Documents Needed for Japan Business Visa & Status of Residence
In This Guide
Overview
Foreign nationals who wish to start or manage a business in Japan need an appropriate visa status (在留資格, Zairyu Shikaku). The most relevant visa category for business owners is the Business Manager Visa (経営・管理, Keiei Kanri), formerly known as the Investor/Business Manager Visa. Other visa categories, such as the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa, also require corporate documents from the sponsoring company.
Immigration applications in Japan are document-heavy. The Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) evaluates applications primarily based on the submitted documents, making it essential to provide a complete, well-organized package. This guide covers the corporate documents required for each stage of the visa process.
Business Manager Visa (経営・管理ビザ)
The Business Manager Visa allows foreign nationals to start, invest in, or manage a business in Japan. It is the primary visa category for entrepreneurs, company executives, and branch office managers. The visa is typically granted for periods of 1, 3, or 5 years, with the initial grant usually being 1 year.
Eligibility Requirements
- Capital investment: The business must have a capital investment of at least ¥5,000,000, or employ at least 2 full-time residents of Japan
- Physical office: The business must have a dedicated physical office space in Japan (not a virtual office or shared residential space)
- Business viability: The applicant must demonstrate that the business is viable and sustainable through a business plan
- Management role: The applicant must be engaged in the management or administration of the business
Capital & Office Requirements
Capital Requirement: ¥5,000,000+
The ¥5 million capital requirement can be met in several ways:
- Stated capital of the company. The simplest approach is to incorporate the company with ¥5 million or more in stated capital. The registry certificate will show this amount.
- Total investment. If the stated capital is less than ¥5 million, the total investment in the business (including equipment, initial inventory, and operating funds) can be combined to meet the threshold. Documentation of all expenditures is required.
- Employment alternative. Instead of the ¥5 million investment, the business can employ 2 or more full-time residents of Japan. Employment contracts and social insurance enrollment documents are needed as proof.
Office Requirement
The business must have a dedicated physical office space. Immigration scrutinizes this requirement carefully:
- The office must be clearly separate from any residential space
- A commercial lease agreement in the company's name is required
- Virtual offices and co-working space memberships are generally not accepted
- A home office is only acceptable if the residential and business spaces are physically separated and have independent entrances
- Photos of the office space may be required as part of the application
Required Corporate Documents
The following corporate documents are typically required for a Business Manager Visa application for an established company:
- Company Registry Certificate (登記事項証明書) — Issued by the Legal Affairs Bureau. Must be recent (within 3 months). Shows company name, address, capital, directors, and business purposes. This is the primary document proving the company's legal existence.
- Financial Statements (決算書) — The most recent fiscal year's financial statements, including balance sheet and income statement. For renewal applications, immigration uses these to assess the business's viability and profitability.
- Business Plan (事業計画書) — A detailed business plan describing the company's activities, market, revenue model, staffing plan, and financial projections. This is especially important for new companies and initial applications.
- Tax Returns (確定申告書) — Corporate tax returns for the most recent fiscal year. Used to verify the company's reported income and tax compliance. Not required for new companies that have not yet completed a fiscal year.
- Office Lease Agreement — A copy of the commercial lease agreement for the company's office space. Must be in the company's name with a clearly commercial purpose.
- Tax Payment Certificates (納税証明書) — Certificates showing the company is current on its corporate tax (national and local) and consumption tax obligations.
- Company Brochure or Website — Materials describing the company's products, services, and operations. Helps demonstrate the business is real and active.
Documents for New Companies
When applying for a Business Manager Visa with a newly incorporated company (one that has not yet completed its first fiscal year), some of the standard documents are not yet available. In their place, the following are emphasized:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Registry Certificate | Shows the incorporation date, capital amount, and registered directors |
| Business Plan | Critical for new companies. Must include detailed financial projections for at least 1–2 years, market analysis, and staffing plans |
| Proof of Capital Transfer | Bank statements showing the transfer of capital funds into the company's account |
| Office Lease Agreement | Must already be signed before the visa application is filed |
| Office Photos | Photos of the office interior and exterior, showing the company nameplate |
| Applicant's Resume | Demonstrates the applicant's qualifications to manage the business |
| Source of Funds Documentation | Bank statements, tax returns, and remittance records proving the legitimate origin of investment capital |
Visa Renewal Documents
When renewing a Business Manager Visa, immigration focuses on whether the business has been operating successfully and continues to meet the visa requirements. The following documents are typically required:
- Registry certificate (recent, within 3 months)
- Financial statements for the most recent fiscal year (critical for demonstrating business viability)
- Tax returns and tax payment certificates (demonstrates compliance)
- Applicant's residence tax payment certificate (証明書) from the municipal office
- Updated business plan if the business direction has changed significantly
- Employee list with social insurance enrollment proof (if applicable)
Other Visa Types That Require Company Documents
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (技術・人文知識・国際業務)
This is the most common work visa category for foreign employees in Japan. When a company sponsors an employee for this visa, the following corporate documents are required:
- Company registry certificate (登記事項証明書)
- Financial statements or annual report
- Company brochure describing the business
- Employment contract with the applicant
- Explanation of the position and why it requires the applicant's specialized skills
- Tax payment certificate (withholding tax) if the company has existing employees
The company's category classification with immigration (Categories 1 through 4, based on size and public listing status) determines exactly which documents are required. Larger, well-established companies (Categories 1 and 2) need fewer supporting documents than small companies (Categories 3 and 4).
Intra-company Transferee (企業内転勤)
For transferring employees from a foreign parent or affiliate company to the Japanese subsidiary or branch. Requires documentation of the relationship between the foreign and Japanese entities, including:
- Registry certificate of the Japanese entity
- Documents proving the corporate relationship (shareholder registry, organizational chart)
- Financial statements of the Japanese entity
- Transfer order or assignment letter
Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職)
Japan's points-based visa system for highly skilled foreign professionals. Corporate documents are similar to those required for the Engineer/Specialist visa, but the company's scale and stability carry additional weight in the points calculation. A larger, more profitable company contributes more points to the applicant's score.
Practical Tips
- Document freshness. Registry certificates and tax certificates should be issued within 3 months of the application date. Expired documents will be rejected.
- Japanese language. All documents submitted to immigration must be in Japanese. Foreign-language documents must be accompanied by Japanese translations.
- Consistency. Information across all documents must be consistent. Discrepancies between the registry certificate, financial statements, business plan, and lease agreement will raise questions.
- Realistic business plans. Immigration officers are experienced in evaluating business plans. Focus on realistic revenue projections supported by evidence (contracts, letters of intent, market data) rather than aspirational numbers.
- Keep records. Maintain organized records of all corporate documents, financial statements, and tax filings. Renewal applications are much easier when historical documents are readily available.
- Processing time. Standard processing time for visa applications is 1 to 3 months. Plan document collection and submission well in advance of any visa expiration dates.
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Registry certificates, financial statements, tax clearance certificates, and other documents for your visa application. Order in English.
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