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The permission criteria for the Status of Residence “Business Manager” (the so-called Business Manager visa) were significantly revised on October 16, 2025. With new requirements such as a minimum capital of 30 million yen and Japanese language proficiency (N2 equivalent or higher), there are numerous changes that foreign business owners applying for new applications or renewals, and personnel in receiving companies, cannot overlook. In this article, an Administrative Scrivener will provide a clear explanation of the five key points of the revision, transitional measures, and immediate actions to take, from a practical perspective.
The Status of Residence “Business Manager” is a Status of Residence granted to foreign nationals engaged in company management or business administration in Japan, based on the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (hereinafter, Immigration Control Act). It is widely known as the “Business Owner Visa” or “Business Manager Visa.”
Eligible activities include those as a company’s representative director, president, or director, or as a manager such as a department head or factory manager, executing company operations. There are five types of Period of Stay: 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, allowing for long-term stay through repeated renewals.
While it was previously considered to have a relatively low hurdle, the permission criteria were significantly tightened on October 16, 2025, against the backdrop of an increase in fraudulent use and concerns about businesses lacking actual operations in recent years.
On October 16, 2025 (Reiwa 7), the Immigration Services Agency revised the Ministerial Ordinance on Criteria for Landing and other regulations, implementing new permission criteria (Source: Regarding the Revision of the Ministerial Ordinance on Criteria for Landing, etc., concerning the Status of Residence “Business Manager” | Immigration Services Agency). The main changes are the following five items:
| Requirement | Before Revision | After Revision (from October 16, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| ① Employment of full-time staff | No specific regulation (considered in practice) | Employment of at least one full-time staff member who is a Japanese national, etc. (mandatory) |
| ② Scale of capital, etc. | 5 million yen or more | 30 million yen or more |
| ③ Japanese language proficiency | No specific regulation | Applicant or full-time staff member must have B2 equivalent or higher (N2, etc.) |
| ④ Career requirement | 3 years or more of business/management experience (partially relaxed) | Doctorate, Master’s, Professional Degree, or 3 years or more of business/management experience |
| ⑤ Business plan | Expert evaluation optional | Evaluation by a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant, Certified Public Accountant, or Tax Accountant is mandatory |
It is now mandatory to employ at least one full-time staff member who holds a Status of Residence listed in “Appended Table II” of the Immigration Control Act, such as a Japanese national, Special Permanent Resident, Permanent Resident, or Long-Term Resident, in the company managed by the applicant.
Conditions for full-time staff include working 30 hours or more per week, 217 days or more per year, and being insured under employment insurance. It is important to note that foreign nationals holding a Status of Residence listed in “Appended Table I” of the Immigration Control Act, such as Student, do not qualify as “full-time staff.”
The business scale requirement has been significantly raised. For corporations, paid-in capital must be 30 million yen or more. For sole proprietors, the total investment in the business, including securing a business office, one year’s worth of staff salaries, and equipment investment costs, must be 30 million yen or more.
📅 New Q&A posted on May 18, 2026: Even if a sole proprietor’s total business investment is less than 30 million yen, if the business is in good financial standing, tax obligations are properly fulfilled, and there is a prospect of meeting the criteria by the next renewal, the application will not be uniformly denied. (Source: Immigration Services Agency Official Website)
Either the applicant or a full-time staff member must possess Japanese language proficiency equivalent to B2 or higher on the “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.” The main methods of proof are as follows:
Even if the applicant themselves does not meet these requirements, the condition can be satisfied if an employed full-time staff member meets them.
It has been clarified that the applicant must possess either a doctorate, master’s, or professional degree in business management, or at least three years of business/management experience. The period of preparation for starting a business under the Startup Visa (Designated Activities 44) can also be included in the years of experience.
For business plans submitted during an Application for Certificate of Eligibility or an Application for Change of Status of Residence, confirmation of “specificity, rationality, and feasibility” by a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant, Certified Public Accountant, or Tax Accountant is now mandatory. However, it is important to note that officers or employees of the company managed by the applicant cannot serve as evaluators.
The era when the Business Manager visa was “easy to obtain” is over; now, substantive examination is thorough. Compliance with all five new requirements is the first step towards stable business continuity.
Foreign business owners residing under the Status of Residence “Business Manager” will have their compliance with the new requirements checked at the time of their next Application for Extension of Period of Stay.
If you already hold the Business Manager status of residence and are concerned about renewal or the 3-year transitional measures (until 16 October 2028), see our related article “2026 Update: Business Manager Status of Residence Renewal and 3-Year Transitional Measures“, which explains what is reviewed at renewal and how to prepare.
