This program has been established as an exception to the "Business Manager" status of residence. Under standard procedures, in order to be granted Business Manager status, the applicant needs to fulfill conditions at the time of entering the country, such as having two or more full-time employees or capital/investments of at least five million yen. Under this program, however, status of residence will be granted for six months to start up the business (business startup activities) when it is acknowledged that the applicant is highly likely to fulfill these requirements within six months after entry, that the business startup activities under review are pertinent to strengthening the international competitiveness of industries and forming a center for international economic activities in the national strategic special zone, and that the business plan is proper and reliable.

Applying for regular residence status is done at the Immigration Bureau. However, this system is a two-step procedure in which the applicant needs to first obtain "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and then apply to the Immigration Bureau by presenting the certificate of this confirmation (together with other documents).

If you believe that you already meet the requirements for "Business Manager" status, we recommend that you apply directly to the Immigration Bureau. If you plan to establish a business in Tokyo in the near future and expect preparations to be completed within six months, we hope you will use this program to engage in startup activities.

The Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Activities issued by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is an important document for the Immigration Bureau's review. However, it does not guarantee that your application will be approved.

No, it is not possible to apply. The applicant is required to own a capital of at least five million yen and a shareholding ratio of at least 51%, which are appropriate for a business owner.

Approval for status of residence is granted individually. Each person must complete and submit their own application form and documents.

When two or more people plan to jointly establish the business, documents "2. Business Overview" to "4. Funding Plan" of the Plan for Business Startup Activities will most likely be identical. However, we require that each individual complete and submit all application documents.

This program covers the "business management" aspect of the "Business Manager" status of residence. In other words, it is aimed at foreign nationals who will themselves start a new business (as the management). Therefore, it is not applicable to employees and others, even if they are founding members. "Whether or not someone is considered as being involved in management" will be judged practically according to their investment (share) in the business, their role in the business, etc.

This program (system) is based on a special provision to encourage foreign entrepreneurs to set up business in the National Strategic Special Zone. As a general rule, this program can be used by foreign nationals newly entering Japan to start up a business in Tokyo (and other so-designated special zones), or foreign national who are already residing in Japan with the "Student" status of residence. (Foreign nationals who are already residing in Japan under other status of residence cannot, in principle, use this program to change their status of residence).

You can apply.
A person who falls under any of the following (*) can bring the documents that need to be submitted at the time of application to the application desk.

(*) People who can submit application documents

1. Applicant
2. A member of the staff of a public interest incorporated association or a public interest incorporated foundation, which has the purpose of facilitating the smooth acceptance of foreign nationals, and whom the director of the regional Immigration Services Agency deems to be suitable (Currently, the Japan Immigration Association fulfills these conditions.)
3. An attorney or administrative scrivener who has, through their bar association or administrative scrivener association, given notification to the director of the regional Immigration Services Agency that has jurisdiction over the association. However, if the applicant is not in Japan, this person will be someone (or staff member of a company) commissioned by the applicant to establish a business in Japan.

Note: If the application documents are submitted by a person described in 2. or 3., documentation that clarifies their relationship with the applicant and proves that they are in the position to do so must be also be presented.

Note that this system is intended for those who are thinking of conducting business startup activities in Tokyo during their six-month stay in order to launch a business that meets certain requirements, and "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" is provided for those who have a sufficiently high probability of doing so. "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" may not be provided if it is believed that business start-up activities in Tokyo are not sufficiently expected.

This program is for foreign nationals who will conduct startup activities in Tokyo in order to establish an office in Tokyo and launch business. Accordingly, even if you apply, you will not be eligible for "confirmation of business startup activities."

This program is for those who plan to start up their own new business (the owner, management, etc.) and therefore others, including family members, are not eligible to apply. Even if family members plan to work as employees for the business, they are not eligible to apply. However, they could be eligible for another status of residence. We recommend that you consult with the Immigration Bureau.

This program is for foreigners who will start a new business, and therefore, you are not eligible. However, they could be eligible for another status of residence. We recommend that you consult with the Immigration Bureau.

If the contents of the franchise agreement allow the applicant to have discretionary authority as a manager, you can apply.

You can download the application documents from the "Tokyo Metropolitan Government website (see below)."

(Japanese version)
https://www.investtokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/jp/oursupports/bdc-tokyo/fhr.html
(English version)
https://www.investtokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/oursupports/bdc-tokyo/fhr.html

The forms are also available at the following locations.

