本文
Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Program
1．Program Objective
The Aichi Prefectural Government (hereinafter “the APG”) was selected as an implementing body for the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Program by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on May 26, 2019, for the purpose of attracting foreign entrepreneurs and promoting startups.
Under this program, foreign nationals who wish to start a business in Aichi using IT or innovative technologies/skills are able to obtain a residence status for “Designated Activities” which, if granted, allows them to stay in Japan for up to one year (must be renewed in 6 months) to prepare for starting a business.
2．Eligibility
Foreign nationals who wish to start a new business in Aichi Prefecture
3．Applicable businesses
Businesses aiming for rapid growth in the IT (information technology) industry
Businesses aiming for rapid growth using innovative technologies or skills
4．Procedures
（1）Application for Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities
To obtain a residency status for “Designated Activities” under this program, the applicant should apply for a Certificate of Confirmation for Business Startup Preparation Activities from the APG.
The business activity plan and other information submitted by the applicant will be reviewed by the APG to determine whether the applicant is likely to meet the requirements of a residency status for “Business Manager” within one year of arrival to Japan/ changing the residency status to “Designated Activities.”
Documents to be submitted
The following documents are required to be submitted.
(1)Application for Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities (Form1) [Wordファイル／21KB]
(2)Plan for Business Startup Preparation Activities (Form 1-2) [Wordファイル／22KB]
(3)Schedule for Business Startup Preparation Activities (Form 1-3) [Wordファイル／21KB]
(4) Applicant’s resume/curriculum vitae (Form 1-4) [Wordファイル／34KB]
(5) Written oath (Form 1-5) [Wordファイル／21KB]
(6) A document showing the applicant’s planned place of residence for one year after arriving in Japan or changing visa status (e.g. a copy of a lease agreement or application, etc.)
(7) A document showing the applicant’s ability to pay the expenses during the stay for one year after landing in Japan or changing the status of residence （e.g. a copy of savings book, document showing the balance of the savings account, etc.）
(8) If the applicant falls under the any of the categories listed under Article 5-6, (1) (5) (a) through (d) of the Public Notice on Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Program, a document attesting such fact. （e.g. certificate of enrollment, certificate of employment）
(9) Copy of applicant’s passport
(10) Other documents requested by the Governor
The required documents must be submitted electronically or directly to the designated office at the APC by a person who falls under any of the categories below. Note that applications submitted by mail are not accepted.
Documents can be submitted by:
(1) The applicant
(2) An attorney or administrative scrivener who has notified the Director-General of Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau via the bar association or administrative scrivener association to which they belong. If the applicant is located outside of Japan, this shall be a person that has been entrusted by the applicant (or employee, in the case of a corporation.)
* If the application documents are submitted by persons described in (2), a documentation that shows the relationship with the applicant and the proof of their belonging is required.
（2）Application for Confirmation of Renewal of Business Startup Preparation Activities
Foreign entrepreneurs who have been granted the status of residence "Designated Activities" under this program should apply for a Certificate of Confirmation of Renewal of the Business Startup Preparation Activities prior to the expiration of their six-month period of stay.
The renewed business activity plan submitted by the applicant will be reviewed by the APG to determine whether the applicant is likely to meet the requirements of a residency status for “Business Manager” within six months after renewing the residency status for “Designated Activities.”
Documents to be submitted
The following documents are required to be submitted.
(1)Application for Confirmation of Renewal of the Business Startup Activities (Form 2) [Wordファイル／21KB]
(2) Plan for Renewal of the Business Startup Activities (Form 2-2) [Wordファイル／23KB]
(3)Schedule for Renewal of the Business Startup Activities (Form 2-3) [Wordファイル／21KB]
(4) A document showing the applicant’s place of residence for 6 months after renewing the residency status (e.g. a copy of lease agreement or application, etc.)
(5) A document showing the applicant’s ability to pay the expenses during the stay for 6 months after renewing the residency status
(6) Other necessary documents required by the Governor
（e.g. a copy of savings book, document showing the balance of the savings account, etc.）
The required documents must be submitted electronically or directly to the APC at a designated office by persons who fall under any of the categories below. Note that applications submitted by mail are not accepted.
Documents can be submitted by:
(1) The applicant
(2) An attorney or administrative scrivener who has notified the Director-General of Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau via the bar association or administrative scrivener association to which they belong. If the applicant is located outside of Japan, this shall be a person that has been entrusted by the applicant (or employee, in the case of a corporation.)
* If the application documents are submitted by persons described in (2), a documentation that shows the relationship with the applicant and the proof of their belonging is required.
（3）Confirmation of Business Startup Activities
The plan for business startup activities submitted by the applicant will be reviewed after seeking advice from a person with expertise in the startups business management, in accordance with the Public Notice Article 5-6 of the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Program.
