Japan market entry for foreign companies and individuals
Your business in Japan,
from setup to succession,
with one point of contact.
Company setup, visas, corporate bank accounts, accounting and tax, permits, real estate, M&A. We handle the procedures for starting and running a business in Japan end to end, together with licensed professionals in each field. We work in Japanese, Chinese and English.
Company setup, visas, bank accounts and tax. We handle every procedure for entering Japan end to end, together with licensed professionals in each field.
01The challenge of entering Japan
Entering Japan
is a question of sequence.
Paying in capital requires a bank account. Opening a corporate account requires registration and a real business. Applying for a visa requires an office and a business plan. Each step depends on another, and when one is delayed, everything stops.
In the first consultation, TIMOA brings your entity type, capital, visa, bank account, office and tax into a single plan, and carries it out in the right order.
- Bank accountCapital payment
- Registration and business substanceCorporate account opening
- Office and business planVisa application
We bring everything into one plan and proceed in the right order.
02Services
Services
We take on the eight areas you need to run a business in Japan, through one point of contact.
Japan Entry & Company Setup
From choosing your entity type to registration, FEFTA procedures, corporate bank accounts, offices and certification of overseas documents.
Entity choice, registration, accounts and offices.
More about Japan Entry & Company SetupVisas, Talent & Living
Business Manager and other statuses of residence, permanent residency and naturalization, bringing your family, hiring foreign talent and settling into life in Japan.
Residence status, permanent residency, hiring, living.
More about Visas, Talent & LivingAccounting, Tax & HR
Bookkeeping and closing, tax returns, qualified invoices, transfer pricing, payroll and social insurance, shareholder meetings and registrations. Reports to head office in Chinese or English.
Bookkeeping, tax filing, payroll, head-office reports.
More about Accounting, Tax & HRPermits & Financial Licenses
Business permits such as secondhand dealer, liquor sales, construction and Entertainment Business Act licenses, and registrations such as financial instruments business, funds transfer service and crypto-asset exchange service.
From business permits to financial licenses.
More about Permits & Financial LicensesReal Estate
Buying, leasing, managing and selling. Post-acquisition filings and tax returns for owners living overseas.
Purchase, management, sale and tax.
More about Real EstateM&A, Succession & Exit
Acquiring companies without successors, selling Japanese companies, pre-acquisition due diligence and integration, through to liquidation and exit.
From buying and selling to exit.
More about M&A, Succession & ExitIP, Risk & Compliance
Trademark registration in Japan and China, Japanese and Chinese data protection, economic security and export control, and anti-money laundering.
Trademarks, personal data and export control.
More about IP, Risk & CompliancePrivate Client Services
Relocation, tax residency status, inheritance and gift planning, asset management companies and trusts, family offices.
Relocation, assets and inheritance.
More about Private Client Services
03Why TIMOA
Five reasons clients choose us
- 01
One point of contact. Each matter handled by a licensed specialist.
Registration by judicial scriveners (shiho-shoshi), visas and permits by administrative scriveners (gyoseishoshi), tax by certified tax accountants (zeirishi), social insurance by labor and social security attorneys (sharoshi), trademarks by patent attorneys (benrishi), contracts and disputes by attorneys (bengoshi). Your contact person coordinates it all.
- 02
Planning backward from the latest rules.
Visa, real estate and tax rules keep changing. We plan backward from what the authorities will examine, and explain each change on our blog.
- 03
Three languages, for documents and reports alike.
Consultations, contracts, monthly reports and explanations of application documents, in Japanese, Chinese and English. We are also available on WeChat, WhatsApp and LINE.
- 04
Compliance as a given.
We do not accept name-lending arrangements, sales of companies with bank accounts attached, or applications without real substance. An entry that government agencies and financial institutions trust is the foundation of a lasting business.
- 05
The same team, after setup.
Accounting, tax and HR, visa renewals, expansion and succession: the same team stays with you.
04How it works
Seven steps to entering Japan
The overall timeline depends on your business and the type of visa. We give estimates for each procedure at the planning stage.
- 1
Free consultation
We learn about your business, family, timeline and budget. Online meetings are available.
- 2
Plan and estimate
We bring your base, capital, visa, bank account, office and tax into a single plan.
- 3
Document preparation
We arrange home-country documents, notarization and apostille, and translation.
- 4
Company setup
We draft the articles of incorporation, register the company and file FEFTA reports.
- 5
Account, office and filings
We handle the corporate bank account, the office lease, and notifications to the tax office and pension office.
- 6
Visa application
We finalize the business plan and apply for Business Manager or another status of residence.
- 7
Operations begin
We continue to handle accounting, tax, HR and corporate secretarial work.
05Typical consultations
Common cases
- Business owners who want to set up a company in Japan and move here with their family
- Companies that want their Japanese subsidiary's accounting, tax and payroll managed to head-office standards
- Financial and fintech companies starting financial services in Japan
- Individuals and companies overseas who want to buy and hold Japanese real estate
- Investors looking to acquire Japanese companies without successors
- Families planning tax and inheritance ahead of a move to Japan
06Professionals
Our professional team
Each matter is handled by a professional legally qualified to handle it.
Registration
Judicial scrivener
Status of residence and permits
Administrative scrivener (certified immigration agent)
Tax
Certified tax accountant
Social insurance
Labor and social security attorney
Trademarks
Patent attorney
Contracts and disputes
Attorney
07FAQ
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not here, ask us in a free consultation.
Get a free consultationCan foreigners alone set up a company?
Yes. A company can be formed even if all shareholders and directors are foreign nationals, and the representative does not need to live in Japan. Corporate bank accounts and visas, however, are reviewed separately, and whether a director lives in Japan and whether there is an office affect the outcome.
Can the procedures be done without coming to Japan?
Up to registration, yes: you send us by post documents certified in your home country. Many banks require a branch visit or interview to open a corporate account, so we build the timing of your trip to Japan into the plan.
If I set up a company, will I also get a visa?
Not by setup alone. The Business Manager visa has requirements on business scale, office, employment, business plan and background, and these have become stricter in recent years. Please consult us before setting up.
Can I consult in Chinese or English?
Yes. We conduct consultations, contracts, monthly reports and explanations of applications in Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) and English.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the nature and scope of your engagement, so we quote individually. Contact us and we will discuss your needs in a free consultation and set out our fees separately from statutory costs.
Which professionals will handle my matter?
Each matter is handled by a professional legally qualified to handle it. Your contact person coordinates all communication and scheduling.
Start with a free consultation.
We meet online, in Japanese, Chinese or English.