Investment visa

[UnchiSuki]

Hi everyone.

I'll be returning to japan to live soon, and I plan to invest in several rental properties to give myself an income.

My question is, will this allow me to obtain an investment visa?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers!

[GomiGirl]

Free advice from an internet bulletin board is about as good as you have paid for it.. ie worthless. Suggest you contact an immigration lawyer for the correct information.

That said, AFAIK, the investment visa is for people who have started up an incorporated company (ie a KK) and plan to employ Japanese staff.

I would look at the Jetro site for information on market entry into Japan.

Types of Visas

Investor/Business Manager (1) A person who invests in, commences and operates a business in Japan, (2) a person who operates a business in Japan on behalf of the foreign nationals or foreign corporations that invested in and commenced that business (the chief executive officer or representative director responsible for that business), or (3) a person engaged in the management of a business in Japan on behalf of the foreign nationals or foreign corporations that invested in and commenced that business (e.g. a director or department manager employed in the management of that business under the chief executive officer or representative director).

I think this was posted after your introduction by somebody else as well. So suggest if you want to make friends around here, check archives and use the search function liberally.

[FG Lurker]

As far as I know (and I could be wrong...) Japan does not give visas for this type of investment. My understanding is that you need to set up a company here and then apply for a visa to be the managing director of the company.

You should seek legal advice before proceeding with anything. It would suck to invest a substantial amount of money and then find out that you have missed some small detail and are therefore ineligible for a visa.

[UnchiSuki]

Thanks for the replies and sorry for posting the same question in the introduction thread.

Yes, you are both correct. I'll have to do some more research.

I will have atleast 6 months on a tourist visa ( 2 x 3 months) so that should be enough time for me to get organized.

I have several business plans, so I guess I will have to play it by ear.

I'm not too sure if my bank account in japan is still active though. This could be a problem as I am under the understanding that I need a Japanese bank account if I want to buy property. Is this the case even if I don't need finance to purchase?

I'm sure things will be fine - just want to be sure though..