Even if there is no one in Japan (a collaborator) who can carry out or assist with the company formation procedures on your behalf, you can still start a business and establish a company in Japan. Our firm supports two special schemes designed for this — the “4-month Business Manager visa” and the “Startup Visa” — which let you prepare while still overseas, enter Japan first, and then complete the company formation and business preparations after arrival.
1. Business Manager Visa (4-Month): Acquisition & Renewal Support
If you have no collaborator in Japan, the flow is as follows: first obtain a 4-month Business Manager visa and come to Japan; within the four months after entry, complete the preparations for starting your business — company formation, bank account opening, obtaining licenses, and so on; and then file a renewal application for the visa (as a rule, a one-year period of stay is granted).
Flow from Acquisition to Renewal
- Drafting the Articles of Incorporation
- To establish the company, decide the company name, planned company address, business purpose, amount of investment, and so on.
- Selecting Candidate Office Locations
- Decide the candidate locations for your company office.
* The lease may be signed after you enter Japan.
- Collecting Documents
Developing the Business Plan - We collect and prepare the documents required for the Immigration application and develop the business plan.
The list of required documents is organized to match the content of your business plan and your circumstances.
- Applying to Immigration for the Status of Residence
- We will apply to the Immigration Services Agency for the issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a four-month period of stay.
- Visa Issuance
Entry into Japan - After the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, you receive your visa at the Japanese embassy in your country.
You then enter Japan on the 4-month Business Manager visa.
- Preparing to
Start the Business - You make the various preparations needed to start operations.
These preparations must be completed within the four months.
[What to prepare]
・Address registration
・Obtaining a seal registration certificate
・Signing the office lease
・Hiring full-time staff
・Opening a personal bank account in your own name at a Japanese bank
・Paying in the capital and registering the incorporation of the company
・Opening the company’s bank account
・Filing the incorporation notification and other documents with the tax office
・Obtaining a business license, if your industry requires one
- Applying to
Immigration - You file an application to extend the period of stay for the Business Manager visa with Immigration.
As a rule, a one-year period of stay is granted.
If you are bringing family members over, a dependent visa application is also filed with Immigration.
Support Plans and Fees (4-Month Visa: Acquisition & Renewal)
We offer three plans tailored to your needs, including accompaniment support after entry into Japan and discounts on the formation procedures. (* All prices include tax.)
| Step | Service | Light | Standard | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language support | English / Chinese | － | ○ Includes translation of foreign-language documents |
○ Includes translation of foreign-language documents |
|
| Overseas | Before entry | Drafting the articles of incorporation | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Introducing candidate office locations | － | ○ | ○ | ||
| Business plan development | △ Advice only |
○ | ○ | ||
| Notarization of the articles | ○ Advice only |
○ | ○ | ||
| Business Manager visa COE application |
Visa application consultation | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| List of required documents | ○ | ○ | ○ | ||
| Preparation of a document verifying the new business plan, reviewed by a certified public accountant or SME management consultant | ○ | ○ | ○ | ||
| Preparation of the application forms | ○ | ○ | ○ | ||
| Filing with Immigration on your behalf | ○ | ○ | ○ | ||
| After obtaining the 4-month visa | After entry | Address & seal registration (municipal office) |
Municipal office accompaniment service (see below) | ||
| － | 40% discount | ○ | |||
| Opening a personal bank account | Personal bank account accompaniment service (see below) | ||||
| － | 40% discount | ○ | |||
| Accompaniment for the office lease | Office accompaniment service (see below) | ||||
| － | 40% discount | ○ | |||
| Translation of the office lease agreement | － | +JPY 16,500 / page | +JPY 8,250 / page | ||
| Incorporation registration * Handled by our partner judicial scrivener |
○ | ○ | ○ | ||
| Business license * Only for businesses that require one |
Separate fee. Varies by business; see the dedicated page. | ||||
| Standard fee | 10% discount | 10% discount | |||
| Continuing residence | Business Manager visa renewal application | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| JPY 550,000 | JPY 660,000 | JPY 759,000 | |||
| Options | If Touch Immigration Law Firm acts as the subscriber for the capital |
1% of the capital | 1% of the capital | 1% of the capital | |
| Municipal office accompaniment package | JPY 55,000 | JPY 33,000 | Included in the plan fee | ||
| Office accompaniment service | JPY 55,000 | JPY 33,000 | Included in the plan fee | ||
| Personal bank account accompaniment service | JPY 55,000 | JPY 33,000 | Included in the plan fee | ||
| Dependent visa procedures(per person) | JPY 77,000 | JPY 66,000 | JPY 55,000 | ||
| Support for opening a corporate bank account | JPY 165,000 | JPY 110,000 | JPY 66,000 | ||
2. Startup Visa (Startup Preparation Activities) Support
The Startup Visa is a program that allows you to stay in Japan for one year as a rule (up to two years) in order to prepare to start a business.
