Japan Business Manager Visa: What Existing Holders Should Prepare by 2028
日本語で読む
Japan Business Manager Visa: What Existing Holders Should Prepare by 2028
The transition does not mean that existing holders can wait until 2028, but a current capital level below JPY 30 million does not automatically require immediate departure. The priority is to assess the business now and build an evidence-based path toward the revised criteria.
953 Business Manager status holders departed without re-entry permission in the first half of 2026
A monthly aggregation of Japan’s official immigration statistics on e-Stat shows 953 departures by Business Manager status holders excluding those recorded as having re-entry permission from January through June 2026. The comparable figure was 246 in the first half of 2025, making the 2026 figure approximately 3.9 times higher.
| Period | Departures | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| January–June 2025 | 246 | Previous-year period |
| January–June 2026 | 953 | About 3.9 times higher |
The statistics do not establish the reason for each departure
The figures show an increase in departures. They do not prove that all 953 people left because of the revised rules, lacked JPY 30 million, were refused renewal or were removed from Japan.
The revised Business Manager criteria took effect on October 16, 2025
The reform covers qualifying full-time employment, capital, Japanese-language capability, education or management experience, business-plan review, premises and the substance of management activity. For the broader new-applicant framework, see our guide to the revised Business Manager visa criteria.
How are existing holders treated until October 16, 2028?
For people already residing in Japan under Business Manager status before the reform, failure to meet the new criteria by itself does not automatically result in refusal of an extension application filed during the three-year period through October 16, 2028.
This is not an unconditional continuation of the old rules. Business performance, prospects of satisfying the revised criteria, legal compliance, taxes, social and labor insurance, required licenses and other individual circumstances are assessed. The Immigration Services Agency may also request an evaluation document from a business-management professional.
What existing holders should check now
| Area | Revised criterion or review point | Current action |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | For corporations, paid-in capital or total contributions of at least JPY 30 million | Confirm current capital, funding source and a realistic capitalization plan |
| Full-time employee | At least one qualifying employee | Confirm nationality/status, actual working pattern and salary |
| Japanese | Applicant or a full-time employee at B2 level | Identify the person and evidence method |
| Education or experience | Three years of management experience, or a relevant master’s, doctoral or professional degree | Collect degree and experience records |
| Business plan | Professional confirmation for a new business | Support forecasts with evidence |
| Premises and substance | Continuing premises and genuine management activity | Review lease, facilities, decisions and outsourcing |
| Compliance | Taxes, insurance, labor law and permits | Identify arrears, non-enrollment, expiry or missing filings |
JPY 30 million does not mean revenue, cash balance or operating expenses
For a corporation, the relevant amount is paid-in capital for a stock company or total contributions for a partnership-type company. Annual revenue, a temporary bank balance, salaries and office expenses cannot simply be combined to reach JPY 30 million. Capital reserves and retained earnings are not counted as capital for this purpose. For a sole proprietor, the authorities examine the total amount actually invested in the business, such as premises, one year of employee wages and equipment. Capitalization alone does not guarantee approval.
The employee requirement and B2 Japanese requirement are different
One qualifying full-time employee
The employee must be a Japanese national, special permanent resident, or a foreign national with a Table II status such as Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, or Long-Term Resident. A Table I work-status employee alone does not satisfy this employment criterion.
B2-level Japanese
The applicant or a full-time employee may satisfy this criterion. Evidence can include JLPT N2 or above, BJT 400 or above, and specified residence or educational histories. A Table I employee may be relevant for the language criterion even though that employee cannot satisfy the mandatory employment criterion.
Premises and genuine management activity
The premises must be continuously available, suitable for the scale and activity, and supported by the lease and actual facilities. At the revised business scale, combined residential and business use is generally difficult. A virtual or shared office should not be labelled automatically acceptable or unacceptable by name alone; dedicated space, contract terms, facilities, continuity and actual use require individual review.
A nominal representative is not enough. Extensive outsourcing can create a problem where the applicant does not actually make important decisions or conduct management activity.
Taxes, insurance, labor law and business permits matter
Renewal review can include corporate and other taxes, health insurance and pension, employment insurance, workers’ compensation, the Labor Standards Act, minimum-wage compliance and licenses required for the business. Problems can be treated as negative factors and may lead to refusal. See our pages on Japan’s 2026 minimum wage and foreign workers and business permits for foreign entrepreneurs.
What happens after October 16, 2028?
