How to Obtain a Management Visa
The method for obtaining a management visa varies depending on whether you are currently
overseas or in Japan, and whether you have a bank account in Japan.
For Foreigners Currently Living in Japan
Foreigners already residing in Japan with another residence
status will apply for a change of residence status to a management visa.
If you stay in Japan for more than three months without engaging in the activities
permitted under your current residence status, it could be considered that you are not
engaging in the activities of your current residence status, so be careful.
Of course, not every application for a change of status is guaranteed to be approved.
Our office also supports the creation of business plans, articles of incorporation, and
company establishment, so please feel free to contact us.
For Foreigners Currently Living Overseas
The application process for foreigners currently living
overseas depends on whether they have a bank account in Japan.
For the issuance of a certificate of eligibility for a management visa, the following
persons can apply on behalf of the applicant:
- Staff of the Japanese business where the individual manages or is engaged in
management.
- If setting up a new business office in Japan, the person who has been entrusted with
setting up the Japanese business office (if a corporation, then its staff).
If you do not have a representative in Japan, you need to be in Japan at the time of
application.
When you entrust our office, you will need to delegate the establishment of the office to
us.
If You Have a Bank Account in Japan
If you have a bank account in Japan and are a foreigner establishing a corporation by
yourself, previously you could not register the corporation without an address in Japan,
but now you can register a corporation even without an address in Japan.
If you delegate the process to our office, we will handle the procedures for issuing the
certificate of eligibility for a management visa and send the certificate to your
overseas home, then you can take it to a Japanese embassy or consulate to get your
management visa issued and come to Japan with the visa attached to your passport. If you
don't have an employee or partner to act as your agent, you need to be in Japan at the
time of application. After applying, you can return to your home country, and if the
application is approved, proceed with the residency status procedures in your home
country and come to Japan.
If You Do Not Have a Bank Account in Japan
The situation differs depending on whether you have a collaborator (partner) in Japan.
If you have a collaborator (partner) in Japan
If you have a collaborator in Japan, you can have them
also serve as a director of the newly established company, and establish the corporation
using the collaborator's bank account.
Then, apply for the certificate of eligibility for management visa after registering the
corporation and run for one year.
Once the certificate is issued, we will mail it to your overseas home, so you can take it
to a Japanese embassy or consulate, complete the visa procedures, and come to Japan.
If you do not have a collaborator (partner) in Japan and are applying for a management
visa with an initial residency period of 4 months
If you are a foreigner living overseas without a bank account
in Japan and do not have a partner in Japan and are applying for a management
visa, you will first apply for a management visa with a residency period of 4 months.
For the 4-month application, it is possible to obtain it
by submitting articles of incorporation, a business plan, and justification documents,
without needing to register a corporation.
Once the certificate of eligibility is issued, we will send it to your overseas address,
and you can take it to a Japanese embassy or consulate, get the passport with the
4-month management visa, and come to Japan.
Coming to Japan with a 4-month management visa will get you a residence card, enabling
you to register an address in Japan.
Registering an address allows you to submit a residence certificate as an ID issued in
Japan required by banks at account opening, and receive bank documents at the address
listed on the residence certificate.
Once you can open a bank account in Japan, you can transfer the startup capital into this
account and proceed with the corporation establishment procedures. Once the corporation
is established, apply for a 1-year residence period management visa renewal.