How to Apply for a Business Manager Visa①～If You Have a Collaborator in Japan～

How to Apply for a Business Manager Visa①～If You Have a Collaborator in Japan

If you plan to manage a company in Japan, you will need a Business Manager Visa. When a foreigner intends to start a new business in Japan, the application for a one-year visa will be pursued if they have a collaborator in Japan, and a four-month visa if they do not. The collaborator can be either Japanese or a foreigner. However, if the collaborator is a foreigner, they must have a Permanent Resident or a status-related visa (Spouse of Japanese National, Spouse of Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident).

This article is recommended for:
・Those interested in a Business Manager Visa in Japan
・Those who have Japanese collaborators or supporters in Japan and are considering obtaining a Business Manager Visa

Case with a Collaborator in Japan (One-Year Visa)

If you have a collaborator in Japan, you can aim for a one-year Business Manager Visa without entering Japan. The process involves the applicant providing the investment funds, the collaborator signing a rental agreement for an office in Japan, and both the applicant and collaborator establishing the company as directors. Then, they apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for the one-year Business Manager Visa. Once the COE is obtained, the applicant can enter Japan, after which the collaborator resigns as director, making it a company solely managed by the applicant. This method is recommended if feasible.

Procedure Flow

Free Consultation via Email, LINE, Phone, or In-person with an Administrative Scrivener The administrative scrivener will first check the client’s past circumstances, desired business type, capital investment, business plan, etc., and explain the potential for obtaining a Business Manager Visa, necessary procedures, costs, and the process. If agreeable, a contract will be signed.
Contract Procedures and Payment of Initial Fee The contract for the COE will be conducted via mail, email, or in-person. However, a meeting with the collaborator is necessary. After the meeting with the collaborator, our office will collect an initial fee of 50,000 yen (non-refundable under any circumstances).
Office Rental Agreement Find and sign a rental agreement for the main office. If desired, the administrative scrivener can accompany you to the real estate agent or property. Cash payment is required for intermediary fees, deposit, and key money. Rent payments will be debited from the applicant’s bank account in Japan or the collaborator’s account if the applicant does not have one.
Payment of Investment Capital The investment capital will be paid into the applicant’s bank account in Japan or the collaborator’s account if the applicant does not have one. If no full-time employees are hired at the initial stage, the capital must be at least 5 million yen.
Creation and Certification of Articles of Incorporation, and Company Registration (The registration will be handled by a partnering judicial scrivener) The administrative scrivener will draft the Articles of Incorporation, which are the company’s bylaws. The draft is based on a template, tailored to the client’s needs, and then notarized by a public notary. Subsequently, the company registration will be conducted by a partnering judicial scrivener. Payment for the scrivener’s drafting fees, notary fees, registration fees, and judicial scrivener’s fees is required. Registration takes about two weeks from the application.
Opening a Company Bank Account After the registration is complete, the collaborator will open a company bank account in Japan.
Notifications to Tax Office, Prefecture (City) Tax Office, and City Hall After the registration, notifications must be submitted to the tax office, prefecture (city) tax office, and city hall. Even if the company has one president and no employees, if the president receives any remuneration, notification to the social insurance office is necessary. Social insurance registration is mandatory but not penalized for non-compliance. However, non-compliance may affect future work visa and permanent visa applications for foreign employees.
Application for Permits and Licenses (if required) For businesses requiring permits or licenses (e.g., construction, accommodation, dining), these must be obtained before applying for the COE. The administrative scrivener will handle these applications, which require additional fees.
Document Preparation and Collection Parallel to the steps above, the necessary documents for the COE application will be prepared and collected. The client will be informed about the required documents and deadlines.
Submission of COE Application to the Immigration Bureau The administrative scrivener with certification to handle applications will submit the COE application to the Immigration Bureau. The applicant’s presence is not required unless requested by the Immigration Bureau.The entire process from consultation to COE application submission takes approximately 60 to 100 days. Additional time is required for obtaining necessary permits and licenses.
Submission of Additional Documents (if required by the Immigration Bureau) If additional documents are requested by the Immigration Bureau after submitting the COE application, the administrative scrivener will confirm the reasons for the request and submit the required documents by the deadline.
Notification of COE Issuance or Rejection The administrative scrivener will receive the notification from the Immigration Bureau and immediately inform the client. Results are usually received 2-3 months after submission.
Receiving the COE and Payment of Fees (if approved) Upon approval, the administrative scrivener will collect the COE from the Immigration Bureau and send it to the client after receiving the service fees.
(if not approved) The administrative scrivener will accompany the collaborator to the Immigration Bureau to understand the reasons for rejection and inform the client about possible solutions and the timeframe for reapplication.
Applicant’s Entry into Japan and Various Changes Once the visa is approved, the applicant enters Japan on a Business Manager Visa. Changes such as shifting payments from the collaborator’s account to the company’s account and the collaborator’s resignation from the board will be made, establishing the applicant’s full control over the company.
Introduction to a Tax Accountant or Labor and Social Security Attorney (if requested) The administrative scrivener can introduce a tax accountant for tax-related matters or a labor and social security attorney for health insurance, pension, and labor issues if employees are hired.

