Find my subsidy

GUIDE · ELIGIBILITY

Can foreigners apply for Japanese subsidies?

外国人経営者は補助金を申請できる？For founders and owners of any nationality running a business in Japan

Short answer: yes. Japanese subsidies are for businesses operating in Japan. The rules look at your business — not your nationality or your visa type.

Updated October 20, 2026 · Checked against the official site by our editors

Nationality

No

Not a condition in the programs we cover

What counts

Business

Registered and operating in Japan

Login

gBizID

Prime account for the representative

Language

日本語

Forms and guidelines are in Japanese

The short answer

Japanese subsidies (補助金) and grants (助成金) support businesses operating in Japan. None of the six national programs on this site lists nationality as a condition. What they check is your business: where it is registered, how big it is, what you plan to do and whether you pay your taxes.

So a ramen shop run by a Nepali owner, a guesthouse run by an Australian couple, or an IT company founded by a Vietnamese engineer can apply on the same terms as Japanese-owned businesses.

What you need

  • A business registered in Japan — a company such as a 株式会社 or 合同会社, or a sole proprietorship with a business start notification (開業届)
  • Tax returns and financial statements filed in Japan — many programs ask for them
  • A bank account in the business name in Japan
  • A gBizID Prime account for the representative
  • A way to handle Japanese documents — yourself, your staff or an expert

If your parent company is abroad

A Japanese subsidiary (for example a 株式会社) is the clearest way to apply. Most programs are for SMEs under Japanese size rules, and some exclude companies controlled by a large company. For example, the Sustainability Subsidy excludes companies 100% owned by a company with capital of ¥500M or more.

For gBizID, a company with its head office abroad is registered at its main office in Japan as recorded with the National Tax Agency — not at the overseas head office.

Does my visa matter?

The programs do not ask about your residence status. What matters is that your business really operates in Japan and that you are allowed to run it. The money goes to the business and must be used for the approved project.

For visa questions, talk to a gyoseishoshi who handles immigration. This site does not give visa advice.

Your name on Japanese forms

gBizID — the login used for most applications — publishes rules for foreign names:

  • Enter your family name in 姓 and your given name in 名
  • Do not drop a middle name — it can go in either field
  • When you apply by post, match the spelling on your seal certificate exactly (alphabet or katakana)

Use one spelling everywhere

Mismatches between your registration, bank account and application are a common reason for delays. Pick the spelling on your official certificates and use it on every form.

Where foreign owners get stuck

  • Japanese-only documents. Guidelines, forms and support desks are in Japanese.
  • Seal certificates. Applying for gBizID by post needs a seal certificate. Online needs a My Number Card.
  • A short track record. New businesses may lack the tax returns some programs ask for.
  • Unlicensed “consultants”. Only licensed gyoseishoshi (subsidies) and sharoshi (grants) may prepare applications for a fee.

FAQ

Can foreigners get subsidies in Japan?

Yes. Japanese subsidies and grants are for businesses operating in Japan. Nationality is not a condition in the main national programs; eligibility depends on your business registration, size, plan and tax filings.

Do I need permanent residency to apply?

No. The programs look at your business, not your residence status. Your business must actually operate in Japan.

Can a foreign company without a Japanese entity apply?

Usually not directly. Most programs are for businesses operating in Japan, and a Japanese subsidiary is the clearest route. Check each program’s guidelines.

How do I enter my name if I have a middle name?

For gBizID, put your family name in 姓 and given name in 名, and do not omit the middle name — it can go in either field. When applying by post, match your seal certificate exactly.

Sources

This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official Japanese guidelines always take priority.

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