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In this page, you will find links to useful websites for living in Japan. IMMIGRATION OFFICE Immigration Services Agency (Immigration Office 出入国在留管理庁) General Information Center provided by the Immigration Office: free consultation services provided by the Immigration Office's Information Center in multiple languages. Jump to the Immigration Office's webpage below to get to the specific information; List of Residence/Visa status and basic required documents Basic Information on each procedure; information for COE application and other procedures such as Change of Visa, Re-entry Permit etc. Q&A for visa application/procedures; general matters related to visa/immigration, procedures for visa application, re-enter Japan etc. Q&A for residence management; matters after you become a Residence Card holder such as residence card, necessary notification, cancellation of residence status, employment etc. GOVERNMENT-RELATED AGENCY Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Visa （外務省） National Tax Agency （国税庁） Ministry of Justice （法務省） Ministry of Justice - Corporate Registration （法務省：商業登記について） Japan Pension Service （日本年金機構） Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare （厚生労働省） JETRO - Setting Up Business : government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world BANK Shinsei Bank (online / personal account / English-speaking support available) Rakuten Bank (online bank / personal ...

In case that a foreign company wishes to set up a business entity in Japan to operate their business, basically there are three options of business form as follows: Representative Office (駐在員事務所 Chuzaiin Jimusho) Branch Office (支店 Shiten) Subsidiary or Japanese Company (子会社 or 日本法人 Kogaisha or Nihon Houjin) In case you are a foreign individual who doesn't own any company outside Japan but intend to start business in Japan, you have two options; Setting up a company Going a sole-proprietorship (or a freelance) Since each business operation has its own features and characteristics, you should consider and choose the best way in order to pursue your business plan and activities in Japan. At the same time, you have to consider visa application if you would like to manage the business in Japan and/or you would like to send your staff to Japan. Each county has its own administrative system and procedures, taxation, social insurance and so on. You should learn structure of Japanese company in general as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type of business operation. Also, you will need to take time to examine what options you have for your (or your employee’s) visa status ...

Japanese BRANCE OFFICE (hereinafter referred as to "BO") is a type of business operation to engage in sales activities in Japan. Jump to the following page to check types of business operation in Japan as well as advantages and disadvantages of BO >> Types of Business Operation Even though BO does not have its legal corporate status indepepndently in Japan and is recognized as a part of foreign company (the head company outside Japan) under the Japanese Companies Act. Foreign company must register its BO to the company regitry at the Legal Affairs Bureau to do sales/business activity in Japan. Representative in Japan of BO must be appointed by the head office of the foreign company, and the Representative of BO has to be a resident in Japan. For further detailed assistance, you may contact JETRO, the government related organization which is providing services to expand your business into Japan >> JETRO: SETTING UP BUSINESS IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH VISA PROCEDURES IN JAPAN, JUMP TO INTRODUCTORY PAGES BELOW FIRST: INTRODUCTION CASE STUDY REFERENCE INFORMATION to REGISTER Regarding BO registration, information listed below must be registered in the registry at the Legal Affairs Bureau and you can receive the ...

This page refers to setting up a new corporate entity in Japan pursuant to the Japanese Companies Act. NOTE This page is NOT considering the application for BUSINESS MANAGER visa, a for-work type visa to obtain to manage/execute the business in Japan. Company Registration and Visa Application is totally different procedures. Check BUSINESS MANAGER visa status page first if you need a visa to manage and run a business in Japan. Foreign company can set up a 100% owned subsidiary in Japan by injecting its money as the initial capital. Also, each foreign individual can set up a corporate entity by investing his/her own money. Most popular structure is called Kabushiki Kaisha (株式会社; hereinafter referred to as "KK"), a joint-stock companies incorporated in Japan. Godo Kaisha (合同会社; hereinafter referred to as "GK") is also getting familiar, which is similar to the Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the US offering limited liability for all investors (members). Jump to the following page to check types of business operation in Japan as well as advantages and disadvantages of Incorporation >> Types of Business Operation For the procedures of setting up a company, jump to the website of the Ministry of Justice of Japan; ...

INTRODUCTION CASE STUDY REFERENCE ...

Foreign nationals who newly became mid- and long-term residence and obtained RESIDENCE CARD must register residence address in Japan at the city/ward office within 14 days after deciding a residence address in Japan. This procedure is called as RESIDENCE REGISTRATION / 住民登録 or NOTIFICATION of MOVING-IN / 転入手続き. After you complete the RESIDENCE REGISTRATION, your residence address in Japan is recorded in the registry called RESIDENCE REGISTRY together with your personal information such as full name, sex, household, date of birth, nationality and visa status etc. You will need to report your residence address by the notification of move-in or move-out every time you move your residence address in Japan. CERTIFICATE of RESIDENCE / 住民票の写し (or simply called as 住民票) is a certificate used as an identification in Japan, which is usually required to provide the original when you make a rent contract or register your cellphone etc. to certify your personal information as a resident in Japan. INTRODUCTION CASE STUDY REFERENCE RESIDENCE REGISTRY Basically, foreign nationals who live in Japan and obtain RESIDENCE CARD are required to register a residence address at the city/ward office in the area. Your residence address will be recorded in the registry called RESIDENCE ...

