Our firm specializes in visa-related matters, and we are often asked by foreign nationals who come to us for consultation about obtaining a business management visa, “Do I need work experience in business management or business administration to obtain a business management visa?” We are often asked this question.
This page will explain the necessity of work experience when obtaining a business management visa.
Business Management” and “Business Administration” in Business Management Visa
The Management and Administration Visa is a visa for foreign nationals residing in Japan mainly to engage in activities such as the operation of a business.
More precisely, the activities to obtain a business/management visa are “Activities to manage a trade or other business in Japan or to engage in the management of such business. or engage in the management of a trade or other business in Japan”.
Whether you are engaged in “business management” or “business administration” determines whether you need work experience to obtain a business administration visa.
What is business management?
Management of a business” means operating a business as a representative director or other officer.
Specific examples are
- Establish a company in Japan with your own capital and engage as a representative director.
- Engaged as a representative director of a Japanese subsidiary of a foreign company
These activities include
What is Business Management?
The term “business management” refers to the management of the business of a division of a company as an official in charge of that division, such as a general manager, branch manager, or factory manager.
Specific examples are
- Engaged as a branch manager of a Japanese branch of a foreign company
- Engaged in administrative work for a foreign company in Japan
These activities include
Work experience in the case of “management of a business”
Activities to be carried out in JapanNo work experience is required for “management of a business.”
For example, a foreigner attending a Japanese university on a college student visa can start a company after graduation and change his/her visa status to a business management visa.
Although work experience is not legally required, if you have work experience, it will give you an advantage in the examination process because it will provide a strong basis for why you are applying for a business management visa and for the stability and continuity of your business . This is because it will provide a strong basis for the applicant’s reason for applying for a business management visa and for the stability and continuity of the business.
If the applicant is elderly, the Immigration Bureau may ask the applicant to submit materials to prove his/her work experience, as it would be unnatural for the applicant to suddenly start a business in Japan without previous work experience, and it may be questionable whether the business will be stable and continuous.
As a guide, In most cases, work experience is required if the applicant is over 60 years of age.
Note that the Immigration Bureau may also require proof of work experience even if the applicant has not invested in the company, such as by assuming a director’s position in an existing company.
Work experience in the case of “business management”
If the activity you intend to conduct in Japan is “management of a business,” you must have at least three years of work experience in the management or administration of a business.
This “at least three years of work experience” includes the period during which the student majored in a graduate course related to business administration or management.
For example, one year of work experience in the home country plus two years of MBA graduate school would still satisfy the “three or more years of work experience” requirement.
Please note that the period of study in subjects related to management and administration is limited to graduate school and cannot include university ones.
Summary of the need for practical experience
For “Business Management”
- Self-funded and under 60 ⇒ No work experience required
- 60 years old or older ⇒ Work experience required
- Not self-funded => Work experience required
For “Business Management”
A minimum of three years of work experience is required.
*You may include the period of time you majored in courses related to management and administration at a graduate school.
Conclusion
This page explains the necessity of work experience when obtaining a business management visa.
The business and management visa is generally a difficult visa to obtain.
In order to properly determine whether or not you need work experience, and if so, what kind of documentation you need to submit, If so, what materials should you submit to prove your case?
