The "Management/Administration" visa is required for foreigners to establish a company in Japan and legally engage in management activities or work as an officer of an existing company. In recent years, the Japanese government has been trying to encourage talented and financially strong foreigners to start businesses in Japan, and a large number of foreigners have obtained this status of residence.
On the other hand, some foreigners believe that "as long as I have 5 million yen, I can form a company and stay in Japan legally with my family," and consultations with our office are increasing, but obtaining this status of residence is not that easy. In this article, we will explain in an easy-to-understand manner the requirements for obtaining a Management and Administration visa, the application process, and even the changes in the status of acquisition based on the latest statistical data. It is a must-read for those who intend to start a business in Japan and for professionals who support them.
People who should read this article
Foreigners who want to establish and manage a company in Japan
Foreigners currently residing in Japan as international students
A friend from overseas who wants to start a company in Japan
What is a Business Management Visa?
The "Management/Administration" visa status was established to allow foreigners to engage in business management/administrative activities. Due to a revision in 2014, the status was limited to management/administrative activities in foreign-affiliated companies, but now includes management/administrative activities in Japanese-affiliated companies (companies not owned by a foreign national or a foreign company).
In this status of residence, "management" and "administration" are considered different statuses, and the requirements for obtaining these statuses are different. However, it is allowed to engage in only one of "management" or "administration," or both. For example, a foreigner can be engaged in the management of a business in the position of manager of a company, as well as in the management of the business as a director and general manager.
Management Visa
"In Japan, trade and otherRunning a businessThis is a "residence status".
The term refers to activities as a person in a position to make decisions on or participate in important matters related to the operation and business execution of a business in a company, etc. that operates a business.
The term "trade or other" is an example, and businesses other than trade, such as running a restaurant or a shop selling goods, also fall under this status of residence.
Specifically, it refers to the following activities
(i) To establish an office, etc. in Japan to serve as a base for activities, and to start and manage a trade or other business.
(ii) To participate in the management of a trade or other business already operated in Japan.
(iii) To engage in the management of a trade or other business in Japan or on behalf of a person who is engaged in the management of such a business in Japan.
administrative visa
(2) "In the case of a company engaged in trade or other business in JapanActivities Engaged in ManagementThis is a status of residence for "I'm not a resident of Japan".
The following activities as a person in a position to direct and supervise an organization in a business enterprise, etc.
(i) Engaging in the management of a business that he/she has started and is managing or in which he/she participates in the management of in Japan
(ii) Engaging in the management of a trading or other business in Japan on behalf of a person who has commenced the management of a trading or other business in Japan or a person who is managing such a business in Japan.
Specifically, they act as "presidents," "directors," "general managers," "factory managers," "branch managers," and other managers who are engaged in making decisions on important matters related to business operations and in executing or supervising business operations.
Trends in Business Management and Administrative Visa Status
The following chart shows changes in the number of foreign residents in the "Management/Administration" category since 2010, based on official data from the Immigration and Residence Management Agency and other sources.
With the Japanese government's increased support for foreign entrepreneurs to "stimulate the economy" and "improve international competitiveness," the number of business and management visa holders has been growing significantly.
In 2024, the number of residents is 39,616 as of June,It is really 1451 TP3T compared to 2019, five years ago.Compared to the "Changes in the Number of Foreign Residents" below, you can see how the number of people obtaining Management and Administrative visas has increased.
(Source: Immigration and Immigration Agency)https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001425981.pdf )
The increase in the number of foreigners obtaining business and management visas is due to a combination of social, institutional, and economic factors, including the following
1. strengthening support for foreign entrepreneurship by the Japanese government
- Policies to attract foreign entrepreneurs, such as the "start-up visa system" and the "advanced foreign human resources point system," are being promoted.
- Some local governments (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, etc.) have introduced a system to recognize a status of residence as a preparatory period for starting a business (start-up status of residence).
