Incorporation, Residence and visa processes , and Business Licenses

Since I became a solicitor (Gyosei Shoshi) in 2007, I have been advising and processing foreigners’ incorporation and residence applications via English communication only. I don’t believe there is another solicitor who can handle all the work from company establishment to obtaining business licenses, and who can directly communicate with clients in English only without an interpreter. I definitely want you to leave this field to this office.

Establishment of corporations and branches in Japan and the United States

The office provides advice and assistance with the process when foreigners establish subsidiaries and branches in Japan. If notification or reporting to the Bank of Japan is required before and after the establishment of the corporation, the office will also take care of that procedure. In the case of foreigners, they may need to apply for residence certificate and obtain licenses to conduct business after its incorporation, so the office proposes the incorporation in a form that meets the requirements for residence and business licenses. As I wrote in my blog, although I didn’t advertise at all, the office suddenly received a flood of inquiries and requests long before, and this field became the office specialty. The office can propose the best method and help with the process using know-how that other experts do not have.

In addition, since operating an inheritance seminar in Hawaii in 2018, I have been asked by many Hawaiian and Japanese clients to handle legal procedures in Hawaii. Since obtaining my attorney’s license in 2022, I have been able to expand my scope of work to the mainland of the US, including incorporation and visa consultations. There are very few Gyosei Shoshi and lawyers who understand the circumstances of both Japan and the United States and can carry out the processes. Please feel free to contact the office.

For more information on establishing a corporation in Japan, please see the separate column on this website (here) or my blog by searching keyword “corporation”.

Applying for residence status in Japan and obtaining a visa in the US

To apply for residence status in Japan, the professional in charge needs a license called an “application agent (Shinsei Toritsugishi”, and only gyosei shoshis and lawyers who have this license can act on your behalf in immigration procedures. You may think that application process is easy, but these processes require deep expertise and chunk of know-how. 

Further, business plan is essential for foreigners to obtain business manager status, and the office can advise you on creating an easy-to-understand plan. As mentioned on another page, not only handle applications for work related and family-related purposes, but performance visa as well. Although I take on cases that other gyosei shoshi have applied for and have been rejected, and difficult cases that others would not be able to obtain the status, this office boost almost 100% permission rate.

In addition, if you need a visa for short-term stays in Japan or abroad, we also handle the visa application process.

The office handles a wide range of US visas, from B1/B2 to E1/E2, artist visas, and consultations on denial cases. There are very few immigration lawyers who have knowledge of both Japanese residence certificates and US visas. Please contact via office inquiry form if you have any interests about Japanese residence or US visa cases.

By the way, there is a separate column on this website about various things related to residence applications in Japan, so please refer to that as well.

Obtaining Business Licenses in Japan and in the US

If your company is conducting a business that requires licenses and permits, the office will help you obtain them. In the US, business license requires not only under Federal Law but also at the state and county laws where the corporation resides (and locates for some instances). Helping the clients that need Business Licenses is like a monopoly of Gyosei Shoshi. Although I haven’t written it on this website, Business License matters are actually one of my specialties. Please contact this office if you need temporary employees agency, recruiting (I was the Japanese representative of a UK recruiting company for five years, so I can make detailed proposals), travel agency, adult entertainment and restaurant, used goods dealers, liquor sales, construction industry, real estate license acquisition and renewal, even including other professional services will be required.

In many cases, the corporation’s business purposes in articles of incorporation (and corporate registration certificate) must include the business license related wording, and meeting these requirements from the time of incorporation will save your time eventually. We also help many startups participating Tokyo Metropolitan Government Plan　https://www.investtokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/oursupports/bdc-tokyo/fhr.html with the three-piece set, company establishment, residence certificate, and business licenses for foreign clients. Please contact us.

Back office after company establishment, and loans, grants, and subsidies for business operation

Even after registering to legal affairs bureau as a corporation, there are many things you have to do, such as opening a corporate bank account, filing a notice of new entity with the tax bureau, and if you hire workers, social insurance procedures, monthly payroll calculations, bookkeeping, and reporting financial statements to the tax bureau once in a year. Although many of these works will be done by other licensed professionals, these processes are requisite for immigration and business license processes. So, this office will consult with you about the process and introduce you to other affiliated professionals upon the request.

In addition, cash flow of corporate entity is an important element in running a business. We also provide tips on how to request loans from the Japan Finance Corporation (government owned bank) and general banks for Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as assistance with applying for grants and subsidies. This office also do a lot of works such as making presentation materials and filing applications to these entities on your behalf, so please feel free to contact us.