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）
As a rule, a rented office or a shared office is not accepted as an office. This is because business premises are required to occupy a section of a building, and to have people and equipment, with the business carried on continuously. As a rule the application comes after the company has been incorporated, and the capital or total contribution must be at least 30 million yen (3,000万円).
Someone who runs a company abroad and is setting up a Japanese company in Tokyo asked about the order of the application, the office, the amount to contribute and the timescale, all together.
Because you need to show the substance of the company and the business premises in concrete terms at the time of the application.
Where you apply for 経営・管理 in the form of setting up a company and carrying on business in Japan, you need to be able to show the substance of the company and the business premises in concrete terms at the time of the application.
At the stage of "I am going to set it up" or "I am going to rent an office", the side doing the screening cannot confirm that there is any substance. For that reason, the flow is to finish the incorporation and the securing of business premises first, and then to apply.
Because premises are required to occupy a section of a building, and to have people and equipment, with the business carried on continuously.
In the guidelines of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the following points are given for the business premises for 経営・管理.
Rented offices and shared offices are a form of premises where doubt easily arises on this point of "occupying a section". Since the view taken differs according to how far independence is secured, the contents of the contract need to be checked case by case.
Please take 6 months to 1 year as the total of the "preparation period" and the "application and screening period".
The period of 6 months to 1 year is the preparation period and the application and screening period taken together. It breaks down roughly as follows.
Because preparation takes time, the whole process may run for a long period.
If you are preparing from now, you need to put your material together on the basis of the amendment that came into force on 16 October 2025 (令和7年10月16日). The following 4 points in particular.
capital or total contribution of at least 30 million yen (3,000万円) / employment of at least 1 full-time employee / Japanese ability / experience in business management, or a degree equivalent to a master's
The capital or total contribution must be at least 30 million yen (3,000万円).
As to the amount contributed, the capital or total contribution must be at least 30 million yen (3,000万円).
This enquiry was received before the amendment that came into force on 16 October 2025 (令和7年10月16日). The 5 million yen (500万円) the enquirer had ready at that time was the threshold amount before the amendment, and falls short of the current criteria for permission. If you are applying from now on, please prepare in line with the current criteria.
As a rule they are not. This is because business premises are required to occupy a section of a building, and to have people and equipment, with the business carried on continuously. The view taken differs according to the contents of the contract, so it needs to be checked case by case.
You cannot. This is because you need to show the substance of the company and the business premises in concrete terms at the time of the application.
6 months to 1 year is given as a guide. That is the preparation period — incorporation, securing the business premises, preparing the funds and the business plan — and the application and screening period taken together.
The main ones are these 4 points: capital or total contribution of at least 30 million yen (3,000万円), employment of at least 1 full-time employee, Japanese ability, and experience in business management or a degree equivalent to a master's.
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This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.