Startup Visa- category -

Dear Municipal Officials, Thank you so much for your daily work in supporting startups. It is not the documents that you are stamping. It is the view of this city 10 years from now. Last October, the environment surrounding foreign entrepreneurs changed drastically. The examination requirements for the "Management/Administration" visa were substantially tightened...

If you are thinking, "Now that I have been certified by the local government, I can rest assured that I am in good hands," then please drop that thought right now. In my 35 years at the Kyoto Prefectural Government, I have seen the system created and then broken down on the ground. The start-up visa is now the same as the former technical internship...

 　Audio Critique (Japanese) Audio Critique (English) There is no doubt that Kyoto has been attracting motivated foreign entrepreneurs from all over the world with its "ease of starting a business" and "Kyoto brand". However, behind the glamorous attraction, there is now an extremely serious "information vacuum...

 　Audio Commentary (Japanese) For foreign entrepreneurs who dream of starting a business in Kyoto, there is now an unprecedented "invisible barrier" to overcome: due to a legal revision in October 2025, the hurdle to move from a start-up visa to a "management and administration" visa is a minimum capital of 30 million yen....

  Audio Commentary (Japanese) Audio Commentary (English) 1. Dramatic Shrinking of the "Management and Administration" Visa Gate: 30 Million Yen and the N2 Wall The revised ministerial ordinance that came into effect on October 16, 2025 significantly raised the criteria for granting the "Management and Administration" visa. The final goal of the start-up visa (maximum 2 years)...

Video Commentary (Japanese) Video Commentary (English) Video Commentary (Chinese) 1. Introduction: The era in which one can become president with 5 million yen is over The startup environment in Japan has undergone a dramatic change with the legislative revision on October 16, 2025. Until now, the relatively low hurdle of "5 million yen in capital" has taken...

Behind the scenes, Kyoto Prefecture continues to claim that it "welcomes foreign entrepreneurs," a cruel reality is unfolding: the "drastic change (tightening) of business management visa requirements" that was implemented on October 16, 2025. Based on this premise, the current guide page published by Kyoto Prefecture (*Kyoto Prefecture "Startup Visa Ky...

The nature of Japan's program to promote entrepreneurial activities by foreign nationals has undergone a major transformation since its last revision in October 2025. The former "grace period for preparation for starting a business" is no longer applicable. Investors should pay close attention to the fact that the Japanese government, through this public notice, has effectively created a "management...

Attracting foreign entrepreneurs and highly specialized human resources is key to revitalizing local economies. However, there is a major barrier that cannot be avoided in order for the government to maximize their potential. That is the "management and...

Five Illusions that Municipal Officials Should Throw Away Now Read the official materials of the Immigration Bureau and you will see them clearly. Below is a list of five "fatal misconceptions" that local government officials are still holding on to, based on the official data of the Immigration Bureau. If the person in charge reads this and thinks, "We are fine...