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繁體中文Who this is for
- You do not know which permits your business needs
- You want to know what reviewers will ask of a foreign-owned company
- You want to open a bar, lounge, club or similar venue in Japan
- You want to bring an overseas financial or fintech business to Japan
- You are considering acquiring a Japanese company that holds permits
Main business permits
Each business has its own competent authority and type of approval (permit, license, registration or notification).
| Business | Required approval | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Buying, selling or exporting secondhand goods | Secondhand dealer permit | Public Safety Commission (via the police station) |
| Selling, importing or exporting alcohol | Liquor sales license | Tax office |
| Contracting construction work | Construction business permit | Prefecture or Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
| Real estate sales and brokerage | Real estate brokerage license | Prefecture or Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
| Planning and arranging travel | Travel agency registration | Japan Tourism Agency or prefecture |
| Accommodation and private lodging (minpaku) | Inn and hotel business permit; private lodging business notification | Public health center, prefecture, etc. |
| Restaurants | Restaurant business permit | Public health center |
| Venues where staff entertain guests (clubs, lounges, etc.), mahjong parlors, game arcades | Adult entertainment business license (fuzoku eigyo license) under the Entertainment Business Act | Public Safety Commission (via the police station) |
| Bars and restaurants serving alcohol after midnight | Late-night alcohol service notification (Entertainment Business Act) | Public Safety Commission (via the police station) |
| Importing and selling food or cosmetics | Food import notification, cosmetics marketing license, etc. | Quarantine station, prefecture |
| Recruitment and staffing | Fee-charging employment placement permit, worker dispatch business permit | Prefectural labor bureau |
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Local rules on private lodging (minpaku) keep changing.
Main financial licenses
Financial businesses require registration with the Financial Services Agency (through a Local Finance Bureau) or similar, depending on the activity. Beyond capital and net asset thresholds, reviews examine management's fitness, compliance and anti-money laundering measures, internal rules and IT controls.
| License | Business covered |
|---|---|
| Type I financial instruments business | Trading and underwriting of shares and bonds, OTC derivatives, etc. |
| Type II financial instruments business | Offering and selling fund interests, selling trust beneficiary rights, etc. |
| Investment advisory and agency business | Investment advice on securities and similar |
| Investment management business | Discretionary investment management, fund management |
| Specially permitted business for qualified institutional investors (notification) | Self-offering and self-management of funds aimed mainly at professional investors |
| Funds transfer service | Money transfers by non-bank businesses |
| Issuance of prepaid payment instruments | Prepaid cards, e-money |
| Crypto-asset exchange service | Buying, selling, exchanging and custody of crypto-assets |
| Electronic payment instruments service | Buying, selling and intermediating stablecoins |
| Money lending business | Lending money and intermediating loans |
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The Financial Services Agency runs an English-language office for overseas financial firms (the Financial Market Entry Office) that handles everything from pre-application consultation to registration.
What we do
Identifying the permits you need
We review your business plan and business model, and propose a list of the permits you need, the order to obtain them, timelines and costs. Business purposes and office choice are also designed to meet the requirements.
Building a compliant setup
We put in place the conditions to meet before applying: office, qualified responsible persons, financial standards, internal rules and more.
Application documents and filing
We prepare applications and attachments, and handle everything from pre-application consultation to filing and additional materials requested during review. We also arrange translation of overseas directors' resumes and certificates.
Entertainment Business Act licenses and notifications
Under the Entertainment Business Act (Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business, etc.), we support adult entertainment business licenses (fuzoku eigyo licenses) for venues where staff entertain guests and for amusement facilities, and late-night alcohol service notifications for venues that serve alcohol late at night. Before you sign a lease, we check the zoning, the distance from schools, hospitals and similar facilities, and the standards for room layout and lighting, and we handle the floor plans, pre-application consultation with the police station, and the application.
Financial license registration support
Pre-application consultation with the authorities, business plan and governance design, drafting internal rules such as the statement of business methods and anti-money laundering policies, and the registration application: we carry all of this out together with attorneys experienced in financial regulation.
Post-approval filings and compliance
We continue to support the work of keeping your permits: change notifications for directors, shareholders and offices, business reports, preparation for regulatory inspections, internal training and more.
Why TIMOA
- 01
Planning permits alongside company setup and visas shortens the time to launch.
- 02
We are used to preparing the materials foreign-owned companies are often asked for, such as overseas directors' backgrounds and source of funds.
- 03
When you acquire a company that holds permits, we start by checking whether the permits can be carried over.
Fees
Fees are quoted once we understand the nature and scope of your engagement. Please contact us first.
Ask about feesFrequently asked questions
Can a company owned only by foreigners obtain permits?
Most permits can be obtained. Some, however, require a responsible person who lives in Japan or staff who hold Japanese qualifications.
Can we start operating before the permit is granted?
No. Operating a business that requires a permit or registration without one is subject to penalties. We build the time to approval into your business plan.
Can a foreign business owner obtain a license under the Entertainment Business Act?
Yes. However, in addition to the disqualifying grounds for the applicant and the manager, some statuses of residence do not allow you to be involved in the business. There are also standards for the location and layout of the premises, so please consult us before signing a lease.
How long does it take to obtain a financial license?
It depends on the type of license and the complexity of the business, but several months to over a year is typical, including pre-application consultation with the authorities.
If we buy a company that holds permits, do the permits carry over?
When you buy the whole company by acquiring its shares, permits generally stay with the company. However, director change notifications and a check for disqualifying grounds are required. When you buy only the business, permits often have to be obtained again.