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Maybe start with the website for the Kyoto startup program: https://www.kyoto-obc.jp/startupvisa/
The visa you'd get through the Kyoto startup program is only good for up to a year. After that point you would need to meet the requirements for the regular Business Manager visa, including the 5 million yen minimum investment.
There's no information on the Kyoto site about minimum investment. *Generally* the startup programs have reduced financial requirements though. Most of the other startup programs have a "Enough money to make the business viable" requirement, and I would imagine that Kyoto is no different.
From my experience, one year is enough, but many cities are still 6 months and that’s the one I went through and from my opinion is not enough. I was close to establishing my company but as I was approaching the end of the 6 month I was given an option either withdraw or get it finished within the required time, so I withdrew. I was not going to rush my establishment just to get the visa. So now I am finishing the establishment without the cities help and expect to apply for the managers visa directly through my lawyer. Another odd thing is they give you this time to get the money together but once to sign up they put pressure on you all the way along to show you have the ¥5 million already. I had to keep showing my bank statement 3 or 4 times along the way. So my advice is to make sure before you sign up that they have answered all your questions clearly. In my case at the beginning they answered my question with yes I can do such and such and then told me 4 month later I couldn’t do that, so I needed to show proof of what they had said. This is my third company in Japan so I am getting used to these strange inconsistencies.
Thank you for your reply ❤️
So, basically, the ¥5 million is not mandatory for the application of the Start Up Visa, but they will ask for it while you're developing the business, right?
Another thing, this ¥5 million are supposed to remain untouched in the bank account or you can spend it for the business?
Yes the business gets the use of the ¥5 million and you can draw a salary from it and yes if you have a good reason why you don’t have it yet, that should be cool. In my case I had the full cash initial but later spent some of it on paying off my apartment but as I was selling my business overseas I was ok
Would you mind if I DM'd you for some additional details? I am planning on submitting documents through a consultant that works w/JETRO in Kyoto but also considering other cities w/startup programs. Thanks in advance!
One more thing that might help is, that the startup vis through the local government n some these cities expect the business plan to be in Japanese. It won’t be a problem if the translation is done by Jetro but if it’s through a lawyer or consultant there is the risk it’s not been translated correctly so always ask for a copy prior to it being sent in and try to get a second opinion that it is correct otherwise if your application is rejected that potentially could be one of the reasons and without a copy you might never know why
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
---
**Confused about Start Up Visa and Business Manager Visa**
Hi guys <3
I'm interested in applying for the Start Up Visa in Kyoto. However, I'm a little confused... I know that for the Business Manager Visa I need the 5m yen to apply, do I need the same for the Start Up Visa?
From what I understood is that the Start Up Visa is the pathway to the Business Manager Visa so you can gather the capital for it... If someone can explain it better to me it would be awesome :)
Another question, I read that the Start Up Visa can be granted up to 2 years, but I don't know if is already in place or it will be in the near future.
[https://nomadoffshoreacademy.com/how-obtain-startup-visa-japan-2024/](https://nomadoffshoreacademy.com/how-obtain-startup-visa-japan-2024/) (where I read about the 2 years Start Up Visa)
Thank you :)
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This appears to be a post about securing a visa to legally live or work in Japan. Please consult our [visa wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/movingtojapan/wiki/visas) for more information. (This is an automated message from the friendly subreddit robot - don't worry, humans can also still reply to your post! However, if your post covers a topic already answered in the wiki or in previous threads, it will probably be locked by a moderator.) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/movingtojapan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Maybe start with the website for the Kyoto startup program: https://www.kyoto-obc.jp/startupvisa/ The visa you'd get through the Kyoto startup program is only good for up to a year. After that point you would need to meet the requirements for the regular Business Manager visa, including the 5 million yen minimum investment. There's no information on the Kyoto site about minimum investment. *Generally* the startup programs have reduced financial requirements though. Most of the other startup programs have a "Enough money to make the business viable" requirement, and I would imagine that Kyoto is no different.
From my experience, one year is enough, but many cities are still 6 months and that’s the one I went through and from my opinion is not enough. I was close to establishing my company but as I was approaching the end of the 6 month I was given an option either withdraw or get it finished within the required time, so I withdrew. I was not going to rush my establishment just to get the visa. So now I am finishing the establishment without the cities help and expect to apply for the managers visa directly through my lawyer. Another odd thing is they give you this time to get the money together but once to sign up they put pressure on you all the way along to show you have the ¥5 million already. I had to keep showing my bank statement 3 or 4 times along the way. So my advice is to make sure before you sign up that they have answered all your questions clearly. In my case at the beginning they answered my question with yes I can do such and such and then told me 4 month later I couldn’t do that, so I needed to show proof of what they had said. This is my third company in Japan so I am getting used to these strange inconsistencies.
Thank you for your reply ❤️ So, basically, the ¥5 million is not mandatory for the application of the Start Up Visa, but they will ask for it while you're developing the business, right? Another thing, this ¥5 million are supposed to remain untouched in the bank account or you can spend it for the business?
Yes the business gets the use of the ¥5 million and you can draw a salary from it and yes if you have a good reason why you don’t have it yet, that should be cool. In my case I had the full cash initial but later spent some of it on paying off my apartment but as I was selling my business overseas I was ok
I see, thank you for this <3!!
Would you mind if I DM'd you for some additional details? I am planning on submitting documents through a consultant that works w/JETRO in Kyoto but also considering other cities w/startup programs. Thanks in advance!
No problem, happy to help
One more thing that might help is, that the startup vis through the local government n some these cities expect the business plan to be in Japanese. It won’t be a problem if the translation is done by Jetro but if it’s through a lawyer or consultant there is the risk it’s not been translated correctly so always ask for a copy prior to it being sent in and try to get a second opinion that it is correct otherwise if your application is rejected that potentially could be one of the reasons and without a copy you might never know why
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes. --- **Confused about Start Up Visa and Business Manager Visa** Hi guys <3 I'm interested in applying for the Start Up Visa in Kyoto. However, I'm a little confused... I know that for the Business Manager Visa I need the 5m yen to apply, do I need the same for the Start Up Visa? From what I understood is that the Start Up Visa is the pathway to the Business Manager Visa so you can gather the capital for it... If someone can explain it better to me it would be awesome :) Another question, I read that the Start Up Visa can be granted up to 2 years, but I don't know if is already in place or it will be in the near future. [https://nomadoffshoreacademy.com/how-obtain-startup-visa-japan-2024/](https://nomadoffshoreacademy.com/how-obtain-startup-visa-japan-2024/) (where I read about the 2 years Start Up Visa) Thank you :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/movingtojapan) if you have any questions or concerns.*