What is the period of stay for a Business Manager Visa?

Types of Business Manager Visa

There are five periods of stay available for the Business Manager Visa: 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 4 months, and 3 months.
This period will be determined based on the applicant’s business situation, business stability, employment status, etc.

For first-time applicants or new businesses, a one-year visa is often given, with the possibility of subsequently renewing for a three or five-year visa.

In addition, due to recent legal reforms, a four-month period of stay has been set to allow for procedures such as corporate registration after entering the country.

Since the period of stay will exceed three months, a residence card will be issued with a Business Manager visa, which will allow you to register as a resident and open a bank account under your personal name.

Requirements for obtaining a business manager visa

To obtain a business manager visa, you must meet several requirements.
Below is a summary of the main requirements.

①Existence of business office

Requirements include having a business establishment in Japan.
If business has not yet commenced, a facility to be used as a business office must be secured.
You will be required to submit documents such as a copy of the real estate register and a rental agreement.

②Scale of business

You must meet one of the following requirements.

The process of accumulating the 5 million yen will be reviewed. The funds must be secured through legitimate means, not through illegal means (savings, borrowing, etc.).

③ Management experience and compensation

If the applicant is to manage the business on behalf of a foreign investor, he/she must have at least three years of experience in business management or administration (including the period spent in graduate school) and receive at least the same remuneration (approximately 200,000 yen per month) as a Japanese national.

④Stability and continuity of business

The business content must be feasible and have stability and continuity.
You will be required to submit a detailed business plan.Be careful, because if your company is in the red within Japan, you will be deemed to be unstable and it will be difficult to obtain a business manager visa.

⑤ Actual management

They must have the authority to execute business and manage the company and actually carry out management.

Time required to obtain a business manager visa

Generally, it takes time to obtain a business manager visa.It takes 4 to 6 months.

① Company establishment (about 1 month)

Before applying for a business manager visa, you need to establish a company.
Specifically, you will need to follow the steps below:

② Various notifications to the tax office (about 2 weeks)

Various notifications are required to the tax office.
Please keep the copy of the notification as it will be required when applying for a business manager visa.

③ Business permits and other licenses (about one month)

If you are conducting a business that requires a license or permit, you will need to obtain permission from government agencies such as the police station or health center. The main types of businesses that require licenses and permits are as follows:

④ Apply for a business manager visa (application preparation takes about one month)

In parallel with the above, you will prepare for the application. However, it may take time to prepare documents such as a business plan and profit and loss statement, so it is important to prepare thoroughly in advance.

⑤ Examination period by the Immigration Bureau (2-3 months)

The review period varies depending on the case and the time of year, but it generally takes about two to three months.

As mentioned above, it takes approximately 4 to 6 months from the time you start preparing to establish a company until permission is granted to obtain a business manager visa.

Key points for obtaining a long-term visa

In order to obtain a long-term business manager visa, there are a few points you need to keep in mind.
The most important points are explained below.

Current business situation

When obtaining a long-term visa, it is very important to provide a detailed report of your current business situation.

For example, report sales figures for the past few years to demonstrate the growth and stability of your business.
If sales are on the rise, it is a sure sign of business success and demand in the market.

Next, you will also need to report profits. Stable profits are one indicator of a healthy business. High profitability in particular highlights the sustainability of the business and increases the chances of obtaining a long-term visa.

It is also a good idea to provide a detailed report of your business operations expenses.
Demonstrating proper expense management demonstrates operational efficiency.

For example, it would be effective to provide a detailed explanation of major expense items such as advertising, rent, and employee salaries, and highlight cost-cutting measures and efficiency initiatives.

Employee employment status

The employment status of employees is also an important point to consider when obtaining a long-term visa.

Proof of stable employment relationships by submitting employment contracts with employees.
The employment contract must clearly state salary, working hours, job description, etc.

Next, you will need to provide a statement of the payroll paid to your employees to show that they are being paid appropriately. Pay slips are important evidence that support the livelihood of your employees.

Finally, you will need to report how many employees you have. The more employees you have, the more stable your business will be and the more likely you are to get a long-term visa.

How to renew a business manager visa and the necessary documents

Renewing a Business Manager Visa is more difficult than other visas, and you must meet the same requirements as when obtaining a new visa.

Applicants are also required to properly pay Japanese taxes (income tax, corporate tax, resident tax, etc.), submit necessary notifications, and enroll their employees in social insurance.

Other requirements include securing a place of business, fulfilling tax obligations, and making arrangements for social insurance enrollment.

In order to prove the continuity of the business, the stability of sales and profits, appropriate expense management, the existence of surplus funds, and the status of excessive debt will be examined. In some cases, it is important to submit a medical certificate from a certified public accountant or a small and medium-sized enterprise management consultant to show that the business is expected to continue.

Next, let’s take a look at the documents required for renewal.

General submission documents

Common documents to be submitted are:

・Application for extension of period of stay
This document contains basic information about the applicant and is used to officially apply for visa renewal.

・Photo (4cm long x 3cm wide)
A clear photograph taken within 6 months prior to application, taken from the front, without a hat, and with a plain background. Write the applicant’s name on the back of the photograph and paste it in the photo section of the application form.

・Present your passport and residence card
Present a valid passport and residence card to verify your identity and current residence status.

・Copy of the most recent financial statements
This document shows the financial status of the business and is necessary to prove the sound management of the company.

・Resident tax (or non-tax) certificate and tax payment certificate
This is a certificate showing your total income and tax payment status for the year, and is required to demonstrate proper tax payment.

Documents that may be required

Below are the documents that may be required.

・Document certifying the category of the affiliated institution
Documents to prove which category your organization falls into.
For example, a copy of the Nikkei Financial Statements or a document proving that your organization is listed on a Japanese stock exchange.

・Copy of the statutory report such as withholding slip of employee’s salary income for the previous year (with receipt stamp)
This is required to prove the salary payment status for the previous year.
It shows the proper processing of withholding tax for salaried employees.

・Document proving that your application to use the online residence application system has been approved
This is a document indicating approval of an application to use the online system (such as an email notifying you of approval of your application to use the online system).

Please consult with an administrative scrivener regarding obtaining a business manager visa.

Our office provides full support for procedures related to the period of stay of a business manager visa.
Our office can handle everything from preparing for company establishment to preparing application documents on your behalf.

Accuracy is especially important when filling out a business plan, as even a small error can delay the process.Our experienced administrative scriveners will ensure that your application is prepared correctly and that there are no errors in the documentation.

We also provide general consultation regarding the period of stay of business manager visas.
If you have any questions or concerns about renewing your period of stay or obtaining a long-term visa, our specialized staff will be happy to answer your questions and provide you with appropriate advice.

If you have any problems regarding the period of stay of a business manager visa, please contact “Touch Administrative Scrivener Corporation.”

To book a free consultation, please contact our office by phone or through our contact form.