General Instructions

Application Procedures

[Important Notice] Application through the Japan Foundation’s Online Application Portal

Applications will be accepted electronically through the Japan Foundation’s Online Application Portal (for some programs, applications cannot be submitted through the Online Application Portal. Please be sure to check the Application Instructions for each program). Please read through the following instructions carefully if you are considering application.

  • *The submission deadline through the Online Application Portal is given in Japan Standard Time (JST). Please take note of the time difference and complete your application well before the deadline.
  • *Please be sure to use Adobe Acrobat Reader to either read or complete application forms in PDF format. Other applications may cause incompatibility issues.

Step1: Decide on the program that you wish to apply for

Refer to the Program Guidelines for Fiscal Year 2024 (PDF:1.2MB) and identify the program that matches the project that you or your organization are planning. Please refer to the explanation about each program to obtain detailed information on the necessary criteria and application procedures for the program that you have selected. In addition, the number of grants is listed as a reference and may differ from year to year.

The areas and countries that are eligible for the Japan Foundation programs are provided in the table below.

Step2: Obtain the application instructions and application forms

Once you have decided on the program that you wish to apply for, download the application instructions and application forms from the website. The application instructions for each program provide detailed information. Hence, if you are considering applying for a particular program, please read the instructions carefully before submitting your application.

Step3: Submit the application forms

After filling out the application forms, please upload the completed forms, together with any attachments, to the Online Application Portal by the application deadline.The application deadline is given in Japan Standard Time (JST). Please take note of the time difference and complete your application well before the deadline.

  • *For some programs, applications cannot be submitted through the Online Application Portal. Please be sure to check the application instructions for each program.
  • *Applications from Russia cannot be submitted through the Online Application Portal. Please check the website of the Japan Foundation’s office in Russia.

Eligibility and Screening

1. Eligibility

Please check the following items before applying for an applicable program.

  1. (1)The project is not for the advancement of specific political or religious views.
  2. (2) (In the case of an organization) The following organizations are ineligible to apply for the Japan Foundation programs.
    1. (a)Japanese national government organs, local governments, incorporated administrative agencies, and local incorporated administrative agencies
    2. (b)Organizations, institutes and facilities attached to or established by category (a) above (e.g. Japanese national or public schools or museums, etc.)
    3. (c) Foreign governments (including their administrative organs, embassies, and consulates-general, but excluding educational, research, or cultural institutes)
    4. (d)International organizations that Japanese national government organs contribute to
  3. (3) (In the case of a Japanese organization or individual) The applicant does not fall under the definition of "Anti-Social Forces" (groups or individuals that pursue economic benefit by making full use of violence, force and/or fraudulent means), which is specified in Article 2(2)1 of the Japan Foundation's Regulations with Regard to Dealing with Anti-Social Forces (2015 Regulation No. 52).
  4. (4)(In the case of an overseas organization) The organization has a bank account for receiving grants, or is able to set up a bank account before the grant payment period.
  5. (5) (In the case of an overseas organization or individual) The receipt of a grant or other form of subsidies from the Japan Foundation is not in violation of any laws or regulations in the applicant’s country.

2. Screening

[Selection policy]

Screening is carried out from the following perspectives for all programs.

  • The need for the Japan Foundation to provide support to the project
  • The feasibility and effectiveness of the project
  • The validity of the proposed budget
  • The safety and security in the area of the project

For other selection policies that are applicable to each program, please refer to the respective program instructions.

[Projects related to commemorative events of an Exchange Year]

Applications related to the commemorative events of an Exchange Year will be given higher priority in the screening process. Applicants should specify the relevance of their projects to commemorative events (if any) in the application form.
Applicable commemorative events of an Exchange Year are scheduled to be listed on the Japan Foundation website.
*Please refer to the Program List for examples of projects which have been accepted in recent years.

Points to Be Noted

1. Disclosure of information about the project

If the project is selected, information relating to the name of the applicant, name of the project, and overview of the project will be disclosed in the Kokusai Koryu Kikin Jigyo Jisseki (Detailed Annual Report of the Japan Foundation Activities), the Annual Report, on the Japan Foundation's website, and in other public-relations materials.
When a request for information based on the "Act on Access to Information Held by Independent Administrative Agencies." (Act No. 140 of 2001), is received by the Japan Foundation, materials such as submitted application forms will be disclosed (unless stipulated by law as not to be disclosed).

2. Protection of personal information

The Japan Foundation handles personal information appropriately and in accordance with the "Act on the Protection of Personal Information" (Act No. 57 of 2003) and other applicable laws. Details of the Japan Foundation's personal information protection policy can be reviewed at the website.

Special notes for the users in the EEA(European Economic Area) member countries

The Japan Foundation complies with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) and other applicable national laws in connection with the provision of any of the services that the Japan Foundation provides to users in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”). Details can be reviewed at the website.

Personal information provided in the application forms, such as a grantee's name, affiliation and project overview, is used in procedures such as screening, project implementation, and ex-post evaluation. It is also carried in the Detailed Annual Report of the Japan Foundation Activities, the Annual Report, on the Japan Foundation website, and in other public relations materials. Personal information is also used for purposes such as the compilation of statistics. For details regarding the use of personal information in each program, please refer to the application instructions for each program.
Applicants are requested to inform all individuals whose personal information appears on the application materials of the above-mentioned policy.

3. Legal regulations applicable to grants from the Japan Foundation

The Japan Foundation Grant Programs are operated in accordance with relevant Japanese laws including Article 13 of the "Act on the Japan Foundation, Independent Administrative Agency" (Act No. 137 of 2002).

Ensuring the Necessary Safety and Security of Projects

Considering the recent instability in global security, with the increase of terrorist attacks in particular, the Japan Foundation highly recommends that you take the necessary security measures to ensure safety when you conduct your projects. Please plan your project in accordance with the regulations and instructions of the relevant authorities. In case of overseas projects, please make sure to take the following measures:

  • (1) Check if there are any security alerts issued in the countries or cities where your project is taking place;
  • (2) Provide information on security and safety issues for your international guests (if any).

Table: List of Eligible Areas and Countries in the Japan Foundation Programs (as of August 2023)

Regions Areas and Countries
East Asia People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Macau, Mongolia, Taiwan
Southeast Asia Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam
South Asia Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Oceania Australia, Cook, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
North America Canada, United States of America
Central America Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
South America Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
Western Europe Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican
Eastern Europe Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Middle East Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
North Africa Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia
Africa Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Republic of South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

* As there are programs that are applicable only for projects related to some areas and countries, please read the explanation about each program carefully to learn if your area or country is eligible.

* Exchange projects with Taiwan
The Japan Foundation cooperates with the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association on exchange projects with Taiwan. The Japan Foundation will not provide support to a project if it is eligible for programs of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. For further information about Taiwan projects, please read the application instructions for the respective program, and contact the section in charge at the Japan Foundation domestic offices or the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Taipei office if necessary.