Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the standards for the review and renewal of the Business Manager visa?
When applying for the Business Manager visa for the first time, the key points of the review include the following:

1) Having a registered capital of no less than 5 million Japanese yen; as mentioned earlier, the injected amount will not be frozen in the account after it is remitted to Japan and can be used to pay various expenses required for establishing the company, such as office rent, equipment, and employee salaries, among others. While operating the company, funds in the company account can be freely disposed of, but it is still recommended to maintain reserves of around 5 million Japanese yen during normal operations. There is no specific regulation from the Immigration Bureau regarding the annual turnover of the company.

2) Ensuring that the office and business address and office equipment are truly existing and in use; It is strongly discouraged to use the same address for the office as the residential address. Japan has clear regulations that unless there is a clear distinction between the residential and office parts, such as having a separate entrance, it is not advisable to use the same address. Depending on the specific business needs of the company, there may be requirements for the size of the office. In other words, for industries with larger space requirements, there may be specific requirements for the office (store) address.

3) Having two or more formal full-time employees residing in Japan, excluding the representative director; In principle, companies with a capital injection of 5 million Japanese yen or more are not required to hire employees. However, another key point of the Business Manager visa review by the Japanese Immigration Bureau is the applicant’s business and management capabilities. Therefore, this needs to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis. For example, in the case of establishing a home improvement company with only one owner, and the owner’s job is to do physical work on-site every day, this situation clearly does not fall under the scope of work for the Business Manager visa, and hiring employees is necessary for the visa renewal. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the feasibility and continuity of the business, demonstrating substantive management.

2. There is a significant misunderstanding among many applicants regarding the renewal of the Business Manager visa:
The initial issuance of the Business Manager visa is for one year. Before the one-year period expires, applicants need to submit relevant documents for renewal. The renewal period varies for each company and applicant, with options for 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, depending on individual circumstances.

3. Does the longer the company makes money, the longer the renewal time for the visa?
Actually, not necessarily. In practice, it is not common for a company to start making a profit within the first year of establishment. Therefore, when the Immigration Bureau reviews the application, it focuses on the stability and legality of the company’s business operations. As long as the company’s business is stable and there is hope for profitability in the coming years, the Immigration Bureau generally does not make it too difficult for the applicant in this regard. However, if the company has been consistently in a deficit state, it will be unfavorable for the applicant, and the probability of renewal will be very low.

4. What should be noted when applying for the Business Manager visa?
1. The first step is to determine the office location, set up the corresponding office equipment, and then register the company.

1) Without a legal Japanese identity, you cannot apply for a Japanese company as a legal entity. Therefore, when establishing a company, you need to find a cooperator who holds a long-term visa in Japan and has certain financial strength to jointly establish the company. After the company is officially established and the visa is obtained, the nominal cooperator can withdraw.

2) Business plans, business contracts, and other documents require an experienced copywriting team, as well as legal scriveners, tax accountants, administrative scriveners, etc., to plan for you.