Mie Startup Visa (Japan) — Complete 2025-2026 Guide for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Mie Prefecture operates a Startup Visa framework under Japan’s Foreign Business Startup Activity Promotion Program (外国人起業活動促進事業). In short, the prefecture first reviews your startup preparation plan and issues a Startup Preparation Activity Confirmation Certificate (起業準備活動計画確認証明書). You then apply to Immigration for the “Designated Activities” (Startup Preparation) status (在留資格「特定活動」).

However, Mie’s program is unusually restrictive compared with places like Kyoto or Kumamoto: as of the current published rules, it is designed primarily for international students at specific universities in Mie.

This article explains Mie’s program in the same “prefecture-program” style as other Startup Visa guides. Please note that program details and related guidance may be updated over time, so always confirm the latest information on Mie Prefecture’s official website before applying.

What is the “Startup Visa” in Mie Prefecture?

Mie’s Startup Visa process is a two-layer screening model:

1. Mie Prefecture (plan confirmation)

• You submit required forms (plan, schedule, CV, pledge, recommendation letter, etc.).

• Mie reviews your plan, consults experts, and if it meets the national framework and prefectural requirements, issues a confirmation certificate.

2. Immigration Services (status review and approval)

• After receiving Mie’s certificate, you (the applicant) must file the immigration application at:

  • Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau, or

  • Yokkaichi Port Branch Office.

• If approved, you receive Designated Activities with an initial 6-month period.

Critical point: Even with Mie’s certificate, Immigration can still refuse the status. Mie explicitly warns that the certificate is an “important document,” but it does not guarantee approval.

Eligibility: Mie is “student-only” (for now, on the public rules)

Eligible applicants (published rule)

Mie’s current published requirements say the program targets:

• International students expected to graduate/complete from one of these institutions:

  • Mie University

  • Yokkaichi University

  • Suzuka University

• Who plan to start a business in Mie, and

• Who are expected to meet the criteria for changing to Business Manager within one year from starting startup-prep activities.

Target industry fields (published rule)

Mie lists specific fields, including:

• IoT / AI

• Food-related business

• Tourism

• Next-generation energy

• Next-generation healthcare

• Lifestyle-related services

• Trade-related industries

Application flow

Mie publishes a clear “new application” sequence:

Step 1 — Pre-consultation

Before submission, Mie requests you consult with:

• your university’s international-student office, or

• The relevant department of Mie Prefecture (the page indicates consultation with the relevant section).

Step 2 — Submit documents to Mie (in person)

• The applicant must submit in person.

• Submission by mail is not accepted in principle.

• Submission destination is the address listed in the page’s inquiry/contact section.

Step 3 — Certificate issuance (or rejection notice)

If your documents and plan are confirmed as meeting requirements (with expert input), Mie issues the confirmation certificate.
If not, Mie issues a results notice stating it did not proceed to certificate issuance.

Step 4 — Apply to Immigration (Designated Activities)

After receiving the certificate, you apply to Immigration (Nagoya / Yokkaichi Port).

Step 5 — After you obtain the status (mandatory reporting)

Once you obtain Designated Activities, you must submit a status acquisition report to Mie within 5 days.

Required documents

Mie lists the required submissions (forms + supporting evidence). Key items include:

Core forms (Mie templates)

• Startup Preparation Plan Confirmation Application )

• Startup Preparation Activity Plan

• Schedule / Roadmap

• CV (履歴書)

• Pledge (誓約書) 

• Recommendation letter (推薦状)

Supporting documents

• Passport copy

• Proof of housing for one year after graduation/completion (e.g., lease copy)

• Proof of funds covering:

  • living costs for that period, and

  • return travel costs if continuation becomes difficult (e.g., bankbook copy)

• Proof of academic / professional background (e.g., graduation certificate; expected graduation certificate is acceptable at application stage)

• Any additional documents the governor requires

Processing time and certificate validity

Mie states:

• If documents are complete, Mie typically responds in about one month for the confirmation result.

• The confirmation certificate has a validity period of 3 months. Within that period, you must file the immigration application with the required attachments.

Practical implication: You should coordinate your submission timing so you can file with Immigration promptly after certificate issuance.

During the Startup Preparation period: monitoring and work restrictions

Mie’s published Q&A includes strict operational points:

Monthly progress checks (approx. once per month)

Mie will confirm progress about once per month, typically by interview, and may request document submissions as needed.

No part-time work (in principle) during the “startup preparation” year

Mie states that the 1-year period is for devoting yourself to startup preparation and that part-time work is not permitted during that period; applicants must secure the funds in advance.

Mie also notes that after moving to “Designated Activities (Post-graduation Startup Activity)”, comprehensive permission for up to 28 hours/week may be allowed (subject to the status framework).

Renewal: extending from 6 months to 12 months total

Mie explains that:

• Initial Designated Activities period is 6 months.

• If you need to continue preparation, you must apply for immigration renewal about 3 months before expiry, and Mie’s renewal confirmation certificate is required—so you must first submit the renewal confirmation application to Mie, which can take about one month to issue.

This is the operational logic behind the “up to 1 year” structure.

How our office can support your Osaka Startup Visa application

The Osaka City Startup Visa is not just a document submission process—it is an evaluation of feasibility, credibility, and execution.

Trust Administrative Scrivener Office supports foreign entrepreneurs by providing:

• Business plan structuring and feasibility assessment

• Document preparation and consistency checks for Osaka City submission

• Immigration application support (Designated Activities → Business Manager)

• Ongoing strategic guidance to ensure compliance and smooth status transition

We help you decide whether Osaka’s Startup Visa is appropriate for your case, or whether a direct Business Manager application may be more suitable.

References

• Mie Prefecture: Foreign Business Startup Activity Promotion Program

📩 Contact (General Inquiries & Communication)

For updates on an ongoing case, document submission, or other general inquiries, you may contact us through the tools below.

⚠️ Please note that we do not answer visa, residency status, licensing, apostille, or other consultation-related questions through this Contact section.
If you would like to receive advice or guidance, please apply through our paid consultation page.

👉 Click here to book a consultation (Consultation Page)

Contact	E-mail	LINE
WhatsApp	小红书	WeChat

Office Name: Trust Administrative Scrivener Office
Email: info@trust-gyosei.com