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For a person to stay in Japan, the Japanese “status of residence” (equivalent to a Hong Kong visa) needs to be obtained. Recently in Japan, there were 29 types of status for residence. The main types for status of residence are as follows:

1. Business Manager: a person can apply for this visa if s/he sets up a Limited Company (Kabushiki Kaisha/KK) , acquire a Japanese company or be a manager to assist a business owner to operate a company. The visa applicant needs to invest over 5 million yen (about HK$280,000) to open a Japanese company and provide information of his/her source of funds. Visa length is between 1 to 5 years.
2. Highly Skilled Professional Visa (HSP): An applicant who has won an Olympic medal, or is advanced in academic research activities, specialized in the field of Humanities and Natural Sciences can apply for this visa. The holder of the Highly Skilled Visa has faster access to a Permanent Resident visa, due to priority immigration processing procedures. The visa holder can apply for Permanent Residence after one year of living in Japan.
3. Spouse of a Japanese citizen: A Japanese citizen can help to apply for a spouse visa for his/her partner to stay in Japan, the length of visa is between 6 months to 5 years. It is required to renew the visa or to apply for a Japanese permanent residency. The holder of a spouse visa is free to work.
4. Professor, Artist, Journalist, Legal/Accounting Services, Medical Services, Researcher, Nursing care, Instructor, Engineer, Specialist in Humanities, International Services etc.: this is equivalent to a Hong Kong working visa, where the applicant is required to find a job in an approved company.
5. Student Visa: The visa applicant should study in a locally accredited institution, where the period of stay is based on the length of the course enrolled in. Additionally, the visa holder is allowed to work no more than 28 hours a week during their stay in Japan.
6. Special Visa: A working holiday visa is a special visa for young people between the ages of 18 and 30 to stay in Japan for up to one year.

Among different types of “residence status”, the investment immigration (Business Manager visa) is worth noting. Those applying for the Business Manager visa must invest over 5 million yen (about HK$280,000 or more) to “start up a company”, “acquire a Japanese company” or “be a manager to assist the business owner to operate the company”. The visa length is based on the operational status of the business, with the first visa granted being a 1 year visa. Afterward if the applicant meets the required “residence status” the visa can be renewed with the length of the visa being either one year, three years or five years. The applicant can apply for permanent residence after 10 years of residence. Compared to other popular immigrant countries, the money required for Japan’s investment migration is extremely low. However, despite the low entrance cost, those who can successfully migrate to Japan must first understand the Japanese immigration requirements. For instance, a REAL business is a MUST! The applicant must operate a real business with a dedicated office location. (You can talk to a suitable immigration business consultant for advice and to assist in preparation and planning to obtain a Japanese residency and to successfully achieve immigration to Japan.)

* If the applicant has advanced skills (such as higher education, extensive work experience, high annual salary etc.) and brings a good influence to Japan, he/she could apply for a 'Highly Skilled Professional Visa' residence status. Under this residence status, application for permanent residence visa can be lodged after 1 to 3 years if the applicant has met the Point Requirement. People with permanent residence visa do not have to stay in Japan. They only have to enter Japan once a year. The main difference between a permanent residency and a national passport is the right to vote.