📅 Transitional Measure Deadline: For applications for extension submitted within three years from the effective date of the revision (October 16, 2025), i.e., until October 16, 2028, decisions on permission will consider the business situation and prospects for compliance, even if the new criteria are not met. However, after October 16, 2028, full compliance with the new criteria will be required in principle.
Particularly Significant Impacts
Impact on Application for Permission for Permanent Residence: After the effective date, applications for Permission for Permanent Residence from “Business Manager” residents who do not meet the new criteria will not be approved. Early action is essential for those aiming for Permanent Resident status.
HR professionals in companies employing foreign executives and managers, as well as receiving companies, also need to prepare for the renewal of these employees’ Status of Residence.
🏢 Confirmation of Full-Time Staff Composition
It is necessary to confirm whether at least one full-time employee with a Status of Residence listed in Appended Table II of the Immigration Control Act, such as a Japanese national, is employed under the foreign national executive.
📋 Preparation System for Business Plan
For new Landing or Application for Change of Status of Residence, an evaluation report from a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant, Certified Public Accountant, or Tax Accountant is required for the business plan. Please establish relationships with external experts early.
💻 Status of Public Dues Payment
For Application for Extension of Period of Stay, the payment status of employment insurance, health insurance, employee pension, corporate tax, Consumption Tax, and corporate inhabitant tax will be confirmed. Any unpaid amounts may affect the extension.
⚠️ Caution Regarding Long-Term Business Trips by Foreign National Executives
Departures exceeding the cumulative majority of the Period of Stay may be considered a lack of actual activity and lead to Denial. If you have plans for overseas assignments or long-term business trips, please consult us in advance.
This is the general process for those currently residing under “Business Manager” Status of Residence to apply for an extension.
For Application for Extension of Period of Stay from the enforcement date until October 16, 2028, if the business performance is good, taxes are properly paid, and there is an expectation to meet the new standards by the next extension, Denial will not be uniformly applied. However, after the grace period ends, full compliance with the new standards is generally required.
For individual proprietors, it is judged by “total business investment” rather than “capital.” The total amount of expenses for securing a business office, staff salaries (for one year), equipment investment costs, etc., is proven with recent financial statements, receipts, and other documents.
The requirement can be met by employing one full-time staff member (Japanese national or Long-Term Resident, etc.) with N2 or higher Japanese language proficiency. If it is difficult for the applicant to obtain N2, please consider reviewing your hiring plan.
It is required at the “time of decision” of the Status of Residence (Application for Certificate of Eligibility or Application for Change of Status of Residence). While not mandatory for Application for Extension of Period of Stay, it is recommended to prepare a business plan even for extensions, as business conditions will be reviewed.
Administrative Scriveners are not designated as evaluators at the time of enforcement (only Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultants, Certified Public Accountants, and Tax Accountants are). Administrative Scriveners play a different role of preparing and filing application documents.
The permission standards for Business Manager visas were significantly tightened with the October 2025 revision. The requirements for 30 million yen in capital, employment of full-time staff, and Japanese language proficiency cannot be prepared overnight. Although there is a grace period (until October 16, 2028), it is certain that the examination will become stricter with each extension.
It is crucial for both foreign national business owners and personnel in accepting companies to confirm their compliance with the requirements at this time and proceed with necessary measures systematically.
Our office provides consultations to both foreign nationals and accepting companies, based on the latest institutional trends.
Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.
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Free Immigration Pre-Submission Check ›
For those who will apply for a status of residence at the Immigration Services Bureau by themselves. Before you submit, we check your application form and supporting documents and tell you about any missing documents and points to watch. We accept checks online (Google Meet, about 20 minutes) or via LINE.
・Eligible: applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay (applications for permanent residence are accepted only from residents of Miyazaki Prefecture). Naturalization is not covered.
・Online (Google Meet): once per application. Replies via LINE: available for the same application until you submit it.
・Our guideline for replies via LINE is, in principle, within 2 business days (we are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; replies may take longer when we are busy).
・Please send copies of your documents by LINE or email. For your residence card, send the front side only; please do not send the side showing your My Number.
・What we tell you is our office’s opinion. It does not guarantee approval; the outcome depends on the decision of the Immigration Services Bureau.
・We only point out missing documents and points to watch. We do not prepare or rewrite your application documents for you or draft text for them, and we do not tell you whether your application is likely to be approved (if you would like to engage us, we will introduce the Self-Prep Course, the Light Plan and the Standard Plan).
・If we find that a document contains information that is not true, or that the application is not your own (or a family member’s), we will decline the check.
This article was written based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Details of the system and enforcement dates may change in the future. For actual applications, please confirm with official information from the Immigration Services Agency or our office.
Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Satoshi Nakayama
Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office
Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
