Relocate your business to Japan
Asia
Thinking about business immigration to Japan? Below are the residency routes for founders, investors and startups, and the set-up services a foreign-owned business needs: company registration, a bank account, tax, payroll, trademark and licences. Set-up comes first, because a company does not grant residency on its own. See also business immigration explained and relocating your business abroad.
About 6,850
islands
37M
people in Greater Tokyo, the world's largest metro area
1964
year the first Shinkansen bullet train ran
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Population
- About 124 million
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Languages
- Japanese
Best things about doing business in Japan
- One of the world's largest economies
- A world leader in manufacturing, robotics and electronics
- Trusted business partners and strong IP protection
Fun facts
- Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains are known for running within seconds of schedule.
- Japan has more than six thousand islands, though most people live on four main ones.
Figures are rounded and approximate.
Business Setup Services
Company, bank, payroll, brand and licencesNot a residency routeWe handle company incorporation, bank account and payroll set-up, trademark filing and the licences and permits your business needs. Tell us what you need.
Cards without a "last verified" date have not been independently checked yet. Confirm the details with the official source before you act.
Warning: These do not grant residency on their own. A separate visa is required.
Company Registration
Set up your legal entity so you can operate, hire and pay tax.
Kabushiki Kaisha (KK) / Godo Kaisha (GK) Registration
Last verified October 2026 · Official source: moj.go.jp
NPO (Non-Profit Organization) Registration
Official source: npo-homepage.go.jp
Business Bank Account
Opening an account with a bank in Japan
Open a business bank account for your new company. ORBIZLY prepares the application, and the bank decides.
Official source: fsa.go.jp
Employer and Payroll Registration
Registering as an employer in Japan
Register as an employer so you can hire and run payroll. Handled by the Labour Standards Inspection Office, Hello Work, the Japan Pension Service and the tax office.
Official source: mhlw.go.jp
Trademark Filing
Trademark Filing (Japan Patent Office)
Last verified October 2026 · Official source: jpo.go.jp
IP and Patent Filing
IP and Patent Filing (JPO)
Protect your invention with a patent. Filed with the Japan Patent Office.
Official source: jpo.go.jp
Licences
Permits that let your products and business operate legally: import permits, tax and goods/services registration, sector-specific permits, export licences, drug and health, food safety, lab test reports and product trials.
Import Permits and Importer Registration
Register as an importer and get permits for regulated goods. Handled by Japan Customs and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (for restricted goods).
Official source: customs.go.jp
Tax and Goods/Services Registration
Register for tax and for goods and services tax. Handled by the National Tax Agency (consumption tax registration).
Official source: nta.go.jp
Sector-Specific Permits
Permits for regulated industries. Overseen by the ministry that oversees your sector.
Official source: meti.go.jp
Export Licence
Get permission to export controlled goods. Handled by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Official source: meti.go.jp
Drug and Health Product Licence
Approval to sell medicines, devices and health products. Handled by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Official source: pmda.go.jp
Food Safety Licence and Registration
Register your food business and get approval to import or sell food. Handled by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Official source: mhlw.go.jp
Lab Test Reports and Product Certification
Get your product tested and certified for the market. Overseen through NITE and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Official source: meti.go.jp
Product Trial and Sample Approval
Approval to trial a new product before launch. Handled by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency.
Official source: pmda.go.jp
Residency & Visa Pathways
Programs that grant residenceThese grant a right to live and work in the country. Talk to an expert before you apply.
Business Manager Visa
Capital requirement jumped sixfold to ¥30 million in October 2025, plus new hiring, language, and experience rules.
Last verified September 2026 · Official source: moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/businessmanager.html
Startup Visa (Designated Activities)
Up to 2 years to prepare a business before it needs to meet full Business Manager Visa requirements.
Last verified September 2026 · Official source: moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/03_00070.html
Questions about moving a business to Japan
What business immigration options are there for Japan?
ORBIZLY lists business and entrepreneur routes (Business Manager Visa) and startup visas (Startup Visa (Designated Activities)). Each is shown on this page with its status, the official source and when it was last verified. Rules change, so confirm the details with the official source before you apply.
Can I relocate my business to Japan?
It depends on your business and the route you choose, and it is really two separate things: setting up or moving the business, and getting the right to live there. Company registration, a bank account, tax and licences are the set-up side. A visa or residence permit is the residency side. Start with the free eligibility check to see which routes fit your business.
Does registering a company in Japan give me residency?
No. Registering a company does not give you the right to live in Japan on its own. Residency needs a separate visa or residence permit.
What do I need to set up a business in Japan?
The usual order is: plan, register the company, open the tax and bank accounts, register as an employer, protect your brand, then get any licences and permits. For Japan, ORBIZLY lists drug and health licences, export licence, food safety, ip and patent filing, import permits, company registration, lab test reports, business bank account, product trials, employer and payroll registration, sector-specific permits, tax and goods/services registration, and trademark filing. Government fees are paid to the authorities and are separate from ORBIZLY's fees.
How do I start moving my business to Japan?
Take the free eligibility check, which takes about three minutes, or book a free 15-minute discovery call. ORBIZLY then shows which routes look like a fit and what to do first. ORBIZLY gives directional guidance and is not a law firm or immigration adviser.
Dreaming of Japan?
Get a personal weekly update about Japan: news, local business norms and your next step.
Brands built in Japan
Well-known companies from Japan, including unicorns and businesses that grew a global presence.
Toyota
One of the world's largest carmakers
Sony
Electronics, games and entertainment
Nintendo
Video games and consoles
SoftBank
Telecoms and technology investing
Uniqlo
Everyday clothing sold in over 25 countries
Examples only. Logos belong to their owners and are shown to identify the companies. A unicorn is a private start-up valued above US$1 billion at some point.
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