★Objective: To revitalize the economy and increase international competitiveness
2. relatively low hurdles to starting a business in Japan
- Foreigners can establish a corporation if they meet the following conditions: capital of at least 5 million yen, secure office space, and at least two full-time employees.
- From the perspective of those from Southeast Asia and other parts of the world,Japan's economy, security, and institutional stability are attractive.The following is a list of the most common problems with the
Relatively loose capital requirements compared to other countries
In recent years, the screening process has become stricter and more difficult to obtain.
3. growing needs of the Japanese market (especially Chinese and Asian)
- Wealthy and middle class people from China, Vietnam, Nepal, etc. want to develop their business and immigrate to Japan.
- Permanent residency or family residency with business in Japan as a foothold.Movement toward building long-term livelihoodsAlso.
4. matching the shortage of human resources with the needs of foreign nationals
- Businesses by foreign managers catering to foreigners (e.g., food & beverage, trading, foreign language education, IT) are increasing due to the labor shortage and diversification of services in Japan.
- by the expansion of the compatriot community and cross-border e-commerce,Expanded entrepreneurial opportunities in niche marketsThe following is a list of the most common problems with the
5. selection as a step toward permanent residence or naturalization
- The period of stay under a business/administration visa is usually one or three years, but if you continue stable business operations,Likely to meet the requirements for permanent residence or naturalization applicationThe following is a list of the most common problems with the
- Some foreigners who intend to live permanently or bring family members choose this visa as a relatively easy visa to obtain.
6. awareness of the system and support for applications
- We have a support system including administrative scriveners, judicial scriveners, and consulting firms,Application hurdles are being lowered.The following is a list of the most common problems with the
- Especially through SNS and YouTube, "how to start a business in Japan" and "how to get a visa" are widely shared.
Requirements for obtaining a Business/Administration Visa (Applicability of Status of Residence)
We will now explain the actual requirements for obtaining a business management visa.
Due to the above situation in Japan, a great number of foreigners have recently been aiming to obtain this status in order to start a business in Japan. However, in recent years, the requirements for obtaining this status of residence have become stricter than those for other types of work-related status of residence.It is a "fairly challenging" status of residence.
Activities to manage a trade or other business in Japan or to engage in the management of such business (excluding activities to engage in the management or administration of a business which may not be legally conducted without the qualifications listed in the Legal and Accounting Services section of this table).
1. engage in the management of a trade or other business in Japan (management) or engage in the management of a business (administration).
The specific visa types are as described in the visa types section above.
Whether or not these activities fall under this status of residence will be determined by checking the actual nature of the work to be performed. The applicant is not merely a manager or officer in name only, etc,It is determined whether the person is a person who substantially operates or manages the business.
The same applies to cases where a person is invited as a manager or administrator of a business already in operation, where the ratio of investment, the nature of the business, and the presence or absence of corporate control are important, although a case where a person acquires a majority of the outstanding shares and assumes the position of representative director is likely to be judged as "conducting management,If a person "acquires "non-voting shares" and assumes the position of director," it is more likely that he/she will not be deemed to "manage" the company.
The amount of the applicant's own investment is not a requirement for the permit itself, but it is an important factor in the review process.
Activities in which a foreign national is engaged in the management or administration of multiple companies, etc. in Japan are also recognized as status of residence pertaining to "management/administration".
2. appropriateness, stability, and continuity of the business
The "business" for "management and administration" shall be conducted properly andStability and continuity must be recognized.
Whether or not a person meets this requirement is strictly scrutinized and is the reason why obtaining this status of residence is so difficult. The Immigration Bureau of Japan is most afraid that a foreigner who has obtained this status of residence and stays in Japan will close his/her business because it does not work out, and end up working illegally or staying in Japan illegally.You must develop a solid business plan and prove that you can continue to do business well.
(1) Adequacy
There are no restrictions on the type of work as long as it is performed legally in Japan. Specifically, the following points will be considered
(1) If the business requires permits or licenses, the necessary permits or licenses must be obtained.
(2) If the company employs workers and operates a business, it must join labor insurance and social insurance.
