I’m in a niche consulting area with a *very* small company. Due to a very unusual and unique set of circumstances, I’m currently in a position where I have a lot of work flexibility and my boss has encouraged me to take on small freelance consulting opportunities if offered to me personally.
Such an opportunity has arisen with a Japanese entity, and we’re trying to figure out the best way to contract. I went in with the expectation that I’d treat it as if receiving income from a second source and sort it out in my 確定申告. However, I’ve been recommended to establish myself as a 個人事業主 if I can to make contracting easier.
Assuming I have permission from my full-time company where I am a 正社員, is it possible to establish myself as a 個人事業主 on a 技術・人文知識・国際業務 visa while remaining fully employed by my visa sponsoring company?
Googling has only led me down paths where people are asking if they can get a visa as a 個人事業主.
2 comments
If the work you’re doing falls under the scope of that status then I think you can just do it; if not then you’ll need the permission to engage in activities outside your status of residence (which should be a rubber stamp process given that your employer supports it).
I did this. I was doing translating and editing work on the side so I set this up. When I applied for PR I submitted my tax returns which made clear I was also a 個人事業主 and I got PR no worries.
Your work as a sole trader has to fall under the category of your visa but since it seems to be the same work as you do full time, not to mention that this visa category is quite broad as we know, that shouldn’t be a problem for you.