Major Changes to Japan’s Business Manager Visa from October 16, 2025

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency has released a major revision to the Business Manager status of residence. The new rules take effect on October 16, 2025. This revision significantly raises the bar for both applying for and maintaining the visa, with the goal of ensuring that foreign managers in Japan are operating real, stable, and sufficiently scaled businesses.

Below is Donggui Xishi’s timely reading of the official materials, written for people preparing to apply for the Business Manager visa and for current holders who need to understand the impact.

Key Changes

1. Capital Requirement Raised to 30 Million Yen

New rule: The required registered capital or total investment amount rises from the previous 5 million yen to 30 million yen.

Interpretation: This is one of the most dramatic changes in the revision. The capital threshold has increased sixfold. The intention is to screen for applicants with stronger financial capacity and risk tolerance, and to reduce small-scale or speculative business setups.

2. Clear Japanese-Language Requirement Added

New rule: At least one person, either the applicant or a full-time employee, must have a sufficient level of Japanese ability.

Accepted standards include:

• JLPT N2 or above
• BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test score of 400 or above
• Completion of higher education such as university in Japan
• Other equivalent conditions, such as long-term residence in Japan for 20 years or more

Interpretation: This changes the previous situation where Japanese ability was not a strict requirement. Effective internal or external communication ability has now become a legal requirement.

3. Education or Management Experience Requirement Added

New rule: The applicant must either hold a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree related to the business, or have at least three years of business or management experience.

Interpretation: This rule is meant to ensure that the manager has either professional knowledge or practical experience for the planned business. A path based purely on having money, without relevant experience or education, is effectively closed.

4. At Least One Full-Time Employee Is Required

New rule: The company operated by the applicant must employ at least one full-time employee.

The employee must be a Japanese national, a special permanent resident, or a foreign national with an eligible status such as permanent resident or long-term resident.

Interpretation: Under the old rules, applicants could often choose between 5 million yen in capital or hiring two employees. Under the new rules, hiring at least one eligible full-time employee is required in addition to the capital requirement. This is another major change that has already caused wide discussion online.

5. Business Plan Must Be Verified by a Professional

New rule: The submitted business plan must be checked by a designated professional to prove its specificity, rationality, and feasibility.

Designated professionals include:

• SME management consultants
• Certified public accountants
• Tax accountants

Interpretation: A business plan can no longer be only the applicant’s own idea on paper. It now needs endorsement from a qualified Japanese professional. The review standard will likely become stricter and more professional.

6. Other Important Rules

• Independent office: In principle, using a private residence as the business location will no longer be accepted.
• Taxes and social insurance: Corporate and personal tax payments, including corporate tax, consumption tax, withholding income tax, and social insurance payments such as health insurance, pension, and labor insurance, will be reviewed more strictly.
• Long absences from Japan: Leaving Japan for long periods without a valid reason may be treated as evidence that no real business activity is taking place, affecting visa renewal.
• Permanent residence: If the new standards are not met, applying for permanent residence from the Business Manager visa may no longer be possible.

Transition Period and Impact on Current Holders

New Applications

From October 16, 2025, all new applications must meet the new standards.

Current Visa Holders

The authorities have provided a three-year transition period, ending on October 16, 2028. During this period, renewal applications may still be considered even if the new standards are not fully met, based on the business situation and the likelihood of meeting the new rules in the future.

After the three-year transition period, renewal applications are expected to fully comply with the new standards in principle.

Summary

This is a historic change to Japan’s Business Manager visa system. It signals a shift in the type of foreign entrepreneur Japan wants to attract: from small-scale founders to more mature business operators with strong capital, professional background, and real management ability.

The core policy direction is clear: real investment, real business operations, and real employment. Anyone preparing to apply should immediately revise their business plan according to the new rules. Current Business Manager visa holders should review their company situation as soon as possible and prepare carefully for their next renewal.