Japan · Business & founder
Business Manager Visa
Substantially tightened. The Ministry of Justice promulgated amended ministerial ordinances on 10 October 2025, and the revised criteria took effect on 16 October 2025. The capital requirement rose from JPY 5m to JPY 30m, a sixfold increase, alongside new employment, experience and Japanese-language conditions. Existing holders have a three-year transition to 16 October 2028.
This used to be the cheap back door into Japan. JPY 5m, about USD 33k, and a plausible business plan were enough. That route is now closed. The reform was aimed squarely at applicants who were not genuinely investing in Japan's economy. The combination of JPY 30m in capital, a Japanese-national employee, a management track record and a B2-level language link makes this a real operating-business visa now.
Qualifying routes
Minimum JPY 30m (roughly USD 190k–200k), up from JPY 5m before 16 October 2025.
The facts
- Minimum investment
- 30M JPY
- Total landed cost
- JPY 30m in capital, plus an office lease, the salary of at least one qualifying full-time employee, the mandatory professional review of the business plan, and legal or scrivener fees, typically JPY 1–3m.
- Route type
- Business & founder
- Timeline
- 2–6 months (Certificate of Eligibility first, then visa issuance. Company incorporation must precede the application.)
- Physical presence
- You must actually manage the business in Japan. The status is tied to genuine operations.
- Family
- Spouse and children can join via Dependent status
- Permanent residency
- Generally 10 years of residence, with 5 years on a work status, unless you qualify through the Highly Skilled Professional or J-Skip fast tracks.
- Citizenship
- Generally 5 years of residence. The decision is discretionary, and you must renounce other citizenships.
- Language test
- There is no formal test, but functional Japanese is expected at the naturalisation interview.
- Dual citizenship
- Not permitted. You would have to renounce.
- Requirements
- JPY 30m minimum capital or total investmentAt least one full-time employee who is a Japanese national, permanent resident, special permanent resident, spouse or child of a Japanese national or PR, or long-term residentApplicant or employee must have Japanese proficiency at approximately B2 level, or a Japanese educational background3+ years of business management or CxO experience, or a master's or doctoral degree related to the businessBusiness plan confirmed by a qualified professionalPhysical office premises in Japan
- Anyone quoting JPY 5m is working from pre-October-2025 material. The figure is JPY 30m, and has been since 16 October 2025.
- The full-time employee must be a Japanese national, a permanent resident, a special permanent resident, the spouse or child of a Japanese national or permanent resident, or a long-term resident. Hiring another foreign work-visa holder does not satisfy this.
- Either the applicant or the employee needs Japanese language proficiency at roughly B2 (CEFR), or an educational background in Japan. For a principal who does not speak Japanese, this is a genuine barrier.
- Applicants need 3+ years of business management or CxO-level experience, or a master's degree or higher related to the business.
- The business plan must be confirmed by someone with professional expertise in business management, broadly a certified public accountant or an SME management consultant. Listed-company equivalents are excepted.
- Existing holders are not grandfathered indefinitely. Extensions filed within three years of 16 October 2025 are judged on business performance and the prospect of meeting the new criteria. After that window, the amended criteria apply in full, and you must recapitalise to JPY 30m or change status.
- Do not treat this visa as a route to Japanese permanent residency without first reading the inheritance tax entry on this page. The visa is a Table 1 status and protects your overseas estate. Permanent residency would not.