To obtain the Startup Visa, you must first receive a Confirmation Certificate for your startup preparation activity plan from a local government, and then apply to Immigration for a “Designated Activities” visa.
How to Obtain the Startup Visa
Where to apply / submit
- Apply for confirmation of your startup preparation activity plan
- Local government / private-sector operator
- Receive the Confirmation Certificate for the startup preparation activity plan
- Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility
- Immigration Services Agency
- Receive the Certificate of Eligibility
Present the Certificate of Eligibility at the Japanese diplomatic mission in your home country, receive your visa, and travel to Japan
- On arrival in Japan, receive landing permission for the “Designated Activities” status of residence
(one year or six months)
- Apply for permission to change to the “Business Manager” status of residence
- Immigration Services Agency
- Receive permission to change to the “Business Manager” status of residence
Support Plans and Fees (Startup Visa)
| Step | Service | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language support | English / Chinese | － | ○ |
| Local government: confirmation application for the startup preparation activity plan |
Consultation on the confirmation application | ○ | ○ |
| List of required documents | ○ | ○ | |
| Preparation of the application forms | ○ | ○ | |
| Support for developing the business plan | ○ | ○ | |
| Translation of documents | － | ○ | |
| Filing on your behalf | ○ | ○ | |
| Immigration: Designated Activities visa application |
Visa application consultation | ○ | ○ |
| List of required documents | ○ | ○ | |
| Preparation of the application forms | ○ | ○ | |
| Translation of documents | － | ○ | |
| Filing on your behalf | ○ | ○ | |
| JPY 385,000 | JPY 462,000 |
Related Services & Other Pages
For details on your situation and on the formation and licensing procedures after entry into Japan, please see the pages below.
Support when you are overseas and have a collaborator in Japan
Business License Application Support (obtaining the various licenses)
Kabushiki-Kaisha / Godo-Kaisha Formation Support
- Japan Market Entry Total Support for Foreign Companies and Investors
- Japan Post-Entry Operating Advisory
- Business Manager Visa COE Application Support (Applicant Overseas, with a Collaborator in Japan)
- Business Manager Visa (4-Month) & Startup Visa Application Support
- Business Manager Visa Change Application Support (Applicant Already in Japan)
- Business Manager Visa Renewal Application Support
- Company Formation Support (Kabushiki-Kaisha / Godo-Kaisha)
- Business License Application Support
Article Supervisor
- Touch Immigration Law Firm Representative Administrative Scrivener Kazuki Yuda
-
August 2018 Established “Yuda Administrative Scrivener Office,” specializing in visa applications and naturalization applications April 2022 Incorporated the private office as “Touch Immigration Law Firm” Areas of Expertise Foreign nationals’ statuses of residence and naturalization applications
Specializes in foreign national visa-related matters and handles more than 1,000 consultations annuallySeminar Experience Numerous seminars, including the International Administrative Scrivener Training Course, Toda City International Exchange Foundation, Saitama Japanese Language Network, Administrative Scrivener TOP 10% Club, and work visa training seminars for administrative scriveners Operated Websites Touch Immigration Law Firm
International Marriage & Spouse Visa Support Center
Naturalization Application Support Center
Work Visa Support Center
Permanent Resident Visa Support Center
Business Manager Visa Support Center
U.S. Visa Support Center
Visa Support Center
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