(iii) Raw materials must be purchased and sold through appropriate channels.
(iv) Proper payment of national tax (income tax, corporate tax, etc.) and local tax (inhabitant tax, etc.).
(5) The working conditions of employees (including part-time workers) employed by the company conform to labor-related laws and regulations.
(6) If the company is an applicable labor insurance company, it must have properly completed the enrollment procedures and properly paid the insurance premiums.
(2) Stability and continuity
The business operated or controlled by the foreigner must be objectively recognized as stable and continuously operated. This is judged comprehensively based on sales, profits, number of employees, etc., and not merely on the size of the capital.
(1) The business plan and income/expenditure estimates must be concrete, reasonable, and feasible.
(2) Short-term use of leased space or food stalls is not recognized as stable or continuous.
(iii) The sales forecast includes specific sales items, etc. based on the nature of the business, and based on the respective customers, transaction amount, number of transactions, and annual sales, it is expected that sales activities will be stable and continuous.
(iv) In the case of an existing business, the business must not be insolvent.
Requirements for obtaining a business/administrative visa (landing permission criteria)
If the activity in Japan that the applicant foreigner intends to engage in falls under the above-mentioned "Qualification Applicability," the applicant will be examined for conformity with these "Landing Permit Criteria.
The applicant must meet all of the following conditions
(i) A business office for operating the business pertaining to the application must exist in Japan. (ii) The business office for operating the business pertaining to the application exists in Japan; provided, however, that if said business has not yet commenced, the facility to be used as the business office for operating said business shall be secured in Japan.
(ii) The scale of the business pertaining to the application meets one of the following conditions
(a) The business is operated by two or more full-time employees (excluding those who reside with the status of residence in the upper column of appended table 1 of the Act) residing in Japan other than those engaged in the management or administration of the business. (b) The business is operated by two or more full-time employees (excluding those who reside with the status of residence in the upper column of appended table 1 of the Act) residing in Japan other than those engaged in the management or administration of the business.
(b) The amount of capital or the total amount of capital contribution is at least 5 million yen.
(c) The size of the building is deemed to be equivalent to (a) or (b).
(iii) If the applicant intends to engage in the management of a business, he/she must have at least three years' experience in the management or administration of a business (including the period during which he/she majored in a subject related to management or administration at a graduate school). (iii) If the applicant intends to engage in the management of the business, he/she must have at least three years of experience in the management or administration of the business (including the period of majoring in a subject related to management or administration at a graduate school) and receive remuneration equivalent to or greater than that received by a Japanese national.
Criteria for Locating and Securing Business (Landing Permit Criteria No. 1)
The following usage must be met
(1) Management activities are conducted under a single management entity, occupying a fixed location, i.e., a single plot of land.
It is necessary to clarify in the lease agreement that the purpose of use is for business purposes, such as business use, stores, offices, etc., and that the new lessee is the name of the corporation, etc., so that it is clear that the use is by the corporation, etc.
If you intend to conduct business in a self-owned office property, the registration should be in the name of the corporation.
When a part of a residential property is used for business, the residential and business portions must be clearly separated. (If the first floor is used as an office and the second floor as a residential space, it is likely to be approved.)
If a business is to be conducted in a leased property, the lease agreement must state that the use of the property is for business purposes, or the lessor's written approval of the use of the property for business purposes is required.
Coworking spaces, virtual offices, etc. are not allowed.
Use of easily disposable items such as leased space or stalls for a short period of time, such as monthly, is not allowed unless there are special circumstances that make it reasonable to do so.
Business activities that exclusively use the Internet for transactions do not meet the criteria for the existence and maintenance of an office.
(ii) The production or provision of goods and services is carried out on a continuous basis with personnel and equipment.
The office, etc. must be equipped with office desks, chairs, telephones, copy machines, computers, and other equipment necessary for conducting business. In addition, the office must be equipped with signs and other signage.
2. business scale criteria (landing permit criteria No. 2)
The size of the business involved in the application must fall under one of the following categories
(a) The business is operated by two or more full-time employees residing in Japan other than those engaged in the management or administration of the business.
