Japan Business Manager Visa 2026 — New ¥30M Requirements, 2 Employees & JLPT N3 (Oct 2025 Changes) | VisaSHOGUN
Japan Business Manager Visa 2026
Complete Guide for Founders & Entrepreneurs
Starting a company or managing a business in Japan as a foreign national requires the Business Manager (経営・管理) status. But the requirements were completely overhauled on October 16, 2025 — most guides you'll find online are out of date.
- The 2025 overhaul: what changed and what it means for you
- New requirements: ¥30M capital, 1 full-time qualifying employee, JLPT N2 (B2), a management education/experience test, and an expert-reviewed business plan
- Who actually qualifies — and common misconceptions
- Documents required and the application process
- The 3-year transition period for existing visa holders (until Oct 2028)
- Renewals, the path to Permanent Residency, and alternatives if you don't meet the new requirements
Based on official ISA guidelines and real casework. Reference: ISA: Business Manager Status. Last updated: June 2026.
What Is the Business Manager Visa (経営・管理)?
The Business Manager Status of Residence (経営・管理) is required for foreign nationals who want to manage or operate a business in Japan — including company founders, directors, representative directors, and in some cases significant shareholders who are actively involved in management.
It is one of the most scrutinised visa categories in Japan. Immigration officers examine not just paperwork, but the genuine viability and legitimacy of the business itself. Establishing a company on paper without real commercial activity is not sufficient.
Who Needs This Visa?
| Role | Business Manager Visa Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Representative Director (代表取締役) | ✅ Yes | Most common applicant |
| Director (取締役) actively managing | ✅ Yes | Must be genuinely involved in management |
| Sole proprietor running a business | ✅ Yes | Can use individual business entity (個人事業主) |
| Employee working for a company | ❌ No | → Engineer/Humanities status |
| Investor not involved in management | ❌ No | → Appropriate work status or PR/spouse visa |
| Freelancer (self-employed professional) | ⚠️ Complex | May need Business Manager or consulting with specialist on specific activities |
Before 2015, Japan had a separate "Investor/Business Manager" category. The current status is simply "Business Manager (経営・管理)." The investor element was removed — you cannot get this status purely as a passive investor. Active management involvement is required.
October 16, 2025: Requirements Completely Overhauled
This was the most significant change to the Business Manager visa in years, implemented via a revision to the Ministry of Justice ordinance governing landing standards. If you are using information from before October 2025, your research is out of date. Applications already accepted by ISA before October 16, 2025 are assessed under the old standard.
- Capital requirement: ¥5,000,000 OR 2 full-time employees (either one satisfied this test)
- No education or management-experience requirement
- No Japanese language requirement
- Business plan could be self-prepared, no third-party review required
- Office: dedicated office space required
- Capital requirement: ¥30,000,000 (6× increase) AND at least 1 qualifying full-time employee — both now required together, not a choice
- New: education (master's/doctorate in a related field) or 3+ years of management experience
- New: Japanese language — JLPT N2 / B2 equivalent, satisfied by the applicant or the qualifying employee
- New: business plan must be reviewed by a qualified expert (SME consultant, CPA, or licensed tax accountant)
- Office: dedicated office space still required, scrutiny increased (virtual offices generally not accepted)
The previous ¥5M capital threshold (or the 2-employee alternative) was achievable for many small business founders. ¥30M (approximately $200,000 USD), now required alongside an employee rather than instead of one, is a fundamentally different level of financial commitment. This requirement has effectively closed the Business Manager visa pathway for many small-scale startups and sole operators who previously qualified.
