Individuals of foreign nationality who wish to live in Japan need to get a specific visa that is most appropriate for their activities. Here are three most common work visa for foreign business owner and employees:
1. Business Manager Visa
A “Business Manger Visa” is for managing international trade or other areas of business within a public or private organization in Japan.
Examples of individuals who are eligible for applying for Business Manger Visa
- A foreign national entrepreneur who will engage activities running business
- A director or manager of subsidiary of a foreign company
- A foreign national who acts as a head of department, factory manager, branch manager, or supervisor. (e.g., branch manager of branch office of foreign company)
Requirement for applying for “business manager visa”
Applicant must satisfy all of followings.
- There’s a physical and dedicated office for the operations and activities stated in the application. In a situation when the operation has not yet started, a physical office space must be secured.
- The size of the operation related to application is one of followings:
- The hiring of at least two full time employees who are either a Japanese National or permanent resident, the spouse or child of Japanese National, the spouse or child of a permanent resident, or a foreign resident with a Long-Term Visa.
- The company’s initial capital exceeds 5 million yen.
- The business is considered to be equivalent in scale to item (a) and (b)
- Applicant must have at least three years of experience in business management (including a period during which the applicant majored in a subject related to business management or administration at a graduate school). The salary of applicant must be equivalent to or exceed that of Japanese employee of same position.
In addition to above requirement, immigration service agency will screen:
Appropriateness of the business operation
Any business operation in Japan must follow Japanese regulations.
Businesses conducted in Japan must be operated in accordance with Japanese law. The agency will examine whether you are properly fulfilling your public obligations, such as filing and paying taxes in compliance with tax-related laws and regulations, ensure that the working conditions of employees meet with labor-related laws and regulations, and that you obtain labor insurance and social securitiy in accordance with labor-related laws and social insurance-related laws.
Stability and continuity of company
An existing company can prove its stability and continuity by providing financial statements (balance sheet and income statement), etc. Meanwhile, newly established company will need to prove its stability and continuity by preparing a detailed business plan including its purpose, content of operations, financing plan, plan for revenue, etc. and explain how it is planning to develop the business operation.
The “Business Plan” is probably the most important document for the application for a Business Manager Visa. We will help you to create the best possible business plan for your visa application.
2. “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa”
“Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa” is required when engaging in services that require skills or knowledge pertinent to physical science, engineering or other natural science field, or in services that require knowledge pertinent to social sciences, including jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other human science fields, or in services that require special consideration or sensitivity involving experience with foreign culture based on a contract with a public or private organization in Japan
Activities to engage in duties which require skills or knowledge in the field of physical science, engineering, or other natural science fields, or in the field of jurisprudence, economics, sociology or other humanities fields, or to engage in duties which require the ways of thinking or sensitivity founded on foreign culture, based on a contract entered into with a public or private organization in Japan.
3. “Intra-company Transferee Visa”
“Intra-company Transferee Visa” is for a staff member transferred for a limited time to a business office in Japan. The transfer would be from a business office established in a foreign country by a public or private organization which has its head office, branch office or other business office in Japan, and its purpose is to conduct work which is allowed when holding “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa” at said business office in Japan
When a foreign company expands into Japan and transfers its human resources to a base in Japan, it may be difficult to decide which visa to choose (A simple comparison table of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa” and “Intra-company Transferee Visa” is summarized below).
Please feel free to contact us. We will propose the best visa for your situation and act as an agent for your application.
Requirement for obtaining “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa”
Applicant must satisfy all of following:
- If the applicant intends to engage in work that requires skills or knowledge in the fields of natural sciences or humanities, the applicant must have acquired the necessary skills or knowledge and must satisfy one of the followings
- Graduated from a university majoring subject related to the knowledge of that field or received an equivalent or higher education
- Majored in subjects related to that knowledge and completed a specialized course at a specialized training college in Japan (limited to those who meet the requirements specified by the Minister of Justice in a public notice regarding such completion).
- 10 years or more of work experience (including the period of majoring in a subject related to the relevant knowledge in a university, technical college, high school, second term course of a secondary education school, or a specialized course of a specialized training college)
- If the applicant intends to engage in work that requires special consideration or sensitivity based on a foreign culture, all of the following shall apply:
- Engage in translation, interpretation, language instructions, public relations, advertising, overseas business transactions, clothing or interior design, product development, or other similar businesses.
- Have at least 3 years of practical work experience in work related to the work to be engaged in. However, this shall not apply to those who have graduated from a university and are engaged in work related to translation, interpretation, or language instruction.
- Receiving remuneration equal to or greater than the remuneration received by Japanese workers
Requirements for obtaining an “Intra-company Transferee Visa”
Applicant must satisfy all of following:
- If you are engaged in the field of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” at your head office, branch office or other place of business in a foreign country immediately before the transfer pertaining to your application, the period is for at least one year. (If there is a period of time engaged in work at a business office in Japan of a public or private organization that has the business office in a foreign country with the status of residence of intra-company transferee, the period can be included.)
- Receiving remuneration equal to or greater than the remuneration received by Japanese workers.
Comparison of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Business Visa” and “Intra-company Transferee Visa”
| Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/International Business | Intra- company Transferee | |
|---|---|---|
| Education Work Experience | Required | Not required (You must have been continuously working at an office in a foreign country for at least one year immediately before the transfer) |
| Length of Employment | Unlimited | Limited (Renewal is possible if the application for permission to extend the period of stay is approved.) |
| Changing Job | Permitted | Not Permitted (If the application for permission to change the status of residence is approved, it is possible to change jobs.) |
| Payer of compensation | Entity you have employment contract with | not limited to the entity that concludes the employment contract. Can be a business office in a foreign country, a business office in Japan or both |
