Japan Business Expansion from UAE | Company Setup & Business Manager Visa
Build Your Next Business Base in Japan.
Considering a Japanese subsidiary, a branch office, or a move to Japan to manage your business? Plan the company structure and immigration requirements together before committing capital.
Masanobu Kawagoe Administrative Scrivener Office assists entrepreneurs and corporate decision-makers based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE with Japanese immigration applications, administrative documentation and business-related permits within our licensed scope. We welcome English-language inquiries from UAE nationals and international residents.
Phone: +81-237-86-7198 · 9:00–18:00 Japan Standard Time (JST). We do not guarantee incorporation, bank account opening or immigration approval.
What are you planning to do in Japan?
Launch a Japanese company
You operate a UAE business and want a separate Japanese company for local contracts, sales, hospitality, consulting, technology or trade. We help identify administrative requirements and potential immigration issues.
Expand an existing UAE company
Your overseas company intends to carry out business through a registered branch in Japan. We help organize the immigration and permit questions that arise alongside branch-registration work performed by an authorized professional.
Personally manage operations in Japan
You intend to live in Japan and make real management decisions. We examine whether Business Manager or another applicable residence status may fit the actual role and company structure.
Send executives or employees
You need to transfer a qualified manager or specialist from the UAE to Japan. We review the proposed duties, corporate relationship, eligible employer or receiving institution and immigration route.
Subsidiary, branch or representative office?
Japanese company formation and immigration permission are different questions. Before selecting a structure, consider what the business will actually do, who will sign contracts, where management will take place and whether anyone needs to live and work in Japan.
| Structure | What it generally allows | Important considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese subsidiary (KK / GK) | A separate Japanese legal entity that may carry out its registered business activities, subject to applicable permits. | Commercial registration, capital, banking, taxation, employment and any immigration applications are separate steps. |
| Branch of a UAE company | A registered Japanese establishment through which the overseas company may conduct business. | The branch is not a separate legal person; the foreign company generally remains responsible for branch obligations. Registration and Japan-side representation must be arranged. |
| Representative office | Preparatory tasks such as market research, information gathering and liaison. | It cannot carry out sales activities in Japan and is not an automatic solution for residence or work authorization. |
Foreign ownership and company incorporation do not always require the owner to relocate to Japan. However, owning a company is not the same as being authorized to live or work in Japan. If you will personally manage operations from inside Japan, the appropriate immigration status must be assessed independently.
Company incorporation and commercial registration filings are performed by a judicial scrivener or other authorized professional where required; our office handles administrative documentation and immigration-related work within our scope.
Japan Business Manager visa: the revised requirements
The Japanese status of residence Business Manager (経営・管理) is for qualifying activities involving the genuine operation or management of a business in Japan. Revised criteria came into effect on 16 October 2025. The former simplified explanation of “JPY 5 million or two employees” is not the general standard for new applications.
JPY 30 million+
For a company, generally at least JPY 30 million in qualifying paid-in capital or total contributions. Different calculations apply to individual businesses.
At least 1 full-time employee
Generally one employee in an eligible category, such as a Japanese national, special permanent resident or a qualifying status-based resident. An ordinary work-status employee alone does not meet this headcount rule.
Approximately B2 level
The applicant or a relevant full-time employee must meet the prescribed Japanese-language level. JLPT N2 or other accepted evidence may be used where applicable.
Degree or management record
Generally a relevant master's-level or higher degree, or at least three years of qualifying experience in business management.
Qualified expert review
Where required, the new business plan must be assessed by an eligible Japanese certified specialist, such as a registered management consultant, CPA or tax accountant.
Real office and activity
The company must have appropriate Japanese business premises, genuine activities and any necessary licenses. A nominal directorship or virtual address is not enough.
Simply transferring JPY 30 million, purchasing a Japanese company or buying Japanese property does not grant residence. The capital and staffing tests are separate, and the applicant's real management role, office, business plan and other legal criteria are assessed together. Specific exceptions and transitional rules may apply to qualifying cases.
Our office can review intended management activities, supporting documentation and an appropriate Certificate of Eligibility (COE), change-of-status or extension procedure. We check who is legally permitted to submit the application in Japan before accepting an overseas case.
