The Complete GビズID Registration Process: The First Step to Applying for Japanese Subsidies

What Is GビズID: Why Subsidy Applications Must Use It

GビズID (Global Business ID) is a unified corporate identification system launched by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in 2020. It can simply be understood as a "digital ID card for Japanese businesses."

Why must subsidy applications use GビズID?

Under Japanese government regulations, since 2022, online applications for most subsidies have mandatorily required logging in with GビズID. Whether you are applying for the Sustainability Payment, the Business Recovery Support Payment, or the Employment Adjustment Subsidy, you first need a valid GビズID account. According to statistics from the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, about 1.2 million Japanese companies have currently registered for GビズID, including a large number of Chinese-owned businesses.

Simply put, GビズID is the key that opens the door to Japanese subsidy applications. Without it, you cannot even enter the application system.

Preparation Before GビズID Registration

Before formally filling out the registration form, you need to prepare the following materials. This step seems simple, but many applicants have to redo it multiple times due to insufficient preparation.

Checklist of Required Documents and Information

1. Basic Company Information

• Company name (both Chinese and Japanese; the Japanese name must be annotated with katakana or hiragana readings)
• Corporate Number (法人番号): this is the unique 12-digit number that every Japanese corporation has, which can be looked up for free through the National Tax Agency's Corporate Number Publication System (https://www.houjin-bangou.nta.go.jp/)
• Date of establishment
• Head office address
• Business category code

2. Representative Information

• Representative's name (both Japanese and English required)
• Date of birth
• ID number (driver's license or ID number)

3. Contact Information

• A valid Japanese mobile phone number (very important, as SMS verification is required during registration)
• Company email address (a corporate domain email is recommended, such as xxx@company.co.jp)

4. Bank Account Information

• The bank account for receiving the subsidy (the account holder must match the representative)
• Bank name, branch name, account type, account number

Real-world case: A Chinese business owner, Mr. Li, whose company is "Yamada Design Co., Ltd.," used the katakana "やまだせっけいかぶしきがいしゃ" for his Japanese corporate name, but when actually submitting, an error in adding the voiced sound mark (゛) caused the system to fail to recognize it, and the entire registration process had to start over. Therefore, be sure to triple-check the Japanese spelling.

How to Obtain Your Corporate Number in Advance

This may be the most error-prone part. We recommend looking it up in advance:

1. Open the National Tax Agency's official website: https://www.houjin-bangou.nta.go.jp/
2. Enter your company name (we recommend trying the full Japanese name first)
3. The search results will show the 12-digit Corporate Number
4. Take a screenshot or record this number—you'll need to enter it during registration

If the company was just established (less than 2 weeks ago), the Corporate Number may not yet have been assigned. In that case, we recommend preparing other materials first and starting the registration process once the Corporate Number has been issued.

The 5 Core Steps of GビズID Registration

Now we enter the actual registration stage. The whole process takes about 20–30 minutes, but may need to be repeated if there are errors in the information.

Step 1: Access the Official GビズID Registration Platform

Open the official website: https://gbiz-id.go.jp/

This is the official platform of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency. Be careful not to visit counterfeit websites (there are many scam sites in Japan). We recommend bookmarking the official link.

Click the "新規申請" (New Application) button on the page.

Step 2: Select Your Organization Type and Submit Basic Information

The system will ask: what type is your organization?

Options include:

• Sole Proprietor (個人事業主)
• Corporation (法人; Co., Ltd., LLC, etc.)
• Administrative Agency / Independent Administrative Institution (政府機構—not applicable)

Most Chinese business owners should select "Corporation" (法人), because companies registered in Japan are generally Co., Ltd. (kabushiki kaisha) or LLC (godo kaisha).

After selecting, enter:

• Company name (Japanese)
• Corporate Number (12 digits)
• Representative's name (both Japanese and English romaji required)
• Representative's date of birth (in YYYY年MM月DD日 format)

Key tip: If the representative is Chinese, the Japanese name should use katakana (such as "リー・タロウ" for "Li Taro") or an already-obtained registered Japanese name. If your Japanese passport or residence card has a Japanese name, be sure to keep it consistent with the registration.

Step 3: Email Verification and Account Creation

After entering the company email address, the system will send a verification email to your inbox.

Open the email and click the verification link—this step must be completed within 24 hours, or the link will expire.

After successful verification, the system prompts you to set a password:

• 8–16 characters
• Must include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and numbers
• We recommend using a password manager (such as 1Password or Bitwarden) to store it securely

For example: MyGbiz2024Pw# (an example; please do not use this)

Step 4: Mobile SMS Verification

This step confirms that you hold a Japanese phone number.

Enter your Japanese mobile number (for example: 09012345678), and the system will send an SMS containing a 6-digit verification code.

After entering the code, the account is activated.

Common issue: If you are using an MVNO (virtual carrier, such as UQ Mobile or Rakuten Mobile) number, the SMS may be delayed in some cases. We recommend testing in advance whether the number can receive SMS normally.

