New Entries for Business Manager Status of Residence: 635 People – One Year Since the Amendment

On October 16, 2026, the Immigration Services Agency published “Regarding the Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan and Japanese Nationals Departing Japan in the First Half of Reiwa 8” and “Regarding the Number of Foreign Residents as of the End of June, Reiwa 8.” Focusing on the Status of Residence “Business Manager,” the number of new entrants in the first half of 2026 (January to June) was 635, an 80.9% decrease from 3,329 in the same period of the previous year. The number of foreign residents also decreased by 8.6% in six months, from 46,781 at the end of 2025 to 42,747 at the end of June 2026.

The criteria for permission for “Business Manager” changed significantly with the ministerial ordinance amendment on October 16, 2025. This article organizes the publicly released statistics almost one year after the amendment and summarizes the points that those who wish to start a business in Japan, those who are already residing under “Business Manager,” and companies welcoming foreign managers should confirm.

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1. “Business Manager” as Seen in Public Statistics

1-1. Number of New Entrants

Period	Number of New Entrants for “Business Manager”
2022 (1 year)	4,346 people
2023 (1 year)	5,295 people
2024 (1 year)	4,483 people
2025 (1 year)	6,003 people
First half of 2025	3,329 people
First half of 2026	635 people (80.9% decrease from the same period of the previous year)

The number of new entrants for other Status of Residence categories during the same period was: “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” from 31,923 to 23,994 (-24.8%), “Highly Skilled Professional” from 1,442 to 952 (-34.0%), “Student” from 103,435 to 111,930 (+8.2%), and “Specified Skilled Worker” from 36,689 to 43,348 (+18.1%). The decrease in “Business Manager” is particularly striking.

1-2. Number of Foreign Residents

As of	Number of Foreign Residents for “Business Manager”
End of 2022	31,808 people
End of 2023	37,510 people
End of 2024	41,615 people
End of 2025	46,781 people
End of June 2026	42,747 people (8.6% decrease from the end of the previous year)

1-3. Points to Note When Reading the Figures

• “Number of new entrants” refers to the number of people who were granted Status of Residence and Permission for Landing upon entering Japan (note in the published material). This number does not include international students or others who changed their Status of Residence to “Business Manager” within Japan.
• The published material does not indicate the reasons for the increase or decrease. The first half of 2026 falls within the period after the October 16, 2025 amendment.
• The number of “Business Manager” by prefecture is not included in this published material (Table 6).

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2. Review of the October 16, 2025 Amendment

The ministerial ordinance (Ministerial Ordinance Specifying the Criteria under Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act) and enforcement regulations that stipulate the Landing criteria for “Business Manager” were amended and came into effect on October 16, 2025. According to the Immigration Services Agency’s summary of the amendment, the main changes are as follows:

Item	Revised Criteria
Full-time employees	Employ one or more full-time employees. Limited to Japanese nationals, Special Permanent Residents, Permanent Residents, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, and Long-Term Residents.
Capital, etc.	30 million yen or more. For corporations, the amount of capital or total investment; for sole proprietors, the total amount invested for the business, such as securing a business office, one year’s worth of employee salaries, and equipment investment expenses.
Japanese proficiency	Either the applicant or a full-time employee must have Japanese proficiency equivalent to B2 or higher of the “Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education” (e.g., Japanese-Language Proficiency Test N2 or higher, BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test 400 points or higher).
Work experience	A doctoral, master’s, or professional degree in a field requiring specialized knowledge and skills for business management or the business to be applied for, or at least three years of experience in business management.
Business plan	The business plan must be confirmed by a person with specialized knowledge in business management (as of the enforcement date, Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultants, Certified Public Accountants, or Tax Accountants) when the Status of Residence is determined.

In addition, the following handling procedures have also been indicated:

• If the actual state of activities as a business manager is not sufficiently recognized due to outsourcing or other reasons, it will not be recognized as “Business Manager” activity.
• In principle, using one’s home as a business office is not permitted.
• If the applicant has been out of the country for a long period without justifiable reason, an Extension of Period of Stay will not be permitted.
• When renewing the Period of Stay, the status of enrollment and payment of labor insurance and social insurance, and the payment of national and local taxes will be confirmed.
• Submission of documents confirming the acquisition status of necessary business licenses and permits will be requested.

Changes from the previous standards are also covered in our firm’s article: “[2026 Latest] Administrative Scrivener Explains Stricter Requirements for Business Manager Visa.”

