Business Manager Visa Renewal: What Is Reviewed and How to Prepare

Renewing a Business Manager (経営・管理) visa involves checking whether the business is continuing, whether you are actively managing it in Japan, and whether taxes and social insurance contributions have been paid. The application must be filed by the expiry date of your period of stay; if your period of stay is six months or longer, applications are accepted from roughly three months before it expires. The criteria revised in October 2025 come with transitional measures for renewal applications filed by October 16, 2028.

When to apply and the fees

Fees from October 2026

The fees for extending the period of stay and changing the status of residence were revised on October 1, 2026. Before the revision, the fee was ¥6,000 for applications filed at the counter (¥5,500 online). Since the revision, the amount varies with the period of stay granted and has risen substantially. Check the exact amount in the Immigration Services Agency’s fee guidance before applying.

Which fee applies depends on the date the application is accepted: applications accepted by September 30, 2026 are charged the pre-revision amount even if permission is granted in October or later. The payment method has also changed; online applications are paid by convenience store or bank payment. The Immigration Services Agency has also warned about suspicious emails posing as fee payment requests, so do not pay by any method other than those stated in the official guidance.

Main points reviewed at renewal

Renewal is a review of your track record while in Japan. Compared with a new application, more weight is placed on objective documents such as financial statements and payment records.

Main documents for renewal

• Application for extension of period of stay and photograph, with passport and residence card presented
• The company’s certificate of registered matters and a copy of the financial statements for the latest fiscal year
• Documents showing the amount of director’s compensation (such as minutes of the general meeting of shareholders)
• The applicant’s certificate of resident tax assessment (or non-assessment) and tax payment certificate
• Documents showing the company’s payment of social and labor insurance and of national and local taxes
• Documents explaining the business and future plans

The documents required vary with the company’s category (based on factors such as the previous year’s withholding tax amount). The list is revised from time to time, so check the Immigration Services Agency’s guidance just before applying. Documents for an initial application are explained in Business Manager visa: application documents and processing time.

Business continuity when the company has losses or negative net assets

The Immigration Services Agency has published how it assesses business continuity according to the financial results. It does not judge on a single year’s loss, but looks comprehensively at gross profit and the balance sheet for the two most recent fiscal years.

If the company is expected to end up with liabilities exceeding assets, consider measures to improve its finances before the fiscal year-end, such as a capital increase or revisiting the treatment of loans from directors. Once the accounts are finalized, your options are limited.

Transitional measures under the October 2025 revision

The approval criteria for Business Manager status were revised on October 16, 2025. They now require capital or equivalent of ¥30 million or more, employment of at least one full-time staff member, Japanese language ability, management experience or a degree, and a business plan reviewed by a professional. These are explained in detail in the revised approval criteria for the Business Manager visa.

For those already residing in Japan before the revision who apply for renewal by October 16, 2028, failing to meet the revised criteria will not in itself lead to refusal. The decision takes into account the state of the business and the prospects of meeting the revised criteria. For renewals after that date, compliance with the revised criteria is in principle required.

• If capital falls short of the threshold, prepare a funding plan for a capital increase and documents showing the source of funds
• Draw up a plan to hire full-time staff and put employment contracts and social insurance enrollment in order
• Decide whether Japanese language ability will be demonstrated by the applicant or met through staff

Preparing for renewal: work back from your fiscal year-end

Most of the materials for the renewal review are drawn from your financial statements and tax returns. Check how the expiry date of your period of stay relates to your fiscal year-end, and prepare in the following order.

1. Before the fiscal year-end, check whether liabilities exceed assets and consider measures to improve the finances
2. File corporation tax and other returns on time and pay the taxes due
3. Confirm there are no unpaid social insurance or labor insurance premiums
4. Check the amount of director’s compensation and your own resident tax payment status
5. Prepare documents explaining the business and future plans (including improvement measures if the company made a loss)
6. Gather the documents and apply around three months before expiry

The company’s enrollment in social insurance is an important item checked in the renewal review. For who must be enrolled and how, see Mandatory social and labor insurance enrollment.

If the company’s circumstances change

If during your period of stay the company relocates its head office, changes its trade name or business purpose, or increases its capital, complete the registration and reflect the changes in your renewal documents. When the name or address of the company you manage changes, you must also file a notification concerning your affiliated organization within 14 days. If the nature of the business has changed significantly, be ready to explain how this came about and your future plans.

How to apply

In addition to the applicant, a registered agent such as an administrative scrivener (行政書士) who has filed the required notification may submit the application. Online applications are also available, subject to conditions such as user registration. If additional documents are requested during the review, respond by the deadline.

What affects the length of the period of stay

The period of stay for Business Manager status is five years, three years, one year, six months, four months or three months. Factors such as compliance with notification obligations and the scale and track record of the business are taken into account, and a shorter period is granted if the conditions are not met. Extended absences from Japan may require you to explain the reality of your management activities in Japan.

Checklist to avoid refusal

• No late or unpaid tax returns, taxes or insurance premiums
• The figures in the financial statements are consistent with the application and the description of the business
• The office lease remains in place and the premises are actually used for the business
• Changes such as to the company’s name or address have been notified within 14 days
• Director’s compensation is set at a level sufficient to support you and your family
• You have also checked the renewal dates for family members residing on Dependent status

If your fiscal year-end and visa expiry are close together, the application date may arrive before the accounts are finalized. Confirm early which year’s financial statements you will be submitting.

Even if renewal is refused, you can reapply once you have identified and addressed the reasons. However, time is limited by your period of stay, so early preparation is essential.

How TIMOA can help

Renewing a Business Manager visa is a procedure that demonstrates the results of a year of running your business. A problem with any of the financial statements, tax payments, social insurance or notifications can affect whether renewal is granted and for how long.

Together with partner administrative scriveners, certified tax accountants and labor and social security attorneys, TIMOA supports you from reviewing your finances before the year-end through organizing payment records and preparing renewal documents to planning your transition to the revised criteria. For details, see our Visas, Talent & Living page.