This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）
We recommend that, before you file the extension application, you complete enrolment in social insurance (health insurance and employees' pension insurance) as a matter of urgency, and prepare evidence that you have paid the premiums (receipts and the like). If you apply while not enrolled, your period of stay may be limited to the shortest term of 1 year, or a risk of denial may arise.
An enquiry from someone who, ahead of the first extension of the 経営・管理 visa, has realised that the company is not enrolled in social insurance.
Because a company is required by law to enrol, even where the president is its only member.
Under Japanese law (the Employees' Pension Insurance Act and others), a corporate body such as a kabushiki kaisha is required to enrol in social insurance even where it is a company with only 1 person, the president (an establishment to which the insurance compulsorily applies).
In screening for 「経営・管理」, not only the continuity of the business but also whether you are complying with laws and regulations (compliance) is checked strictly.
Since 2025, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan has been strengthening the sharing of information with related bodies about enrolment in social insurance. If you apply while not enrolled, you will be regarded as "not discharging your obligations", and your period of stay may be limited to the shortest term of "1 year", or in the worst case a risk of denial may arise.
They are not enough. As the representative of a company, you need to discharge the company's obligations.
National Health Insurance and the National Pension are mainly for sole proprietors and people who are not in work.
As the representative of a company, even if you have a record of payment as an individual, you will be judged to have neglected "the company's obligations".
By enrolling in social insurance and building a record of properly deducting and paying the premiums from the director's remuneration the company pays you, your credibility as a business owner rises markedly.
3 things: enrolment at the pension office, payment of the premiums, and an explanation in a 理由書 (written explanation).
Enrolment in social insurance can be done retroactively, so in a case like this please consult the pension office.
Examiners rate "whether you put it right of your own accord before being told" more highly than "whether there was a mistake". To obtain a long period of stay such as "3 years" at the first extension, start by putting your basic public obligations in order. If anything is unclear because of a social security agreement with a pension system abroad, we recommend that you check that at the pension office at the same time.
Until the day on which 3 years have passed from the date the amendment came into force, transitional measures mean that a decision to grant or refuse is made even where you do not meet them.
Where a person already residing under 在留資格「経営・管理」 files an 在留期間更新許可申請 during the period up to the day on which 3 years have passed from the date the amendment came into force (16 October 2028, 令和10年10月16日), the decision to grant or refuse is made in the light of the state of the business and the prospect of coming into line with the criteria for permission as amended, and so on, even where those amended criteria are not met. Note that in screening you may be asked to submit a document that has been assessed by an expert in business management.
An 在留期間更新許可申請 made after 3 years have passed from the date the amendment came into force must meet the criteria for permission as amended.
Yes. A corporate body such as a kabushiki kaisha is required to enrol in social insurance even where it is a company with only 1 person, the president (an establishment to which the insurance compulsorily applies).
That is not enough. National Health Insurance and the National Pension are mainly for sole proprietors and people who are not in work, and as the representative of a company you will be judged to have neglected the company's obligations even if you have a record of payment as an individual.
You will be regarded as "not discharging your obligations", and your period of stay may be limited to the shortest term of 1 year, or in the worst case a risk of denial may arise.
Yes. Retroactive enrolment is possible, so if there is a period during which you were not enrolled, please consult the pension office with jurisdiction.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.