Setting Up Business

In Japan, the system for establishing a company has been made simple and straightforward. A business can be registered with as little as 1 yen in capital, and minimum setup costs can be kept at around 15 million yen, so setting up is more accessible than you might expect. The procedures involved can be carried out online, and plenty of support is available for visa applications.​

On this page, we provide a flowchart outlining the basic steps involved in establishing a base in Japan. You can also find a detailed explanation of each step, cost estimation, an overview of the laws, regulations and procedures related to setting up business, and more.​

Laws and Regulations on Setting Up Business in Japan Pamphlet

The pamphlet "Laws & Regulations" is available in PDF, and outlines basic information about laws, regulations and procedures related to setting up a business in Japan. It is available in 8 languages (Japanese, English, German, French, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean and Vietnamese).
You can download via the "Request Form" button below.

Steps of Setting Up Business

Flowchart

*Click on “Setting up a business,” “Obtaining visas,” “Setting up an office,” Personnel-related matter,” and “Setting up a place of residence” to open the detailed page.

This flowchart shows necessary steps for foreign companies to set up business in Japan.In the section of “Setting up a business”, the following steps are shown to complete before starting business operations: 1) Research, 2) Company registration, 3) Tax notices, and 4) Opening a bank account.In the section of “Obtaining visas”, the following steps are shown to take for obtaining visas before starting business operations: 1) Appointing a representative in Japan, 2) Company registration, and 3) Certificate of eligibility/Visa application.In the section of “Setting up an office”, the following steps are shown to take for setting up an office before starting business operations: 1) Temporary office rental, 2) Setting up a permanent office, and 3) Company registration.In the section of “Personnel-related matters”, the following steps are shown to take for personnel-related matters before starting business operations: 1) Hiring staff, 2) Company registration, and 3) Social insurance notices.In the section of “Setting up a place of residence”, the following steps are shown to take for setting up a place of residence before starting business operations; 1) Staying at hotels and others, and 2) Setting up a permanent housing. Setting up a company or local branch Obtaining visas Setting up an office Personnel-related affairs Setting up a place to live

Develop a Plan to Enter the Japanese Market

Laws and Regulations on Setting Up Business in Japan

JETRO provides basic information about the laws and various procedures related to setting up a business in Japan (incorporating business/visas and status of residence/taxes in Japan/human resource management/trademark and design protection systems).
Please click here for documents businesses are required to submit to authorities.
Information about trademarks and design protection matters in setting up business in Japan is available on the Japan Patent Office websiteExternal site: a new window will open.
You can also find professionals to assist at Experts Finder.

Laws & Regulations on Setting Up Business in Japan
(as of November 2023)

Based on legal revision during the 2023 fiscal year, all of the items of Section1 - 4 have been updated.

Documents required to submit to authorities

JETRO provides list of documents required to submit to authorities related to setting up a business in Japan (incorporating business/visas and status of residence/taxes in Japan/human resource).

See the most frequently asked questions and answers about setting up business in Japan.

Contact Us

Investing in and collaborating with Japan

We will do our very best to support your business expansion into and within Japan as well as business collaboration with Japanese companies. Please feel free to contact us via the form below for any inquiries.

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Our network covers over 50 countries worldwide. You can contact us at one of our local offices near you for consultation.

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