Obtaining a Business Manager Visa for Import Business: To What Extent Should You Submit “Contracts” with Overseas Suppliers?

An “import and product sales business”—establishing a company in Japan, importing goods from overseas, and selling them domestically (on Amazon, Rakuten, wholesale, etc.)—is a highly popular industry among foreign entrepreneurs.

However, during the Business Manager Visa screening, the import business is scrutinized extremely strictly from the perspective of “business continuity and stability.” The primary concern of the Immigration Services Agency (Immigration) inspectors is: “Will this company be able to continue sourcing products stably in the future?”

This article thoroughly explains the required level of “contracts with overseas suppliers,” which are indispensable for obtaining a Business Manager Visa in the import industry, and the legal approach to avoid being dismissed as a mere personal reseller (side-hustler).

1. Why Submitting Only “Invoices” Leads to Visa Rejection

When starting an import business, many people think, “I buy goods from overseas e-commerce sites (Alibaba, Taobao, etc.) or overseas wholesalers, and I have the invoices (bills/delivery slips) issued each time, so I should be fine.” However, this alone makes it very difficult to pass the visa screening.

Immigration evaluates one-off purchases (buying on a per-order basis) in the following way:

• “Since there is no legal binding power with the supplier, if the products suddenly run out of stock due to the supplier’s circumstances, won’t this company go bankrupt immediately?”
• “Isn’t this just an extension of ‘personal reselling’ that anyone can do, rather than a corporate ‘business’?”

To obtain a Business Manager Visa, you must prove with objective documents (contracts) that you are not just a “buyer,” but a “business manager” who has established continuous B2B transaction relationships.

2. The Three Levels of “Overseas Supplier Contracts” You Should Submit

To convince the inspector and strongly back up the stability of your business, it is ideal to sign a contract at one of the following levels and attach a copy (along with a Japanese translation) to your business plan.

Level 1: Basic Sales Agreement (Proof of Continuous Transactions)

This is a B2B basic contract containing clauses such as “continuously supplying products for the next year” or “guaranteeing a minimum transaction of OO units per month,” rather than a single purchase order. This clearly proves to Immigration that “a stable supply route is secured (= the business will continue).”

Level 2: Exclusive Sales/Agency Contract (The Ultimate Weapon)

If you have an exclusive right stating “Sales within Japan are entrusted solely to this company,” or a contract as a general agent in Japan, it demonstrates immense power in the visa screening. It is seen as having a strong advantage (business uniqueness and certainty) that other companies lack, dramatically increasing your approval rate.

Level 3: OEM/ODM Commissioned Manufacturing Contract

This is the case where you are not sourcing ready-made goods but commissioning overseas factories to manufacture your original products. Because a system is built to secure a factory line and import goods under your own brand, it is highly evaluated as a “full-scale corporate business.”

3. Alternative Proofs When Contracts Cannot Be Signed (e.g., EC Sourcing)

For early-stage startups or businesses whose main sourcing is via overseas platforms, there are many cases where “it is practically difficult to sign formal contracts with overseas factories or wholesalers right away.”

If a formal contract cannot be prepared, combine several of the following alternative documents to supplement and prove the reality and continuity of the business.

• Business Negotiation Logs: Chat histories on WeChat, WhatsApp, or email showing “price negotiations,” “lot size agreements,” and “proposals for continuous transactions” with overseas supplier representatives (screenshots + translations).
• Annual Procurement Plan: A detailed procurement plan compiling “from which supplier,” “how many units per month,” and “at what price” you will purchase.
• Continuous Overseas Remittance Records: Bank statements showing that you have already made steady overseas remittances to suppliers multiple times from your corporate account, for example, during test marketing.

4. Summary: Checklist for Obtaining a Visa in the Import Industry

To obtain a Business Manager Visa for an import and product sales business, drawing a clear line between your business and “personal reselling” is everything.

• Stability of Supply: Try to obtain “Basic Sales Agreements” or “General Agency Contracts” that prove continuous B2B transactions, not just one-off invoices.
• Preparation of Alternative Proofs: If no contract is available, reinforce business continuity with detailed negotiation logs and an annual procurement plan.
• Securing Sales Channels: (Although this article focused on sourcing) you must also prove “where and to whom in Japan” you will sell the imported goods (e.g., proof of opening an EC store, contracts with domestic wholesalers).

While an import business may seem easy to start, Immigration demands an extremely high “resolution (objective evidence)” of your business plan. Before applying in your own way and being labeled a “paper company” or “personal reseller,” we recommend consulting an Administrative Scrivener familiar with international law and trade practices to build a solid proof package.