Japan’s foreign-founder policy is splitting in two directions. The Startup Visa was extended in January 2025 from six months to up to two years and expanded from a handful of cities to a nationwide framework, so nearly any region can now host foreign entrepreneurs.
At the same time, the bar for the standard Business Manager visa rose sharply: on October 16, 2025, the minimum capital requirement jumped from ¥5 million to ¥30 million, a sixfold increase. Applicants must also employ at least one full-time staffer and show management experience.
The combination effectively channels early-stage foreign founders into the lighter-touch Startup Visa, where office, capital and employee requirements are deferred during the preparation period.
Cities including Tokyo, Fukuoka and Shibuya layer on bilingual concierges, mentoring and networking, making the visa a primary on-ramp for international founders.