"Business Development Center TOKYO" Akasaka Desk Address: ARK Mori Building, seventh floor,
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) headquarters, 1-12-32, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-6006
Email: support2@bdc-tokyo.org
TEL: 03-3582-8353
Operating hours: Weekdays 9:30 am to 5:30 p.m. (Excludes Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and the new year's holidays.）

A person who falls under any of the following (*) can bring the documents that need to be submitted at the time of application to the application desk.

(*) People who can submit application documents

1. Applicant
2. A member of the staff of a public interest incorporated association or a public interest incorporated foundation, which has the purpose of facilitating the smooth acceptance of foreign nationals, and whom the director of the regional Immigration Services Agency deems to be suitable (Currently, the Japan Immigration Association fulfills these conditions.)
3. An attorney or administrative scrivener who has, through their bar association or administrative scrivener association, given notification to the director of the regional Immigration Services Agency that has jurisdiction over the association. However, if the applicant is not in Japan, this person will be someone (or staff member of a company) commissioned by the applicant to establish a business in Japan.

Note: If the application documents are submitted by a person described in 2. or 3., documentation that clarifies their relationship with the applicant and proves that they are in the position to do so must be also be presented.

The Business Development Center TOKYO (Akasaka) can answer your questions. Assistance can also be provided in English.

You can increase the space (by adding extra lines to the forms) if you download them. If you are writing on the forms provided, please attach separate pages with the information as necessary.

Your application and other forms must all be completed in Japanese. Your name should be written in the alphabet (Roman letters) or in Japanese characters (kanji, hiragana, katakana) as appropriate. If you submit documentation written in a language other than Japanese (such as copies of certificates), please attach a Japanese translation.

Your Plan for Business Startup Activities should describe business plans that are feasible, with this feasibility supported by a certain level of evidence. Please do not include plans that have little or no possibility of being realized. You may leave sections that you cannot answer blank, but note that the feasibility of your business plan will be judged by the contents written in the plan. If you will be leaving many sections blank, we recommend that you apply after giving more thought to your business plan.

On your application form, you will need to provide an address for issuance of the Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Activities and to also allow us to contact you during your six-month stay. Following your application, if you must change your address before the end of the six months, notify the Tokyo Metropolitan Government of your new contact details so that we can contact when necessary.

The submitted Plan for Business Startup Activities and other documents are assessed from the perspective of whether you have a high likelihood of fulfilling the conditions for the "Business Manager" status of residence after the six-month preparation period (startup activity period), in which case, "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" will be granted. For this reason, it is important that the submitted Plan for Business Startup Activities and other documents include the following information, explained in an easy-to-understand manner. If the likelihood of fulfilling the conditions for "Business Manager" status is not considered to be sufficient based on the submitted documents, etc., the "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" cannot be granted.

• What kind of business will you engage in? [Business details]
• Where will you conduct business? [Area of operation]
• Where will your office be located? [Office location]
• What kind of preparations and activities will you conduct to launch your business? [Concrete plans up to launch of business]
• How much money will you require prior to launch the business (for startup activities)? How will you raise those funds? [Startup activity funds]
• (If you are establishing a company) Who will be the corporate officers and what roles will they perform? [Corporate officers]
• What will be the scale of your operations? [Business size]
• Have you secured a place to stay (during startup activities) until your business is launched?
• Do you have sufficient funds to support yourself? [Residence, living funds]

● In the case of a company founded by a single person (e.g., when 100% of the capital is invested)
The description may include "representative director," "general management," or "overseeing the entire business as representative."

● If you are cofounding (or applying for) a business with another foreigner, or if there is another business owner who is Japanese.
Please explain your specific role in the business, such as "Vice President of Sales, responsible for sales in XX region," "Director, responsible for planning, development, and production of YY project," or "CFO, responsible for fundraising, financial management, and corporate planning."

In the confirmation of the Plan for Business Startup Activities, the evaluation will focus on how possible it will be for the applicant to launch a business of a scale that meets the requirements through their startup activities. In general, it is assumed that this probability is higher when the applicant has the abilities, qualifications, experience and so on that will work to the advantage of the proposed business. In addition to nationally-recognized qualifications, it may be helpful if you include information such as "majored in XX and especially researched YY at university," and "experience in developing sales channels for product ZZ to leading company AA , company BB, and others in the CC industry." Another important element is, as also outlined in the policy for the Tokyo Area National Strategic Special Zone, "to create a new, internationally competitive business."

