Requirements of the Office for Business Manager Visa

What is a Business Manager Visa?

The Business Manager Visa is a status of residence granted for activities that substantially participate in the operation or management of a business that a foreign national or foreign corporation has established or invested in Japan (“activities to manage a trade or other business in Japan or to engage in the management of such business”).

In other words, the Business Manager visa is for managing a company in Japan or working as a manager of a large department such as a factory manager or branch manager.

What is needed for an office to be considered secured

To obtain a Business Manager Visa, a foreigner must start his/her own business, and one of the requirements is to have a place of business in Japan.

So, what kind of office is suitable?

The conclusion first: the requirements for an office will differ depending on the nature of the business you are engaged in, but you will be judged on a practical basis as to whether the office is capable of conducting that business!

We will now explain the requirements in detail.

Lease agreement should be in the name of the corporation

If the office is leased, the contract must be signed in the name of the corporation.

However, the normal procedure for establishing a corporation is to secure an address (lease) first and then establish the corporation.

Thus, in most cases, the process will be the following.

Purpose of use must be “For Business”

When an office is leased, it is necessary to clarify that the use of the office is for business, as a residence does not satisfy the requirement.

Purpose of use・・・〇 Includes a statement such as “office” or “office use permitted”.　　　　　　　✖ “For Residence”

In the Ministry of Justice’s publication “Cases of Permission or Disapproval of a Residence as a Business Office”, the Ministry of Justice cites a case in which a residence is approved as an office even though the name in the lease contract remains residence, because, in fact, a special agreement was made with the landlord that the office is to be used as a “company office” and thus the business office is considered for business use.

The Business Facility of Substance

To obtain a business management visa,

The standard is that “the business office for operating the business must be located in this country (Japan)” or “the business office must be continuously operated in this country (Japan).”

Further, the Immigration Bureau indicates the following provisions set forth by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

As you can see from the above explanation, one of the requirements for applying for a business management visa is that your “place of business must be located in Japan. A “place of business” is an office or store where business is conducted, and an office or store is considered to have a place of business in Japan only if it is equipped with the necessary office equipment, fixtures, furniture, fittings, and other equipment to conduct business management and administration.

Independent Offices

The definition of an independent office is that it is clearly separated from other spaces by walls, doors, etc.

So, do the current trendy virtual offices, rental offices, and home offices qualify as independent offices for the purpose of obtaining a business management visa?

Each of these offices will be described.

Virtual Office

Since it does not allow continuous provision of services, etc. with facilities at a fixed location, this requirement cannot be substantially met.

In other cases, the Immigration Bureau also states that the use of rented locations, etc. on a monthly basis, or the use of food stalls, etc. that can be easily disposed of cannot be considered business establishments.

Virtual offices have the advantage of reducing costs and saving time and effort, but they are not acceptable as an office for obtaining a business management visa.

Rental Office

Rental offices, shared offices, common offices, etc., which do not have individual office space for each company, etc., are not acceptable as business offices.

However, it may be allowed if it meets certain conditions, such as clear partitions and a certain amount of space in place.

Home as Office

The office requirement for the Business Management Visa is that the place of residence and the office must be separate.

Therefore, in many cases, a business management visa cannot be obtained for a home-as-office.

However, it can be approved if the conditions are met.

Example:

☑Landlord permits use for other than residential purposes.

☑There is a dedicated room for doing business.

☑You can go from the entrance to the business room without passing through the living space.

☑ Signs for businesses, etc.

Etc.

Various other detailed conditions must be met, but if the conditions are met, it may be approved.

There are several other detailed requirements that must be fulfilled by the office for a business management visa, which can be complicated and more difficult, so if you are considering obtaining a business management visa, we recommend that you consult with a specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I use my residence as my office if I apply for a business administration visa? (h3)

A. It is undesirable for the residence and office to be the same.

At the very least, business space and living space must be clearly separated.

Other arrangements such as separation of utility bills, etc. will be required.

Q. Is it possible to obtain a business administration visa from a virtual office or an office in a space leased for a short period of time on a month-to-month basis? (h3)

A.

Virtual offices, short-term month-to-month rental spaces, and easily disposable food stalls are not recognized as a continuous “place of business” for the purpose of obtaining a business management visa, since they do not have facilities and provide services, etc. continuously at a fixed location.

To be recognized as a business or office for business management,

-The economic activity is conducted under a single management entity, occupying a location (a certain area of land).

-The production or provision of goods and services is carried out on a continuous basis with personnel and equipment.

Both points are essential.

Therefore, it is important to avoid these types of establishments when applying for a business management visa.

Conclusion

In this issue, we have introduced one of the important points in the application for a Business Manager Visa, the “office”. Below is a summary, so if you would like to take a look at it, please feel free to use it for your reference.

Related Blogs

We support such visa applications in a friendly, courteous, and speedy manner, carefully listening to the applicant’s situation and other details, and providing support with the peace of mind and satisfaction that only a specialist can offer.

For better resolution of applicants’ problems, we provide one-stop legal services in cooperation with not only administrative scriveners but also attorneys, judicial scriveners, and other professionals as a legal group, as needed.

We also have foreign staff available in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Nepali.

First of all, if you have any concerns about your status of residence or visa, please feel free to contact us, even if it is a trivial matter.

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