Must be a Japanese national, special permanent resident, permanent resident, spouse of a permanent resident, etc., or a permanent resident residing in Japan
Foreign nationals residing in Japan with other work statuses are not considered full-time employees
Salary and other benefits must be commensurate with job duties
Part-timers, etc. do not fall under this category.
Workers who are engaged in work in the form of secondment, dispatch, or contracting are not considered full-time employees.
If a business has only one full-time employee, it is allowed if the business size is such that it is operated by investing the cost of hiring another full-time employee (specifically, approximately 2.5 million yen).
(b) If (a) above does not apply (e.g., if you manage a company by yourself alone), the amount of paid-up capital in a joint stock company or the total amount of capital contribution in a general partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability company must be less than 5 million yen.
This is only a criterion related to the size of the business and does not require the applicant to invest more than 5 million yen himself/herself.
An investment of ¥5,000,000 is the total amount invested as necessary to operate the business in question, and is made for the following purposes
(1) Secure business offices
(2) Salaries, etc. of employees to be hired
(iii) Other expenses related to the purchase of office equipment to be installed at the business office and expenses related to the maintenance of the business office
In the case of a business that continues to operate, there must be a continuous investment of at least 5 million yen.
It is not enough to temporarily deposit 5 million yen in a bank account to obtain a residence permit
3. management criteria (landing permission criteria No. 3)
This standard is applicable when the foreigner is engaged in the "management" of a business, and is not a requirement when the foreigner is engaged in the "management" of a business.
The applicant must have at least three years of experience in business management or administration, and must be engaged in the administration of a business with remuneration equivalent to or greater than that of a Japanese national.
Including the period during which the student majored in subjects related to management or administration in graduate school.
Basically, the remuneration equal to or greater than that of a Japanese national is determined by whether or not the applicant receives remuneration equal to or greater than that of a Japanese national engaged in the same type of work at the Japanese organization where the applicant works. In cases where it is difficult to determine this, it will be determined based on whether or not the employee receives the same or more remuneration as a Japanese national engaged in the same type of work at another similar company.
Flow of Business Management Visa Application
As explained above, a "Management and Administration Visa" is required for foreigners to establish a company in Japan and legally conduct management activities. However, the visa application requires a complicated process, including procedures for company incorporation, preparation of a business plan, and submission of documents to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency.
The following is an easy-to-understand explanation of the process from application preparation to obtaining approval for foreign nationals seeking to obtain a business management visa. To ensure that even those considering applying for the first time can tackle the process with ease, we also provide detailed information on checkpoints for required documents and points that are emphasized in the examination process.
In order for a foreigner to legally engage in business activities in Japan, it is necessary to obtain a "Management and Administration Visa. On the other hand, in order to clear the requirements for obtaining a business management visa, it is necessary to "establish a company" that meets the requirements.
Even if you invest a large amount of money to establish a company, it does not necessarily mean that you will be granted a "business management visa. In order to avoid wasting the cost of establishing a company, it is essential to first formulate a solid "business plan" and a plan that will enable you to operate the business properly.
Secure an office in Japan, capital of at least 5 million yen, open a bank account, obtain business licenses and permits, and confirm visa requirements.
Once you have secured a business location in line with the requirements for a business management visa (lease agreement signed), you will need to apply for various business licenses and permits in line with the content of your business. For example, you will need to apply for an antique dealer's license, a construction business license, an industrial waste business license, a restaurant business license, etc., depending on the nature of your business. If you do not have a license or permit, your business cannot be said to be a "legitimate business" and you will not be able to obtain a business management visa.
There are many requirements for applying for various types of business licenses and permits, and we recommend that you consult with an administrative scrivener before this stage. In addition, the application process usually takes two to three months to complete, so it is necessary to plan accordingly.
