Information regarding the recommencement of the subsidy for small and medium sized enterprises and self-employed persons
Small and medium sized enterprises as well as self-employed persons whose sales were impacted by COVID-19 will be able to apply for a subsidy from the national government.
Subsidy Coverage
・Self-employed persons: between 300,000~500,000 yen
・Small and medium sized enterprises: between 600,000~2,500,000 yen
The amount of money provided via the subsidy will be determined by sales and losses incurred. So, the amount given will differ between businesses/individuals.
Required documents
・Final income tax return from 2018, 2019, 2020
・Register of sales from November 2021 to March 2022
・Bank book
・Small and medium sized enterprises: Certificate of complete historical records (documents that can confirm the business’ registered information: Regional Legal Affairs Burau)
・Self-employed persons: personal identification documents
Application can be done online. (Registration must be done in advance)
People Who Have Been Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic
If you are enrolled in the National Health Insurance program, contact COVID-19, and you incur a loss in salary due to COVID, you will receive an allowance from the National Health Insurance.
To be eligible, you must satisfy the conditions below.
You are enrolled in your municipality’s National Health Insurance
You are a paid employee
You were infected with COVID-19 (tested positive for COVID) or you suspect you are infected (you received a negative test result but you have a fever and a cough), cannot go to work, and did not receive pay during that time.
Qualifying period: January 1, 2020~ (please note, the qualifying period may differ between municipalities)
To apply, please visit your municipality’s home page and download the application form (4 pages). Please complete the application and include a copy of your National Health Insurance card and a copy of your bankbook’s bank information page. Submit the application and all the aforementioned items together to your city hall’s National Health Insurance consultation window.
If you have any question or need clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the numbers below.
→ Japanese: Please contact your local city hall’s National Health Insurance consultation window.
→ Multilingual: 080-4275-4489 (Kumamoto Support Center for Foreign Residents)
Loans for assistance with living difficulties (“Seikatsu Fukushi Shikin Kashitsuke Seido”)
People whose livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic may be eligible to receive a loan.
You must apply directly to your municipality’s welfare council.
Please enquire for more information.
※ For those who have used the loan system and exempt from the resident tax, will not have to repay the loan amount.
Unemployment Insurance (“Shitsugyou Hoken/Koyou Hoken”)
People who have become unemployed due to the pandemic may be eligible to receive 50 – 80% of 3 months’ salary.
It is necessary to have a year or more of employment insurance (You must have been employed for a year or more)
The application must be filed with Hello Work.
Housing Security Benefit (“Jyuukyo Kakuho Kyuufukin”)
You can receive an amount equivalent to 3 months of rent payments.
Please apply at the municipality in which you reside.
Information about the Housing Security Benefit 
（PDF：65.8KB）
Regarding the cash handout for households with children 18 years of age or younger
Children between the ages of 0-18 (children who were born from April 2, 2003, and March 31, 2022) will each be given one 100,000 yen handout. This subsidy is a part of the country’s decision to address the economic impact from COVID-19.
- The first payment of 50,000 will be distributed during mid-December
- Family’s whose annual income is above 9.6 million will not qualify for the subsidy
- The distribution of the handout as well as the means to apply for the handout will depend on the municipality you live in. Please check your local area’s homepage for more information.