Read our detailed English Business Manager visa guide · Business Manager eligibility self-check (Japanese)
Ask for an initial immigration feasibility review, particularly if the Japanese entity, staffing or office arrangements have not yet been finalized.
Japanese administrative procedures for UAE business expansion
Business Manager COE / change / renewal
Eligibility review, evidence checklist, preparation of immigration forms and supporting explanations, and permitted application intermediation where filing conditions are met.
Japan-side permits and licenses
Review and application support for permits within an administrative scrivener's scope, such as relevant hospitality, food-service, secondhand-goods or construction-business permissions, depending on activity and location.
Corporate and foreign documents
Review of UAE company records, owner details, Japanese administrative forms, business-purpose descriptions and required translations or certifications, as applicable to the particular filing.
Coordination with specialist advisers
Where needed, coordination with judicial scriveners for registration, tax accountants for taxation and business-plan assessment, and other qualified professionals for their regulated services.
Some investments and Japanese business activities can trigger prior notification or post-transaction reporting under Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. Applicability depends on the investment structure, sector and transaction; these obligations should be assessed before proceeding with a regulated investment.
Bringing the right people to your Japanese operation
The suitable Japanese status depends on what each person will do in Japan, not simply their job title, salary, nationality or ownership interest.
| Person / activity | Possible residence route | What must be examined |
|---|---|---|
| Founder who will actively manage the business | Business Manager, or another category where legally applicable | Actual management, capital, staffing, Japanese ability, credentials, office and business plan. |
| Existing employee sent from a UAE group company | Intra-company Transferee, where eligible | Group relationship, prior qualifying overseas employment, Japan duties, compensation and receiving organization. |
| Specialist hired by a Japanese company | Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, or another relevant work status | Qualifications, duties, employment conditions and receiving institution. |
| Senior executive or specialist | Highly Skilled Professional, if all criteria are met | Eligible activities, points or applicable special criteria, income and professional record. |
| Spouse and dependent children | Dependent or another qualifying family status | Principal resident's status, family relationship and support requirements. |
A UAE residence permit is not Japanese work authorization. Short business visits and residence for actual management or employment are legally different. Family members cannot automatically work in Japan, and not every company structure creates an eligible Japan-side COE applicant or agent.
What information should UAE-based founders prepare?
We tailor the list to your company and application. For an initial review, the following categories are useful:
UAE business background
Proposed Japan operation
Founder / executive
Supporting materials
Please do not submit passports, bank statements or confidential corporate documents through an initial inquiry unless we have explained a suitable method of sharing them. Immigration authorities may request additional documents.
How our Japan-side support works
Explain the UAE business, proposed Japanese activity and whether anyone will relocate.
We examine the potential immigration category, permits, filing authority and professional scope.
We define the administrative work, documents, scope and separately payable costs.
After engagement, we prepare eligible filings and coordinate required specialist involvement.
A company can sometimes be incorporated even when its overseas owner has no qualifying residence route. Likewise, a Certificate of Eligibility, visa and permission to enter Japan are separate procedures. We check the lawful filing arrangement and competent authority before promising a Japan-side immigration submission.
Professional fees and individual quotations
The final fee depends on the type of immigration application, number of executives or family members, complexity of the corporate records, required permits and coordination work. A quotation is provided before you decide to engage us.
Government fees, registration taxes, translation or certification charges, postage, travel costs and fees of judicial scriveners, accountants or other external professionals may be separate. No amount represents a guarantee of visa issuance, bank account opening or incorporation approval.
Our generally published fees for certain services are available on our office fee page; this UAE-focused combined service is quoted according to the actual scope.
About Masanobu Kawagoe Administrative Scrivener Office
Masanobu Kawagoe
Representative / Immigration Application Intermediary Administrative Scrivener
Registration No. 23071191
Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
We support Japanese immigration and administrative applications within the scope of our professional qualification. English inquiries from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other international locations are welcome. We can discuss document preparation remotely, subject to filing eligibility and the nature of the work.
Client reviews · Guide to Japanese residence statuses
We are a Japan-based administrative scrivener office, not a UAE law firm, registered investment adviser, real-estate broker, tax accountant or commercial-registration agent. Where another license is necessary, that work belongs to the relevant authorized professional.