For example, the APG reviews and determines whether the preparation activities are appropriate, that it will strengthen the international competitiveness of industries in Aichi and contribute to creating an international economic hub in this area, and that the plan is appropriate and feasible after seeking advice from small and medium enterprise management consultants.
The business startup preparation activities plan should be prepared using the form provided and must include the type and nature of the business, the plan for starting the business, the amount of funds required and methods of funding.
If the applicant is found to be a member of an organized crime group, etc., as stipulated in Article 2, Item 3 of Aichi Prefectural Organized Crime Group Exclusion Regulations (hereinafter referred to as "organized crime group member, etc."), the application will not be accepted. If it is discovered after the application is accepted, the decision will be retroactively revoked.
（4）Issuance of a “Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities”
Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities will be issued when business startup preparation activities satisfy all the conditions listed under Article 5-6 （1）, (1） through (5）, (a) through (d) of the Public Notice on Foreign Entrepreneurs Promotion Program, Article 5-6 (2), (1） through (4） in the case of renewal.
If there is any deficiency in the submitted documents, and/or all or part of the said requirements are not met, the applicant will be notified that “the Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities” or “the Certificate of Confirmation of renewal of Business Startup Preparation Activities” is not issued or renewed.
（5）Application for a Certificate of Eligibility of Residency Status “Designated Activities"
Those who have received the "Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities" and "Certificate of Confirmation of renewal of Business Startup Preparation Activities" must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau within the validity period of three months.
（6）Startup Preparation Activities
Those who have been granted a status of residence "Designated Activities" must submit a report regarding arrival in Japan or change of status of residence (Form No. 4) to the APC within 5 days of arrival in Japan or change of residence status, before commencing the preparation activities.
During the period for the business startup preparation activities, they are required to meet with an expert to discuss the progress of the activities. They may be required to submit additional documents to show the progress.
* e.g. Lease agreement for office space, contract with employees, contract document with business partners, the applicant’s bank book, etc.
（7）Application for Status of Residence “Business Manager”
If those who have been granted the residence status of “Designated activities” continue to stay in Japan and manage the business beyond the one-year period after landing in Japan or changing the status of residence, they must apply for a status of residence “Business Manager” at the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau.
If they find it difficult to continue the business startup preparation activities or fail to obtain the renewal of the status of residence or fail to obtain the status of residence "Business Manager" during the maximum one-year period of stay, they must return to their home country. Therefore, return travel expenses (equivalent to a one-way air ticket to their home country) must be secured separately from the business funds.
（8）Submission of Application
（ア）Prior confirmation of application documents
Prior to making a formal application, please send your application documents to the email address below.
The application documents will be checked by the responsible person at the APG in advance.
E-mail to: kinyu@pref.aichi.lg.jp
Enterprise Finance Division, Enterprise Department, Bureau of Economy and Industry, APG
（イ）How to submit application
After the prior confirmation, please submit your application through the Aichi Electronic Application and Notification System. （Japanese only）
Aichi Electronic Application and Notification System
* This is the same page as the application for the Program to Promote Startups by Foreign Nationals in the Aichi Prefecture National Strategic Special Zone.
5．Change in application contents
If there are any changes to the contents of the Business Startup Activities Confirmation Application, submit the following documents to the designated office at the APC in a timely manner.
Documents to be submitted
(1) Notice of changed matters (Form 1-6) [Wordファイル／21KB]
(2) Documents to confirm the changes (e.g. latest version of documents that were initially submitted)
6．Rescission of Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities
If any of the following cases apply to those who received the "Certificate of Confirmation of Business Startup Preparation Activities" or "Certificate of Confirmation of renewal of Business Startup Preparation Activities", issuance of the certificate may be revoked.
(1)In the case where it is found that the said confirmation was issued upon a fake application, other fraudulent acts, or submission of documents with false statements.
(2) In the case where the applicant is found to be an organized crime group member, etc.
(3)In the case where the applicant does not, without justifiable reason, comply to requests for explanation, submission of documents, or other necessary requests during an interview regarding the startup preparation progress.
If the Confirmation of Business Startup Activities is revoked, a “Notification of Revocation of Confirmation of Business Startup Activities” will be sent to the applicant, and the certificate must be returned immediately.
7．Reference materials
Rules of the Foreign Entrepreneurship Promotion Program [PDFファイル／516KB]
8．Inquiries
Enterprise Finance Division, Enterprise Department,
Bureau of Economy and Industry
Address: 1F Main Building, Aichi Prefectural Government,
3-1-2 Sannomaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 460-8501 Japan
E-mail: kinyu@pref.aichi.lg.jp
Phone: 052-954-6334
9．Related Programs
Please see below for the difference between this program and the Program to Promote Startups by Foreign Nationals in the Aichi Prefecture National Strategic Special Zone and others.
Adobe Readerをお持ちでない方は、バナーのリンク先からダウンロードしてください。（無料）
