How to establish a company and get Business manager visa in Japan?

How Foreign Nationals Can Establish a Company in Japan and Obtain a Business Manager Visa

For foreign nationals who wish to start a business in Japan, company formation and the status of residence called “Business Manager” are key legal steps.

However, obtaining this visa is no longer a matter of simply registering a company. Immigration authorities now examine the substance of the business, including the office, funding, staffing, business plan, Japanese-language system, and the applicant’s managerial suitability.

This article explains the overall process in a practical and easy-to-follow way for those who are planning to start a business in Japan through the company formation route.

Key point: company registration and visa approval are different matters

You may be able to register a company in Japan, but that does not automatically mean that a Business Manager visa will be approved.

Main review point	What immigration looks at in practice
Business scale	Whether the business has sufficient investment and a realistic basis for continuous operation
Office	Whether a real and independent place of business has been secured
Staffing structure	Whether the business has an appropriate full-time operational structure
Managerial suitability	Whether the applicant’s career background and qualifications match the proposed business
Japanese-language system	Whether the applicant or the business has sufficient Japanese-language capability for operations
Business plan	Whether the plan is concrete, financially reasonable, and supported by evidence

The current Business Manager visa is much stricter than before

Older articles often explained the visa in terms of “JPY 5 million in capital” or “two full-time employees or JPY 5 million in capital.” That is no longer enough for new applications.

Since the October 16, 2025 revision, new applications are assessed under stricter standards, including the level of capital/investment, full-time staffing, Japanese-language capability, business background, and the quality of the business plan.

For that reason, anyone preparing a new application should work on the basis of the current rules, not outdated pre-revision information.

Current capital / investment requirement

For new applications for the status of residence “Business Manager,” the old explanation of “JPY 5 million in capital” is no longer the current standard. Following the revision that took effect on October 16, 2025, the principal requirement is that the total amount of property to be used for the relevant business, including the amount of stated capital and total investment, must be at least JPY 30 million.

However, this does not mean that meeting the capital figure alone is sufficient. In practice, immigration authorities also examine the overall substance of the business, including whether there is an independent business office in Japan, an appropriate full-time staffing structure, a Japanese-language operational system, and a realistic business plan.

For that reason, a successful Business Manager application now requires more than simply incorporating a company and depositing capital. It is important to show, through supporting documents, that the business is a real and sustainable operation.

Step-by-step process: from company formation to visa application

1. Clarify the business model

Before anything else, you should define exactly what business you will operate in Japan: your services or products, target customers, expected revenue model, initial costs, licensing requirements, and staffing plan.

If these points are vague, the company formation documents, office contract, business plan, and visa documents will all become weaker.

2. Secure a proper office

A real business office is a very important issue in Business Manager cases. Virtual offices and mixed residential/business arrangements often trigger additional document requests and can weaken the application.

When choosing an office, check the following:

• Whether business use is clearly permitted under the lease
• Whether the space is independent and identifiable as business premises
• Whether you can explain actual use, such as mail receipt, equipment placement, and visitor handling
• Whether the location is suitable for the relevant licenses and permits, if required

3. Prepare a funding plan and prove the source of funds

Immigration does not only look at how much money has been prepared. It also looks at where the money came from.

You should be ready to explain personal savings, remittances, family support, shareholder investment, or other funding sources through bank statements, remittance records, agreements, and related documents.

4. Incorporate the company

Under the company formation route, applicants usually establish either a Kabushiki Kaisha (KK) or a Godo Kaisha (GK). This involves deciding the company name, address, business purposes, officers, and capital, followed by preparation of the articles of incorporation and company registration.

Strictly speaking, Business Manager status is not limited only to corporations, but in practice, forming a company first is the most common and easiest structure to explain. This article therefore focuses on the incorporation route.

5. Check business licenses and permits

Depending on the business, separate licenses or notifications may be necessary. Examples include restaurants, secondhand goods businesses, travel services, construction, recruitment, accommodation, and certain trading-related businesses.

Immigration will also consider whether the business can actually start lawfully. If the licensing side has not been reviewed, the credibility of the business plan becomes weaker.

6. Build the staffing structure

Under the revised rules, the full-time staffing structure is an important issue. It is necessary to explain who will handle daily operations and how the business will actually run, including employment contracts, payroll design, and social insurance arrangements.

7. Prepare the business plan and supporting documents

The business plan is one of the most important documents in a Business Manager case. It should not be a vague dream. It should clearly explain:

• what the business does and who the customers are;
• why the business needs to be operated in Japan;
• sales and expense projections for the initial years;
• suppliers, sales channels, contracts, and preparation status;
• the roles of directors and employees; and
• necessary licenses, facilities, and marketing methods.