The entire process from the initial consultation to the start of business takes approximately 6-8 months.

Conditions for Business Manager Visa

Below are the necessary conditions for obtaining a Business Manager Visa. Conditions ① and ② are the minimum requirements, with condition ③ being the key point. Conditions ④ and ⑤ apply to managers, but having these conditions will also facilitate obtaining the Certificate of Eligibility for business owners.

① The company must actually exist in Japan. However, if the business has not yet started, a “place to be used as an office” must be secured. This “place to be used as an office” may be a rental office if it is a private room where a company nameplate can be displayed. A lease agreement or similar document is required as proof of securing the office.

② The company must meet a certain business scale. Specifically, the company must meet one of the following conditions 1, 2, or 3. Typically, condition 2 is most often used.

1. The company must have at least two full-time employees other than the representative director, directors, or managers. However, these employees must be “Japanese nationals,” “permanent residents,” “spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents,” or “long-term residents.”
2.The company’s capital or total investment must be at least 5 million yen.
3.The company’s scale must be recognized as equivalent to conditions 1 and 2.

*Example of condition 3: The company has only one full-time employee but has invested an additional 2.5 million yen. This 2.5 million yen is considered a benchmark for hiring another full-time employee.

③ Demonstrating Business Legitimacy and Continuity:

Legitimacy of Management: The company’s Articles of Incorporation and the applicant’s educational and professional background must prove that the management of the company is legitimate and the business has continuity.
Avoiding Misuse of Visa: The Immigration Bureau may suspect that the visa might be used to work in other jobs instead of managing the company, like factory labor.
Significant Investment: Starting a business requires substantial investment and a comprehensive market survey, business plan, and sufficient capital.
Relevance to Background: The business should ideally align with the applicant’s previous education, career, and qualifications to increase the likelihood of success.
Importance of a Detailed Business Plan: A detailed and well-prepared business plan related to the applicant’s background is essential for demonstrating the legitimacy of the business and securing the Business Manager Visa.

④ If the applicant intends to obtain the visa as a “manager” of the business, they must have at least three years of experience in business management or administration (including periods of studying management subjects at graduate school). This condition is not necessarily required for business owners, but having business management experience can be a positive point to prove the intention to manage the business. If the applicant has such experience, it should be reported to the Immigration Bureau.

For business management experience, a corporate registry is sufficient if the applicant served as an executive. For administrative experience, it is generally required to obtain a certificate of employment from the company. If this is not possible due to strained relations after leaving the company, other documents such as payslips may be considered.

⑤ If the applicant intends to obtain the visa as a “manager,” they must receive a salary equal to or higher than that of a Japanese national. This condition is not necessarily required for business owners, but it serves as a positive point to prove the intention to manage the business. It is also natural for business owners to receive a salary since they are managing the business to earn income. Hence, it is advisable to report this to the Immigration Bureau if the business owner receives a salary. Although the Immigration Bureau does not specify an amount, a monthly salary of at least 200,000 yen is considered desirable.

Estimated Costs

Application for Certificate of Eligibility for Business Manager Visa: From 180,000 yen
Company Establishment Costs: From 200,000 yen
Note: This includes 50,000 yen for registration costs (judicial scrivener’s fee).
In addition to the above, the following costs will be incurred:
- Registration costs: From 150,000 yen (60,000 yen for a limited liability company)
- Notary fee for Articles of Incorporation: From 52,000 yen (0 yen for a limited liability company)
- Other fees such as certification application fees and postal charges
⇒ Total costs for application and company establishment: From 440,000 yen
The above amount is the basic fee. Fees may vary depending on the application details. A personalized estimate will be provided upon request. It is also possible to request each application and procedure individually, so please feel free to consult.
Office Rental Agreement Fees:
- Security deposit, key money, guarantee deposit, and intermediary fees at the time of contract: → Equivalent to 1.5 to 3 months of monthly rent
- Rent from contract to start of business: → Typically, 2 to 5 months of rent will be required from the rental contract to the start of business. Some properties may offer several months of free rent.
- Rent Market Price: → In Kitakyushu City, the monthly rent for opening a business alone is expected to be around 50,000 to 100,000 yen.
Office Equipment: → Photos of the office are required as attachments for the Business Manager Visa application. It must be in a state where business can start immediately, so having a telephone, computer, desk, chair, multifunction printer, and nameplate is necessary at a minimum. Depending on the quality chosen, the total preparation cost is expected to be around 200,000 yen.
Permit and License Costs: → If the business to be started requires permits or licenses, these must be obtained separately. Examples: Food and beverage industry, real estate industry, construction industry, hotel industry, private lodging, antique dealer permit, etc. Some permits are simple and can be obtained by oneself, but if the permit application is requested from an administrative scrivener, a reward of about 50,000 to 200,000 yen and the application fee will be required.

About Trust Administrative Scrivener Office

At Trust Administrative Scrivener Office, we support a wide range of services from obtaining a Business Manager Visa and company establishment to various licensing applications. We provide tailored services to meet the individual needs of each client, fully supporting the success and smooth operation of their business. Please feel free to contact us.