Generally, the date of opening of a business conducted as a corporation is the date of its registration as a corporate entity, and for a sole proprietorship in which a corporation is not established, this is the date that the Notification of Opening of Business was submitted (to the tax office). The opening of business could also be interpreted as the first day of sales.

For a sole proprietorship, in the Capital Stock (or Personal Funds) line, indicate the amount of working funds especially prepared to launch the business.

When starting a new business, a large amount of money and effort is required, and the risk of failure is not insignificant. We recommend that you apply after establishing a concrete image of your business by gathering more information in your field of expertise.

Even if your business does not generate profits, it could be considered eligible for "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" as long as it "contributes to strengthening the international competitiveness of industries and boosting international economic activities in Tokyo." However, please note that generally, if the business is judged unlikely to produce enough profit to maintain a certain scale of business, it will not receive "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities." If you are considering something other than a for-profit enterprise, we recommend that you discuss possibilities with the Immigration Bureau, including an application for a different status of residence.

Please arrange stage by stage what you must do to establish your business, such as the administrative procedures for establishing a corporate entity (preparing articles of incorporation, paid-in capital, registration of incorporation, acquisition of permits and licenses, etc.), plans for hiring management and staff, preparation of goods and services, creation of relationships with customers and suppliers, financing, and so on. Take care to do so in a manner that makes the points for the "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" easy to understand as mentioned in the answer to Question "What aspects of startup activities will you check? Are there cases where confirmation of business startup activities is not granted?" above. In particular, you must realistically note how much money will be needed at each stage and how this will be provided for.

In this case, for the period after the launch of business, write down your plans for developing the business (sales activities, production activities, etc.), revenues and procurement of funds, and others.

It is difficult to forecast future sales and expenses. However, these are essential to evaluate business sustainability and to check the items necessary for "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities," as described in Question 18 above. For this reason, based on reasonable grounds, provide figures that are in line with the expected nature of your business and customers (e.g., average unit price, number of customers).

For breakdown of sales and expenses, indicate the leading items (items of high value, items characteristic of the business, etc.), and combine the other items under "Other." Generally speaking, in many cases, the breakdown of sales is done by type of product/service, or by customer; the cost of sales includes cost of materials, outsourcing, labor (personnel costs of people manufacturing the goods); and selling and administration costs including HR expenses (personnel costs of the indirect departments), rent, lease, and marketing costs (advertising, communications, travel, shipping, etc.). Income after income tax is calculated by deducting interest payments, extraordinary loss, corporate income tax, etc., from operating income. Income after income tax corresponds to "This period's income" in "5. Financial Plan."

The income plan shows how much profit (or loss) is produced after expenses are deducted from sales. The financial plan shows how much money is left in the company's "wallet" (cash). As can be understood from the term "black-ink bankruptcy," even though a company is generating profit, it may lack sufficient cash. In order to grant "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities," it would be necessary for you to show that the business will be able to secure sustainable levels of profit and funding.

In general, cash flows are calculated by deducting cash outlays that are not included as expenses (use of funds), such as real estate purchases, capital investment, and repayment of debt from (post-tax) profit, and adding new funds procured and expenses with no cash outlays (capital procurement) such as depreciation costs, debts, and capital increase.

The six-month period of stay status granted under this system is for the purpose of undertaking startup activities, and in principle, employment (activity other than that permitted under the status of residence) is not permitted. If you have not secured the funds required to support yourself for six months and conduct startup activities, it will probably be difficult to receive "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities."

Those who are from regions where seals are not used, or who have trouble obtaining a seal may sign the documents instead of affixing their seal. The signature must match the signature on your passport.

The information you provide is up to you, however you should include information that supports the evaluation of your new business or potential of your startup activities. This could include your major field of study and research at school, and your work experience and achievements.

If there is not enough space, you can insert additional lines or attach separate sheets of paper.

If you plan to live in rented housing, documentation will be the lease agreement or application, and in the case of other long-term accommodations, documentation proving your reservation.

If you must pay rental fees, etc., you must also submit documentation proving that you can pay the fees for at least six months (savings balance statement).

The following documents are required as a "Document that can clarify where the applicant will be residing for six months after coming to Japan."

• Document authorizing the applicant's stay by the acquaintance (Letter of consent to live together).
  Note: Provide the applicant's information, length of stay, and the address, contact information, and signature of the acquaintance.
• A copy of the lease agreement/application for lease of the acquaintance's house and a copy of the certificate of residence.
• If the acquaintance is a foreign national, a copy of their resident card.

