Setting Up a Company in Japan as a Foreigner [Business Manager Visa]

This is a guide for foreign nationals who want to set up a company and run a business in Japan. It covers not only how to create a company (registration), but also the "Business Manager" status of residence needed to operate a business, securing an office, corporate bank accounts and cards, and where to consult specialists.

① What is the "Business Manager" status of residence?

"Business Manager" is a status of residence for people who set up and manage a company in Japan or who work as a manager (such as a director) of a company. While the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" status is for "working as an employee of a company," Business Manager differs greatly in that you "run or manage a business yourself."

Simply setting up a company does not automatically grant a status of residence. A separate application for a Certificate of Eligibility (when bringing someone from overseas) or, if you are already in Japan on another status, an application to change your status of residence is required. For a comparison of work visas overall, see Types and Requirements of Work Visas; for a list of statuses, see Types of Status of Residence.

② Main requirements (revised on October 16, 2025 — always check the latest)

The typical points examined for Business Manager are roughly the following three.

• Securing a place of business: An independent place of business for conducting the business must be secured within Japan
• Scale of the business: capital or investment of ¥30 million or more and at least one full-time employee (a Japanese national, permanent resident, etc.) — both are required under the revised standards in force since October 16, 2025. These standards apply to new applications and changes of status. For people who already hold the Business Manager status, a renewal applied for up to October 16, 2028 is decided based on the business's situation and other factors even if the revised standards are not met (Immigration Services Agency).
• Stability and continuity of the business: The business is recognized, through a business plan and so on, as likely to continue stably

③ Choosing the type of company (KK / LLC)

The most commonly established types in Japan are the kabushiki-kaisha (KK, stock company) and the godo-kaisha (LLC).

You can apply for Business Manager with either type. Choose based on your business content, clients, future fundraising and so on.

④ Steps to set up a company

This is the rough flow using a KK as an example (an LLC differs in part, e.g. no notarization of articles).

1. Decide the basics: company name (trade name), head-office location, business purpose, capital, officers, etc.
2. Prepare and notarize the articles: Prepare the articles of incorporation that set the company's rules (a KK is notarized at a notary office)
3. Pay in the capital: Pay the capital into the promoter's account
4. Apply for incorporation registration: File the registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau that has jurisdiction over the head-office location (the filing date is the company's incorporation date)
5. Post-incorporation notifications: To the tax office (notification of corporation establishment, application for approval of blue-form returns), the prefecture and municipality (local taxes), the pension office (social insurance), and, if you hire employees, the Labor Standards Inspection Office and Hello Work

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*Fees, services and terms may change. Please check each official site for the latest details. Applications and procedures are generally conducted in Japanese.

⑤ Securing an office (place of business)

You need an independent place of business for conducting your business. This could be a rented office or a rental office. Since the revision that took effect on October 16, 2025, using your home as your place of business is, in principle, not accepted (Immigration Services Agency guidelines). A virtual office (address rental) is one way to keep costs down, but caution is needed.

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*Fees and terms may change; check each official site for the latest. Regarding the office (place of business) requirement for the "Business Manager" status of residence, please review the warning above (securing an independent place of business). Applications and procedures are generally conducted in Japanese.

⑥ Corporate bank account and corporate card

After setting up the company, open a corporate bank account for business use and keep it separate from your personal account. A corporate account can take time to screen right after incorporation. Having a corporate (business) card makes bookkeeping easier for paying expenses. For how to open a personal bank account, see Opening a Bank Account.

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An option for a business card that even a newly established company can apply for: FASIO Business Card. *Applications are subject to screening.Applications and procedures are generally conducted in Japanese.

See card details →

⑦ Accounting and taxes (settlement)

A company performs an annual settlement of accounts and files and pays corporate tax, corporate inhabitant tax, corporate enterprise tax, consumption tax and so on. It is common to use accounting software or to engage a tax accountant. For the overall picture of taxes, see the Tax Guide; for a detailed explanation of taxes and accounting after incorporation, see the Incorporation and Tax Guide on our sister site Zainichi Money Navi.

⑧ Consulting specialists (gyoseishoshi / tax accountant / judicial scrivener)

For company setup and starting a business, different specialists handle different situations.

• Gyoseishoshi lawyer (administrative scrivener): Preparing application documents for the "Business Manager" status, permits, etc. Only a lawyer (bengoshi) or a gyoseishoshi may prepare application documents for a fee as a business.
• Judicial scrivener (shiho-shoshi): Registration procedures such as company incorporation registration
• Tax accountant: Filing corporate tax, settlement of accounts, bookkeeping

FAQ

Can a sole proprietor get the Business Manager visa?Business Manager is a status for managing the business of a company or similar. The scale of the business, the place of business, and its stability and continuity are examined. Because the requirements were revised on October 16, 2025, please check the latest with the Immigration Services Agency.

How much capital is needed?Under the revised standards in force since October 16, 2025, capital or investment of ¥30 million or more is required, together with at least one full-time employee (both are needed, not either one). For a sole proprietor, what counts is not 'capital' but whether the total amount invested in the business — securing a place of business, one year of employees' salaries, equipment investment, etc. — is ¥30 million or more. Other requirements were also added, such as Japanese-language ability and educational or work background. These standards apply to new applications and changes of status. For people who already hold the Business Manager status, a renewal applied for up to October 16, 2028 is decided based on the business's situation and other factors even if the revised standards are not met (Immigration Services Agency). Before applying, check the latest information from the Immigration Services Agency and the advice of a specialist.

If I set up a company, do I automatically get the status of residence?Setting up a company and obtaining a status of residence are separate procedures. Incorporation alone does not grant a status; a separate application for a Certificate of Eligibility or to change your status of residence is required.

Can I apply with a virtual office?Since the October 16, 2025 revision, the place-of-business requirement is applied more strictly (using your home is in principle not accepted), and a virtual office that only rents an address is now more likely to be judged not to meet the requirement of securing an independent place of business. We recommend checking with Immigration or a specialist before using one.

Can you handle the application on my behalf?This site provides information only and does not prepare or file status-of-residence application documents. Only a lawyer (bengoshi) or a gyoseishoshi may prepare application documents for a fee as a business. Please consult a specialist.