Business Manager Visa in Japan: Company Formation, New Requirements and Practical Preparation [2026]
Immigration, Visa & Business Support in Japan
Business Manager Visa in Japan: Company Formation, New Requirements and Practical Preparation
The Business Manager visa is for foreign nationals who manage or operate a business in Japan. After the October 16, 2025 revision, applications require much more careful preparation, including JPY 30 million capital or business assets, full-time staffing, Japanese-language capability, the applicant’s background, and a professionally reviewed business plan.
What is the Business Manager visa?
The Business Manager visa is a status of residence for foreign nationals who operate a business in Japan or manage such a business. Typical examples include company representatives, directors, business managers, branch managers, and senior management personnel.
However, simply registering a company in Japan does not automatically lead to approval. Immigration will review the overall substance of the business, including the office, capital, full-time staff, licenses, the applicant’s background, the business plan, and the continuity of the business.
Six practical points to check in 2026
1. JPY 30 million capital or business assets
For a corporation, Immigration generally checks the amount of paid-in capital or total capital contributions through documents such as the company registry. It is risky to assume that capital reserves, retained earnings, office expenses, or salary costs can simply be added to satisfy the JPY 30 million threshold.
2. At least one full-time staff member
The business must employ at least one full-time staff member. For this requirement, the eligible staff member is generally limited to a Japanese national, special permanent resident, permanent resident, spouse or child of a Japanese national, spouse or child of a permanent resident, or long-term resident.
3. Japanese-language capability
Either the applicant or a full-time staff member must have Japanese-language capability equivalent to B2 level under the Framework of Reference for Japanese Language Education. Typical evidence includes JLPT N2 or higher, BJT score of 400 or higher, graduation from a Japanese higher education institution, or long-term residence in Japan.
4. Business experience or academic background
The applicant’s managerial experience or academic background is now more important. A master’s-level degree or higher in business management or in a field related to the business, or at least three years of relevant business management experience, should be carefully documented.
5. Professional review of the business plan
For a new business, the business plan must be concrete, reasonable, and feasible. In some cases, the plan must be reviewed by a professional with business expertise, such as a SME management consultant, certified public accountant, or tax accountant.
6. Office, licenses, and business substance
A home office may not be accepted in principle in many cases. Depending on the business, Immigration may review the lease agreement, office photos, licenses, contracts, quotations, invoices, and other evidence showing actual business operations.
Common misunderstandings about the JPY 30 million requirement
The figure “JPY 30 million” is often discussed on its own, but the key question is what Immigration will count as JPY 30 million.
- For a corporation, the amount is generally judged based on paid-in capital or total capital contributions.
- Capital reserves, retained earnings, or other accounting items are not automatically counted for the corporate capital requirement.
- For a corporation, salary costs, office rent, and equipment costs should not simply be added to the capital amount.
- If the applicant manages multiple companies, the capital of several companies cannot simply be combined to meet the JPY 30 million threshold.
- Even if the applicant works as a manager rather than an owner, the business scale requirement must still be considered.
For this reason, company formation, capital payment, source of funds, business model, and future sales projections should be prepared consistently from the beginning.
Documents to check before applying
A Business Manager visa application should be checked from several angles: the applicant, the company, the office, the funding, the staff, and the business plan. Preparing only a few documents without overall consistency may lead to additional document requests or refusal risk.
Applicant
- Passport and residence card
- Resume and career history
- Certificates proving business management experience
- Degree certificate or graduation certificate
- Japanese-language evidence, if applicable
Company and business
- Company registry certificate
- Articles of incorporation
- Shareholder or capital contribution documents
- Business plan
- Licenses, contracts, quotations, and invoices
Office and facilities
- Office lease agreement
- Office photos
- Layout, equipment, signage, and related materials
- Explanation showing that the office is not merely a home office
Full-time staff and Japanese capability
- Employment contract or labor conditions notice
- Salary payment records
- Residence record or related documents
- JLPT, BJT, graduation certificate, or other evidence
Typical application flow
First, confirm whether the planned activity fits the Business Manager visa. Nominal companies, weak business substance, or schemes where the applicant’s actual management role is unclear require particular caution.
Review the company type, capital amount, investors, source of funds, office lease, and whether any business license is required.
Confirm the staff member’s status of residence, employment arrangement, actual work situation, and Japanese-language evidence.
Organize sales projections, suppliers, customer base, cash flow, staffing plan, licenses, and profit forecast. Obtain professional review where required.
Depending on the case, choose the appropriate procedure: Certificate of Eligibility, Change of Status of Residence, or Extension of Period of Stay.
If there are changes to the business, office, directors, or affiliated institution, check whether notifications or future renewal explanations are needed.
For current Business Manager visa holders
Current Business Manager visa holders should also check whether their business will be able to meet the revised requirements in future renewals, permanent residence applications, or Highly Skilled Professional-related procedures. After a certain transition period, compliance with the revised standards will generally become important.
It is advisable to organize recent sales, tax payments, social insurance, office status, executive compensation, full-time staff, periods of absence from Japan, and actual business activities before the next renewal.
How Tommy’s Legal Service can assist
Tommy’s Legal Service reviews Business Manager visa cases from four practical perspectives: the applicant, the company, the supporting documents, and current immigration examination trends.
- Pre-check before company formation in Japan
- Review of JPY 30 million capital, full-time staff, and Japanese-language evidence
- Review of business plan, funding plan, and licensing issues
- Preparation for renewal or change-of-status applications for existing companies
- Strategy review after refusal
- Consultations for foreign entrepreneurs, overseas applicants, and corporate representatives
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Business Manager status of residence
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Revision of the landing permission criteria for Business Manager
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Online application guidance for Business Manager cases
This page provides general information only. The required approach may differ depending on the company, the applicant’s background, source of funds, business activity, licenses, and previous immigration history.
It is important to check the visa requirements before forming the company
If you form a company first and later find that the visa requirements are not met, it may be difficult to correct the capital, office, staffing, or business plan structure. Please consider consulting before incorporation, capital payment, or signing an office lease.