Step 5: Provide Detailed Company and Representative Information

The system will now ask you to fill in more details:

Company information section:

• Company establishment date
• Head office address (prefecture, municipality, block number, etc. all need to be filled in detail)
• Business type (6-digit category code, which can be looked up on the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's website)
• Number of employees
• Annual revenue (approximate)

Representative information section:

• ID type: driver's license (運転免許証) or passport (パスポート)
• ID number
• Representative's contact phone (Japanese number)
• Representative's residential address

Bank account information section (important):

• Financial institution name (e.g., MUFG Bank / 三菱UFJ銀行)
• Branch name (e.g., Shibuya Branch / 渋谷支店)
• Account type: ordinary (普通預金) or checking (当座預金)
• Account number (usually 7 digits)
• Account holder: must match the representative's name

This account will be the account for receiving the subsidy later, so be sure to confirm it is correct.

After completing, click the "申請" (Apply) button.

After Registration: Connecting GビズID Activation to Subsidy Applications

The Waiting Period After Registration Is Complete

After submitting the application, the system will display: "申請が完了しました" (Application completed).

At this point GビズID is not activated immediately. The Japanese government needs 3–5 business days to review it. During this period, the system performs the following verifications:

• The authenticity of the Corporate Number
• The match of the bank account information
• The correctness of the representative's identity information

During the review, the government may send confirmation messages to your email or phone number. Be sure to respond promptly, or it may be judged as an invalid application.

What You Can Do After GビズID Is Activated

After successful activation (you will usually receive an email notification), you can:

1. Log in to the GビズID portal website—check account status and modify company or representative information at any time
2. Access the subsidy application system—apply according to the subsidy programs available at the time
3. Obtain unified corporate authentication—this ID can be used for multiple Japanese government online services (such as e-Tax reporting, etc.)

Timing Connection with Specific Subsidy Applications

One point many business owners overlook is: GビズID activation usually takes 1–2 weeks.

If the subsidy application window is about to close (for example, the Sustainability Payment usually ends in a specific month), you should start GビズID registration at least 2 weeks in advance.

Timeline example:

• Day 1: Start GビズID registration
• Days 1–3: Wait for email verification
• Days 3–5: Government back-end review
• Days 5–7: GビズID activation completed
• Days 8–14: Start the formal subsidy application
• Days 15–21: Wait for subsidy application approval

Common Registration Errors and Solutions

Based on our experience consulting over 500 Chinese-owned businesses, the following are the most frequently occurring issues:

Error 1: Corporate Number Entry Error

Symptom: The system displays "該当する法人が見つかりません" (No such corporation found)

Cause: The 12-digit Corporate Number was entered incorrectly (usually too many or too few digits, or the number of a similar company was entered)

Solution:

1. Reopen the National Tax Agency website and carefully look up the Corporate Number
2. We recommend using copy-paste rather than manual entry to avoid typos
3. If your company was just established (less than 2 weeks ago), the Corporate Number may not yet have been issued, so you need to wait

Error 2: Japanese Company Name Mismatch

Symptom: The system displays "法人名の表記が異なります" (Corporate name notation differs)

Cause: The Japanese name you registered with does not match the name registered with the Legal Affairs Bureau (for example, voiced-sound errors, character spacing issues)

Solution:

1. Check your registry certificate (obtained from the Legal Affairs Bureau) to confirm the correct Japanese corporate name
2. If you find that you have been using the wrong name for a long time, you need to apply to the Legal Affairs Bureau for a correction (this is a separate process)
3. On GビズID, you should fill in the name strictly according to the name registered with the Legal Affairs Bureau

Error 3: Representative Identity Information Mismatch

Symptom: During review, you receive an email requesting "本人確認" (identity confirmation)

Cause: The date of birth or ID number entered does not match official Japanese records (residence card, driver's license)

Solution:

1. Prepare a copy of your ID
2. Re-enter the information according to your ID
3. Reply to the government email and upload a photo of your ID (usually requires scanning both sides of a driver's license or the information page of a passport)

Error 4: Bank Account Linking Failure

Symptom: The system displays "口座情報が確認できません" (Account information cannot be confirmed)

Cause:

• The account holder does not match the representative's name (e.g., the account is in the corporate name, but the representative's personal name was entered)
• The bank branch name was entered incorrectly
• The account number is incorrect

Solution:

1. Prepare a bank passbook or bank card to confirm: bank name, branch name, account number
2. The account holder must match the representative's personal name, or be the corporate name (if a corporate account)
3. If there is a problem with the account, first handle it at the bank (change the account holder or open a new account), then resubmit the GビズID application

Error 5: Email Verification Link Expired

Symptom: After clicking the verification link, it shows "このリンクは無効です" (This link is invalid)

Cause: The verification link was not clicked within 24 hours

Solution:

1. Return to the GビズID homepage and select "メール再送信" (Resend email)
2. The system will send the verification email to your inbox again
3. Try to complete verification within 2 hours of receiving the email

The Key Connection Between GビズID and Subsidy Applications

The Specific Uses of GビズID in Subsidy Applications

When you enter the subsidy application system (such as the Monozukuri Subsidy, the IT Adoption Subsidy, etc.):

1. Login: log in with your GビズID account and password
2. Corporate authentication: the system automatically reads your company and representative information from GビズID
3. Quick form-filling: basic information is auto-filled in advance, reducing manual entry
4. Application tracking: each subsidy application is linked to your GビズID, making it easy to check progress
5. Multiple applications: if you want to apply for multiple subsidies in the same year, GビズID helps you manage all application records

The Importance of Regularly Updating GビズID Information

During the subsidy application process, if your company information changes (for example, change of representative, address relocation, bank account change), you must also update GビズID at the same time.

