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Japan business visas
Japan Business Manager Visa
Start or run a business in Japan, obtain Business Manager status and move to Japan with your family.
Reviewed by Oscar Yip · Updated October 2026
Programme overview
The Business Manager visa is for people who start, run or manage a business in Japan. From October 2025 Japan tightened the requirements, raising the capital threshold to JPY 30 million, requiring full-time staff, and reviewing management experience, Japanese ability and business plans more strictly.
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CapitalJPY 30,000,000
StaffAt least one full-time employee
OfficeA physical office in Japan
FamilySpouse and children
Summary
The Japan Business Manager visa now requires capital of at least JPY 30 million and at least one full-time employee. Applicants usually need relevant management experience or qualifications, a business plan confirmed by a qualified professional, and a physical office in Japan.
Key benefits of Business Manager Visa
- Run your own businessYou hold residence status as the manager of your own Japanese company, without depending on a Japanese employer to hire or sponsor you.
- Spouse and children come tooYour spouse and children can apply for Dependent status and live with you in Japan.
- Renewals of up to five yearsPeriods of stay range from 3 months up to 5 years; a stable business can earn longer periods.
- Free public schoolingForeign children who wish to attend public elementary and junior high schools are accepted free of charge, as Japanese children are.
- Japanese public health insuranceResidents staying three months or more join public health insurance; ages 6 to 69 generally pay 30% of medical costs.
- A route to permanent residencePermanent residence generally needs 10 years in Japan; qualifying under the HSP points system and the new Business Manager criteria can shorten this to 1 to 3 years.
Why Global Immigrate for Business Manager Visa
- families approved
- 20+
- approval rate
- 95%
- offering this programme since
- 2018
Local professional support in Japan
Working with local professionals in Japan, we help with company registration, office leasing, bank accounts and hiring full-time staff, and keep your tax and social insurance records ready for renewal.
Business plan and expert confirmation
We prepare a specific, feasible business plan under the new standards and arrange confirmation by an SME consultant, CPA or tax accountant.
Planning beyond immigration
GI Group’s teams can handle pre-immigration tax, asset allocation, your children’s education and overseas property at the same time, so the arrangements never conflict.
Requirements
Applicants generally need to meet the following:
- Capital of at least JPY 30 million
- At least one full-time employee (a Japanese national, permanent resident or holder of certain statuses of residence)
- At least three years of management experience, or a master’s, doctoral or professional degree in management or a field relevant to the business
- Japanese ability equivalent to JLPT N2 (B2) held by you or your full-time employee
- A physical office in Japan and a business plan confirmed by a qualified professional
Investment rules
Investment requirements in detail
Under the criteria in force since 16 October 2025, the Business Manager visa's investment requirement is company capital (or total contributions) of at least JPY 30 million, and you must also meet the staff, Japanese language, background, business plan and office requirements; all of them apply together. The capital is used to run the business and is not frozen, but renewals look at how the business is doing and whether taxes and social insurance are paid.
Capital (company)
StandardJPY 30 million or more
Requirements
Paid-in capital for a kabushiki kaisha, or total contributions for a godo, gomei or goshi kaisha; capital reserves and retained earnings do not count
Total invested (sole proprietor)
StandardJPY 30 million or more
Requirements
Includes premises, one year of staff salaries and equipment, shown by the latest year's accounts and receipts
Full-time employee
StandardAt least 1
Requirements
Must be a Japanese national, special permanent resident, permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national or permanent resident, or long-term resident; 30+ hours a week and covered by employment insurance; dispatched, outsourced or seconded staff do not count
Japanese ability
StandardB2 (about JLPT N2)
Requirements
Either you or any one full-time employee; shown by JLPT N2, BJT 400+, 20+ years' residence in Japan, graduation from a Japanese university or other higher education institution, or completing compulsory education and high school in Japan
Background
Standard3 years' management experience or a master's or higher
Requirements
The degree (doctorate, master's or professional degree, including foreign) must be in management or a field relevant to the business; time spent preparing a start-up under Designated Activities counts as experience
Business plan
StandardProfessional confirmation
Requirements
Confirmed as specific, reasonable and feasible by a Japan-qualified SME consultant, CPA or tax accountant; directors or staff of your own company cannot confirm it
Office
StandardPhysical premises
Requirements
A home doubling as the office is not accepted in principle; the space must suit the scale of the business
How capital is assessed
- If you run several companies, at least one must have JPY 30 million
- Applicants coming as managers rather than owners must also meet the capital requirement
- Where several people manage the business jointly, each role must be justified, clearly defined and paid
- If most of the work is outsourced and you are not genuinely running the business, it does not count as business management
- The scale of capital is checked against the commercial register; source of funds must be documented by the applicant, and the official Q&A does not expressly address borrowed capital
Renewal checks
- Renewals check payment of labour insurance, social insurance, and national and local taxes (withholding, corporate, corporate inhabitant and corporate enterprise tax, among others)
- Any licences the business needs must be obtained; being abroad on re-entry permits for more than half of the granted period of stay in total, without good reason, counts against you
- Compliance with labour standards, minimum wage and social insurance law is also reviewed
Transition and permanent residence
- Applications received before 16 October 2025 were assessed under the old criteria (JPY 5 million capital or two full-time employees)
- Existing holders renewing before 16 October 2028 will not be refused solely for not meeting the new criteria; business performance and prospects of meeting them are considered. After that date the new criteria apply in principle, though a sound, tax-compliant business likely to meet them by the next renewal is assessed as a whole
- Since the reform, unless the new criteria are met, permanent residence cannot be granted from Business Manager, HSP (i)(c) or HSP (ii) (business management activity), nor can HSP (i)(c) holders move to HSP (ii)
Based on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan's notice and Q&A on the revised Business Manager criteria, as of November 2026; rules may change.
