特定活動（未来創造人材：J-Find）
Designated Activities: J-Find (future creation individual)
What it allows
A Designated Activities status for graduates of top-ranked universities abroad (top 100 in at least two of the QS, THE and ARWU rankings), to look for a job or prepare a business in Japan. Paid work is allowed to the extent needed to fund those activities.
Period of stay
1 year or 6 months at a time, extended up to 2 years in total (time under similar job-hunting or start-up schemes counts).
Requirements
- A degree or professional degree from a university in the top 100 of at least two of the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, conferred no more than 5 years before you apply (the Immigration Services Agency publishes the list of eligible universities) · Confirm with the official source
- Savings of at least JPY 200,000 (or the equivalent) for initial living costs, shown by a bank balance in your own name · Confirm with the official source
Where this can lead
Related rulebook entries
What it is
- The Future Creation Individual system (J-Find), started in April 2023, grants a Designated Activities status of up to two years to graduates of top overseas universities who want to job-hunt or prepare to start a business in Japan.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） 制度の概要 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2023-04-01
- Besides job hunting and startup preparation, J-Find permits paid work to the extent needed to fund those activities.出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の規定に基づき同法別表第一の五の表の下欄に掲げる活動を定める件（特定活動告示） 第五十一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Who qualifies
- J-Find (the Future Creation Talent system) requires graduation from a university ranked in the top 100 of at least two of the named world rankings, with the degree awarded within the past five years.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） 対象となる方 １・２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- The applicant must have graduated from, or completed a graduate course at, a university that ranks in the top 100 on at least two of three world rankings (QS, THE and ARWU), and must hold a degree or professional degree.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） １ 対象大学 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- The Designated Activities notice (No. 51) limits J-Find to people aged 18 or over, for a stay of no more than two years, covering job hunting and business-preparation activities.出入国管理及び難民認定法第七条第一項第二号の規定に基づき同法別表第一の五の表の下欄に掲げる活動を定める件（特定活動告示） 第五十一号 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Numbers and tests
- J-Find applicants must hold at least 200,000 yen in savings, converted to yen, at the time of application as initial living expenses.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） 対象となる方 ３ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- At the time of application the applicant needs savings of at least 200,000 yen (or the equivalent) to cover initial living costs.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） ３ 生計維持費 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Periods
- For Designated Activities No. 51 (Future Creation Talent, start-up preparation), the old standard applies on change to Business Manager only if the person applied for or held that status before the effective date; later applicants face the new standard.「経営・管理」の許可基準の改正等について（令和７年１０月１６日施行） 施行に伴う留意点 ３ · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2025-10-16
- The Future Creation Talent (J-Find) system lets graduates of selected overseas universities stay for up to two years in Designated Activities to job-hunt or prepare a start-up.スタートアップ関連施策（出入国在留管理庁） · Checked on 2026-10-22
- Each grant is for one year or six months and must be extended; the maximum total stay is two years, and time already spent under similar schemes (continued job hunting, startup support schemes, post-graduation startup) counts toward the two years.未来創造人材制度（J-Find）の概要 活動内容 ・在留期間／※２ · Checked on 2026-10-22
- MOFA's English page says the period of stay is one year, six months, or a term individually designated by the Minister of Justice, and a total of two years is possible if the holder applies for extension before expiry.
Deadlines
- The degree must have been conferred no more than five years before the application.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） ２ 卒業等後の年数 · Checked on 2026-10-22
How it works
- Applicants must show a current balance in a bank account in their own name, plus a degree certificate, a CV and a stay schedule.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） 在留資格認定証明書交付申請／提出書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
- When extending J-Find status, the holder must submit materials showing they are actually carrying out job hunting or startup preparation.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） 在留期間更新許可申請／提出書類 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Lists and tables
- Seoul National University and Yonsei University (Seoul Campus) both appear on the ISA's list of universities eligible for J-Find as of January 2026; the list is built on rankings at that date, so applicants must re-check against the latest three rankings.未来創造人材制度の対象となる大学一覧（令和８年１月時点） 対象大学一覧 · Checked on 2026-10-22
Recent changes
- Since the January 2026 overhaul of the online residence application system, applications for J-Find (and its family status) and for the J-Skip household-worker status can be filed online, using a different input method from before.優秀な海外大学等を卒業した者が起業活動・就職活動を行う場合（J-Find） 申請に当たっての留意事項 · Checked on 2026-10-22 · In force from 2026-01-01
Open the official page ↗ · As of 2026-10-23
Information only. Not legal advice and not an official service. Check the official source and consult the Immigration Services Agency or a licensed administrative scrivener (行政書士) before you decide.