Opening a bank account is an important factor in the next stage of establishing a company. Especially for foreigners who do not reside in Japan (foreigners without a certificate of residence), it is almost certain that they will not be able to open a bank account at this stage. In this case, you will need to obtain a "4-month business management visa" (described below) and enter Japan once, or you will need the support of a Japanese national or a foreigner residing in Japan (who has a visa for more than 4 months and has a certificate of residence).
Capital of 5 million yen or more must be paid in at the time of incorporation, so avoid preparing this amount in the company's account in advance.
Preparation and certification of articles of incorporation (in the case of a joint stock company), application for corporate registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau, and procedures related to notification of opening of business and tax office
The main steps in the company incorporation process are as follows
(1) Articles of Incorporation
(2) Certification of Articles of Incorporation (in the case of a stock company)
(iii) Payment of capital
(4) Establishment registration
After the registration is completed, you will be able to create bank accounts and lease contracts in the name of the corporation. As explained in the visa requirements above, it is recommended that the lease agreement be changed to the corporate name after the corporate registration.
Once the establishment of the company is completed, it is finally possible to proceed to the application for the status of residence. Normally, it takes from three to six months to this point. Furthermore, the approval of "Management/Administration Visa" usually takes from three to six months.
Main documents to be submitted
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility
- business plan
- Certificate of Articles of Incorporation and Registration (Certificate of All Historical Matters)
- Office Lease Agreement
- Proof of capital payment (copy of bankbook)
- statement of reasons for application
- Other supporting materials (flyers, website, employment plans, etc.)
Compared to other work-related visa statuses, applying for a "Management and Administration Visa" is much more difficult. It is necessary to prepare a solid business plan and other prima facie evidence before applying to the Immigration Bureau. We strongly recommend that you proceed with the application with the help of an administrative scrivener.
Upon successful certification, a "Certificate of Eligibility (COE)" will be issued.
Apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country, and once issued, enter Japan and obtain a residence card.
Within 14 days after entry into Japan, "resident registration" and "notification of items on the resident card" will be made. In addition, notification will be made to the tax office, pension office, etc. with jurisdiction over the place of business, and the actual business will begin.
Normally, it is safe to assume that a "business administration visa" for a newly established company is valid for one year. In order for the visa to be renewed, the company must have a stable record of business operations.
As of April 1, 2015, it has become possible to obtain the status of residence "Management/Administration" (4 months) in certain cases even prior to the incorporation of a company. This gives foreigners who do not reside in Japan the opportunity to register the incorporation of a company after entering Japan with the same status of residence.
Foreigners who can be confirmed from the submitted documents that they intend to prepare for the establishment of a joint stock company, etc., and that the establishment is almost certainly expected, will be admitted to Japan without submitting a certificate of company registration.
This measure allows foreign nationals residing abroad to enter Japan with a "Management and Administration Visa" before establishing a company, open a bank account (a period of stay of at least 4 months is required), and proceed to the registration of the corporation. On the other hand, to obtain this visa, it is necessary to prove in writing the probability (certainty) of establishing a company, making it a rather difficult application.
summary
How was it?
The status of residence of "business administration" is one of the status of residence that has been increasing remarkably in recent years, partly due to the Japanese government's policy of boosting the Japanese economy and partly due to the recent depreciation of the yen (it is relatively inexpensive to establish a company and start a business).
On the other hand, illegal residence has also become one of the social problems, and the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Agency (IRCA) has been investigating the cases of foreigners residing in Japan with this status due to business failures,They are most afraid of working illegally or being in the country illegally.Therefore, it is becoming more and more difficult to acquire this qualification, as there is discussion of a significant increase in the 5 million yen or more criterion in the Landing Permit Criteria Ministerial Order.
We have assisted numerous applicants for business management visas, and can provide comprehensive support from company establishment to the preparation of a business plan and acquisition of a certificate of eligibility.
Based on the latest trends and examination points for visa acquisition, we provide support for "obtaining a sure approval". Initial consultation is free of charge. We will do our best to support foreign entrepreneurs in realizing their dreams.
EN 
JA 
ZH