The period of stay for a Business Manager Visa, that is, the residence status of “Business Manager,” is 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 4 months, or 3 months.
For a new application, a one-year visa is often granted. After that, depending on the stability of the company’s management and the length of prior residence, it may be possible to obtain a three-year or five-year visa.
This article explains the period of stay for a Business Manager Visa, as well as important points for initial applications and renewals.
- Period of Stay for a Business Manager Visa
- Requirements for Obtaining a Business Manager Visa
- Time Required to Obtain a Business Manager Visa
- Key Points for Obtaining a Long-Term Visa Period
- How to Renew a Business Manager Visa and Required Documents
- Please Consult a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist for Your Business Manager Visa
Period of Stay for a Business Manager Visa
A Business Manager Visa has five possible periods of stay: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 4 months, and 3 months.
This period is determined based on the applicant’s business conditions, the stability of the business, employment status, and other factors.
For first-time applications or new businesses, a one-year visa is often granted, but it may be possible to obtain a three-year or five-year visa upon renewal.
If corporate registration and related procedures must be completed after entry into Japan, a four-month visa may be granted.
Since the period of stay exceeds three months, a residence card will be issued under the Business Manager Visa status. This allows the holder to complete resident registration and open a personal bank account in Japan.
Requirements for Obtaining a Business Manager Visa
To obtain a Business Manager Visa, several requirements must be met.
The main requirements are summarized below.
1. Existence of a Business Office
Having a business office in Japan is one of the requirements.
If the business has not yet started, a facility to be used as the business office must already be secured.
Documents such as a real estate registry certificate or lease agreement must be submitted.
Please note that virtual offices are not accepted, and using a residence as both a home and office is generally not permitted because at least one full-time employee must be hired.
2. Business Scale
One of the following requirements must be satisfied.
- Employ at least one full-time employee (Japanese national, Special Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, Permanent Resident, or spouse, etc., of such status holders).
- Have capital or total investment of at least 30 million yen.
For a full-time employee, supporting documents such as an employment contract must be submitted.
For capital, the process by which the 30 million yen was formed will be examined. The funds must have been secured legally and not through improper means.
Capital or total investment means assets used for the business. In the case of a corporation, this refers to the amount of paid-in capital of a stock company, or the total amount of contributions in a general partnership company, limited partnership company, or limited liability company, and does not include capital reserves, capital surplus, or retained earnings.
In the case of an individual business, it means the total amount invested in items necessary to operate the business, such as securing office space, one year of employee salaries, and equipment investment expenses.
3. Background (Education and Work Experience) and Compensation
The applicant must satisfy one of the following.
- Have obtained a doctoral, master’s, or professional degree in a field related to business management/administration or to the technical skills or knowledge required for the business covered by the application
- Have at least three years of experience in business management or administration
In addition, the applicant must receive compensation equivalent to or greater than that paid to a Japanese national engaged in the same work (around 250,000 yen per month).
4. Japanese Language Ability
Either the applicant or a full-time employee must have a reasonable level of Japanese language proficiency.
A reasonable level of Japanese proficiency means a B2 level or higher under the “Framework of Reference for Japanese Language Education” (such as JLPT N2 or above, or a score of 400 or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test).
However, proof of Japanese language ability through an examination is not required if the applicant or a full-time employee falls under any of the following categories.
- Japanese national
- Special Permanent Resident
- A person who has resided in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident for 20 years or more
- A graduate of a Japanese university or similar institution
- A person who completed compulsory education in Japan and graduated from a Japanese high school
5. Business Stability and Continuity
The business must be feasible, stable, and sustainable.
If the business in Japan is running at a deficit, it may be considered unstable, which can make it difficult to obtain a Business Manager Visa.
A detailed business plan must be submitted.
When submitting it, the business plan must be confirmed by a person with professional knowledge of business management—such as a Certified Management Consultant, Certified Public Accountant, or Tax Accountant—to show that it is specific, reasonable, and feasible.
6. Actual Management
The applicant must have authority to execute business operations and management within the company and must actually engage in running the business.
Time Required to Obtain a Business Manager Visa
In general, it takes about 4 to 6 months to obtain a Business Manager Visa.
1. Company Establishment (About 1 Month)
Before applying for a Business Manager Visa, the company must first be established.
Specifically, the following procedures are required.
- Preparation of the articles of incorporation and notarization at a notary office
- Transfer of the capital amount
- Corporate registration at the Legal Affairs Bureau
2. Various Notifications to the Tax Office (About 2 Weeks)
Various notifications must be submitted to the tax office.
Copies of these filings will be required when applying for the Business Manager Visa, so they should be kept safely.
- Notification of incorporation of a corporation
- Notification of establishment of a salary payment office, etc.
- Application for approval of the special provision for due dates of withholding tax
3. Business Licenses and Permits (About 1 Month)
If the business requires permits or licenses, approval must be obtained from the relevant administrative authority, such as the police or public health center. Main types of businesses requiring permits include the following.
Food service, real estate, manufacturing, hotels and inns, construction, transportation, etc.
4. Business Manager Visa Application (About 1 Month for Preparation)
Application preparation proceeds in parallel with the above steps. However, because documents such as the business plan and profit and loss forecast may take time to prepare, it is important to begin preparations early.
