Japan · Talent schemes
Japan J-Find
First stay: 2 yrs
Designated Activities: J-Find (Future Creation Individual)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
J-Find is a talent schemes route for Japan. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Processing
- 1–3 months
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Shown, not spent¥200k+ ≈ $1,260
- JPY 200,000 (≈ $1,260)Deposit balance at the time of application for initial living costs.
Renewal2 years max in total
The stay is up to 2 years in total.
Processing1–3 months
Standard processing: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status inside Japan and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 2 years in total
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant graduated from, or completed a graduate course at, a university ranked in the top 100 of at least 2 of 3 world rankings (QS, THE, ARWU).
- The ISA publishes the list of universities, based on January 2026 rankings.
- The degree was awarded within the last 5 years.
What you must show1
- A deposit balance of at least JPY 200,000 (≈ $1,260) at the time of application covers initial living costs.
When you become tax resident
How Japan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 2 years in total
- Tax residence
Resident individuals are domiciled in Japan or have continuous residence of 1 year or more.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis
Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.
- Special regime
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment · Tax relief
All tax rules for Japan Tax records checked
Full official text
Up to 2 years in Japan for graduates of top-ranked overseas universities to look for a job or prepare a business. 1 2 3
What you must show
- Savings of at least JPY 200,000 (≈ $1,260) · Deposit balance at the time of application for initial living costs. 1
Requirements
- The applicant graduated from, or completed a graduate course at, a university ranked in the top 100 of at least 2 of 3 world rankings (QS, THE, ARWU). 1
- The ISA publishes the list of universities, based on January 2026 rankings. 1
- The degree was awarded within the last 5 years. 1
- A deposit balance of at least JPY 200,000 (≈ $1,260) at the time of application covers initial living costs. 1
Stay
- Up to 2 years of stay in total.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Job hunting and business preparation; spouse status exists separately.
Family
Spouse status exists under Designated Activities (spouse of Future Creation Individual). Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in Japan: permission for activities outside their status, limited to 28 hours a week.
Official sources
- Designated Activities: J-Find (Future Creation Individuals) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-10
- Outline of the J-Find (Future Creation Individual) system · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
- Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted for "Dependent" status holders · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
- Certificate of Eligibility application: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for change of status of residence: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for extension of period of stay: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
J-Find and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| J-Find | – | 2 yr | – |
| Golden Visa · Talent Indonesia | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Blue Residence United Arab Emirates | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| ONE Pass Singapore | Needs income of SGD 30k+ a month ≈ $23k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Top-Tier · science South Korea | – | 5 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the J-Find?
Savings of at least JPY 200,000 (≈ $1,260). Deposit balance at the time of application for initial living costs.
How long can I stay on the J-Find?
Up to 2 years of stay in total.
How long does the J-Find take to process?
Standard processing: 1 to 3 months for a Certificate of Eligibility, 1 to 2 months for a change of status inside Japan and 2 weeks to 1 month for an extension.
Can I work on the J-Find?
Job hunting and business preparation; spouse status exists separately.
Can I bring my family on the J-Find?
Spouse status exists under Designated Activities (spouse of Future Creation Individual).
Is there a tax break for J-Find holders in Japan?
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment: Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Non-permanent resident foreign-source income treatment
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more
Non-permanent residents are taxed in Japan on Japan-source income and on foreign-source income paid in or remitted to Japan; foreign-source income paid and kept abroad is outside the Japanese tax base.
Taxed on
Income tax on all Japan-source income plus foreign-source income that is paid in Japan or remitted to Japan from abroad, at the progressive national rates of 5% to 45%.
Who it applies to
- Resident: domicile or continuous residence in Japan for one year or more.
- Non-Japanese nationality.
- Domicile or residence in Japan for an aggregate of five years or less within the preceding ten years.
Exclusions
- Japan-source income, including pay for work performed in Japan, is taxed in full.
- Residents who are not non-permanent residents are taxed on worldwide income.
Tax residence
Resident = domicile, or continuous residence of one year or more. Non-permanent resident = non-Japanese national resident for an aggregate of five years or less in the preceding ten years. Based on facts, not visa type.
Visas
No visa grants this treatment; it follows tax residence and nationality.
Other taxes
Consumption tax: standard rate 10% (7.8% national plus 2.2% local) and reduced rate 8% (6.24% national plus 1.76% local). Local inhabitant tax and social insurance are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Japan
Special talent visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Designated Activities: J-Find (Future Creation Individuals) · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-10
- Outline of the J-Find (Future Creation Individual) system · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
- Permission to engage in activities other than those permitted for "Dependent" status holders · Immigration Services Agency of Japan · checked 2026-10-12
- Certificate of Eligibility application: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for change of status of residence: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for extension of period of stay: standard processing period · Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Ministry of Justice · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.