Our three guarantees
Full service-fee refund if refused
Guaranteed in your service agreement: if your application is refused, we refund the service fees you have paid in full — or you can switch to another suitable programme at no extra charge.
No extra charge for further documents or resubmission
If the authorities request further documents, or an application must be resubmitted, we handle it at no additional service fee.
Handled by professionals, fee fixed at signing
Every application is prepared and reviewed by our professional immigration team. Your service fee is fixed when you sign, with no additional charges afterwards.
Service fees exclude investment amounts, government fees and third-party costs. Refusals caused by false or incomplete information, or by the applicant not cooperating as required, are not eligible for a refund. Full terms are set out in the service agreement.
Free Business Manager Visa brochure
Covers the requirements, process and timeline, a fee overview and FAQs. Leave your details and we’ll send it to you.
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If you can’t see it, please check your spam folder. A consultant may also contact you to answer any questions about the programme.
Application process
- Assessment and business plan1–2 monthsWe assess your eligibility and develop the business plan.
- Company and office set-up1–3 monthsRegister the company, pay in the capital and lease an office.
- Status of residence application1–3 monthsApply for a Certificate of Eligibility.
- Entry and renewalPer your period of stayEnter Japan, run the business and renew based on its performance.
Pathway to PR and citizenship
- Business Manager visaStatus review about 1–3 months
Residence as the manager of a Japanese company, usually 1 year at first, then 3–5 years on renewal.
While on this statusLive in Japan and actually run the business; renewals require stable operations and taxes paid on time; spending more than half of your granted period of stay outside Japan counts against you at renewal
- Permanent residenceUsually after 10 years in Japan; 1–3 years if you also meet the HSP points
Japanese permanent residence, with no more renewals. Since 16 October 2025, applying for permanent residence on the basis of the Business Manager status requires meeting the new Business Manager criteria and holding the longest period of stay (5 years; 3 years is accepted only until 31 March 2027).
Keeping permanent statusNo renewals, but you must leave Japan with a re-entry permit; the special re-entry permit covers returns within 1 year, and failing to return in time can lose your permanent residence
- Japanese nationalityLaw: 5+ years’ residence; in practice about 10 years since April 2026
Apply to naturalise for Japanese nationality and a passport. You generally need to be 18 or over, have worked in Japan for at least 3 of the 5 years, show good conduct and stable income, and read and write basic Japanese (about third-grade elementary level, assessed at interview). Japan does not allow adult dual nationality, so you must give up your current nationality.
Residence for citizenshipThe law requires 5+ years of continuous residence, but since April 2026 the Ministry of Justice is reported to generally expect about 10 years in practice (subject to the Ministry’s latest review practice); in practice a single trip of about 3 months or more, or long total absences in a year, can be treated as breaking residence
General information only; requirements follow each country’s latest rules and can vary with your circumstances.
Business Manager Visa client stories
Client storyAdjusting capital and hiring quickly after the new rules, and a Business Manager visa
Mr Ng’s Business Manager Visa experience. He wanted to start a business in Japan.
Read the full storyClient storyCompany registration, office and business plan coordinated togetherMs Lee’s Business Manager Visa experience. She wanted to set up a company in Japan.
Read the full storyClient storyApplying for Japan’s Business Manager visa under the 2025 rulesMr Chou’s Business Manager Visa experience. He planned to open a trading company in Tokyo.
Read the full storyCompared with other options: Japan
See the Japan overview| Programme | Investment | Status | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa | No investment; sponsored by a Japanese employer (80+ points) | HSP status; permanent residence after as little as one year | Status review about 1–3 months | Professionals with 80+ points who can be employed by a Japanese company |
| Japan Business Manager VisaThis programme | Capital of JPY 30,000,000 | Business Manager status | Status review about 1–3 months | Entrepreneurs opening and running a business in Japan |
Business Manager Visa FAQ
What changed in 2025?
From 16 October 2025 the capital requirement rose from JPY 5 million to JPY 30 million, with new requirements for staff, experience, Japanese ability and business plan confirmation. Existing visa holders have a three-year transition period and must meet the new rules by October 2028.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Either you or one of your full-time employees must have Japanese ability equivalent to JLPT N2 (B2) or above.
Can I apply for permanent residence?
Generally after living in Japan continuously for a set number of years and meeting other conditions; it is also worth checking whether you qualify under the HSP business management category.
Sources
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Revision of the landing permission criteria for Business Manager status
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Outline of the revision (PDF)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Guidelines on the revision (PDF)
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Guidelines for permanent residence
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