DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES for J-FIND

J-Find (Japan System for Future Creation Individual Visa) has been implemented since April 2023, which is to support more highly-educated foreign nationals to have an opportunity to work or start a business in Japan.

DESIGNATED ACTIVITIES for J-FIND (hereinafter referred to as “J-Find“) is a special VISA STATUS for those who have graduated from distinguished universities and wish to look for a job or to prepare for starting a business in Japan. This visa status allows you to stay in Japan for a maximum of 2 years for job hunting and preparation for business setup.

IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH VISA PROCEDURES IN JAPAN, JUMP TO INTRODUCTORY PAGES BELOW FIRST:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

To apply for J-Find visa status, you must satisfy ALL of the requirements listed below;

Regardless of which visa status you apply for, you need to satisfy basic criteria first;
>> WHAT IS VISA STATUS?

Activities which you are allowed to do while you are staying in Japan under J-Find visa status are as follows;

• Job hunting
• Preparation for starting business
• Part-time job to cover your activities listed above

You have graduated from one of the distinguished university listed on List of Universities Top 100 below and have obtained the degree (bachelor, master, doctor or equivalent to).

List of Universities Top 100 eligible for J-Find (as of January 2025)

Universities listed on the above PDF are decided based on the three world university rankings such as; (1) QS World University Rankings published by Quacquarelli Simmons, (2) THE World University Rankings published by Times, (3) Academic Ranking of World Universities published by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. It has to be found in the top 100 in 2 or more of these world university rankings.

You have graduated from one of the universities listed on the List of Universities Top 100 (see previous section) and granted the degree in the last 5 years on the date of application for J-Find.

You have enough savings in cash (equivalent to JPY 200K or more) for living expenses for the time being at the time of application.

POINTS TO NOTE

Contact the Japan Embassy/Consulate-General in your residence country first

Since this J-Find is to look for a job or prepare for setting up a business, you usually don’t have a visa sponsor to apply for COE for J-Find. Therefore, the Japan Embassy/Consulate-General (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; MOFA) generally accepts the J-Find visa application without the COE directly at their office. Check the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) >> VISA: Specified visa for J-Find

For this process and details, you should contact the Japan Embassy or Consulate-General in your residence area first. The Japan Embassy/Consulate-General belongs to the different ministry (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) from the Immigration Office (the Ministry of Legal Affairs) and has it’s own criteria depending on the country they are established.

We cannot handle the visa application overseas which should be submitted to the Embassy/Consulate-General. You should contact the Japan Embassy/Consulate-General in your residence country to get the information for the process.

Here is the list of the Japan Embassy >> the Japan Embassy/Consulate-General

Possibility that you need to come to Japan to apply for COE for J-Find

As you see the above, generally, you should contact the Japan Embassy/Consulate-General in your residence country and submit J-Find visa application directly there.

However, we have heard that some Japan Embassy/Consulate-General don’t accept the visa application without the COE even it is J-Find application. In that case, you need to come to Japan under Temporary Visitor visa or any other visa status in order to submit the COE application for J-Find even if you hire an immigration lawyer for the process and documentation. It sounds strange but Immigration lawyers cannot submit your application to the Immigration Office on behalf of the applicant while the applicant is outside Japan or doesn’t have a proxy/visa sponsor in Japan.

>> COE APPLICATION
>> VISA SPONSOR

In case you are currently staying in Japan under different visa status

If you are currently staying in Japan under different visa status (holding a Residence Card) and considering starting a business in Japan, it would be possible to apply for Change of Visa Status to J-Find if you satisfy the requirements.

>> CHANGE of VISA STATUS

Possible to work

You can work to cover living expenses in Japan while you are on J-Find visa status. However, you should remember that your main activity is not working, but job-hunting or preparation of business. J-Find visa status will be revoked if you don’t engage in the activity allowed under J-Find visa status.

Possible to bring your spouse or child

It is possible that you bring your spouse and/or child. Your spouse and child need to apply for visa status called “Designated Activity for Dependent of J-Find” and they can engage in a part time job once they obtain Permission to Engage in Other Activity (Shikakugai Katsudo Kyoka).

Plan and Report is needed

You need to make a plan for job-hunting or preparation of business setup and submit it for the application. Also, you need to provide documents to prove your activity as a J-Find visa holder when you apply for Extension of Period of Stay.

If you find a job or complete the preparation for your business in Japan during your stay under J-Find visa status

You need to apply for Change of Visa Status to relevant visa status as soon as you complete the employment agreement or the business setup.

HOW to PROCESS

In case you are currently living outside Japan and the Japan Embassy in your residence country accepts direct “J-Find visa application”:
>> contact the Japan Embassy/Consulate-General in your residence country.

In case you are currently living outside Japan yet and the Japan Embassy in your residence country doesn’t accept J-Find visa application there, or you are staying in Japan as a TEMPORARY VISITOR;
>> COE APPLICATION

In case you have been living in Japan under specific status and holding RESIDENCE CARD already:
>> CHANGE of VISA STATUS

PERIOD of STAY

Each visa status has the expiration date, and you can stay in Japan under the visa status during the specific period stated on Residence Card issued by Immigration Office.

Period of Stay for J-Find visa is 6 months or 1 year. Specific period of stay shall be decided by Immigration Office depends on the applicant’s circumstance. You can extend the period by applying for EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF STAY (VISA RENEWAL) for a maximum of 2 years in total (*).

(*) NOTE: This “2 years in total” must include the period staying in Japan under similar visa status such as Designated Activities for Job hunting/start-up etc.

In case you wish to extend the period of stay granted, you may apply for EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY before the expiry date.
>> EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF STAY (VISA RENEWAL)

In case you would like to travel outside Japan temporarily under the visa status.
>> RE-ENTRY PERMIT

BASIC REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

The immigration office considers your eligibility for the visa status by your situation/career and by documents you provide. You must prepare documents which certify that the contents of the application are true and correct. The Immigration Office will request additional documents at any time if they have any questions or would like to confirm the information you provided case by case.

Specific documents are varied depending on the situation of each applicant and the host organization/company, however, the basic documents for this visa status are as follows;

In case of COE APPLICATION and CHANGE of VISA STATUS

1. Application form
2. Photo
3. [In case of CHANGE of VISA STATUS] Residence Card and Passport.
4.  Certificate of Degree
5. CV in the Immigration Office format >> PDF (provided by Immigration Office)
6. Description of Intended Activities in the Immigration Office format >> PDF (provided by Immigration Office)
7. Bank Statement to prove your savings for living expenses

In case of EXTENSION of PERIOD of STAY

1. Application form
2. Photo
3. Residence Card and Passport
4. Documents to prove your activities for job hunting or preparation of starting business (e.g. Report of Activities explaining where/who/when/what you have done during the period of stay.)
5. Description of Intended Activities in the Immigration Office format >> PDF (provided by Immigration Office)

NOTE / REMARK

• All the documents written in foreign languages need to attach the Japanese translation.
• Additional documents may be requested by the Immigration Office during the screening.
• Any certificate issued by the Japanese authorities (Tax/Income Certificate, Certificate of Residence, Certificate of Company Register etc.) has to be the one issued within 3 months before the date of application.