Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
How Long Does Japan's Startup Visa Last, and How Do You Renew It? (2026)
Japan's Startup Visa, formally Designated Activities (特定活動) under 特定活動告示44号, runs for a maximum of two years of business-preparation activity, up from 18 months before January 1, 2025. It is...
How Long Is a Japan Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Valid?
A Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書) is valid for three months from its issue date. The holder must present it at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad to obtain the matching visa, then enter...
Japan Management Visa Processing Time in 2026: What to Budget For
The published standard processing period (標準処理期間) for a Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書交付申請) is 1 to 3 months, but Japan's Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) reported an actual average...
Japan Management Visa and Shelf Companies (2026): Why Buying Dormant Works Against You
A shelf or dormant KK bought to speed up banking works against a Management Visa (経営・管理) filing, not for it. The Certificate of Eligibility checklist requires the most recent fiscal year's...
What Happens If Your Management Visa's Qualifying Employee Quits? (2026)
A Management Visa (経営・管理) does not lapse the instant a qualifying employee resigns. The risk surfaces at the one-year renewal, when examiners check payroll records and social insurance...
Can You Apply for Japan's J-Skip Visa From Inside Japan, or Must You Apply From Abroad? (2026)
Yes. A foreign national already in Japan on another status, such as a student visa or an engineer/specialist work visa, can switch into J-Skip through an in-Japan Change of Status of Residence...
Do You Need a Management Visa to Own a Japan Company You Run From Abroad? (2026)
No. A foreign national can own and hold a director title in a Japan KK or GK entirely from overseas, with no visa or status of residence at all, because Japan abolished the...
Does Changing Jobs Affect Your HSP Visa Points Score in Japan? (2026 Guide)
Yes. Your Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) status is tied to the specific employer and role you scored 70 or more points on, not to the label in the abstract, so a new job can lower your score...
HSP Visa or Management Visa: Which Should a Foreign Company Executive in Japan Apply For? (2026)
Neither is automatically the easier route. The Highly Skilled Professional visa (HSP, 高度専門職) has its own executive and management category, called 高度経営・管理活動, but it qualifies on a personal points...
Can Your Children Get Dependent Status Under Japan's HSP Visa?
Yes. Children accompanying a Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) visa holder qualify for Dependent status (家族滞在), which permits residence and enrollment in Japanese schools. The HSP program also...