. Documents clarifying residence in applicant for one year after landing or change of status of residence (such as a copy of lease agreement)
8. Documents clarifying the cost of staying in applicant for one year after the landing of applicant or the change of status of residence (such as a copy of the applicant's bank account)
9. Documents certifying that the application falls under any of Notification No. 5-6 (1) 5, b, c, or 2 regarding the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project
10. In addition, materials deemed necessary by the mayor

1. applicant himself
2. A person who has notified a lawyer or administrative scrivener to the Regional Immigration and Immigration Bureau who has jurisdiction over the location via a bar association or administrative scrivener association to which a lawyer or administrative scrivener association belongs.
3. Employees of domestic business establishments in which the applicant is to run.
4. A person entrusted by the applicant for the establishment of a domestic business establishment (if it is a corporation, its staff)

• When submitting by 2-4 persons, submit materials that show the relationship with the foreigner and materials that prove that they are in their position.

Address: 6-50-10, Honcho, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi
TEL： 045-671-3837
MAIL:ke-global@city.yokohama.lg.jp

Foreign entrepreneurs who have received a confirmation certificate from Yokohama City must apply for a status of residence at the Tokyo Immigration and Immigration Bureau Yokohama Branch within the validity period of three months. For details on the procedure, please contact the Tokyo Immigration and Immigration Bureau Yokohama Branch directly.

Foreign entrepreneurs who have received a decision to obtain a status of residence "Specific Activities" from the Tokyo Immigration Bureau Yokohama Branch Office should immediately report to the "Yokohama Startup Visa Support Office".

1. Acquisition (update) report of status of residence "specific activities" (Form No. 7) (word: 22KB)
2. Copy of residence card
3. ※If you are newly landed in Japan and your residence card is delayed, please submit a copy of your passport (passport). (Check the landing permission seal.)

Please fill in all application documents in Japanese when applying. If you attach materials that are not described in Japanese, be sure to attach a Japanese translation.

Foreign entrepreneurs who have been certified as "Specific Activities" by utilizing this system must receive confirmation of the entrepreneur preparation activity plan (for renewal) before the expiration of their six-month period of stay. .
In confirming the renewal of the entrepreneur preparation activity plan, the contents of the entrepreneur preparation activity plan (for renewal) etc. for which the application was made will be required for the status of residence "management / management" between the status of residence "specific activities" for up to two years. Yokohama City will confirm whether there is a possibility of meeting.

1. Entrepreneurship preparation activity plan confirmation application (for update) (style second) (word: 18KB)
2. Entrepreneurship preparation activity plan (for update) (2 of style No. 2) (word: 40KB)
3. A copy of applicant's passport
4. Documents showing the residence of applicant in June after the renewal of the period of stay (such as a copy of lease agreement)
5. Documents clarifying the cost of staying in applicant for June after the renewal of the period of stay (such as a copy of the applicant's bank account)
6. In addition, materials deemed necessary by the mayor

1. applicant himself
2. A person who has notified a lawyer or administrative scrivener to the Regional Immigration and Immigration Bureau who has jurisdiction over the location via a bar association or administrative scrivener association to which a lawyer or administrative scrivener association belongs.
3. Employees of domestic business establishments in which the applicant is to run.
4. A person entrusted by the applicant for the establishment of a domestic business establishment (if it is a corporation, its staff)

• When submitting by 2-4 persons, submit materials that show the relationship with the foreigner and materials that prove that they are in their position.

Address: 6-50-10, Honcho, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi
TEL： 045-671-3837
MAIL: ke-global@city.yokohama.lg.jp

Foreign entrepreneurs who have received a confirmation certificate from Yokohama City must apply for a status of residence at the Tokyo Immigration and Immigration Bureau Yokohama Branch within the validity period of three months. For details on the procedure, please contact the Tokyo Immigration and Immigration Bureau Yokohama Branch directly.

Foreign entrepreneurs who have received a decision to renew their status of residence "Specific Activities" from the Tokyo Immigration Bureau Yokohama Branch Office should immediately report to the "Yokohama Startup Visa Support Office".

1. Acquisition (update) report of status of residence "specific activities" (Form No. 7) (word: 22KB)
2. Copy of residence card
3. ※If you are newly landed in Japan and your residence card is delayed, please submit a copy of your passport (passport). (Check the landing permission seal.)

Please fill in all application documents in Japanese when applying. If you attach materials that are not described in Japanese, be sure to attach a Japanese translation.

Using this system, foreign entrepreneurs who have obtained a status of residence "Specific Activities" will be interviewed once a month during the period of entrepreneurship preparation activities to confirm the progress of the plan. In addition, you may be required to submit necessary materials (such as a bankbook that shows the status of funds, such as a bankbook, contracts for renting offices and employment of employees, certificates of all entries, articles of incorporation, etc.).

If there is a change in the confirmation of the start-up preparation activity plan, the change must be submitted by registration form. If there is any change, please contact the Yokohama Startup Visa Support Desk or contact us once a month to confirm the progress.
If it is necessary to submit “registration form” (e.g., change of residence and contact information of the applicant in Japan)

1. Change registration form (Form No. 3) (Word: 16KB)
2. Documents that can confirm the changes

If it is found that the confirmation has been received due to a false declaration or other wrongdoing, the proof of confirmation of entrepreneur preparation activity will be canceled. In that case, please return the confirmation certificate to Yokohama City immediately.

• Yokohama City Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project Implementation Guidelines (PDF: 1,033KB)
• Notification on Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Project (PDF: 192KB)

yokohama_startupvisa@an-nahal.com
※It is available in Japanese and English.