- Preparation of the application for a Certificate of Eligibility
- Preparation of the business plan and profit and loss forecast
- Preparation of the statement of reasons for application
- Collection of required documents
- Submission of the application to immigration
5. Immigration Review Period (2 to 3 Months)
The review period varies depending on the case and timing, but it generally takes about two to three months.
As explained above, obtaining a Business Manager Visa generally takes about four to six months from the start of company establishment preparations until approval is granted.
This is the shortest possible timeframe when all procedures proceed smoothly.
In cases where business licenses or permits are required, more time may be needed in practice, so it is important to create a schedule with sufficient margin.
Key Points for Obtaining a Long-Term Visa Period
To obtain a longer period of stay under a Business Manager Visa, it is important to keep several points in mind.
Below are some of the most important considerations.
Recent Business Performance
When seeking a long-term visa, it is extremely important to report recent business performance in detail.
For example, reporting sales over the past several years helps demonstrate business growth and stability.
If sales are trending upward, this can show business success and ongoing market demand.
Next, profits must also be reported.
Stable profits are one indicator of sound management. In particular, strong profitability highlights the sustainability of the business and can improve the chances of receiving a long-term visa.
It is also advisable to report business expenses in detail.
Demonstrating proper expense management helps prove management efficiency.
For example, it is effective to specifically explain major expense items such as advertising costs, rent, and employee salaries, while also describing cost-reduction measures and efficiency improvements.
Employee Hiring Status
The status of employee hiring is also an important factor when obtaining a long-term visa.
Submitting employment contracts with employees helps demonstrate stable employment relationships.
These contracts should clearly state salary, working hours, and job duties.
Next, salary statements paid to employees should be submitted to show that wages are being paid properly. Salary statements are important evidence supporting employees’ livelihoods.
Finally, the number of employees should also be reported. The more employees a business has, the more likely it is to be viewed as stable, which can increase the chances of obtaining a longer-term visa.
How to Renew a Business Manager Visa and Required Documents
Renewing a Business Manager Visa is more difficult than renewing many other types of visas, and the applicant must meet requirements similar to those for an initial application.
Even if the Business Manager Visa was obtained under the pre-revision standards, in principle, future renewals will still need to comply with the revised standards.
One particularly important requirement is that “the amount of capital or total investment must be at least 30 million yen.” Under the old standards, 5 million yen was sufficient, but if the company cannot increase its capital to 30 million yen or more by the time of renewal, renewing the Business Manager Visa may become difficult.
In addition, the applicant must properly pay Japanese taxes such as income tax, corporate tax, and resident tax, submit required notifications, and enroll employees in social insurance.
Other requirements include securing a business office, fulfilling tax obligations, and maintaining proper social insurance enrollment.
To prove business continuity, immigration will examine stable sales and profits, proper expense management, the existence of retained earnings, and whether the company is in excess debt. In some cases, it may also be important to submit an opinion letter from a professional such as a Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Consultant stating that the business is expected to continue.
Next, let us also look at the documents required at the time of renewal.
Commonly Required Documents
The generally required documents are as follows.
Application for Extension of Period of Stay
This is the document used to provide the applicant’s basic information and formally apply for visa renewal.
Photograph (4 cm high × 3 cm wide) A clear, front-facing photo taken within the six months before application, without a hat or background. The applicant’s name should be written on the back, and the photo should be attached to the photograph section of the application form.
Presentation of Passport and Residence Card A valid passport and residence card must be presented to verify identity and current residence status.
Document Proving the Category of the Affiliated Organization A document proving which category the affiliated organization falls under.
Examples include a copy of a listing in a company handbook, a document showing that the company is listed on a Japanese stock exchange, or a copy of the statutory record summary table for withholding income tax on salary income from the previous year.
Depending on the category of the affiliated organization, the following documents may also be required.
- A copy of the most recent fiscal year’s financial statements
- If the business is conducted by a corporation, a copy of the corporation’s certificate of registered matters
- Materials proving that any permits or licenses required to operate the business have been obtained
- Documents relating to wage payments and a resident record or other materials showing that there is at least one full-time employee
- A document specifically explaining the applicant’s business management or administrative activities during the most recent period of stay
- A resident tax certificate (or tax exemption certificate) and tax payment certificate showing total income and tax payment status for one year
- The following materials showing the fulfillment of public dues and taxes by the affiliated organization (tax payment certificates for labor insurance, social insurance, withholding income tax and special reconstruction income tax, corporate tax, consumption tax and local consumption tax, corporate inhabitant tax, etc.)
- A certificate of exemption from withholding tax for a foreign corporation or other materials showing that withholding is not required
Please Consult a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist for Your Business Manager Visa
Our office provides full support for procedures related to the period of stay for a Business Manager Visa.
We can handle everything on your behalf, from company establishment preparation to preparing the application documents.
In particular, accuracy is essential when completing the business plan, and even minor deficiencies can delay the process. Our experienced certified administrative procedures legal specialists will prepare your application carefully and help prevent document deficiencies.
We also provide general consultations regarding the period of stay for a Business Manager Visa.
If you have questions or concerns about renewing your period of stay or obtaining a longer-term visa, our specialist staff will respond carefully and provide appropriate advice.
If you need help regarding the period of stay for a Business Manager Visa, please consult TOUCH Law Firm.
Reservations for free consultations can be made by phone or through our inquiry form, so please feel free to contact us.
