Japan Company Law

Registration of establishment of a branch office
Registration office: The Japan Legal Affairs Bureau
Registration requirement: similar form to the registration requirement of the foreign company.
Registration details:

1. ·The address of the branch office
2. ·The representative in Japan
3. ·The date of establishment of the branch office
4. ·The disclosure method for balance sheet

General flow of procedures for establishing a branch office
1. Determination of branch office information to be registered
2. Examination at the Legal Affairs Bureau of similar corporate names
3. Establishment of branch office (date of branch office establishment is at the branch office's discretion)
4. Preparation of affidavit on establishment of branch office
5. Certification of affidavit by embassy/consulate in Japan
6. Application to the Legal Affairs Bureau for registration of branch office establishment; registration of company seal with the Legal Affairs Bureau
7. Acquisition of certificate on registered information and company seal registration certificate (approx. two weeks after application for registration)
8. Opening of bank account under branch office name
9. Notification of branch office establishment to the Bank of Japan
(notification prior to branch office establishment may be required in certain sectors)

(Note) Time required: about one month after determination of branch office information to be registered.