The so-called investment migration is via a “Business Manager’ visa.  To be able to obtain this 1 to 5 year visa, applicants need to be 20 years of age or older and will invest over 5 million yen (about HK$360,000) to “start up a company”, “acquire a Japanese company” or “be a manager to assist the business owner to operate the company”, and then the applicant(s) can apply for permanent residence* or citizenship.

* If the applicant(s) have advanced qualifications (university degree or above, many years of relevant work experience, earn 4 million yen or more annual salary, etc.), as well as are able to have a very good impact on Japan, then they are qualified to apply for a ‘Highly Skilled Professional' visa.  People who have obtained this ‘Highly Skilled Professional' visa can apply for permanent residency after one or three years which depends on how many Requirement Points they have.  People with permanent residency are not required to live in Japan, but they must enter Japan once a year.  The main difference between a permanent residency and holding a national passport is the right to vote.

Things to know before you apply for investment migration:

Requirements of applying for a Business Manager visa:

1. Applicant must set up a company in Japan with a registered capital not less than 5 million yen. There is no limitation on business scope.
2. To have a fixed office space in Japan.

The visa allows to take family members:

1. Spouse
2. Childen
3. Visa for the applicant/spouse parents (for "Highly Skilled Professional visa", applicant with an annual income of 8 million yen).  The visa allows them to take care of a pregnant highly skilled professional or their spouse, and grandchildren of age 7 year or younger, etc.)

When the main applicant has been granted a one-year "business manager" visa for the first time, the spouse and children can apply for dependent visa.

Requirements of Visa renewal:

1. No illicit records in Japan.
2. Company is having normal business activities, the company and the applicant pay taxes to the government, and the operator can cope with daily living expenses.
3. Renewal of the Business Manager visa for 1 year, 3 years or 5 years according to the operational status of the business.
4. No specific residential requirements.

Requirements of applying for permanent residency:

1. No illicit records in Japan.
2. Stable income with assets or skills
3. Has stayed in Japan for 10 years continuously (has status of residence for more than 5 years)
4. Applicant with a highly-skilled professional visa can apply for permanent residency after living in Japan for one year.

Requirements for applying to be a Japanese citizen:

1. Has lived in Japan for 5 years continuously.
2. 20 years of age or more.
3. No illicit records in Japan.
4. Has financial stability, able to maintain a livelihood.
5. Dual citizenship is not recognized in Japan, you must renounce your previous nationality.
6. Abide by the Japanese Constitution.

Please note that the entire process for the application for a Business Manager visa requires approximately 6 to 8 months. Details of the required documents are for your reference below:

1. Application form (available from the Japanese Government website)
2. Passport photo (3x4cm)
3. Passport and Japanese resident card
4. Certificate of incorporation (Business Registration, business cards, certificate of real estate, rental contract, proof of business size and photos)
5. Proof of employment and salary payment
6. Resume
7. Business Plan
8. Remittance and proof of funding source (monthly statements and other proof)

Documents required to apply for a Dependent Visa:

1. Application form (available from the Japanese Government website)
2. Passport photo (3x4cm)
3. Documents proving the relationship between the applicant and the dependent (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
4. Passport of the dependent and Japanese residence card
5. Dependent’s proof of work and income

*For further information, please see MKblog.

No job is easy at the beginning, and we understand you may face some difficulties when you start your business and settle in a new country with a language barrier and cultural differences.  We understand your worries, therefore our English and Mandarin speaking Japanese colleagues in Japan would assist you to solve problems which may arise.