The Full Current Requirements (as of October 16, 2025)
| Requirement | Current Standard | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Capital or investment | ¥30,000,000 or more | Capital recorded in the company's registration (paid-in capital for a 株式会社, total contribution for a 合同会社). Must be genuine investment, not loans structured as capital. Officers now scrutinise the funding source (transfer records, contracts, remitter identity). |
| Full-time qualifying employee | 1 or more (in addition to the applicant) | Reduced from the old "2 employees" alternative, but now required together with the ¥30M capital rather than as a substitute for it. The employee must hold Japanese nationality, special permanent residency, PR, "spouse of Japanese national," or long-term resident (定住者) status — work-visa holders (e.g., Engineer/Humanities status) generally do not count toward this requirement. |
| Management education or experience | Master's/doctorate in a related field, OR 3+ years of relevant management experience | New requirement. Sources indicate this applies most clearly to a "manager" (管理者) role; founders in a genuine "executive" (経営者) role may be assessed differently. This distinction is nuanced — confirm how it applies to your specific role with a specialist. |
| Japanese language | JLPT N2 or equivalent (B2 level) | Can be satisfied by the applicant or the qualifying employee — it does not have to be the applicant personally. Officers may assess language ability during interview in some cases. |
| Business plan expert review | Reviewed/certified by a qualified expert | New requirement. The reviewer must be an SME management consultant (中小企業診断士), certified public accountant, or licensed tax accountant. A self-prepared plan alone is no longer sufficient for new applications, Certificate of Eligibility applications, or Change of Status applications. |
| Dedicated office space | Physical dedicated office in Japan | Virtual offices are generally not accepted, and home-office setups are now viewed much more strictly. The office must be usable as a genuine place of business — not just a registered address. |
| Business viability | Genuine, ongoing commercial activity | Business plan, contracts, revenue evidence, or credible projections. Dormant companies or shell structures are rejected. |
| Applicant's management role | Active involvement in management | Must be genuinely managing — not just nominally listed as a director. |
If you already hold Business Manager status, renewals filed before October 16, 2028 are not required to fully meet the new standard immediately. ISA has stated it will assess these renewals individually based on current business condition and a credible, expert-reviewed plan to reach the new standard over time — an evaluation letter from a qualified expert is expected as part of this. Renewals filed after October 16, 2028 must fully meet the new requirements with no individualised flexibility. Don't treat the transition period as something to coast on, but it is meaningfully different from "comply immediately or lose your status."
Do You Meet the Current Requirements?
Check the conditions that apply to your situation right now — based on the requirements in effect since October 16, 2025.
What's Your Situation?
The process: (1) Incorporate the company in Japan with ¥30M+ capital. (2) Secure a dedicated office space. (3) Hire 1+ qualifying full-time employee. (4) Have your business plan reviewed by a qualified expert. (5) Apply for the Business Manager visa at the Immigration Bureau. You do not need to be in Japan to incorporate — you can establish the company from abroad in some cases, but this adds complexity.
Realistic timeline: Company incorporation takes 1–3 weeks with a judicial scrivener (司法書士). Visa application processing: 2–4 months at Tokyo Bureau. Budget 3–6 months from decision to visa in hand.
Get a Professional Assessment →If your company already meets the requirements (¥30M+ capital, 1+ qualifying employee, dedicated office, expert-reviewed business plan), you can apply for the Business Manager visa. The application is filed at the Regional Immigration Services Bureau with jurisdiction over your company's registered address.
The key document burden is proving the business is genuine — financial statements, contracts with customers, employee social insurance records, and evidence of actual commercial activity. New companies without a revenue history must present a compelling and credible business plan, reviewed by a qualified expert.
Application Process Guide →Business Manager visa renewals are assessed on the current state of the business. If you already held this status before October 16, 2025, you get individualised assessment through October 16, 2028 — you do not need to fully meet the new standard immediately, but you do need a credible, expert-reviewed plan showing progress toward it. Renewals filed after October 16, 2028 must fully meet the new standard.
The most common renewal risk is businesses that are technically running but have weak financials, declining activity, or compliance problems (social insurance arrears, tax issues). Address these before your renewal window opens.
Renewal Guide →Individual freelancers (個人事業主) can in some cases qualify for Business Manager status, but the requirements are the same: ¥30M+ capital equivalent in investment, a qualifying employee, genuine business activity, and the language/education/business-plan-review requirements. For most solo freelancers, the capital and employee requirements make Business Manager status unviable.
Key question: What type of work are you doing? If it is professional services (IT, consulting, design) that matches your academic or professional background, Engineer/Humanities status may be more appropriate and achievable. The correct status depends on the activity, not just the business structure.
Get a Professional Assessment →The October 2025 changes have effectively closed the Business Manager visa for most early-stage startups that cannot meet the ¥30M capital requirement. If your startup is at a seed or early stage, you have a few options to consider:
Option 1: Stay on your current work visa while building the business (allowed if you remain employed and manage the startup as a side activity — but employment conditions must be checked carefully). Option 2: Raise enough capital to meet the ¥30M threshold. Option 3: Look into the METI startup support programs that may offer alternative pathways. Consult a specialist — this is a complex area.
