We will also hold a roundtable discussion with startup visa recipients
Reintroducing Fukuoka City Support Menu for Overseas Startups
5 min read
Startup Packages
The following are the three main support menus that Fukuoka City offers to overseas startups.
1. Startup Visa
Fukuoka is the first city in Japan to offer a Startup Visa for foreign entrepreneurs.
Obtaining a visa is now simpler than ever. If you are an entrepreneur interested in founding your business in Japan, the up to one-year Startup Visa will give you the opportunity to live in Fukuoka and have access to all of the incredible startup support the city provides. The Startup Visa will give you ample time to get a sense of the city, the culture, and the professional climate all while establishing your business.
Startup Visa Requirements
You will need to submit a business plan to Fukuoka City to review. They will determine the feasibility of you meeting the standard Residential Status of Business Manager requirements within the up to one-year Startup Visa timeframe. Please note that you must meet the Residential Status of Business Manager requirements in order to renew your visa after the Startup Visa expires.
Click here to learn about the Startup Visa.
Residential Status of Business Manager Requirements
Must have an office and a minimum of 2 fulltime staff OR an investment portfolio exceeding 5 million yen.
2. Financial Aid for Renting Residential & Office Spaces
Foreign entrepreneurs with a promising business plan may be eligible to receive financial aid to be used towards renting residential or office space within Fukuoka City.
In addition, assistance will be provided in finding residential or office space, and entrepreneurs will be given priority entry into Fukuoka City’s incubation facilities.
In past years, applications were accepted from the link below starting around April.
https://www.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/keizai/r-support/business/rent_subsidy_english_2_2.html
3. National Tax Reductions
The city government understands that taxes are a big consideration when deciding where to found your company. If you establish your business in Fukuoka, you might qualify for a reduction in national tax.
* Available after relevant laws have been enacted and enforced.
** Applicable Industries: IoT, International, Medicine, Agriculture, Advanced IT
Fukuoka City also provides opportunities for demonstrative experiments through its "Full Support Program for Demonstrative Experiments." The city is always looking for demonstrative experiment projects that will solve social issues and improve the quality of life through the use of AI, IoT, and other advanced technologies. Excellent projects will receive full support for demonstrative experiments in Fukuoka City. To date, 93 projects have been selected, in a variety of fields including space, agri-tech, and cashless. If you are interested, please take a look at the past adopted projects here.
We will hold a “hybrid” in-person and “online” event to share real-life experiences from startups who have obtained a startup visa and are working to develop their businesses in Fukuoka! Interested parties are welcome to attend.
We welcome 4 Startup Visa (SUV) Holders to have “real talk” about life in Fukuoka, the process of SUV applications etc.
It would be a great opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs who are interested in the Japanese market to learn more about this system and the procedures of entering Japan.
Please see below for more information, and use the link
to register.
https://forms.gle/P92jUtxw5b8zp3sk6
Date and Time: 17:00~18:00 (JST), January 27th (Fri), 2023
Venue: Mol.t (https://goo.gl/maps/EEM4bqFmGnKLMxZGA) or Zoom
Program:
17:00 -17:10 Facility Tour
17:10 –17:20 Introduction Mol.t
17:20 –17:30 Introduction Startup Visa
17:30 –17:35 Introduction of Panelists
17:35 –18:00 Q&A/ Open Discussion
With the easing of border measures by the Japanese government, we expect even more overseas startups to come to Fukuoka this year. Startup City Fukuoka will continue to deepen exchanges with overseas partners and startups to boost the mutual startup ecosystem.
Please follow us on our social media accounts.
In addition to sending out newsletters via email, we also send out information about Fukuoka's startup ecosystem on Facebook and LinkedIn in English.
Please follow us using the links below. You can also go to each of our social media pages from our website. (https://startup.fukuoka.jp/).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupcityfukuoka/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startupcityfukuoka/