Japan Subsidy Deadlines in November 2026: Nov 6, 12 and 16

Bottom line: three business deadlines and two for households

*Maximum is the largest category, including special cases. Based on announcements as of 23 October 2026.

Business Improvement Subsidy: six prefectures close in November, three on a weekend

The application deadline is the day before the regional minimum wage takes effect or 30 November, whichever is earlier. These six prefectures, where the new wage takes effect late, close during November. [MHLW: Business Improvement Subsidy]

*Effective dates and amounts from MHLW's FY2026 regional minimum wage list. For Okinawa, 30 November comes before the day before the effective date (1 December), so 30 November applies. [MHLW: regional minimum wages]

In Nagasaki, Saga and Kyoto the deadline falls on a weekend. Leaving it to the following Monday is too late, so filing by the previous weekday is the safe choice. The pay rise must also be in place by the same day; if your work rules change only on the effective date, you do not qualify.

• The maximum depends on the size of the raise and the number of workers, up to ¥6 million (¥90 course, 10 or more workers, special case)
• The subsidy rate is 4/5 if the lowest wage in the workplace is under ¥1,050, and 3/4 if it is ¥1,050 or more
• Raises and investments already made are not covered — only those still to come

SMEs that raise pay can also look at the wage increase tax credit for corporate tax.

The two subsidies closing on 6 and 12 November

Both accept online applications only and require a gBizID Prime account. Getting one can take two to three weeks, so if you do not have it yet, aiming for the next round is more realistic.

Business Succession and M&A Subsidy, round 16 | Fri 6 November, 17:00

Applications opened on 2 October. It covers equipment investment when family members or employees take over a business, professional fees for M&A, post-merger integration, and the costs of closing a business to start again. [Business Succession and M&A Subsidy secretariat]

• Up to ¥20 million (professional-fee track, special case for ¥10 billion companies)
• The succession-promotion track for equipment investment when family or employees take over: up to ¥8 million, or ¥10 million with pay rises
• The 9 October briefing has been available as a recording since 16 October

The four tracks and their subsidy rates are covered in our round 16 explainer.

SME Growth Acceleration Subsidy, round 3 | Thu 12 November, 15:00

The original deadline was 29 October; on 29 September it was moved to 12 November. Note the 15:00 cut-off, earlier than most subsidies. [¥10 Billion Company Growth Portal]

• Up to ¥500 million, subsidy rate 1/2
• Investment of at least ¥100 million required
• Your ¥10 billion declaration must be published at the time of application (see the note above)
• Results are expected from late March 2027

For households: housing energy-saving reservations and Domin Points close on 16 November

Housing Energy Saving 2026 | Reservations by Mon 16 November at the latest

For water heater and window grants, the contractor makes a reservation to secure the budget. Reservations close by 16 November at the latest, and grant applications by 31 December. Either ends earlier if the budget runs out. Budget use as of 23 October: [Housing Energy Saving 2026 Campaign]

*Approximate figures as of midnight each day. The 29 September figures are those in Subsidies closing in October.

Usage rose by five to seven points in a little over three weeks, so the budget is unlikely to run out before 16 November. The binding date is the 16 November reservation deadline. Only contractors can reserve, so if you plan work this year, ask your contractor now whether a reservation has been made. Grant amounts are covered in Water Heater Energy Saving 2026 deadlines, Inner window subsidy 2026 and Renovation subsidies 2026.

Hokkaido Domin Points | Mon 16 November

Heads of household living in Hokkaido on 1 May 2026 receive points worth ¥5,500 per household. Applying through the Hokkaido app with a My Number Card gives ¥5,500 in points; returning the postcard gives a ¥5,000 JCB gift card. App applications close at 23:59 on 16 November; postal applications must arrive by 16 November — a postmark is not enough. [Hokkaido: living support points]

Also in Hokkaido, Ebetsu City's heating-oil support (year-end allowance) closes on 6 November. It is for households with income at or below the public assistance standard, and applications go through the local welfare commissioner. [Ebetsu City: year-end allowance] Heating-oil support overall is covered in Kerosene subsidies, winter 2026.

Opening in November: Sustainability Subsidy round 20 from 5 November

November is also the month to prepare for the next round. Programmes closing in December, in order of opening:

• The Sustainability Subsidy requires a business support plan (Form 4) issued by a chamber of commerce or commerce association. Requests for it close on Friday 4 December, 11 days before the application deadline [Sustainability Subsidy secretariat]
• The round 7 deadline for the Digitalization and AI Subsidy comes from SME Support Japan's list (updated 19 October). As of 23 October the secretariat's schedule page did not yet show a date [Digitalization and AI Subsidy schedule]
• Dates for round 9 of the Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy are not fixed; the secretariat says details will follow [Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy]

Subsidies easily mistaken for November deadlines

Some have already closed, or closed in October.

Deadlines can change mid-year. Check each secretariat's schedule page. To see which companies were selected in the past, use our subsidy award database.

Before you apply: paid afterwards, taxable, sometimes repayable

• Paid afterwards: business subsidies are paid after the project is completed and reported. The amount you must front and the interest on bridge loans are estimated in Subsidies are paid afterwards
• Taxable: it is taxable income for companies and business income for sole proprietors. Amounts spent on equipment can be deferred through reduction entry. Domin Points received by individuals are occasional income, and no tax is due within the ¥500,000 annual special deduction
• Repayment: subsidies conditional on pay rises may require partial repayment if targets are missed. Check the repayment conditions in the guidelines before applying

Summary

• The Business Succession and M&A Subsidy round 16 closes Fri 6 Nov at 17:00, and the Growth Acceleration Subsidy round 3 Thu 12 Nov at 15:00
• The Growth Acceleration Subsidy requires a published ¥10 billion declaration; the guideline date for submitting it is 26 October
• The Business Improvement Subsidy closes in Nagasaki on 1 Nov, Saga 14 Nov, Kyoto 15 Nov, and Iwate, Kumamoto and Okinawa 30 Nov, with pay rises due by the same day
• Housing Energy Saving 2026 reservations and Hokkaido's Domin Points close on Mon 16 Nov
• Sustainability Subsidy round 20 opens 5 Nov and closes 15 Dec; Form 4 requests close on 4 Dec

Sources

• SME Support Japan: Subsidy schedule for small businesses and SMEs (updated 19 October 2026)
• MHLW: Business Improvement Subsidy
• MHLW: FY2026 regional minimum wages
• Business Succession and M&A Subsidy secretariat
• ¥10 Billion Company Growth Portal (SME Growth Acceleration Subsidy)
• Housing Energy Saving 2026 Campaign / Water Heater Energy Saving 2026 / Advanced Window Renovation 2026
• Hokkaido: living support points / Ebetsu City: year-end allowance
• Small Business Sustainability Subsidy secretariat (standard track)
• Digitalization and AI Subsidy 2026: schedule
• SME Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy
• National Tax Agency No.2202: Receiving national subsidies (individuals, in Japanese) / Corporation Tax Basic Circular, Ch.10 Sec.2: Reduction entry for assets acquired with national subsidies (corporations, in Japanese)

This article is based on information published by secretariats and government bodies as of 23 October 2026. Deadlines and requirements can change mid-year; always check the latest guidelines on each official site before applying. This is general information; for individual decisions consult the secretariat, the prefectural labour bureau or a tax accountant.