Yes: a non-resident can incorporate a Japanese KK or GK entirely from overseas, since the Companies Act (会社法) dropped the residency requirement for directors and shareholders in 2015. Filing runs through the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局) and takes as little as 7 business days for a GK, or 4 to 6 weeks for a KK, once Articles of Incorporation, capital, a registered address, and a corporate seal are ready.
Can a Foreigner Incorporate a Japanese Company Remotely?#
Yes. Since March 2015, the Companies Act imposes no residency or nationality requirement on directors or shareholders of a KK or GK. You can incorporate a 100% foreign-owned Japanese company without setting foot in Japan.
That said, "legally possible" and "practically smooth" are two different things. This guide walks you through the actual process - including the banking, director, and visa realities that most guides gloss over. If you have not yet decided between the two entity types, our KK vs. GK guide breaks down which structure fits which situation.
The 8 Building Blocks of a Japanese Company#
Every Japanese company - whether KK or GK - requires these elements before registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局):
| # | Element | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Company Name (商号) | Must be unique within the same municipal jurisdiction. Can use Japanese characters, Latin script, or Arabic numerals. Must include KK (株式会社) or GK (合同会社). |
| 2 | Business Purpose (目的) | Defined in Articles of Incorporation. Must be specific enough to be understood but broad enough to cover future activities. Registered publicly. |
| 3 | Registered Office Address | A verified physical address in Japan. Virtual office addresses may work for incorporation but are not accepted for Business Manager visa applications. |
| 4 | Capital (資本金) | Legal minimum is ¥1. Practical minimum depends on banking and visa needs - see below. |
| 5 | Articles of Incorporation (定款) | The foundational governance document. KK requires notarization; GK does not. |
| 6 | Corporate Seal (法人印鑑) | Must be registered with the Legal Affairs Bureau. Required for all official transactions. |
| 7 | Directors / Members | KK: at least 1 director. GK: at least 1 member. No nationality or residency requirement by law. |
| 8 | Capital Injection | Must be deposited into a bank account (personal account of a director for initial deposit) and verified before filing. |
Capital - How Much Do You Actually Need?#
The legal minimum is ¥1. But the amount you choose sends signals to banks, immigration, and business partners:
| Your Situation | Recommended Capital | Why |
|---|---|---|
| GK subsidiary, no visa needed | ¥1M–5M | Enough for banking credibility |
| KK for B2B operations | ¥5M–10M | Shows substance to enterprise clients |
| Business Manager visa (post-Oct 2025) | ¥30M+ | New visa requirement - capital must be deployed in operations |
| HSP visa + incorporation | ¥10M–30M | Depends on point calculation and business plan |
⚠️ Banking reality: Banks evaluate your capital amount when deciding whether to approve a corporate account. ¥1 capital will almost certainly result in rejection. Even ¥1M can be borderline for major banks. ¥5M+ materially improves your odds.
📌 For Business Manager visa capital requirements, see: ISA - Business Manager Visa Reform
The Director Question - Not Required, But Recommended#
The Law
The Companies Act (since 2015) does not require a Japan-resident director for KK or GK incorporation. All directors and shareholders may reside overseas.
The Reality
💡 While a Japan-resident director is not legally required, we strongly recommend appointing one - particularly if you need a corporate bank account.
Here's why:
| Task | Without JP Director | With JP Director |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation filing | ✅ Possible remotely | ✅ Standard |
| Corporate bank account opening | ❌ Extremely difficult - major banks expect in-person visits by someone with JP address | ✅ Significantly higher approval rate |
| Receiving registered legal mail | ❌ Risk of missed deadlines | ✅ Handled locally |
| NTA / tax office visits | ❌ Requires separate agent | ✅ Direct attendance |
| Signing contracts with JP counterparties | ⚠️ Often requires physical seal + presence | ✅ Seamless |
| Business Manager visa application | ❌ Cannot apply without JP presence | ✅ Required for visa |
📌 Practical solution: If you don't have a Japan-based individual to serve as director, a qualified incorporation service provider can introduce a resident representative director and structure the arrangement to maintain your operational control while meeting banking and administrative requirements.