The general rule is compliance with the revised criteria. The official Q&A nevertheless explains that where the business is sound, corporate taxes are properly paid and the applicant is expected to meet the criteria by the next renewal, the authorities may consider all residence circumstances comprehensively. October 16, 2028 is therefore not an automatic departure deadline. It also does not excuse an unsupported or indefinite plan.
Permanent residence requires separate attention
The renewal transition and permanent-residence review are not the same. The Immigration Services Agency states that, after the reform took effect, permanent residence through Business Manager is not granted where the revised Business Manager criteria are not met. A possible renewal does not necessarily mean that permanent residence is unaffected. See our permanent residence service.
Startup Visa users should check the certificate issue date
Where the confirmation certificate was issued on or before October 15, 2025 and the person resides under Designated Activities No. 44, the pre-reform criteria apply to the change to Business Manager. Certificates issued on or after October 16, 2025 are subject to the revised framework. The important date is the issue date of the confirmation certificate. See our Kanagawa Startup Visa guide.
A practical 2026–2028 roadmap
2026: assess
- Capital, employees and Japanese capability
- Revenue, profit, contracts and bank records
- Taxes, insurance, labor compliance and permits
- Next renewal and permanent-residence timing
2027: implement
- Realistic capitalization and funding plan
- Recruitment of a qualifying employee
- Japanese-language arrangements
- Profitability and compliance improvements
2028: document
- Evidence for each revised criterion
- Remaining gaps and next-renewal prospects
- Professional evaluation if requested
- Renewal, PR or another status strategy
No single plan fits every company
Priorities depend on accounts, industry, employees, education, work history, family circumstances and the next renewal date.
If the revised criteria may not be achievable
Depending on the person, alternatives may include another status of residence, a family-based status, employment-based status, sale or closure of the business, or departure from Japan. Eligibility cannot be generalized without reviewing education, work history, family relationships, actual activities and any employer. See our company formation support and immigration fee update.
Frequently asked questions
1 Must I leave Japan if I cannot prepare JPY 30 million by October 16, 2028?
No automatic rule says so. The transition and the comprehensive assessment after it must be applied to the individual case, but a credible improvement plan is important.
2 Can I renew now with capital below JPY 30 million?
It may be possible, but it is not guaranteed. Business condition, compliance and prospects of meeting the revised criteria are reviewed.
3 Do the old rules continue unchanged until 2028?
No. The transition does not suspend review of business substance, compliance or future readiness.
4 Can a JPY 30 million bank balance satisfy the rule?
Not by itself. For a corporation, paid-in capital or total contributions are relevant.
5 Is JPY 30 million in annual revenue enough?
No. Revenue and capital are different concepts.
6 Can the full-time employee be a foreign national?
Yes, if the person has a qualifying Table II status, such as Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident.
7 Can an Engineer/Specialist in Humanities employee count?
Not for the mandatory employment criterion. That employee may nevertheless be relevant to the Japanese-language criterion.
8 Must the applicant personally obtain B2 Japanese?
No. A full-time employee may satisfy the criterion. JLPT N2 is not the only evidence route.
9 Is a home office a problem?
Combined residential and business use is generally difficult under the revised scale. The contract, space, equipment and actual use require review.
10 Can a loss-making company renew?
A loss does not decide the case alone. The cause, recovery prospects, net assets and continuity must be explained.
11 Can non-enrollment in social insurance affect renewal?
Yes. Failure to enroll or pay where legally required can be a negative factor.
12 Can I avoid the new criteria by applying for permanent residence before 2028?
No. Permanent-residence review is separate, and compliance with the revised Business Manager criteria is relevant.
13 Do the revised criteria apply when changing from a Startup Visa?
The certificate issue date controls the transitional treatment: on or before October 15, 2025 versus on or after October 16, 2025.
14 Can I change to another status if I cannot meet the criteria?
Possibly, but only if the separate requirements are met. Education, work history, family relationships, activities and any employer must be reviewed.
Business Manager New-Criteria Assessment
We review capital, qualifying employees, Japanese ability, education and experience, premises, genuine management activity, taxes, insurance, labor compliance, permits, renewal timing, readiness for 2028, permanent residence and possible alternative statuses.
The free initial check is limited to service availability and quotation information. Detailed eligibility and document analysis is handled through a paid consultation.
Official sources
- Immigration Services Agency: revision of the Business Manager landing criteria
- Immigration Services Agency guideline on the revised criteria
- e-Stat immigration statistics
Last updated September 8, 2026. Rules and practice may change. Check the latest official materials and individual facts before filing.
