MoneyInJapan

Going freelance

Residents moving from payroll employment to sole-proprietor work.

  1. 1

    Before starting · Before accepting work and at each official filing deadline

    Confirm permission, registration, records, and social coverage

    Confirm the work is permitted, then use the canonical freelancer guides to decide opening, blue-return, invoice, bookkeeping, tax-reserve, insurance, and pension actions.

    Authority: Immigration Services Agency, National Tax Agency, municipality, and Japan Pension Service

    Documents to prepare

    • Residence/My Number documents
    • Contracts and invoices
    • Opening and tax-election forms
    • Coverage-loss evidence if leaving employment

    Exceptions and checks

    • Deadlines, permission, consumption-tax status, and insurance route depend on start date, clients, residence status, and prior employment.
    Read more →

Time horizons and review

An ordered checklist that links to canonical guides rather than repeating them.

  • Do first
  • Do next
  • Review after circumstances change

Local variation: Municipal forms, appointment systems, accepted translations, fees, and deadlines can vary. Confirm with the city, ward, or town responsible for your address before acting.

Reviewed: 2026-07-30 · Review by: 2027-01-30

When to get professional help

  • Ask the responsible counter or provider when a document is rejected or a deadline was missed.
  • Use a licensed tax accountant for uncertain residence status, overseas income/assets, or a final return.
  • Use an immigration professional for residence-status or work-permission questions; this roadmap does not decide visa eligibility.