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3. Renewal for those already residing under “Business Manager” Status of Residence

There are transitional measures for those who have been residing under “Business Manager” Status of Residence prior to the amendment. The Immigration Services Agency’s guidance (FAQ, updated June 26, 2026) explains as follows:

• For renewal applications until three years after the enforcement (until October 16, 2028), denial will not occur solely due to not meeting the new standards.
• Even for renewal applications after October 16, 2028, if the business performance is good, corporate taxes and other payment obligations are properly fulfilled, and there is an expectation to meet the new standards by the next renewal, a comprehensive judgment will be made including other Status of Residence conditions. It is stated that denial will not be uniformly imposed solely because the capital is less than 30 million yen.
• On the other hand, even if there are no issues with business performance or tax payments, if there are problems with compliance with labor-related laws, enrollment and payment of social insurance, employment insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance, or acquisition of permits and licenses, there are cases where renewal may not be approved.

For renewals during the transitional period, you may be asked to submit a document evaluating your business by a business expert. Preparation for renewal is covered in detail in “[2026 Latest] Business Manager Visa Renewal and 3-Year Transitional Measures.”

Furthermore, if the post-amendment standards are not met, Permanent Residency Permit from “Business Manager” Status of Residence will not be granted. Those considering Permanent Residence should confirm this point separately from renewal.

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4. Additional Documents from April 15, 2026

On the Immigration Services Agency’s “Business Manager” page, from applications on or after April 15, 2026, the submission of a “Declaration Form Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization” (reference format) has been added if the applicant falls under Category 3 or 4. This document is to be attached when the applicant is engaged in the “management” of the business.

Categories are divided by the scale of the affiliated organization, etc. Category 3 refers to organizations/individuals (excluding Category 2) who submitted the total statutory record table of withholding tax slips for salary income for the previous year, and Category 4 refers to organizations/individuals who do not fall under either of these. If documents proving that one falls under a category cannot be submitted, one will be considered to fall under Category 4.

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5. For those who wish to start a business in Miyazaki

There are foreign nationals who wish to establish a company in Miyazaki Prefecture and start a business under “Business Manager” Status of Residence. After the amendment, the following points must be considered from the business planning stage:

1. Business Office: It is necessary to secure a business office commensurate with the scale of the business after the amendment, and co-use with a residence is generally not permitted.
2. Full-time Employees: A plan to employ at least one full-time Japanese national, Permanent Resident, or Long-Term Resident, etc., is required. Part-time international students or those working under “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” are not included in this number of full-time employees.
3. Capital, etc.: For a corporation, the total capital/investment must be 30 million yen or more.
4. Japanese Language: Either the applicant or a full-time employee must demonstrate Japanese proficiency equivalent to B2 or higher with documents. Unlike the employment requirement in point 2, full-time foreign employees working under “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services,” etc., are included in the full-time employees for the Japanese language requirement.
5. Business Plan: A business plan confirmed by a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant, Certified Public Accountant, or Tax Accountant must be submitted. Directors or employees of the company managed by the applicant are not recognized as evaluators (external advisory Certified Public Accountants or Tax Accountants are considered acceptable).
6. Permits and Licenses: For businesses requiring permits and licenses, such as restaurants, buying and selling used goods, or ryokans, the status of acquisition must be shown (if there is a legitimate reason, such as not being able to obtain it until after receiving Status of Residence, it should be submitted at the next renewal).

Note that the statistics in this section refer to the number of entries into Japan. Applications for Change of Status of Residence to “Business Manager” within Japan, if accepted on or after October 16, 2025, will also be subject to the amended standards (the submission documents on the “Business Manager” page also include applications for change).

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6. For companies welcoming foreign managers

• Remuneration for those engaged in management: If the applicant is engaged in business management, the standard is that they receive remuneration equal to or greater than that received by a Japanese national performing the same work (Ministerial Ordinance on Standards for Landing).
• Additional documents: For companies in Category 3 or 4 welcoming foreign managers, the submission of a “Declaration Form Regarding the Representative of the Affiliated Organization” is required from April 15, 2026.
• When transferring to a Japanese branch of a foreign corporation (Category 3 or 4): A dispatch letter or transfer notice clarifying the position (assigned duties), period, and remuneration amount is required.
• Listed companies, etc., Category 1 or 2: Other documents are generally not required.

