REGION · FUKUOKA
Subsidies in Fukuoka
福岡県・福岡市の補助金・支援On top of the national programs — what Fukuoka adds for foreign founders
Fukuoka City is one of the most open cities in Japan for foreign founders: a Startup Visa, an English one-stop center, and small grants for lodging businesses.
Startup Visa
2 years
To prepare a business in Fukuoka City
Minpaku grant
¥100K
Fukuoka City, until the budget runs out
Minimum wage
Yearly
Revised every year — affects wage programs
English help
GBS
Global Business Support center
Starting a business in Fukuoka City
Fukuoka City runs a Startup Visa program for foreign entrepreneurs. The city reviews your business plan in advance, and you can then prepare your business for up to two years under a special status, before meeting the usual Business Manager requirements.
- For people planning to start a business in Fukuoka City
- Focus fields include IT and FinTech, health and medical, environment and energy, logistics, and trade
- The first step is a consultation at Global Business Support (GBS), the city's one-stop center for foreign entrepreneurs
This site does not give visa advice. For the details and your own case, contact GBS or an immigration gyoseishoshi.
Grants for lodging businesses
| Program | For | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka City — minpaku【民泊用】福岡市宿泊事業者受入環境充実支援補助金 | Minpaku operators who file Fukuoka accommodation tax returns | 1/2, up to ¥100,000 | Check the city page for the current application period, until the budget runs out |
It covers multilingual guides, disaster kits for guests, smart locks, self check-in and staff manuals. Fukuoka City runs a separate version for hotels, ryokan and simple lodging. See our hotels & minpaku page.
National programs — where to apply in Fukuoka
| Program | In Fukuoka |
|---|---|
| Sustainability Subsidy | Support letter from the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (福岡商工会議所), or the local 商工会 outside the city centre |
| Career-Up & Work Improvement | Fukuoka Labour Bureau (福岡労働局) |
| Digitalization, Labor-Saving, Monozukuri | Online, nationwide |
Fukuoka minimum wage
Fukuoka's minimum wage is revised every year. Several programs use your prefecture’s current minimum wage — for example, wage conditions and the application window of the Work Improvement Grant. Check the current amount in the official minimum wage table.
Work Improvement Grant: watch the date
The grant window closes the day before the new minimum wage takes effect in your prefecture — sometimes earlier than you expect.
FAQ
Does Fukuoka have a startup visa for foreigners?
Yes. Fukuoka City’s Startup Visa lets foreign entrepreneurs whose business plan is confirmed by the city prepare their business for up to two years before meeting the usual Business Manager requirements. Start with a consultation at Global Business Support (GBS).
Is there a subsidy for minpaku in Fukuoka?
Yes. Fukuoka City covers 1/2 of eligible costs up to ¥100,000 for minpaku operators who file Fukuoka accommodation tax returns. Check the city page for the current application period; it ends when the budget runs out.
Where can I check the minimum wage in Fukuoka?
On the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s table of regional minimum wages. It is revised every year, and several programs use it.
Sources
- Startup Visa (Program to Support Foreign Entrepreneurs) — Fukuoka City (English)
- Fukuoka City minpaku subsidy (【民泊用】福岡市宿泊事業者受入環境充実支援補助金)
- Minimum wages by prefecture — Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
This page is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official Japanese guidelines always take priority.
NEED HELP IN ENGLISH?
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Experts based in Fukuoka who work with foreign founders — in English.
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR
- Company setup in Fukuoka
- Office & coworking
- Self check-in & smart locks