Japan Business Visa Applications Plunge After 5 Million Yen Capital Bar Tightens
Updated
Updated · Nikkei Asia · Jun 30
Japan Business Visa Applications Plunge After 5 Million Yen Capital Bar Tightens
3 articles · Updated · Nikkei Asia · Jun 30
Summary
Japan has seen applications for business management visas drop sharply after raising the capital threshold to 5 million yen, a setback for a route meant to attract foreign founders.
Shakhboz Khayrilloev, a 25-year-old Uzbek entrepreneur building an AI startup in Tokyo, exemplifies the type of founder Japan says it wants, with investors, employees and rising revenue.
The tougher funding requirement is making entry harder even for promising startups, highlighting a gap between Japan’s stated push for innovation and the practical barriers facing overseas entrepreneurs.
The decline matters beyond individual applicants because the visa is a key channel for bringing foreign-led startups into Japan’s economy and startup ecosystem.