Step-by-Step Incorporation Process#
For KK (株式会社) - Typical 4–6 Week Timeline
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4–6
┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ CONSULTATION │ │ DOCUMENTATION │ │ NOTARIZATION │ │ POST-INCORP. │
│ │ │ │ │ & FILING │ │ │
│ • Structure │→ │ • Draft Articles │→ │ • Notarize │→ │ • Seal registered│
│ decision │ │ • Capital prep │ │ Articles │ │ • Tax registration│
│ • Name check │ │ • Office address │ │ • File at Legal │ │ • Bank account │
│ • Director plan │ │ • Seal ordered │ │ Affairs Bureau │ │ • QIS enrollment │
│ • Docs collected │ │ │ │ • Registration # │ │ • Social insurance│
└──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
For GK (合同会社) - As Fast as 7 Business Days
Day 1–3 Day 3–5 Day 5–7+
┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ PREPARATION │ │ FILING │ │ POST-INCORP. │
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ • Draft Articles │→ │ • File at Legal │→ │ • Seal registered│
│ (no notary!) │ │ Affairs Bureau │ │ • Tax registration│
│ • Capital deposit│ │ • Registration # │ │ • Bank account │
│ • Seal ordered │ │ issued │ │ │
└──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
⚡ GK skips notarization → saves ~2 weeks and ~¥50,000
Documents Required from Non-Resident Founders#
| Document | Purpose | Where to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Passport copy (all directors/members) | Identity verification | Your country |
| Overseas residence certificate | Address proof | Your country's government |
| Signature certificate (サイン証明書) | Substitutes for JP seal certificate | Your country's Japanese embassy/consulate, or local notary with apostille |
| Capital injection bank transfer confirmation | Proves capital was deposited | Bank statement showing transfer |
| Company name candidates (3 options) | Legal Affairs Bureau checks for conflicts | You choose; provider pre-screens |
⚠️ Signature certificate: This is the most frequently delayed document. For non-residents without a Japanese seal (印鑑), a notarized signature certificate authenticated by a Japanese embassy or consulate (or apostilled by a local notary in Hague Convention countries) is required. Start this early - embassy appointments can take 2–4 weeks.
Cost Breakdown - Full Picture#
Government Fees (Non-Negotiable)
| Fee | KK | GK |
|---|---|---|
| Registration tax (登録免許税) | ¥150,000 | ¥60,000 |
| Notary fee (Articles certification) | ¥30,000–50,000 | ¥0 |
| Stamp duty (紙定款) | ¥40,000 (waived if e-filed) | ¥40,000 (waived if e-filed) |
| Corporate seal creation | ¥10,000–30,000 | ¥10,000–30,000 |
| Certificate of Registered Matters | ~¥600 per copy | ~¥600 per copy |
| Seal Registration Certificate | ~¥450 per copy | ~¥450 per copy |
| Government total | ~¥200,000–280,000 | ~¥70,000–130,000 |
Professional Service Fees (Market Range)
| Provider Type | KK Range | GK Range |
|---|---|---|
| Local judicial scrivener (JP only) | ¥50,000–200,000 | ¥30,000–100,000 |
| Bilingual specialist provider | $2,000–$6,500 | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Global law firm / Big 4 | $8,000–$25,000+ | $5,000–$15,000+ |
💡 Bilingual specialists offer the best balance of quality, communication, and cost for most foreign founders. Global firms are justified only for complex multi-jurisdictional structures.
Post-Incorporation - What Happens Next#
Registration at the Legal Affairs Bureau gives you a company. But you're not operational until these steps are complete:
| Post-Incorporation Task | Authority | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax registration | NTA (national) + local tax office | Within 2 months of incorporation |
| Qualified Invoice System (QIS) registration | NTA | Before issuing first B2B invoice |
| Social insurance enrollment | Pension Service + Health Insurance | When hiring first employee |
| Labor insurance registration | Labour Bureau | When hiring first employee |
| Corporate bank account opening | Private bank | ASAP - this is the bottleneck (see our Corporate Bank Account Guide) |
| FEFTA notification (foreign investment) | Bank of Japan | Within 15 days of share acquisition by non-resident |
The FEFTA Notification - Often Forgotten#
When a non-resident or foreign company acquires shares in a Japanese company (including at incorporation), a post-investment notification must be filed with the Bank of Japan under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (外為法).
