Insights & Guides
Practical knowledge on Japan market entry — from company setup and visas to trade logistics and branding.
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...
What Office Counts for Japan's Management Visa in 2026?
The Management Visa (経営・管理) requires commercial premises actually used for the business: a leased office, a dedicated room, or a co-working desk with sustained, documented use and visible business...
Can You Renew a Japan Management Visa Under Old Rules Until 2028?
Yes, but only if you already held Management Visa (経営・管理) status before October 16, 2025. The Immigration Control Act (入管法) reform tightened the standard that day, and existing holders may renew...
Proving Japanese Ability for Japan's Management Visa (2026)
Acceptable proof is a JLPT N2 certificate or CEFR B2-equivalent documentation, held by either the visa applicant or the company's qualifying full-time employee, not a self-declared claim of...
Japan Management Visa (2026): Who Counts as a Qualifying Employee?
A qualifying employee for Japan's Management Visa (経営・管理) is a Japanese national, a Special Permanent Resident, a Permanent Resident, the spouse or child of a Japanese national, or a Long-Term...
Does Japan's Startup Visa Guarantee You a Management Visa in 2026?
No. The Startup Visa (特定活動告示44号, Designated Activities Public Notice No. 44) buys a founder up to two years to build toward the Management Visa (経営・管理) standard; it does not lower or waive that...
Who Can Certify a Business Plan for Japan's Management Visa? (2026)
Only three categories of Japan-licensed professional may certify a Management Visa (経営・管理) business plan: a Certified Public Accountant (公認会計士), a Licensed Tax Accountant (税理士), or a Small and...
Can Two Foreign Co-Founders Each Hold a Management Visa for the Same Japan Company? (2026)
Yes. More than one foreign national can each hold Management Visa (経営・管理) status in the same Japan company, but only if the entity is genuinely large enough to need that many managers. Immigration...
Business Manager Visa - October 2025 Reform Guide
¥30M Capital, B2 Japanese, and Expert Business Plans: What the New Rules Mean for Entrepreneurs
Japan Capital Increase - How to Add Share Capital to an Existing KK or GK
増資 Procedures, Registry Filings, FEFTA Implications, and When You Actually Need More Capital