Under the current rules, professional review or evaluation of the business plan may also become important, so it is wise to seek advice early.

8. File the immigration application

If you are outside Japan, the usual route is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), then obtain a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate, and finally enter Japan.

If you are already residing in Japan with another mid- to long-term status, you may need to file an application for change of status of residence instead.

The correct route depends on your current immigration position, so this should be checked before documents are prepared.

Examples of major supporting documents

• Application form for the relevant immigration procedure
• Letter of explanation and business plan
• Company registration certificate and articles of incorporation
• Evidence of capital, payment, and fund transfers
• Office lease agreement, office photos, layout, and explanation of actual use
• Employment agreements, payroll design, and social insurance-related materials
• Applicant’s CV, career documents, and academic records
• Evidence regarding Japanese-language capability or the operational language structure
• License- or permit-related materials, where relevant

The exact document list varies depending on the business type, the applicant’s nationality and background, the source of funds, the current residence status, and whether the case is a COE application or a change-of-status application.

Common reasons for additional document requests or refusal

• The business plan is too abstract and unsupported by evidence
• The office is not clearly independent from residential use
• The source of funds is unclear
• Necessary licenses have not been reviewed
• It is unclear who will actually manage the business on a daily basis
• The applicant’s background has little connection to the proposed business
• The company has been registered, but real business preparation is still weak

In this category, applications that look formal on paper but lack real substance tend to face stricter scrutiny. On the other hand, a well-prepared file with concrete evidence makes it much easier to show that the business is genuine and sustainable.

Startup Visa as an alternative entry route

In some municipalities, foreign entrepreneurs may also be able to use a Startup Visa or related entrepreneur-support system as a preparation-stage route before moving toward the full Business Manager framework.

If you are considering starting your business in Kanagawa, please also read:

Thinking of Starting a Business in Kanagawa, Japan? We Support You with the Startup Visa Program!

For renewals and transitional measures

If you already hold Business Manager status and need to renew, the issues are different from a first application. Since the 2025 reform introduced transitional measures, please also read the following article:

Business Manager Visa Renewal – Transitional Measures 2025

How Tommy’s Legal Service can support you

• Advice on business structure and company formation strategy
• Support for company purposes, officer structure, and capital planning
• Practical review of office arrangements
• Preparation of business plans, letters of explanation, and supplemental materials
• Organization of source-of-funds evidence
• Parallel support for business licenses and immigration procedures
• Full support for COE applications and change-of-status applications
• Bilingual support in Japanese and English

Conclusion

To establish a company in Japan and obtain a Business Manager visa, it is necessary to prepare the company structure, office, funding, staffing, business plan, and regulatory compliance as one integrated package.

Under the current rules, the old idea of “set up a company and deposit some capital” is no longer enough. What matters now is whether the business can be presented as a real, ongoing, and properly managed operation.

If you are planning to establish a company in Yokohama or Kanagawa and apply for a Business Manager visa, please feel free to contact us at an early stage.

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Tommy’s Legal Service (Administrative Scrivener Office)
102, THE HUB Yokohama Motomachi,
1-13-2 Ishikawa, Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa 231-0868, Japan
TEL: 045-550-5135
Mail: mail@gyosei-tominaga.com

投稿者プロフィール

富永大祐行政書士

日系理化学機器輸入商社、日系センサーメーカー、外資系真空機器メーカー、外資系化学装置メーカーでの国内外業務を経て、令和2年度行政書士試験に合格。令和3年4月、トミーズリーガルサービス行政書士事務所を開業。

現在は入管業務（VISA・在留資格）を中心とした専門事務所として、外国人の雇用・受け入れ、企業の国際人材戦略、在留手続のオンライン申請支援を行う。
企業・個人いずれのクライアントにも寄り添い、迅速・丁寧で負担の少ない手続きをモットーとする。

また、国際業務の経験を生かし、英語での各種案内・申請支援にも対応。

趣味： バイク（CB1300SB）、ツーリング、テニス、ゴルフ

English:
After working in Japanese and foreign-affiliated companies in the fields of scientific instruments, sensors, vacuum equipment, and chemical processing machinery, I passed the national Administrative Scrivener examination in 2020 and founded Tommy’s Legal Service Administrative Scrivener Office in April 2021.

My practice is specialized in immigration procedures—visa applications, extensions, changes of status, and online filings for both companies and individuals. I support employers and foreign nationals with fast, accurate, and stress-free application processes.
English guidance and bilingual documentation are also available.

Hobbies: Motorcycles (Honda CB1300SB), touring, tennis, golf

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