Points to Obtain a Business Manager Visa for Restaurant Management
When a foreigner wants to run a restaurant or a food and beverage business, he or she must consider a Business Manager visa.
The Business Manager visa, also known as the "Management and Administration" visa status, is granted to foreign business owners who meet certain conditions in order to stay in Japan for a long period of time.
The Business Manager visa allows a foreigner to start a business and manage a company in Japan. Of course, the Business Manager visa is also required to run a cooking restaurant or a restaurant business.
What types of restaurants can be managed with a Business Manager visa?
There are no particular restrictions on the type of food to be served in a cooking restaurant or restaurant management, such as Chinese, Korean, or Indian food.
Furthermore, it may be possible to sell food, spices, and miscellaneous goods imported from overseas in the restaurant you are managing. Basically, as long as your business is not illegal in Japan, you may be able to broaden the scope of your business.
There are cases where you cannot become a business owner with your current status of residence!
Even if you have already obtained a status of residence that allows you to stay in Japan, you may not be able to open or manage a restaurant depending on your status of residence. Those who are studying abroad, working as a "College Student," "Engineer with special knowledge of humanities," or "Family Visa" cannot engage in business management activities without changing their status of residence.
Therefore, if you are unsure about your status of residence, we recommend that you consult a visa specialist.
Even if you cannot manage a restaurant under your current status of residence, you may be able to become a business manager in Japan if you change your status of residence to a Business Manager visa after fulfilling the prescribed requirements.
Note that there is a penalty for not changing to a Business Manager visa.
If you embark on restaurant management without confirming that your current status of residence does not allow you to manage a restaurant, you may encounter major problems later on.
Furthermore, even if you have a status of residence and are in the process of applying for a new Business Manager visa and are waiting for permission, you must be careful.
If you start running a restaurant before you are granted permission, it will be judged as an activity outside of your status of residence, and in the worst case scenario, you may be deported. You must obtain a Business Manager visa before starting business.
I want to run a restaurant, How do I obtain a restaurant business permit?
It is not possible to operate a restaurant or a restaurant business immediately after obtaining a Business Manager visa. It is necessary to obtain a restaurant business permit as well. Consult with the public health center regarding your restaurant in advance and apply for a restaurant business permit. If there are no problems after a verification inspection of the facility, a business permit will be issued.
Things to do before applying for a Business Manager visa
Before applying for a Business Manager visa, you need to finalize a restaurant or restaurant store property. Once secured, the restaurant should be ready to open for business before applying for a visa. For example, the interior of the restaurant should be completed, and all equipment such as kitchen, cooking facilities, tables and chairs, etc. should be available.
Another important point to keep in mind is the lease contract for the restaurant. The lease contract must be in the name of a corporation and the use must be for business purposes. Be careful when signing the contract.
In addition, you must sign contracts with suppliers, install signage, and complete the menu and methods of attracting customers. Don't forget to make arrangements for cooks, store staff, etc. A business plan should be prepared for at least one year. The business plan should be written in Japanese and should explain that the business is expected to run stably for a long period of time.
How much money is needed to obtain a Business Manager visa?
The amount of capital required to obtain a Business Manager visa is 5 million yen. In order to prove that this investment or capital is your own funds, you will need to provide proof of past income, savings, etc. If you do not have enough personal funds, you may have to borrow money from relatives or other sources. In such cases, you will need to draw up a loan agreement with the borrower and submit it to the Immigration Bureau. 5 million yen includes the rent, deposit, key money, and other contractual expenses for the restaurant or eating establishment, as well as the purchase of cooking utensils and equipment for your restaurant. Be sure to keep receipts.
What other Business Manager visa rules do I need to know?
If you want to obtain a Business Manager visa for running a restaurant, you need to secure cooking staff and customer service staff in addition to the business manager. If you have employees to hire, you must prove that they are secured. Since the Business Manager visa is a visa to manage and administer a business, it is also important to secure office space to conduct business activities.
Please refer to our web page about business manager visas.
