Japan Business Manager Visa: The ¥30 Million Rules in 2026

01

What changed on 16 October 2025?

The Ministry of Justice amended the landing-criteria ordinance and the Immigration Act enforcement regulations, and the changes took effect on 16 October 2025 (Immigration Services Agency). The capital floor rose from ¥5 million to ¥30 million, and four new tests were added: a full-time employee, Japanese ability, a management background and an expert-checked plan.

Applications received before 16 October 2025 and still under review are decided under the old rules.

02

Who qualifies now?

A full-time employee. Your company must employ at least one full-time employee. The employee must be a Japanese national, a special permanent resident, or a foreign national with settled status such as permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national or long-term resident. Staff on work visas do not count toward this test.

Japanese ability. You or a full-time employee must have Japanese at B2 level of the national reference framework. The agency accepts, for example, JLPT N2 or above, a BJT score of 400 or more, 20 years' residence in Japan, or graduation from a Japanese university or high school after compulsory schooling there. For this test only, staff on work visas count.

Background. You need a doctorate, master's or professional degree in management or in the field of the business, including a foreign equivalent, or at least three years' experience managing a business.

A vetted plan. Your business plan must be checked by a Japanese-qualified small and medium enterprise management consultant, certified public accountant or tax accountant. An officer or employee of your own company cannot be the reviewer. Foreign qualifications do not count.

03

How the investment works

The ¥30 million is the "total value of assets used for the business." For a company, it means paid-in capital, or total contributions for a partnership-type company. Capital reserves and retained earnings do not count, and you cannot add salaries or office costs to the capital figure. For a sole proprietor, it means the total actually put into the business, such as premises, one year of staff salaries and equipment (ISA Q&A, Q5 to Q8, Q12).

If you manage several companies, one of them must reach ¥30 million on its own. The test also applies if you act as a manager rather than an owner (Q10, Q11).

Your office must suit the business's size, and using your home as the office is not allowed in principle. The agency will refuse status if the business is mostly outsourced and you are not really running it (Q19, Q20).

In our view, the new rules turn this into a real-business visa. It is no longer a route for a small holding company with a home address.

04

How long can you stay?

Each grant runs for 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 4 months or 3 months (ISA). At each renewal the agency checks labor insurance, social insurance, and the company's national and local taxes. It also checks that you hold any business licenses you need.

Time abroad matters. As a general guide, if you spend more than half of your granted period outside Japan on re-entry permits without a good reason, the agency weighs that against renewal (Q22).

05

What about people already on this visa?

Until 16 October 2028, a renewal will not be refused only because the new criteria are not met. The agency looks at the business's condition and its prospects of meeting them. After that date the new criteria apply. But a holder who still falls short may be renewed if the business is sound, its taxes are paid and it is likely to meet the criteria by the next renewal (Q1, Q3).

06

Does it lead to permanent residence?

Since 16 October 2025, holders who do not meet the new criteria cannot get permanent residence from Business Manager status. The same applies to switching to Highly Skilled Professional (ii).

07

Which family members can come?

A spouse or child supported by a Business Manager holder can live in Japan with Dependent status, granted for a period set by the Minister of Justice of up to five years (ISA).

08

What should families from Asia and the Gulf check?

Tax residence. You are a Japanese tax resident if you have a domicile in Japan or have lived there continuously for a year or more. Non-residents are taxed only on Japanese-source income (NTA No. 12006). In our view, moving your family to Japan is likely to make you resident, so plan worldwide income before you go.

Mainland and Hong Kong owners. The old ¥5 million floor no longer applies to new applicants.

In our view, this route suits owners who will genuinely build and run a Japanese business, hire locally and spend most of their time there.

09

FAQ