Complete Guide to the Business Manager Visa — A Thorough Explanation of the New October 2025 Criteria

[Important] The new criteria have been in force since October 16, 2025 (Reiwa 7). The approval criteria for the Business Manager visa have changed substantially. It is no longer possible to obtain the visa on the basis of “5 million yen in capital” alone. This article explains the new criteria in detail.

What Is the Business Manager Visa?

The “Business Manager” visa is a residence status for foreign nationals who run a company in Japan or work as a manager. It applies not only when you start your own business, but also when you join the management of an existing company as an officer.

Comparison of Old and New Requirements (Reform of October 16, 2025)

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan has substantially changed the approval criteria as follows.

Requirement	Former Requirement	Post-Reform Requirement (Current)
(1) Capital / total investment	5 million yen	30 million yen
(2) Career / academic background (manager)	None	3 years or more of business management experience, or a master’s-equivalent or higher degree in business management or the relevant business field
(3) Employment obligation	None (2 or more persons as an alternative to the capital requirement)	Employment of at least 1 full-time employee is mandatory
(4) Japanese language ability	None	Either the applicant or a full-time employee must have CEFR B2-equivalent ability
(5) Expert verification	None	Verification of the new business plan by a management expert is mandatory

Regarding transitional measures: Those who held the Business Manager status before the effective date (October 16, 2025) will not have an application for extension of period of stay refused solely on the ground that they do not meet the new criteria, until three years after the effective date — that is, until October 16, 2028 (Reiwa 10). After that date, compliance with the new criteria is required.

Detailed Explanation of the New Criteria

(1) Capital / Total Investment: 30 Million Yen

The threshold has been raised from the former 5 million yen to 30 million yen — a sixfold increase. This is a strengthening of the requirements in order to secure the continuity and stability of the business.

(2) Career / Academic Background Requirement

You must satisfy either of the following.

A. Three or more years of business management experience — Practical experience running a company or serving in a managerial position. Business start-up preparation activities under the “Designated Activities” residence status are also included.

B. A master’s-equivalent or higher degree — Holding a master’s degree or higher in business management (MBA, etc.) or in the field of the business you will operate.

(3) Obligation to Employ a Full-Time Employee

Employment of at least one full-time employee is now mandatory.

Note the definition of “full-time employee”: Only Japanese nationals, Special Permanent Residents, permanent residents, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, and Long-Term Residents qualify. Foreign nationals residing under a work visa (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, etc.) do not qualify.

(4) Japanese Language Ability Requirement

Either the applicant themselves or a full-time employee is required to have Japanese ability equivalent to CEFR B2 (approximately JLPT N2 level).

Even if the applicant themselves cannot speak Japanese, the requirement can be met by employing a full-time employee who has the required Japanese ability.

(5) Verification of the Business Plan by an Expert

For a new business plan, verification by a person with specialized knowledge of business management is now mandatory. Cases such as companies of a scale equivalent to a listed company are excluded.

Securing a Business Office

You must have secured an office in Japan for conducting your business.

• For rentals: the contract must be for business use (residence-only contracts are not acceptable)
• Home-cum-office: using your home as the place of business is, as a rule, not permitted
• Virtual offices: as a rule, not accepted

Support Only Our Office Can Provide

Under the new criteria, “securing an office” and “employing a full-time employee” are major hurdles. Our office provides unique services that solve these challenges.

Office rental service — Our office has offices available that satisfy the application requirements. We can rent them to you without going through a real estate agency and even if you do not have a residence card. This solves problems such as “no residence card” or “no guarantor” that foreign nationals face when renting an office in Japan.

Full-time employee referral service — Under the new requirements, employing a full-time employee (Japanese national, permanent resident, etc.) is mandatory. Working with our partner employment placement agencies, our office can also search for employees who meet the requirements.

Flow from Company Incorporation to Obtaining the Visa

1. Formulate the business plan and obtain expert verification — Clarify the business content, target market, and revenue model, and obtain verification by an expert
2. Secure an office — Contract a business-use office (rental from our office is also possible)
3. Incorporate the company and pay in capital — Prepare the articles of incorporation, obtain notarization, file the registration application, and pay in capital of 30 million yen (approx. 2-3 weeks)
4. Employ a full-time employee — Employ at least one Japanese national, permanent resident, etc. (referral available through our office)
5. Apply for the visa — Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (processing period: 1-3 months)
6. Obtain approval and come to Japan — Have the visa issued at a Japanese overseas mission and enter Japan

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can the 30 million yen in capital be borrowed money? Borrowed funds are acceptable, but you must explain the source of repayment. Also, “window-dressing funds” (borrowing temporarily and repaying immediately after incorporating the company) are not accepted.

Q. What should I do if I do not have 3 years of management experience? If you hold a master’s-equivalent or higher degree (MBA, etc.) in business management or in the business field, you satisfy the requirement even without management experience. There is also the option of gaining experience on a “Designated Activities” start-up preparation visa.

Q. What happens if I cannot speak Japanese? Even if the applicant themselves has no Japanese ability, the requirement is satisfied by employing a full-time employee with Japanese ability equivalent to CEFR B2 (approximately N2 level). Our office also provides an employee referral service.

Q. What if I already hold a Business Manager visa? Those who were already residing in Japan before the effective date (October 16, 2025) will not have an extension application refused solely on the ground that they do not meet the new criteria, until October 16, 2028. After that date, compliance with the new criteria is required, so we recommend preparing in a planned manner.

Our Support Services

Kaneko Hidetaka Administrative Scrivener Office supports obtaining the Business Manager visa on a one-stop basis, from company incorporation through to approval.

• Support in preparing the business plan and arranging expert verification
• Company incorporation procedures (preparing articles of incorporation, registration application)
• Office rental (no residence card required)
• Full-time employee referral (partner employment placement agencies)
• Collection and preparation of required documents
• Filing applications with the Immigration Bureau on your behalf
• Follow-up after approval

Support in Chinese is also available, so entrepreneurs from China can consult us with confidence.