For most industries, this is a simple post-transaction filing. However, for designated sectors (defense, telecom, energy, transport, agriculture, etc.), prior notification is required - and investment cannot proceed until the 30-day review period expires or is waived.
📌 Official Source: Ministry of Finance - FEFTA
Common Mistakes to Avoid#
| Mistake | Consequence | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Starting bank account process before incorporation is complete | Wasted time - banks require Certificate of Registered Matters | Sequence properly |
| Choosing ¥1 capital | Bank account rejection; credibility issues | Use ¥5M+ for most situations |
| Not preparing signature certificate early | 3–4 week delay for embassy appointment | Start document prep in Week 1 |
| Writing overly narrow business purpose | Need to amend Articles (¥30,000+) when expanding | Draft purpose broadly |
| No Japan-resident director or contact | Bank account near-impossible; mail and notices missed | Arrange resident director introduction |
| Ignoring FEFTA notification | Potential penalties; regulatory complications | File within 15 days of share acquisition |
| Selecting virtual office for visa purposes | Business Manager visa application rejected | Use a physical, dedicated office |
For founders who would rather have a provider run this sequence end to end, Aplash's company incorporation service coordinates the filing, the resident-director introduction, and the bank-account strategy as one engagement rather than separate vendors.
✅ Non-Resident Incorporation Checklist#
- Decide KK or GK based on banking, visa, and business needs
- Prepare passport copies for all directors/members
- Obtain signature certificate from Japanese embassy or local notary + apostille
- Confirm capital amount (consider banking + visa requirements)
- Secure registered office address in Japan
- Arrange Japan-resident director if needed (recommended for banking)
- Draft and file Articles of Incorporation (notarize for KK)
- Deposit capital and obtain bank confirmation
- File with Legal Affairs Bureau → receive registration number
- Register corporate seal
- Complete NTA tax registration within 2 months
- Register for Qualified Invoice System if conducting B2B sales
- File FEFTA notification via Bank of Japan
- Open corporate bank account (start process immediately post-registration)
Official References#
| Source | Link |
|---|---|
| Companies Act (English) | japaneselawtranslation.go.jp |
| Commercial Registration Act (English) | japaneselawtranslation.go.jp |
| JETRO - Incorporating Your Business | jetro.go.jp |
| NTA - Corporation Tax Registration | nta.go.jp |
| Ministry of Finance - FEFTA | mof.go.jp |
Frequently Asked Questions#
Do I need to travel to Japan to incorporate a company?
No. Since the 2015 Companies Act amendment, incorporation itself, including drafting and filing the Articles of Incorporation, can be completed entirely from overseas for both a KK and a GK. Travel becomes relevant later, mainly around opening a corporate bank account and, if pursuing a Business Manager visa, meeting the physical-presence requirements that visa carries.
How long does incorporation actually take?
A GK can be registered in as little as 7 business days because it skips the notarization step. A KK typically takes 4 to 6 weeks, since its Articles of Incorporation must first be notarized before filing with the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局). Both timelines assume documents, capital, and a registered address are ready before filing starts.
Can I open a corporate bank account remotely right after incorporating?
Rarely, and you should not plan around it. Banks routinely decline new accounts for foreign-controlled entities with no Japan-resident director and no operating history, regardless of entity type or capital amount. A Japan-resident director materially improves the odds but does not guarantee approval, so building in a resident-director introduction or a Business Manager visa pathway before you file is the more reliable route.
This article is informational only and does not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice. Consult a licensed judicial scrivener (司法書士), tax accountant (税理士), or attorney (弁護士) for your specific incorporation needs. Last updated: August 2026.