Visas for Immigrating to Japan
In recent years, there seems to be a growing trend of inquiries about wanting to immigrate to Japan. However, unlike in some other countries where investing a certain amount of money can lead to the issuance of a permanent residency visa, such an option does not exist for immigrating to Japan.
Under current laws, to immigrate to Japan, one must obtain a status of residence associated with "employment," "business manager," or "marriage" in Japan. After obtaining one of these statuses, individuals must stably engage in the intended activities allowed by that status, renew their status of residence periodically, and apply for permanent residency at the local immigration office in Japan when they are expected to meet the criteria for permanent residency set for each status of residence.
To apply for permanent residency, except for certain highly skilled professionals, individuals who have the status of residence related to employment or company management are required to have been continuously residing in Japan for 10 years or more. For the status of residence for the spouse of a Japanese national, it's necessary to have been married for 3 years or more, with a residency of at least one year.
If permanent residency is granted, there are no restrictions on employment or residency period, allowing individuals to reside indefinitely. Loans for purchasing homes or cars are also possible. Additionally, for individuals who have the status of residence as highly skilled professionals, permanent residency may be granted as early as one or three years after residing in Japan.
Residing in Japan for 10 years with the status of residence “employment” or “business manager” → Application for Permanent Residence→Approved
Residing in Japan for 5 years with the status of residence “student” and another 5 years with “employment” (Total of 10 years residing in Japan) → Application for Permanent Residence→Approved
Residing in Japan for 3 years through marriage with a Japanese national→ Application for Permanent Residence→Approved
Therefore, it is necessary to carefully plan the acquisition of the status of residence. If the applicants wish to work in Japan, typically there are some criteria such as educational background, work experience, or skill tests depending on the status of residence that is eligible to work.
Furthermore, after finding a prospective employer that meets various conditions, it is advisable to consult with an immigration lawyer to determine the likelihood of visa approval. Following this assessment, the next step is to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for Status of Residence through the appropriate procedures in Japan.
On the other hand, for those aspiring to start their own business, while there is a requirement of an investment scale of over 5 million yen, there are no educational requirements.
It is essential to carefully consider and devise a business plan that demonstrates the stability and continuity of the proposed business activities, which the applicant believes they can manage independently. After finalizing the office contracts and company establishment procedures, the next step is to proceed with the visa application. From that perspective, developing a business plan leveraging assets effectively in Japan, some individuals plan business ventures in Japan, engaging in company management. Therefore, this approach can be regarded as one of the strategies for immigrating to Japan.
Business Manager Visa for Immigration
If you intend to engage in company management, there are many aspects to consider in the actual procedures, including the formation of investment funds, the availability of documents of proof, the presence of a trustworthy recipient for fund transfers in Japan, and issues related to office selection, viewing, and contracting.
There are many agencies abroad that provide support for individuals looking to immigrate to Japan.
Many of these agencies often collaborate with immigration lawyer offices in Japan. However, in some cases, they may choose immigration lawyer offices based on their low cost rather than their quality of service.
As a result, tasks are handled with incomplete knowledge, leading to disapproval of applications. Consequently, individuals are forced to reapply, resulting in a delay of up to one year in some cases.
In the actual examination, problematic instances include unnatural flows of transferred investment funds, lack of coherence in explaining the process of fund formation, submission of detailed business plans without credibility, and inability to provide additional requested documents during the review process by the Immigration Office. You need to be careful when seeking the assistance of an immigration lawyer.
To obtain a "Business Management Visa" for operating a company in Japan, one needs to formulate a detailed business plan and prepare an investment of over 5 million yen. The funds need to be transferred to an account in Japan that is available for use. If applicants don't have a Japanese bank account, which is a common case, the applicants transfer the investment funds to the account of their trustworthy Japanese collaborator.
When transferring the capital money, you must provide the purpose of the transfer and documents of proof to the financial institution where the transfer will be made. Once the transfer arrives at the financial institution, the account holder must undergo an examination process by providing evidence of the intended purpose of the transfer. If deemed acceptable, the transferred funds can finally be received.
Therefore, it is essential to secure a trustworthy collaborator. This collaborator will be tasked with selecting and inspecting the office, as well as handling contracts and other matters on behalf of the applicant.
After completing the contract, arranging the necessary equipment within the office, obtaining any required business permits (if applicable), and once the business is ready for its operation, the representative will apply to the Japanese Immigration Office for a Certificate of Eligibility for the status of residence "Business Manager" on behalf of the applicant. Once the Certificate of Eligibility for Residence Status has been successfully issued, it will be sent to the individual overseas. The person can then apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in their jurisdiction. Upon arrival in Japan, they can start their business management.
For family members (spouse, children) to immigrate
After the applicant obtains the "Business Manager" residency status, dependents (spouse, children) can apply for a visa to reside in Japan and live together as dependents.
However, it is not guaranteed that the application will be approved simply because they are family members. The examination also considers the actual dependency and necessity of support. While there are no age restrictions for children according to the law, in practice, once they reach adulthood, the necessity of dependency is generally denied.
Furthermore, the determination also varies based on whether there is stable and continuous financial support available in Japan (such as executive compensation).
If it is determined that financial stability cannot be anticipated for supporting dependents in Japan, it may not be possible to immediately bring family members (spouse, children) to join you in the country.
Therefore, when obtaining a Business Manager Visa to become a supporter of a dependent, it is crucial to consult with experienced professionals to consider a migration plan that includes bringing your family members to Japan. Bringing over parents is only permitted under exceptional circumstances, except for certain highly skilled professionals, under current law. Examples of exceptional situations include cases where parents have reached old age and have no children in their home country. Since there are no specific provisions in the law, such cases are treated as exceptions, and permissions are granted only in extremely limited circumstances.
In the future, it will also be possible to acquire Japanese nationality.
If you have resided in Japan for more than 5 years, complied with the laws, attained Japanese language proficiency equivalent to a second-grade elementary school level, and met other requirements, you can also apply for naturalization to acquire Japanese nationality. The shortest path allows obtaining permission to acquire Japanese citizenship after the continuous residence of 5 years. This means that compared to the 10-year requirement for permanent residency, there is a possibility of obtaining citizenship in half the duration of residency. Additionally, it is important to note that dual citizenship is not recognized in Japan.
