Yokohama Startup Visa

Japanese page: Japanese

※Japanese and English are available.

People planning to start a business in Yokohama within a year
（Foreigners already residing in Japan under other statuses of residence may also apply.）

The City of Yokohama will issue a startup visa for the following fields of industry:
(1) IoT, life innovation
(2) Business using innovative technology
(3) Knowledge-intensive and value-added business
(4) Other businesses aiming to create new industries
※Wholesale, retail, trading, food and beverage, lodging, and service industry are not eligible.

Applicants must have an interview with the Yokohama startup visa coordinators before turning in application forms.
An appointment is required for an interview.
The contact information is below.

※Japanese and English are available.

The following documents must be submitted with the application.
Applicants must write the following applications in Japanese.
1. Application for Confirmation of Business Activities (word: 20KB)
2. Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan (word: 46KB)
3. Applicant resume (word: 30KB)
4. Pledge (word: 16KB)
5. Supplementary materials for the Application for Confirmation of Business Activities (word: 14KB)
(Other documents)
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 rental contract, etc.)
8. A document that shows the cost of the applicant's accommodation for one year after arriving in Japan/changing visa status (ex: A copy of the applicant's bank book)
9． Other documents allow us to understand the applicant and their business plan.　
※In addition to these documents, you may be asked to submit other documents.

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.

Innovation Promotion Division, Business Innovation Department, Economic Affairs Bureau
Address: 6-50-10 Hon-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama
TEL: 045-671-3837
Email: ke-globalinfo@city.yokohama.jp
※Please contact us before you visit our office.

If the applicant passes the screening, they can get certification from the City of Yokohama.
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.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/about/region/yokohama/ (external site)
After you get the visa from the Immigration Services Agency, contact the Yokohama startup visa coordinators as soon as possible.
In addition, you must turn in the documents below.

1. Notification of Acquisition (Renewal) of Status of Residence "Designated Activities" (word: 23KB)
2. Copy of residence card
3.（※If you’re waiting for issuance of a residence card, please submit a copy of your passport.）

Applicants must write these applications in Japanese.
If you write them in English, you will have to turn in a translation of these documents as well.

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 in to City of Yokohama. We screen them whether you can meet the requirement to get“business manager”status of residence.

1． Application for Confirmation of Business Activities (Renewal) (word: 18KB)
2． Business Startup Preparation Activity Plan (Renewal) (word: 40KB)
3. A copy of your passport
4. 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.)
5. A documents that clarifies the cost of the applicant's accommodation for the six months after renewing the visa (ex: A copy of the applicant's bank book)
※In addition to these documents, you may be asked to submit other documents.

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.

Innovation Promotion Division, Business Innovation Department, Economic Affairs Bureau
Address: 6-50-10 Hon-cho, Naka-ku, Yokohama
TEL： 045-671-3837
Email: ke-globalinfo@city.yokohama.jp
※Please contact us before you visit our office.

If the applicant passes the screening, they can get certification from the City of Yokohama.
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.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/about/region/yokohama/ (external site)
After you get the visa from the Immigration Services Agency, contact the Yokohama startup visa coordinators as soon as possible.
In addition, you must turn in the documents below.

1. Notification of Acquisition (Renewal) of Status of Residence "Designated Activities" (word: 23KB)
2. Copy of residence card
3.（※If you’re waiting for issuance of a residence card, please submit a copy of your passport.）

Applicants must write these applications in Japanese.
If you write them in English, you will have to turn in a translation of these documents as well.

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.

If there are any changes to the contents of the Business Startup Activities Confirmation Application, contact the Yokohama startup visa coordinator or tell us when we meet at the monthly interview.
(ex: changing your address, telephone number, mail address)

1. Application of Change (Word: 17KB)
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 Yokohama immediately.

Email: yokohama_startupvisa@an-nahal.com
※Japanese and English are available.