The 4-month Business Manager Visa in Japan

December 18, 2019

Question:

I heard that a 4-month period of stay for the business manager visa has been added. What does this mean?

Answer:

This visa was created so that it would be easier for foreign nationals outside Japan to complete the incorporation procedures for their company in Japan.

Explanation:

The old “investor/business manager” visa that was in-place until March of 2015 previously permitted a short-term period of stay of 6 months. Following the creation of the “business manager” visa in April of the same year, a business manager visa allowing a period of stay of 4 months added. This 4-month business manager visa seems to have created for the purpose of making it easier for foreign nationals outside Japan to complete the incorporation procedures for their company in Japan.

However, even if it would be possible to arrive in Japan, register residence and seal, and obtain the certificate of seal impression, as well as open a personal bank account, within the 4-month period that the visa is valid for, many find difficulty when it comes to “contracts and such with the office”, which is necessary to obtain a business manager visa with a period of stay of 1 year.

It is a common trend for many foreign nationals to first complete incorporation of their company in Japan and then apply for a business manager visa that is permits a stay of 1 year. When applying for the business manager visa, it is possible to be issued visa that permits a stay of 1 year, the benefits of a 4-month period of stay seem very small in comparison. Therefore, the 4-month business manager visa, which primarily targets those who only plan to secure a business office in Japan, is not a popular option.

Note that a business manager visa with a 4-month period of stay is issued only when, in n addition to securing a business establishment in Japan, it is judged that the business will be carried out reliably, such as having business results outside Japan. As such, new businesses may find it difficult to obtain this visa. This is why presently, it is more realistic to apply for a 1-year business manager visa instead.