The Japan System for Future Creation Individual Visa (J-Find) is a Designated Activities status for young graduates of universities ranked near the top of the world university rankings who wish to look for a job or prepare to start a business in Japan. Introduced in April 2023, it lets you stay in Japan for up to two years while you search for an employer or get your business ready.
Eligibility (all three must be met)
- University: You graduated from, or completed a graduate program at, a university ranked in the top 100 of at least two of three world university rankings (QS, THE and the Academic Ranking of World Universities), and were awarded a degree or a professional degree
- Time since graduation: No more than five years have passed since the degree was awarded
- Initial living expenses: At the time of application, you hold savings of at least JPY 200,000 (or the equivalent) in your own name
List of eligible universities
The Immigration Services Agency publishes a list of eligible universities. It was updated on November 4, 2026 to reflect the rankings as of October 2026. Because the list is revised as new rankings are released, you should check both the latest list and the three rankings when you apply.
What you can do in Japan
- Look for a job
- Prepare to start a business
- Work to the extent needed to fund these activities
If you are not actually engaged in these activities, your status of residence may be revoked.
Period of stay
Up to two years, renewed every year or every six months. It can be combined with similar schemes, such as Designated Activities for job hunting after graduation or the startup promotion programs, as long as the total does not exceed two years.
Family members
Your dependent spouse and children may join you under Designated Activities (spouse or child of a J-Find holder). They need permission to engage in activities outside their status before they can work.
Main documents (when applying from overseas)
- Application form for a Certificate of Eligibility and a photo
- A copy of your university diploma (or graduate degree), or a certificate of graduation (or completion)
- A résumé
- An itinerary of your planned stay
- Evidence of your savings balance, such as a copy of your bank book
Documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a Japanese translation. For an extension, you will need evidence of your job search or business preparation and an itinerary.
Once you have found a job
Before you start working full-time, you must apply for a change of status of residence to a work status that matches the job, such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services or Highly Skilled Professional. You may not start the new job until the change is approved, so employers hiring a J-Find holder should plan the application backwards from the start date. Graduates of eligible universities may also earn bonus points under the Highly Skilled Professional point system.
How it differs from other statuses
- International students who graduated in Japan and already have a job offer may be able to use the Job Offer Waiting status.
- If you are ready to set up a company and start operating in Japan, check the requirements for Business Manager.
We can help with every step, from confirming whether your university is eligible and filing the J-Find application to changing your status once you have found a job or started a business. Please feel free to contact us.