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7. For Foreign Nationals

• Please check your Period of Stay expiration date and prepare for extension early. Those who have been residing under “Business Manager” Status of Residence since before the amendment (including those permitted under the previous standards) are subject to transitional measures for extensions until October 16, 2028. However, enrollment and payment of taxes, social insurance, and labor insurance will be checked each time.
• Please be aware of long periods of departure from Japan. If you have been away from Japan for a long period without justifiable reason, your extension is said to be denied on the grounds that there is no actual activity.
• Do not completely outsource your business operations. If your actual activities as a business manager are not sufficiently recognized, such as through outsourcing, it will not be recognized as an activity under “Business Manager” Status of Residence.
• Those considering Permanent Residence, please check first whether you meet the revised standards.

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8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is the 80% decrease in new entrants due to the amendment?

The publicly released materials from the Immigration Services Agency do not indicate the reasons for the increase or decrease. The first half of 2026 falls within the period after the amendment of October 16, 2025.

Q2. I am currently residing under “Business Manager” Status of Residence. If I don’t prepare 30 million yen by October 2028, do I have to return to my home country?

The Immigration Services Agency’s FAQ states that this is “not true”. Even for extensions after October 16, 2028, they will make a comprehensive judgment if the business performance is good, taxes are paid appropriately, and there is an expectation to meet the new standards by the next extension.

Q3. Do sole proprietors also require 30 million yen in capital?

In the case of sole proprietors, it is not judged by capital, but by the total amount invested to operate the business, such as securing a business office, salaries for employed staff (one year’s worth), and equipment investment expenses.

Q4. Are people who changed their Status of Residence in Japan included in the number of new entrants?

No, they are not. The number of new entrants refers to the number of people who received a Status of Residence and were granted Permission for Landing upon entering Japan.

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9. Summary

The number of new entrants for “Business Manager” Status of Residence was 635 in the first half of 2026, a decrease of 80.9% from the same period last year. The number of foreign residents also decreased by 8.6% in the six months from the end of 2025. With the amendment on October 16, 2025, one or more full-time employees, capital of 30 million yen or more, Japanese proficiency equivalent to B2 or higher, work experience, and a business plan confirmed by an expert are now required. For those already residing in Japan, it is important to proceed with preparations in line with the new standards during the transitional measures period until October 16, 2028, and for those starting a new business, from the planning stage.

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Our office, as an Administrative Scrivener Corporation in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, assists with applications for Business Manager Status of Residence and the organization of business plans.

For procedures that can be filed online, such as applications for a Certificate of Eligibility, change of status of residence and extension of period of stay, we accept requests from clients nationwide. Meetings are held online (Google Meet, LINE) and documents are exchanged by mail or electronically, so there is no need to visit our office. Applications for Permission for Permanent Residence and for Permission of Naturalization cannot be filed online and must be submitted at the counter, so they are limited to residents of Miyazaki Prefecture. Depending on the procedure and its urgency, you may need to collect your Residence Card at the counter of the immigration office covering the area where you live. Online applications cannot be filed on the last day of your period of stay, so please consult us as early as possible.

• Consultations regarding Application for Certificate of Eligibility, change, and extension of Business Manager Status of Residence
• Preparation for extensions during the transitional measures period
• Support for creating business plans for Business Manager Status of Residence, etc.
• Management of Period of Stay expiration dates for foreign national employees

Please feel free to use our free consultation service first.

📩 Contact Us Here

📞 To book a consultation by phone: 0985-68-0851

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This article is based on publicly available information as of October 2026. Details of the system and implementation dates may change in the future. For actual applications, please refer to the official information from the Immigration Services Agency or contact our office.

Author of this article: Administrative Scrivener Authorized to File Applications, Satoshi Nakayama

Representative, Administrative Scrivener Corporation Miyazaki International Legal Office

Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture

Sources (Primary Information)

• Immigration Services Agency “Regarding the Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan and Japanese Nationals Departing Japan in the First Half of Reiwa 8 (2026)” (October 16, 2026, Table 4) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00069.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Regarding the Number of Foreign Residents as of the End of June Reiwa 8 (2026)” (October 16, 2026, Table 3, Table 6) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/publications/press/13_00070.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Regarding the Amendment of the Ministerial Ordinance on Landing Criteria for the Status of Residence ‘Business Manager'” (Frequently Asked Questions, updated June 26, 2026) https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/resources/10_00237.html
• Immigration Services Agency “Status of Residence ‘Business Manager'” https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/businessmanager.html
• e-Gov Law Search “Ministerial Ordinance Specifying the Criteria under Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/402M50000010016