Startup Visa Options — Get Advice →If you hold a work visa (Engineer/Humanities etc.) and want to start a business on the side, the situation is complex. Your primary status is tied to your employer — business activities outside that scope may require additional permissions or a Change of Status.
Running a company passively (as a shareholder without management duties) while on a work visa is generally permissible. Actively managing a separate business typically requires Business Manager status or a specific permission. Do not simply assume your work visa covers both — consult a specialist before proceeding.
Change of Status Guide →How to Apply for the Business Manager Visa
Documents Required
| Category | Documents |
|---|---|
| Personal documents | Passport, residence card (if in Japan), photo (4cm×3cm), application form (ISA format) |
| Company registration | 登記事項証明書 (company registration certificate) showing ¥30M+ capital; articles of incorporation (定款) |
| Business evidence | Business plan (for new companies) with a qualified expert's review/evaluation letter attached; financial statements (for existing companies); contracts, invoices, or other proof of commercial activity |
| Employee evidence | Employment contract for the qualifying full-time employee; proof of the employee's qualifying status (Japanese national / PR / spouse of Japanese national / 定住者); social insurance enrollment certificate |
| Education / experience evidence | Degree certificate (master's/doctorate in a related field) or documentation of 3+ years of management experience, for whoever this requirement applies to |
| Office evidence | Lease agreement for dedicated office space; photos of the office interior showing it is a real, usable business space |
| Language | JLPT N2 certificate or equivalent documentation of Japanese language ability — for the applicant or the qualifying employee |
| Applicant's management role | Minutes from board meetings (議事録); documentation showing the applicant's decision-making authority |
Processing Time
| Application Type | Tokyo Bureau | Regional Bureaus |
|---|---|---|
| New Business Manager application (established company) | 2–4 months | 1–3 months |
| New Business Manager (new company, no revenue history) | 3–5 months | 2–4 months |
| Renewal (established business, clean record) | 2–3 months | 1–2 months |
The Business Manager visa has one of the highest refusal rates of any work-related status. The business itself is effectively being assessed — not just the applicant. Engaging a licensed administrative scrivener (行政書士), together with the now-mandatory business-plan reviewer (SME consultant, CPA, or tax accountant), is strongly recommended, particularly for first-time applications.
Renewal & Path to Permanent Residency
Business Manager Visa Renewals
Renewals are assessed on the current performance of the business. If you already held Business Manager status before October 16, 2025, renewals filed through October 16, 2028 get individualised assessment rather than an immediate hard cutoff — see the transition-period callout above. The following are the most common renewal risks either way:
- Business has weak or declining revenue — prepare context and forward plan
- No qualifying full-time employee maintained throughout the status period
- Social insurance or tax arrears — ISA now cross-checks these records at every renewal
- Capital has been withdrawn or reduced below ¥30M — maintain the registered capital
- JLPT N2 not yet obtained by the applicant or qualifying employee — plan ahead, especially as the transition period narrows toward 2028
- No expert-reviewed business plan on file for the current renewal cycle
Path to Permanent Residency
Business Manager visa holders can apply for Permanent Residency after meeting the standard PR requirements — 10 years of continuous residence in Japan (or shorter via HSP fast track), clean compliance record, and financial stability. The business itself must continue to be viable and compliant.
Business managers and entrepreneurs can qualify for Highly Skilled Professional (高度専門職) status based on their academic background, experience, and income — potentially enabling PR in 1–3 years instead of 10. If your business is generating strong revenue and you have strong credentials, check your HSP points. HSP Points Calculator →
From April 2027, you will need to hold a 5-year visa grant to apply for PR. Business Manager visa holders who have been receiving 1-year grants (often the case in the early years of a business) need to work toward a longer grant period before they can apply. A consistently profitable, compliant business with strong documentation is the path to longer grants.
All Business Manager Visa Guides
🚨 2025 Requirement Changes
🏠 Compliance & Long-Term
Common Business Manager Visa Questions
Business Manager Visa FAQ
Reviewed by a licensed Administrative Scrivener based on real cases.
Get a professional assessment of your business case
Business Manager visa applications are complex and have a high refusal rate. A professional review helps you understand exactly what you need to prepare — and whether Business Manager is even the right status for your situation.
Supervised by a licensed Administrative Scrivener (行政書士) · Updated June 2026 · No spam, no sales calls
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