Relocation — 1.1
Three paths that make sense for founders and high-earners relocating to Japan. Each has different requirements, timelines, and implications for your PR path.
3
Paths worth considering
1 year
Fastest PR eligibility
10 years
Standard PR timeline
1–3 months
Processing time
Not professional advice
Japan offers many visa categories, but for founders, operators, and high-earners, three are worth serious consideration. The right choice depends on your income source, business structure, and long-term residency goals.
| Visa | Who it's for | PR path | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Manager | Founders operating a Japan entity | 10 years (standard) | High |
| Highly Skilled Professional | Executives, specialists, researchers | 1–3 years | Medium |
| Engineer / Specialist | Tech workers employed by Japan company | 10 years (standard) | Low |
The Business Manager visa is for people running a company in Japan. You must be actively managing it — not just a shareholder. This is the most common path for founders relocating their operations.
Members only
The strategy, sequencing, and optimization details below are available to members.
The Business Manager visa is for people running a company in Japan. You must be actively managing it — not just a shareholder. This is the most common path for founders relocating their operations.
Important
Realistically budget 2–4 months from company registration to visa approval. Immigration processes applications in batches. Initial approval is typically for 1 year, which you renew annually until eligible for longer status.
Common rejection reason
The HSP visa is Japan's points-based system for attracting high-value individuals. It is the most powerful visa for long-term residency optimization. Score 70+ points for basic HSP status, 80+ for accelerated status.
Standard PR requires 10 years of continuous residence. HSP at 70+ points reduces this to 3 years. HSP at 80+ points reduces it to 1 year. This is the single most significant legal lever for long-term residency planning.
Important
The most common visa for employed professionals. If you have a job offer from a Japanese company — either a local entity or a foreign company's Japan subsidiary — this is the standard path. It requires a university degree (in a relevant field) or 10 years of professional experience as a substitute.
For founders who are also CTO-level operators: if you structure your Japan company and hire yourself as an engineer-director, this can overlap with the Business Manager visa. Get clarity from a lawyer on which takes precedence.
Most people on standard visas wait 10 years. The HSP designation at 80+ points compresses this to 1 year of residence. The calculation is worth doing early — even a few months of strategic career moves before application can shift your points total significantly.
If you are relocating an existing business to Japan: Business Manager visa, and build toward HSP as your income scales.
If you are a highly paid executive joining a Japan entity: apply for both Engineer/Specialist and HSP designation simultaneously — you likely qualify.
If you are a solo founder: the ¥30M capital requirement and mandatory employee condition make the Business Manager visa significantly harder to access. If you cannot meet both, the HSP route — secured via employment at a Japan entity — may be the more practical path while you build toward compliance.
One rule for all paths
Consulting
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