Many companies only discover that information is incorrect after their subsidy is approved, causing the subsidy to fail to be deposited in time. We recommend:

• Checking the accuracy of GビズID information once every quarter
• Updating immediately whenever any major change occurs at the company
• Saving your GビズID login information (store the password in a secure location)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: I am a sole proprietor (freelancer). Do I also need to register for GビズID?

A: Yes, but the process is slightly different. If you are a sole proprietor, select "Sole Proprietor" (個人事業主) rather than "Corporation" (法人) when registering. You need to provide: your personal name, date of birth, business notification number (if you have one), business category, bank account, etc. Sole proprietors can also apply for many subsidies (for example, the Sustainability Payment was open to sole proprietors in its third round of applications), so GビズID is equally necessary. If you have not yet obtained a business notification number, you can first go to your local tax office to submit the "Notification of Opening/Closing of a Sole Proprietorship" and register for GビズID after obtaining the number.

Q2: What is the difference between GビズID and the My Number Card (マイナンバーカード)? I already have a My Number Card—do I still need GビズID?

A: They are different and both important. The My Number Card is a personal ID document containing a 12-digit personal number; GビズID is a corporate-level authentication system. Even if you have a My Number Card, you still need GビズID when applying for corporate subsidies. The two can be used in conjunction: many online application systems support logging in with a My Number Card, but for corporate subsidies, GビズID is the most mainstream authentication method. We recommend holding both, so you have the greatest flexibility when applying.

Q3: I registered for GビズID before but haven't used it in a long time. Now I need to apply for a subsidy—do I need to re-register?

A: No re-registration is needed, but you need to check the account status. First try logging in with your original account; if you can log in successfully, check whether the company and representative information is up to date (especially the bank account, address, etc.). If the information has changed, you can update it on the "アカウント情報" (account information) page. If you have forgotten the password, click "パスワード再設定" (password reset) to reset it. If you haven't logged in for over a year, some functions may require re-verification (similar to two-factor authentication). Only when you cannot recover the original account, or need to completely change the corporate identity, do you need to newly register.

Q4: When I registered for GビズID, my Japanese phone number could receive SMS at the time, but now that number has been discontinued. What should I do?

A: This issue is relatively complex and needs to be handled case by case. If your GビズID is already activated and you have been using it, you can update the phone number to your current valid Japanese number on the "アカウント情報" (account information) page. The system will send a verification code to the new number, and you can update it after successful verification. If you haven't logged in for a long time, or have forgotten the password and cannot enter the account settings page, you need to contact GビズID's official customer support (via the "問い合わせ" / inquiry page on the official site). Customer support will require you to provide identity documents and other proof materials, and reset the account after verification. This process may take 5–10 business days, so we recommend handling it as early as possible.

Q5: I am Chinese, but I don't have a Japanese driver's license in Japan—only a passport and residence card. Can these be used for GビズID identity verification?

A: Yes. GビズID accepts the following ID documents: Japanese driver's license (運転免許証), passport (パスポート), and residence card (在留カード). During registration, the system will ask you to select the document type and enter the document number. Select "パスポート" (passport) and enter the passport number (usually a 9-character alphanumeric combination). In some cases, the system may require you to submit a clear scan or photo of your ID (especially if automatic verification fails), so we recommend preparing a clear digital photo of your passport or residence card in advance. If you hold a Japanese driver's license or My Number Card, it will be more convenient, because these documents' information directly connects to official databases, making verification faster.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Registering for GビズID seems simple, but the details determine success or failure. We have seen too many companies have their subsidy applications rejected or delayed for months due to small errors during registration. The 30 minutes you invest now may save you 3 months of waiting and re-application time.

If you are ready to apply for a Japanese subsidy, we recommend proceeding in the following order:

1. Within this week: collect the required company and personal information, confirm the Corporate Number and bank account
2. Next week: formally register for GビズID, complete email and mobile verification
3. Third week: wait for the government review and ensure GビズID is activated
4. Fourth week: log in to GビズID, look for currently available subsidy programs, and prepare application materials

Chinese business owners in Japan often take detours during the application process due to unfamiliarity with the language, culture, and administrative procedures. If you have questions about any stage—GビズID registration, company information entry, subsidy program selection, etc.—we welcome you to consult our professional team for free. We have over 10 years of Japanese subsidy consulting experience and have helped over 800 Chinese-owned businesses successfully obtain subsidies totaling more than JPY 1.5 billion.

Contact us now for free GビズID registration guidance and subsidy application assessment tailored to your company.