Business Manager Visa 2025 Revision: ¥30M Capital, Staff, Japanese

On 16 October 2025, revisions to the ministerial ordinance on landing standards and related rules governing the 経営・管理 (Business Manager) status of residence took effect. The bar for founding a company in Japan and residing as its manager has risen sharply: applicants now need capital of ¥30 million or more, at least one full-time employee, Japanese-language ability, a qualifying career background and a business plan reviewed by an expert. Drawing on materials published by the 出入国在留管理庁 (Immigration Services Agency, ISA), this article sets out the key changes, the transitional measures and how prospective applicants should prepare.

Key changes

Before the revision, the business-scale requirement was met with either capital of ¥5 million or more or two or more full-time employees. Now both capital and the employment of a full-time employee are required, and new standards on Japanese ability and career background have been added.

The new permission standards

Capital of ¥30 million or more

For a corporation, this is assessed by the amount of share capital or total contributions; for a sole proprietorship, by the total funds invested in the business. Meeting the amount is not enough: the review places weight on whether you can explain how the funds were built up (their source). If you are remitting money from abroad, organise remittance records and bank balance histories so they trace the flow from the origin of the funds through to incorporation.

Employing at least one full-time employee

Only Japanese nationals, special permanent residents, permanent residents, spouses or children of Japanese nationals, spouses or children of permanent residents, and long-term residents count as full-time employees. Foreign nationals residing on work statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services do not count. Employees must be enrolled in social insurance and employment insurance as their working conditions require. Build the timing of the hire and the employment documents (such as the employment contract) into your application plan.

Japanese ability

Either the applicant or a full-time employee must have a considerable level of Japanese. The benchmark is B2 or above on the Japanese Language Education Reference Framework, with JLPT N2 or higher given as an example. If you do not meet the standard yourself, consider securing a full-time employee who does. Check the ISA’s guidance for which documents can demonstrate Japanese ability.

Career and academic background

Applicants must have three or more years of experience in managing or administering a business, or hold a master’s degree or equivalent in business administration or in the field of the proposed business. To evidence experience, prepare certificates of employment, registry extracts or organisation charts showing your position, and degree certificates, and attach translations to any documents in a foreign language.

Expert review of the business plan

The plan for a newly launched business must be reviewed by a person with specialist management knowledge, who confirms that it is concrete and feasible. Certain cases, such as companies of a scale comparable to listed companies, are exempt. Before applying, check the ISA’s latest guidance on which experts may perform the review and the required form of confirmation.

Transitional measures: pending applications and current residents

Applications received before the effective date

Applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, extensions of the period of stay and similar applications received by 15 October 2025 and still under review are assessed under the pre-revision standards.

Renewals up to 16 October 2028

For those residing under a permission granted before the revision, renewal applications filed by 16 October 2028, three years after the effective date, will not be refused solely because the new standards are not met. The decision will take into account the condition of the business and the prospect of meeting the new standards.

Renewals after 16 October 2028

Once the transitional period ends, renewals will in principle need to meet the revised standards. However, the ISA states that it will consider cases in the round where, for example, the business is performing well, taxes and other obligations have been properly met and the new standards are expected to be met by the next renewal. Use the transitional period to put the necessary structure in place, such as increasing capital or hiring staff. The points examined at renewal are covered in Renewing the Business Manager visa.

Preparing a new application

Under the new standards, funding, incorporation, hiring and the business plan must be sequenced with the immigration review in mind. Gather the following documents early.

• Documents showing the amount of capital and its source (remittance records, bank balance histories, loan or gift agreements, etc.)
• A hiring plan for the full-time employee, the employment contract, and documents showing enrolment in social and employment insurance
• Documents evidencing Japanese ability (of the applicant or a full-time employee)
• Documents evidencing career background (certificates of employment, registry extracts, degree certificates, etc.) with translations
• A business plan reviewed by an expert

Explaining the source of funds

With the much higher capital threshold, explaining the source of funds matters more than ever. If the money comes from accumulated salary or business income, be able to show income documents and bank balance histories going back several years. If it comes from the sale of property or shares, prepare the sale agreement and the record of the incoming payment. Where a gift or loan from relatives is involved, you may be asked for documents showing the donor’s or lender’s financial capacity in addition to the contract and remittance records. Attach translations to foreign-language documents and check that amounts and dates are consistent across all of them.

Step-by-step preparation

1. Define the nature and scale of the business, and prepare a funding plan of ¥30 million or more together with an explanation of its source
2. Confirm whether you or the employee you plan to hire meets the Japanese-language standard
3. Collect documents evidencing your career or degree and arrange translations
4. Incorporate the company, secure an office and pay in the capital
5. Plan the full-time hire and complete the employment and insurance procedures at the right time
6. Prepare a business plan reviewed by an expert and file the application

For the incorporation steps, see How foreign nationals set up a company in Japan; for an overview of the application documents, see Business Manager visa: application documents and processing times.

Common misconceptions and points to watch

• Meeting the capital requirement alone is not enough: after the revision, both capital and a full-time employee are required.
• Foreign nationals on work visas do not count as full-time employees: only people with the statuses listed above, such as Japanese nationals and permanent residents, count.
• Writing the plan yourself is not sufficient: except in certain cases, it must be checked by a management expert.
• Current residents also need to act: the transitional measures are time-limited. Prepare with renewals after 16 October 2028 in mind.

How to check the latest standards

Details of the permission standards and required documents are published on the ISA’s page on the revision of the landing-standards ordinance for the Business Manager status of residence and on its Business Manager status page. Operational details may be added or changed through Q&A documents and similar notices. Check the latest guidance immediately before applying, and consult a regional immigration services bureau or a professional adviser on any point of doubt.

How TIMOA can help

The revised Business Manager visa requires funding, hiring, Japanese ability, career evidence and the business plan to be prepared in parallel. Working with partner 行政書士 (administrative scriveners), certified tax accountants and other professionals, TIMOA supports you through organising your funding plan and its source, incorporation, hiring and insurance procedures, preparation of the business plan, and the status-of-residence application. Because paying in capital and hiring staff are hard to re-sequence once under way, we recommend mapping out the overall plan before you incorporate. For details, see Visas, Talent & Living.