01Can I Use My Home as the Company Address?

Whether due to a lack of funds to rent an office, or simply not having found a suitable one yet, people often ask: “Can I register my home address as the company address?” If your home is registered as the company’s head office location, you will generally need to change the head office address to an office (or storefront) address before applying for the visa, and only then can you formally submit the Business Manager Visa application.

As you can see, the address is quite important when it comes to obtaining a Business Manager Visa — so it’s best to plan it thoroughly in advance, to avoid having to amend or change the registered address later.

That said, if there is a fairly long gap between your company’s establishment date and your Business Manager Visa application, temporarily registering your home as the company address can be a reasonable way to save on office rent in the meantime.

The application process for a Business Manager Visa is fairly complex and involves various expenses along the way — getting the procedure wrong can lead to unnecessary costs. You should aim to keep expenses to a minimum while smoothly obtaining the visa.

02A Combined Home/Office Cannot Qualify for a Business Manager Visa!

03A Detached House Can Have Your Home and Office at the Same Address!

If you’re determined to have your home and office at the same location regardless, one option is to rent a detached house. The general principle is a clear division: the 1st floor as the office, and the 2nd floor as the residence.

Once clearly divided, you will need to prepare a floor plan so that Immigration can clearly see which areas are the office space and which are the living space. In addition, regarding utility costs (electricity, water, gas, etc.) and how these should be split between corporate and personal use, an expense-sharing agreement between the company and its representative (the company president) must also be prepared.

• The 1st and 2nd floors (or other physical spaces) must be clearly separated, with no mixed use
• A floor plan clearly marking the office and residential areas must be prepared
• An expense-sharing agreement between the company and the individual must be established for utilities such as electricity, water, and gas
• Even a 3-bedroom apartment (3LDK) in a condominium building cannot be used as an office

Our firm has handled numerous cases involving a detached house with the office and home at the same address — feel free to reach out to us for a consultation at any time.