Managing a Company in Japan

A foreign national wishing to start a new business in Japan can apply for a "Business Manager" visa (status of residence).

To obtain a "Business Manager" visa, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. The company must have an office in Japan for conducting business. If the business has not yet started, a facility in Japan must have been secured for use as an office.
2. The scale of the business must meet one of the following criteria:
1. The company must have at least two full-time employees residing in Japan, excluding executives and managers.
2. The company must have a total capital or investment of at least 5 million yen.
3. The company must be considered to have a scale equivalent to either (a) or (b) above.
3. If the applicant will manage the business, they must have at least three years of experience in business administration or management (including any period spent specializing in management or administration at graduate school) and must receive compensation equal to or greater than what a Japanese person would earn for the same work.

If the applicant already holds a visa (status of residence) that imposes no restrictions on their activities, they may freely choose the type of business they wish to engage in and operate the business accordingly.

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