The short answer
Once the documents are ready, a KK or GK registration is typically filed and completed in 1–2 weeks. The full project — deciding the structure, preparing documents, notarising the articles, filing, registering the seal, and receiving the tax notices — is usually 2–4 weeks. If the founder is overseas and needs a legalised signature certificate, add 1–3 weeks before the clock starts.
What “registration” includes
Registration is the filing of the incorporation at the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局). For a KK, the articles must be notarised before filing (¥0 for electronic articles, ¥40,000 stamp duty for paper). A GK does not require notarisation. After the filing is accepted, the company exists; the seal registration and the tax notifications are separate steps that follow.
Week by week
The table assumes a clean file and a responsive founder. It is a planning tool, not a guarantee — the registry’s queue and the completeness of the documents drive the actual dates.
| Week | Resident director | Non-resident director |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Decide KK/GK, capital, address, representative | Same + order signature certificate and apostille |
| 1 | Draft articles; notarise (KK); prepare seal | Receive legalised certificate; Japanese translation |
| 1–2 | File incorporation at the Legal Affairs Bureau | File with foreign documents and translation |
| 2 | Receive certificate of incorporation; register company seal | Same, plus allow extra days for document checks |
| 2–3 | File tax notifications; open corporate bank discussions | Same; bank usually requires a resident representative |
| 3–8 | Bank account opening and payment setup | International account as a bridge; Japanese account later |
What slows it down
Four things, in order of frequency. First, the signature certificate: a notary appointment, apostille, international post and translation can take weeks. Second, the registered address: a virtual office may be rejected by the registry or the bank, and a lease takes time to sign. Third, the articles: a mismatch between the business purpose, the capital and the representative’s authority sends the file back. Fourth, the company seal: ordering and registering it is a separate step that founders forget.
The bank is a separate clock
A company can be registered in two weeks and still have no bank account two months later. Most Japanese banks require a resident representative, a real office and a credible transaction story. Plan the bank in parallel from week 2, and do not promise a customer or an employee a payment date until the account is open. See [the corporate bank account guide](/guides/japan-corporate-bank-account-for-foreigners).
Checklist
Before week 1: structure decided, capital confirmed, address secured, representative confirmed, signature certificate ordered. Before filing: articles drafted and notarised (KK), seal ordered, director acceptance letters signed, capital paid in. After filing: certificate of incorporation, seal registration, tax notifications, bank application, accounting setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a company in Japan in one week?
Sometimes, if the documents are complete, the director is resident, and the registry has no backlog. Two weeks is a safer planning assumption; four weeks end-to-end.
Does a GK or KK register faster?
A GK is usually faster because the articles do not require notarisation. The difference is days, not weeks, once the documents are ready.
When can I start invoicing customers?
Once the company is registered and has a seal, it can issue invoices. In practice, wait for the bank account and the tax notification so the payment details and filing position are correct.
How long does the bank account take?
3–8 weeks for a company with a resident representative and a real office. Longer, or unsuccessful, for a non-resident representative. Plan it as a separate track.