[2026 Complete Guide] Company Incorporation in Japan for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Procedures, Required Documents, Industry Licenses, and Business Manager Visa — Fully Explained by Administrative Lawyers (Nationwide Support)

1. Introduction

Foreign entrepreneurs who wish to establish a company in Japan must complete two major processes:

Company incorporation under the Companies Act, and
Visa examination by the Immigration Services Agency (Business Manager Visa).

Following the regulatory amendment effective October 16, 2025, the requirements for the Business Manager Visa have become significantly stricter.

■ Updated Requirements (After October 2025)

Requirement	Before	After (2025–)
Capital	5 million yen	30 million yen
Full-time employees	2 employees or business scale	At least 1 full-time employee (other than the applicant)
Japanese language	Not required	Applicant or employee must have JLPT N2 level
Business plan	Optional	Verification by CPA/SME consultant required
Education/Experience	3 years experience	Master’s degree or 3+ years management experience

Failure to meet these requirements will result in a very high risk of visa denial.

Administrative Scrivener Corporation Shionaga Office (Kumamoto, Japan) provides one-stop support for foreign entrepreneurs and overseas residents establishing companies in Japan.

2. Who Can Establish a Company in Japan?

■ No nationality restrictions under Japanese law

Foreign nationals may freely establish:

A Kabushiki Kaisha (KK)
A Godo Kaisha (GK / LLC)

However, a proper visa is required to engage in business operations.

■ Those who can operate a company without changing visa status

Permanent Resident
Spouse of Japanese National
Spouse of Permanent Resident
Long-term Resident

■ Others (students, workers, overseas residents)

→ Must obtain a Business Manager Visa.

■ Current Visa Requirements (2026)

Requirement	Details
Office	Independent physical office (virtual offices not allowed)
Capital	30 million yen or more
Employee	1 full-time employee (with social insurance)
Japanese ability	JLPT N2 (applicant or employee)
Business plan	Verified by CPA/consultant
Background	Master’s degree or 3+ years management experience

3. Typical Cases

(1) Foreign residents in Japan (student/working visa) (2) Overseas residents (3) Foreign corporations establishing a subsidiary (4) Startup Visa (limited municipalities)

4. Full Incorporation Process (2026)

From 4-month Startup Visa → Arrival → Office → Bank → Incorporation → Business Manager Visa.

5. Required Documents

Articles of Incorporation
Certificate of Seal Registration
Capital payment proof
Visa application documents
Business plan with expert verification
Office lease contract
Employee contract & social insurance documents
JLPT certificate
Academic & career certificates
Apostille/consular authentication for foreign documents

6. Key Examination Points

Real capital of 30 million yen
Full-time employee with social insurance
Japanese language ability
Real office (not virtual)
Feasible business plan
Longer examination period (3–6 months)

7. Industry-Specific Licenses (Important for Foreign Entrepreneurs)

■ Real Estate Company (宅建業 / Real Estate Brokerage)

Required License: Real Estate Transaction License

Office required
Full-time licensed real estate agent (宅地建物取引士)
Guarantee deposit or association membership

■ Construction Company (建設業)

Required License: Construction Business License

Manager with required experience
Technical manager
Financial basis (5 million yen+)
Office

■ Travel Agency (旅行業)

Required License: Travel Agency Registration

Licensed travel service manager
Required net assets
Guarantee deposit

■ Restaurant Business (飲食店)

Required License: Food Service Permit

Fire safety manager (depending on size)

■ Trading Company (貿易業)

Import/export code registration
Foreign Exchange Law compliance

8. Fees & Advantages of Hiring an Administrative Lawyer

Incorporation fees
Visa application fees
Translation & authentication fees
Expert verification fees

Benefits include one-stop support, banking assistance, office search, and compliance support.

9. Our Services

Business Manager Visa
Company incorporation
Real estate / construction / travel agency licenses
Office & bank introduction
Multilingual support

1０. Contact

Administrative Scrivener Corporation Shionaga Office 📞 096-385-9002 📧 info@shionagaoffice.jp 🌐 https://shionagaoffice.jp Nationwide online support Free initial consultation