The Japan investment visa is available to foreign nationals interested in opening and managing a business in Japan. It is also issued to those who will come to the country to fulfill the role of business managers (such as appointed foreign company executives).
This type of visa is subject to a set of requirements, both in terms of the applicant’s personal qualifications, as well as in terms of fulfilling the conditions set forth by relevant Japanese authorities.
Foreign nationals who are interested in this visa for the purpose of obtaining Japanese citizenship by investment can reach out to our team to find out complete information about the conditions before they start the application procedure.
Our team can provide specific information about immigration to Japan based on this visa.
Foreign nationals who wish to apply for the Business Manager visa can receive complete information about the application process from our team. We are able to answer questions about Japanese residency applications, as well as assist those who wish to gather the documents. Our team will also give you details about the conditions and the criteria that need to be satisfied by companies.
You can immigrate to Japan based on a Business Manager visa, however, this will be a multi-step process and permanent residency will only be granted after a number of years. During this time, the business manager will need to remain in the country lawfully (that is, with a valid residence permit) and spend sufficient time in Japan (not leave the country for lengthy periods).
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Requirements for obtaining a Japan investment visa
To obtain a Japan investment visa, you need to respect certain requirements. The most important requirement is opening a company in Japan, and fulfilling all the legal requirements for company registration. The company must have a minimum paid-up capital of 5,000,000 yen and an office space in the country. Additional requirements for the applicant include:
- The entrepreneur must also develop a business plan, approved by relevant authorities;
- The applicant must have enough income to live independently in Japan;
- Co-founder or co-director of the company must have Japanese residency;
- Must hire at least two full-time employees, while meeting specific criteria set by the relevant authorities.
Once your business is incorporated and operational, you can apply for a Japan investment visa via a Japanese diplomatic mission in your home country. You must also submit all required documents, including your business plan, financial statements, proof of office space, and other relevant paperwork.
If your visa is approved, you will receive The Certificate of Eligibility from a regional immigration authority under the Ministry of Justice. Upon arrival in Japan, you must register your residence with the local municipal office.
We can help you with the process of company formation in Japan and assist in obtaining your investment visa.
Japanese investment visa for managing an existing company
You can also obtain a Japan investment visa if you are managing an existing business in Japan of a foreign company. However, to manage an existing business in Japan in a senior position (president, business manager, etc.) under this visa category, the required amount of paid-in capital is 2,500,000 yen. This is an option for those who do not wish to open a company in Japan.
You must also hire at least one full-time employee who is a resident of Japan. This employee must be a Japanese national (holding a Japanese passport), a permanent resident, a spouse or child of a Japanese national. He/she can also be the spouse or child of a permanent resident, as well as a holder of a long-term visa.
Additionally, you must also respect some criteria regarding your financial income. Your salary must match or exceed that of a Japanese individual in a similar role. You must also demonstrate that your salary/income is sufficient for you to live independently in Japan.
Our immigration lawyers in Japan can provide more details regarding this route to obtain the investment visa.
The Certificate of Eligibility for the Japan investment visa
The visa issued to investors or business managers is primarily based on the individual’s ability to obtain the “Certificate of Eligibility”, a document issued by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan that is required under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
The Certificate is intended for those who will remain in the country for longer periods, not for those who remain in Japan for a short period of time.
Obtaining this certificate is a mandatory step for those interested in obtaining Japan citizenship by investment and it is advisable to start the procedures in advance, as soon as one decides that he will invest in Japan or will open a company here.
Our immigration lawyers in Japan can give you more details.
Documents for obtaining the Japan golden visa
The investor visa is sometimes called the Golden Visa. Our team specializing in company formation in Japan is able to assist those interested in obtaining this type of permit that allows the holder to remain in the country for long-term purposes in order to manage a business.
The list of required documents below briefly outlines the conditions for an American investor applying for this type of visa for Japan:
- Valid passport;
- Visa application form, filled in, required to enter Japan;
- One photograph;
- The original “Certificate of Eligibility” issued by the Ministry of Justice.
The Japanese investment visa without the certificate of eligibility is subject to more complex requirements upon application. Among these we can mention the following:
- Business activity description: the business plan for the coming year in case of newly established businesses or the copies of the corporate registration and a profit and loss statement for existing companies;
- Employee requirements: the number of required full-time employees, resident cards for foreign employees, as well as proof of employment insurance;
- Executive duties: for those applying for the Japanese investment visa as business executives, proof of appointment for the relevant position is required;
- Others: the authorities may require additional documents, as needed regarding the company which will be run by the foreign national coming to Japan; when the documents are issued by Japanese authorities, they need to have been issued with up to three months prior to the date on which the application is submitted.
All documents submitted in a foreign language need to be translated into Japanese.
When the application for the Japan investment visa is submitted without the Certificate of Eligibility, the expected processing time for this document is between one and three months.
Our immigration lawyers in Japan can give you more details.
Company formation in Japan
Starting a business in Japan as a foreign national is subject to prior approvals, as briefly mentioned above. The timing of the visa application and the commencement of the company formation steps should be calculated such as to allow the foreign national to finish the procedures in due time and remain in the country lawfully in order to handle the incorporation steps.
Our team can help foreign investors open a company in Japan, understand the tax particularities and rules, as well as remain in the country for long-term purposes, in order to manage the company.
The Japan investment visa application based on commencing a business based in the country will mean that the interested individual has already resolved to open a company. In most cases, this is the private limited liability company. We outline its main features below:
- The minimum capital is 1 yen, however, in practice this is more;
- The limited liability company of Godo-Kaisha has at least 1 member;
- The corporate income tax in Japan is between 30 and 34% including the local taxes.
Investors who obtain this visa for the purpose of company creation can also be interested in working with an accountant in Japan. This way they can make sure that the new company meets all the tax requirements.
Tax obligations for Japanese investment visa holders
Tax obligations for Japanese investment visa holders vary based on the structure of their business and their employment status. If you open a company in Japan, the company is responsible for fulfilling tax obligations, including corporate taxes on its profits. Legal responsibilities also fall on the business entity.
Investor visa holders who receive income from their business activities in Japan are subject to individual income taxes. This can happen if they operate as sole proprietors or if they receive income directly as individuals. Income taxes are based on the individual’s earnings and other applicable sources of income.
Statistics about visas in Japan
Here are some interesting statistics regarding visa issuances and immigration:
- In 2022, a total number of 1,294,148 visas were granted in Japan;
- This is an increase compared to 2021, when only 90,306 visas were granted;
- China, Vietnam, and the Philippines were the top three recipients of Japanese visas, accounting for nearly 40% of the total number of visas issued in 2022;
- 88,557 visas were granted to US citizens in 2022.
Foreign nationals interested in applying for a Japan golden visa can reach out to our company formation experts to find out more about the conditions that apply to the commencement of a business operation in the country.
You can contact us if you have other questions concerning immigration to Japan.