How to Set Up a Company Branch in Japan for Foreigners

How to Set Up a Company Branch in Japan

Read to learn more about how to set up a branch office in Japan. Depending on the applicant’s situation, additional procedures may be required. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information about your personal situation.

The representative of the Japan branch must have an address in Japan.

A Japanese branch cannot be established by non-residents alone. The representative of the Japan branch must have an address in Japan. In other words, if the person who is going to be the representative of the Japanese branch is a foreigner, they must be a foreigner already living in Japan legally with some kind of status of residence. The law has been revised so that the representative of a joint-stock company can be an overseas resident. Also, the representative of the Japanese branch does not have to be an officer of the foreign company (head office). Furthermore, since it is not necessary to be an employee of a foreign company (headquarters), it is possible to have a newly hired person become the representative of the Japanese branch. Of course, it is also possible to appoint an officer/employee of a foreign company (headquarters) to represent a Japanese branch.

Documents required for setting up a branch in Japan

[Establishment of the Japanese branch of Chinese company]

[Establishment of the Japanese branch of Korean company]

■ Step 1

Obtain a seal certificate, registration certificate, business license, articles of incorporation, etc., of the corporation in your home country. All documents have to be translated into Japanese.

■ Step 2

Make an affidavit in your home country or foreign embassy in your home country.

■ Step 3

Create the supporting documents necessary for the company incorporation registration application and the registration application form. At Samurai Immigration Law Firm, we assist in preparing documents according to the situation of the company. The date of registration is the date of establishment of the company.

■ Step 4

After completing the establishment procedure of the Japan branch, various notifications must be made. Submit the relevant notification documents to the tax office, prefectural tax office, social insurance office, labor standards inspection office, public employment security office, etc.

■ Step 5

After setting up a branch office, you can apply for a visa to enter and work in Japan. Prepare the necessary documents and submit them to the Immigration Bureau.

■ Step 6

After setting up a Japanese branch office and obtaining a business manager visa, you will be able to manage the Japanese branch office. At that time, we will inform you about how to use tax and labor management experts. Even after establishing a branch in Japan, we will continue to provide detailed services for the success of business in Japan.

Cost of setting up a branch in Japan

90,000 yen will be charged as a registration license tax, paid to the Legal Affairs Bureau at the time of application for registration. Other costs will be incurred if the affidavit is to be submitted at a notary public office in your home country or at a foreign embassy in Japan, but the actual cost will vary from country to country.