"How long does it take from deciding to expand into Japan until you can actually start operating there" is a point many overseas companies worry about first. To get straight to the point, it is not unusual for it to take three to four months at the very least, and six to twelve months or more when l…

For overseas companies considering expansion into Japan, the first hurdle is the choice of "what form to establish a presence in Japan in." Broadly speaking, there are three methods: setting up a subsidiary (a Japanese corporation), establishing a branch, and opening a representative office. Each ha…

When an overseas company or a foreign entrepreneur tries to start a business in Japan, the first thing they face is the choice of "what type of company to set up." Japan has several company types, but the two most commonly used in practice are the joint-stock company (KK) and the limited liability c…

When an overseas company considers expanding into Japan, "how much will it actually cost" is a point they worry about first. The cost of expanding into Japan varies greatly depending on the form of entry, the industry, the scale of the business, whether the manager needs a visa, and so on. This art…

When an existing Japanese company accepts a foreign national as a director or other officer, or at the branch manager / department manager level, it considers obtaining the "Business Manager" Visa. To have a foreign national obtain the Business Manager Visa, the key point is whether they are substa…

Costs for obtaining a business manager visa If a foreigner living in Japan wants to run a company, unless they have a status-based residence status (spouse or child of a Japanese national, spouse or child of a permanent resident, long-term resident, etc.) or permanent residency, You cannot run a c…

When foreign nationals start a business in Japan, what they must obtain without fail is the "Business Manager" status of residence (the Business Manager Visa). In recent years, the ministerial ordinance that sets the permission criteria for this Business Manager Visa has been substantially revised, …

For foreign nationals launching a business in Japan, the most important thing is obtaining the "Business Manager" status of residence (commonly known as the Business Manager Visa). Under the former law, there existed a requirement of "either capital of 5 million yen or more, or the employment of tw…

The "Business Manager" Visa is a type of work visa, primarily obtained by foreign nationals who reside in Japan for the purpose of managing a company within Japan. This page explains the requirements for obtaining the "Business Manager" Visa. Requirements for obtaining the "Business Manager" Statu…

The status of residence "Business Manager" (the so-called Business Manager Visa) is required for foreign nationals to establish a company in Japan and operate a business. The permission criteria for this Business Manager Visa have, due to the latest revision of the Landing Criteria Ministerial Ordin…