What Is the Process for Obtaining a Business Manager Visa? A Step-by-Step Guide

What is a Business Manager Visa?

The Business Manager Visa (status of residence: “Business Manager”) is one of the residence statuses required for foreign nationals who wish to engage in business management or administration in Japan.

Eligible Applicants: This visa is intended for company executives (such as presidents or directors) and managers (such as branch or factory managers).

Process for Obtaining a Business Manager Visa

The process of obtaining a Business Manager Visa can generally be divided into three main patterns, depending on whether the applicant is already residing in Japan or not.

 

If the Applicant Is Residing in Japan

Determining the Basic Matters	Determine the Basic Company Details. When establishing a company, you must decide on fundamental matters such as the company name, company address, business objectives, and capital investment. You will also need to secure an office location through a lease agreement.
Company Establishment	1.Prepare the Articles of Incorporation and have them notarized at a notary offic 2.Deposit the capital into a bank account. 3.Register the company with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
Various Notifications	After completing the incorporation procedures, various notifications must be submitted to the relevant authorities. These include the Tax Office, Prefectural Tax Office, Municipal Office, Pension Office, Labor Standards Inspection Office, and Hello Work (Public Employment Security Office).
Business Licensesand Permits	If your business requires specific licenses or permits, you must complete the necessary procedures with administrative agencies such as the Police Department, Public Health Center, or the Prefectural Government, and obtain the appropriate approvals. Examples of major businesses that require licenses or permits: ・Restaurant Business ・Real Estate Industry ・Manufacturing Industry ・Hotel Business ・Construction Industry ・Transportation Industry
Application for a Status of Residence to the Immigration Bureau	Collect necessary documents and prepare application forms. To obtain a Business Manager Visa, it is necessary to prepare documents such as a business plan, profit and loss projection, and a statement of purpose at the time of application. Once all preparations are complete, submit the applicationto the Immigration Bureau. The examination period usually takes 1 to 3 months.
Receipt of Residence Card	After the screening is completed, the residence card will be issued at the Immigration Bureau.

 

When the applicant is overseas and has a collaborator in Japan

Determining the Basic Matters	Determine the Basic Company Details. When establishing a company, you need to decide on key elements such as the company name, registered address, business objectives, and amount of capital investment. An office lease agreement must also be signed as part of the process.※A collaborator may sign the lease agreement on behalf of the applicant.
Company establishment	1.Prepare the Articles of Incorporation and have them notarized at a notary office. 2.Deposit the capital into a bank account. ※The capital may be deposited into the collaborator’s bank account on behalf of the applicant. 3.Register the company with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
Various Notifications	After completing the incorporation procedures, various notifications must be submitted to the relevant authorities. These include the Tax Office, Prefectural Tax Office, Municipal Office, Pension Office, Labor Standards Inspection Office, and Hello Work (Public Employment Security Office). (A collaborator may submit the notifications on behalf of the applicant.）
Business Licensesand Permits	If your business requires specific licenses or permits, you must complete the necessary procedures with administrative agencies such as the Police Department, Public Health Center, or the Prefectural Government, and obtain the appropriate approvals. Examples of major businesses that require licenses or permits: ・Restaurant Business ・Real Estate Industry ・Manufacturing Industry ・Hotel Business ・Construction Industry ・Transportation Industry
Application for a Status of Residence to the Immigration Bureau	Collect necessary documents and prepare application forms. To obtain a Business Manager Visa, it is necessary to prepare documents such as a business plan, profit and loss projection, and a statement of purpose at the time of application. Once all preparations are complete, submit the application to the Immigration Bureau. The examination period usually takes 1 to 3 months.
Visa Issuance Entry into Japan	After the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, the applicant must obtain a visa at the local Japanese embassy and enter Japan within three months.

 

When the applicant is overseas and has no collaborator in Japan

If the applicant is outside Japan, it is extremely difficult to establish a company without a collaborator in Japan.

If the company has not yet been established, it is not possible to obtain a Business Manager Visa.
Therefore we utilize the system called:
“4-Month Business Manager Visa for Company Establishment Preparation.”

What Is the 4-Month Business Manager Visa?

If the applicant resides overseas and intends to newly enter Japan on a Business Manager Visa,it is required that a company has already been established in Japan at the time of the visa application.

Furthermore, when establishing a company in Japan, the procedures listed below are required.

Without a residential address in Japan, it is not possible to open a bank account with a Japanese financial institution, and therefore, the capital deposit cannot be made. Additionally, it is difficult to enter into a lease agreement for office space.

⇒In other words, without someone in Japan who can assist with the above procedures, it becomes impossible to establish a company in Japan, and as a result, obtaining a Business Manager Visa is also not feasible.

A system established as a preparatory period to ease the strict requirements mentioned above and to promote entrepreneurship in Japan by foreign nationals.
It is not necessary to complete the company registration before submitting the application.

Key Features of the 4-Month Business Manager Visa:

In the case of the 4-month Business Manager Visa, the capital deposit and office lease agreement are carried out after the applicant enters Japan with the visa.
In other words, it is possible to establish a company without having a local collaborator in Japan. This is the greatest advantage of the 4-month Business Manager Visa.

The procedure using the 4-month Business Manager Visa is as outlined below.

Draft the articles of incorporation	Decide on details such as the company name, the proposed company address, the business purpose, and the amount of capital investment for company establishment .
Choosing a potential office site	Decide on a potential location for the company’s office. Note: The lease agreement can be finalized after entering Japan.
Document collection Business plan development	Collect and prepare the necessary documents for the immigration application and formulate a business plan. Organize the list of required documents based on the content of the business plan and the applicant’s circumstances.
Application for a Status of Residence to the Immigration Bureau	Submit an application for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a 4-month Business Manager status to the Immigration Bureau. The examination period usually takes about 1 to 3 months.
Visa issuance Entry into Japan	Once the COE is issued, the applicant will obtain a visa at the local Japanese embassy. The applicant will then enter Japan with the 4-month Business Manager Visa.
Preparations for Starting the Business	Make various preparations for the start of the business. These preparations must be completed within the 4-month period. 【Preparations】 ・Register a residential address ・Obtain a personal seal registration certificate (Inkan Shomeisho) ・Sign a lease agreement for office space ・Open a personal bank account in Japan under the applicant’s name ・Deposit the capital and register the company ・Open a corporate bank account ・Submit a Notification of Incorporation and other required documents to the tax office ・If the business requires a license, obtain the necessary business permit
Application for a Status of Residence to the Immigration Bureau.	Submit An application for extension of the period of stay for the Business Manager Visa to the Immigration Bureau. The examination period usually takes 1 to 2 months. Typically, a one-year period of stay is granted. If the applicant wishes to bring family members to Japan, a Dependent Visa application must also be submitted to the Immigration Bureau.