In Japan, INKAN (印鑑) - imprint of seal, can be often used as a stamp of authentication or confirmation instead of signature. If you are a resident in Japan and RESIDENCE CARD holder, you can register your own INKAN at the city/ward office in your residence area. Those who register their own INKAN can receive INKAN CERTIFICATE (印鑑証明書) at the city/ward office. INKAN CERTIFICATE is to confirm whether the imprint put on the documents surly matches the person’s registered INKAN and to certify the holder/registrant of the INKAN. Registered INKAN is also called as JITSU-IN (実印). TIPSJapanese nationals are not even sure for the difference but INKAN and HANKO is different. INKAN is referred to the imprint/impression of HANKO HANKO is the instrument itself. INTRODUCTION CASE STUDY REFERENCE REQUIREMENT for INKAN to be REGISTERED There are some rules of INKAN to be registered. The rule may be different depending on the city/ward office, so you should confirm them what types of INKAN can be registered there. In case of you are a foreign national, generally, you can use your name in alphabet or your katakana name in RESIDENCE REGISTRY. You cannot use the combination of alphabet and katakana. You should ...

After you obtain RESIDENCE CARD and register your residence address in Japan, you would like to open a bank account in Japan. Each bank, even each branch of the bank, has its own procedures and requirements for opening a bank account (either individual or corporate). Mega banks are credible but apply more strict rules and regulations, so it would not be easy for those who have just settled down in Japan to open an account there. It is said that it would be easier to open an account at regional banks or online banks. INTRODUCTION CASE STUDY REFERENCE BANKS IN JAPAN MEGA BANKSumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC / 三井住友銀行), MUFG Bank (三菱UFJ銀行), Mizuho Bank (みずほ銀行) Major Regional Banks in Kansai AreaKansai Mirai Bank (関西みらい銀行), Bank of Kyoto (京都銀行), Kiyo Bank (紀陽銀行), Senshu Ikeda Bank (池田泉州銀行), Shiga Bank (滋賀銀行) etc. Major Shinkin Banks (Credit Unions/Associations 信用金庫) in Kansai AreaOsaka Shinkin Bank (大阪信用金庫), Osaka City Shinkin Bank (大阪シティ信用金庫), Osaka Kosei Shinkin Bank (大阪厚生信用金庫), Kyoto Shinkin Bank (京都信用金庫), Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank (京都中央信用金庫), Amagasaki Shinkin Bank (尼崎信用金庫) etc. Other Banks good for foreign nationalsJapan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行), SBI Shinsei Bank (新生銀行), Rakuten Bank (楽天銀行), GMO Aozora Net Bank (GMOあおぞらネット銀行), Sony Bank (ソニー銀行), au ...

We are afraid that we do not accept inquiry regarding procedures for both Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment for Pension and Refund of Withholding Tax. Please contact Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) or National Tax Office (税務署) for the details.>> Japan Pension Service: Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment>> National Tax Office （Amended on February 20th, 2023） Foreign nationals who have enrolled in the Japanese National Pension scheme can receive pension based on the amount and rate of payment by claiming LUMP-SUM WITHDRAWAL PAYMENT (脱退一時金; hereinafter referred to as the "Payment") within 2 years after withdraw from the Pension scheme and moving out of Japan (quitting to live in Japan). In case you have enrolled in the pension scheme for 10 years (120 months) or more, you have another choice; you are eligible for receiving the Japanese Old-age Pension (老齢年金). You should consider whether you claim LUMP-SUM WITHDRAWAL PAYMENT or you take the payment of the Old-age Pension (老齢年金の受給) according to the amount of pension benefits you will receive in the future. You can find some basic information for the Payment below.For further information or inquiry regarding the Payment or pension, please contact the Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) or a specialist in the field of pension ...

We are afraid that we do not accept inquiry regarding procedures for both Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment for Pension and Refund of Withholding Tax. Please contact Japan Pension Service (日本年金機構) or National Tax Office (税務署) for the details.>> Japan Pension Service: Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment>> National Tax Office （Amended on February 20th, 2023） When you receive?LUMP-SUM WITHDRAWAL PAYMENT, the withholding income tax (20.42% of the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment) will be deducted from the total amount of the payments >> LUMP-SUM WITHDRAWAL PAYMENT After you receive the LUMP-SUM WITHDRAWAL PAYMENT, you can claim the tax refund by filing for ”Tax Return for Refund due to Taxation on Retirement Income at the Taxpayer's Option (退職所得の選択課税による還付のための申告書)" within 5 years commencing on January 1st of the following year of receipt of the LUMP-SUM WITHDRAWAL PAYMENT. The Tax Return must be submitted to the Tax Office (税務署) which has jurisdiction over your last address you registered in Japan. Basically, all the withholding income tax will be paid back to you in case you don't have anything to declare except for the Lump-sum Withdrawal Payment. However, the Tax Office only accepts a bank account in Japan for the refund. Generally, you don’t have any Japanese bank account any ...