Japan expansion questions from Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Can a UAE business owner incorporate a company in Japan without living there?
Foreign ownership and incorporation may be possible while the owner remains abroad. Corporate registration, banking and any necessary permits are separate matters. Owning the company does not itself provide Japanese residence or permission to work.
Do I need a Business Manager visa if I remain in Dubai?
Not solely because you own shares in a Japanese company. The need for a Japanese status depends on whether you will enter Japan and what activities you will personally conduct there. Active management from inside Japan requires appropriate immigration assessment.
Is JPY 30 million sufficient to obtain a Business Manager visa?
No. Under the revised criteria, qualifying capital or business scale is only one requirement. Eligible full-time staffing, Japanese-language ability, experience or educational background, business premises, a credible plan and genuine management activity are also relevant.
Can I count a foreign employee on a work visa toward the staffing rule?
An employee holding an ordinary work-based residence status generally does not count toward the required one qualifying full-time employee under the revised staffing criterion. The Japanese-language criterion has a different employee scope, so each requirement needs a separate review.
Do I personally need to pass the JLPT N2 examination?
Not necessarily. The prescribed Japanese ability may be demonstrated by the applicant or an eligible full-time employee, using the forms of evidence recognized by the Immigration Services Agency. The accepted employee categories are not identical for all criteria.
Can my Japanese company use a virtual office?
A virtual mailing address does not generally establish the real, independent business premises expected for Business Manager status. Suitability of an office depends on the actual premises, contract and operations.
Is a Japanese subsidiary better than a branch office?
It depends on commercial goals, responsibility for liabilities, ownership, tax treatment and operating needs. A subsidiary is a separate Japanese legal entity; a branch remains part of its foreign parent. We review immigration and administrative consequences and refer corporate, registration or tax issues to the appropriate specialist.
Can a representative office conduct sales in Japan?
Generally no. A representative office is mainly for market research and preparatory or supplemental activities. Commercial sales normally require an appropriate business structure and compliance with applicable rules.
Can I transfer employees from our UAE head office?
Possibly. An Intra-company Transferee route may be suitable for certain qualified assignments where the overseas and Japan-side organizations, prior employment, duties and compensation meet the requirements. Other employment statuses may be relevant depending on the work.
Can my spouse and children come to Japan?
Potentially, depending on your principal residence status and the relevant family-related requirements. Marriage, dependency and financial support evidence may be needed. Family residence and employment authorization are separate issues.
Can you register a Japanese company and open its bank account?
We can assist with administrative documents and coordinate with professionals responsible for commercial registration. We cannot guarantee corporate bank account opening; banks conduct their own review. Registration filings and tax services must be handled by an authorized professional where required.
Are UAE corporate documents and Arabic documents acceptable?
Relevant UAE records may be used as supporting evidence, but the documents and any Japanese translations, notarization or authentication must meet the particular Japanese procedure's requirements. We identify the necessary documents after reviewing the intended filing.
Can I enter as a tourist and then switch to Business Manager?
A change from Temporary Visitor status is restricted and should not be assumed. The appropriate COE, visa and Japan-side application structure should normally be planned before travel.
Does establishing a Japanese company lead to permanent residence?
No automatic residence or permanent residence rights arise from company ownership or investment. Permanent residence has separate requirements and a distinct immigration examination.
Do you offer a free consultation and a fixed package price?
We offer a free initial consultation. This UAE-focused service uses an individual quotation because the administrative work may involve immigration, permits, documents from multiple countries and external professionals. We disclose the agreed scope and cost before engagement.
Japanese government and JETRO guidance
Application requirements and administrative procedures can change. Official decisions are made by the competent Japanese authorities. These sources offer more detailed guidance.
Discuss your Japanese business plans before making commitments
Tell us the name of your UAE business, your passport nationality, whether you want a Japanese subsidiary or branch, the planned activities in Japan, and whether you or your staff intend to relocate. An outline is enough for the first inquiry; do not send confidential banking or identity records initially.
Masanobu Kawagoe Administrative Scrivener Office
Sagae City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · English inquiries welcome · All fees individually quoted
Call +81-237-86-7198 (9:00–18:00 JST). All immigration, corporate and administrative decisions depend on applicable legal requirements and individual examination; approval is not guaranteed.