Japan’s Business Management Visa is Easily Obtainable with a 5 Million Investment for Full Access to Social Welfare?! According to a YouTuber.

Many People Want to Move to Japan

There is a lot of information online claiming that one can apply for a business management visa to legally reside in Japan with just 5 million yen. Due to the low threshold, this has attracted attention. YouTuber Xiao Zheng believes that the current rumors and posts about the “Japanese Business Management Visa” online do not align with the actual situation in Japan. Below are several points he shared along with my personal opinions.

Is it Easy to Apply for the Japanese Business Management Visa with Just 5 Million Yen?

The most commonly shared narrative online is that by investing 5 million yen, one can easily start a company in Japan and enjoy all the benefits Japan has to offer. In response, Xiao Zheng states that to obtain this type of visa, one must first prove what activities they will be engaged in Japan. For instance, if someone is in Japan for study, their primary purpose is education, and they can take up part-time work to earn money, but their status remains that of a student. This is a job where others pay wages, meaning they are employees, not employers. However, the business management visa is for those who want to be their own boss and generate income. One must create their own revenue streams and be self-sufficient, allowing for the hiring of others. To obtain the visa, one needs to demonstrate their business profitability model for review by Japanese authorities. The validity period for the business management visa is only one year, and every year, Japan will re-evaluate the status of the business. If the Japanese government believes that the current situation does not meet the criteria of “business management,” they can refuse to renew the visa.

Investing in Japan Requires Creating Value and Tax Revenue for the Local Community

Xiao Zheng presented data from Japan’s Reiwa 6 (2024) residency status report, which shows that the proportion of business management visas issued in Japan is quite small, categorized under “other,” at only 6.4%. For those looking to obtain the Japanese business management visa, the key is not just about bringing 5 million yen to Japan to easily open a company; it is primarily about proving one can contribute to Japan, such as generating local value like “tax revenue” or “job opportunities,” convincing the Japanese government that the business can benefit the country.

In his video, Xiao Zheng shares a post from a Taiwanese netizen on Threads, which states, “To easily and securely obtain citizenship through this visa (business management visa) in five years, one must spend at least 10 million yen annually on all expenses, and one must also work hard to learn Japanese.” As for the benefits of living in Japan, these can only be enjoyed once one has Japanese citizenship. With the visa, one must pay higher pension and tax contributions, and there is no guarantee of obtaining permanent residency after five years of settling down. Xiao Zheng mentioned that when he held the business management visa, he paid over 10 million yen in taxes annually, and without special benefits, he could not see a doctor. In case of illness or accidents, one can only hope for the best.

Obtaining a Business Management Visa, Yet Unable to Open a Bank Account in Japan?

After acquiring the business management visa, there is still a possibility of being unable to open a business bank account in Japan. Without a business account, one cannot record transactions, save money, or apply for loans. This situation often occurs for small businesses or sole proprietors. In Japan, opening a bank account is fraught with difficulties, even for locals. The well-known author Haruki Murakami once wrote in his book that when he was young, he relied on translation and running a café for income. He faced numerous obstacles when trying to open a bank account, and eventually, he found a bank willing to assist him. Even a prominent author encountered very practical issues. If one plans to do business in Japan, even with residency rights, lacking a corporate bank account makes managing business income and expenses challenging, limiting one to a personal account, complicating tax and living expense management.

The Japanese Business Management Visa Does Not Guarantee Permanent Residency

Many Chinese individuals on Xiaohongshu promote the idea that the “Japanese Business Management” visa is easy to obtain, and numerous agents specialize in such visa cases. However, there are many discussions online in Japan presenting completely opposing viewpoints. YouTuber Xiao Zheng stated that he once held a long-term Japanese business management visa, but a friend from Hong Kong who opened a restaurant in Japan encountered issues with this visa last month and had to leave. This experience serves as a lesson for others. When operating a business abroad, besides capital proof, language ability, and management skills, integrity is also crucial. Xiao Zheng noted that Japanese officials would conduct surprise inspections to see how one does business and monitor financial flows. If they suspect the source of income and expenses of the company, then even paying taxes and pension contributions will not help; the visa can still be denied.

The “Business Management Visa” is not a quick immigration shortcut; obtaining it is difficult, and maintaining it is even harder. Instead of believing the promotion that “spending 5 million yen can lead to permanent residency in Japan,” it is better to thoroughly understand the actual thresholds and risks involved.

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