If submitting a bank balance certificate of a prospective co-investor rather than the applicant, you will need to provide a written explanation of the investment in the applicant's company, in addition to a bank balance certificate of the co-investor.

If there are any documents that support your application for "Confirmation of Business Startup Activities," attach them. These can be a pamphlet for the business (company) you will start, an product (or service) guide, contracts with (potential) clients, documents certifying your background and achievements, and documents that prove that you have secured business funds (and funds to support yourself).

Although there is no specific format, include the proxy's name, contact information, and details indicating the scope of the proxy's power of attorney, as well as the name, contact information, and signature of the person who has authorized the proxy.

It is valid for three months. You must submit the certificate together with other required documentation within this period to the "Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center"(TOSBEC), Immigration Booth or the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, and apply for issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility for a Status of Residence.

After having an interview with a Tokyo Metropolitan Government official, you will receive the results in approximately one month if all necessary documentation is in order. However, it may take longer if there is an inadequacy in the documentation, a need for additional documents, or if many applications are received around the same time.

Upon hearing the views of experts on business management, when it has been acknowledged that the application for issuance of the certificate is appropriate and that the business fulfills all the requisites provided in (a) to (d) of item (i) of Article 18 of the Enforcement Order ("the requisites"), we will decide to issue the "Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" and issue the certificate.
The "Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" will be either delivered by mail or handed over in person.

When it has been acknowledged that the application for issuance of the certificate was not in order or that it did not satisfy some of the requisites, a "Notification on the Results of the Confirmation of Business Startup Activities" will be issued (by post) to notify the applicant that the certificate cannot be issued.

Generally, we think it is either just before or just after graduation, but if you have the status of residence as "Student," any time is fine. If you apply more than six months before the graduation date, you may be requested to submit a letter of reason.

When applying for a change of status of residence, have your application documents checked by "C5 (Business and Employment Inspection Department)" on the second floor of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, and then submit them to Counter B (Residence Inspection).

Note: You cannot apply for a change of status of residence at the Immigration Booth of the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center (TOSBEC).
Note: Consultation about application for change of status of residence is available at either the immigration booth of the Tokyo One-Stop Business Establishment Center (TOSBEC) or the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau ("C-5" [Business and Employment Inspection Department]).

After changing the status of residence to "Business Manager," your main activities will be limited to preparation for starting a business and managing a company, so it will be difficult to continue studying at school. In addition, since some universities require students to have the "Student" status as a condition for enrollment, we recommend that you check with the university before changing your status if you intend to do so before graduation.

Applicants themselves must prepare documents such as the Application for Confirmation of Business Startup Activities and Plan for Business Startup Activities.
A person who falls under any of the following (*) can bring the documents that need to be submitted at the time of application to the application desk.

(*) People who can submit application documents

• Applicant
• A member of the staff of a public interest incorporated association or a public interest incorporated foundation, which has the purpose of facilitating the smooth acceptance of foreign nationals, and whom the director of the regional Immigration Services Agency deems to be suitable (Currently, the Japan Immigration Association fulfills these conditions.)
• An attorney or administrative scrivener who has, through their bar association or administrative scrivener association, given notification to the director of the regional Immigration Services Agency that has jurisdiction over the association. However, if the applicant is not in Japan, this person will be someone (or staff member of a company) commissioned by the applicant to establish a business in Japan.

Note: If the application documents are submitted by a person described in 2. or 3., documentation that clarifies their relationship with the applicant and proves that they are in the position to do so must be also be presented.

Confirmation of progress made will be conducted three times during the six-month period. In principle, Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials will visit your place of business or residence to ask you about the progress of your startup activities and will compare your actual activities with the details described in your Plan for Business Startup Activities.

Also, in order to confirm your current financial status, Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials may ask to see your bankbook or other records. You must consent to cooperate with these checks when you apply for Confirmation of Business Startup Activities. (Note: You will confirm and sign the terms of agreement of the Application [and Agreement] for Confirmation of Business Startup Activities.)

If applicants wish to continue to operate a business in Japan for more than six months after landing or changing your status of residence, you must go through the procedures for extending your period of stay at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau.

If there has been a change to your address (contact information) before the Business Development Center TOKYO (BDCT) issue a receipt of your application, please notify the application desk at the BDCT. If the change occurs after a receipt is issued, immediately contact the department in charge at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and submit a "Notice of Changes" along with supporting documentation. If there are changes to the business details, please explain this at the meetings confirming your progress during the six-month startup period.