Dispatching Employees to Japan

When a company with a head office, branch, or other office outside of Japan wishes to send an employee to Japan, the employee must obtain an “Intra-Company Transferee” visa. The following requirements must be met in order to acquire an “Intra-Company Transferee” visa:

1. The individual coming to Japan must have been employed continuously at the head office or a branch of the company located outside of Japan for at least one year immediately prior to the transfer.
2. The individual must be compensated at a level equal to or greater than what a Japanese employee would earn for the same role.

If a company is sending an employee to Japan but does not have any branches or offices to host the employee, it is required to establish a representative office in Japan.

Dispatching an Executive or Manager

If a foreign national is coming to Japan to be involved in company or business management, such as serving as the representative director of a Japanese subsidiary, they must apply for a “Business Manager” visa. The following requirements apply to acquiring a “Business Manager” visa:

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.

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Visas We are Frequently Asked About

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Business Manager Visa