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Business Manager Visa in Japan 2026
JPY 30 Million, Office, Staff and Business Plan Checklist
The Business Manager status of residence is 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.
After the revised criteria came into force on October 16, 2025, applications require more substantial preparation, including JPY 30 million capital or business scale, at least one full-time staff member, Japanese-language capability, the applicant’s business background, and professional review of the business plan.
Quick answer: what should be checked first?
The Business Manager status is not approved simply because a company has been incorporated in Japan. Under the revised criteria, the business must be reviewed as a whole, including capital or business scale, full-time staff, Japanese-language capability, the applicant’s background, the business plan, office, licenses and actual business substance.
- Capital or business scale: for a corporation, whether paid-in capital or total capital contributions are at least JPY 30 million.
- Full-time staff: whether the business can employ at least one full-time staff member who can be counted for the requirement.
- Japanese-language capability: whether the applicant or an eligible staff member can show Japanese-language capability equivalent to B2 level or above.
- Business background: whether the applicant can show a relevant degree or at least three years of business management experience.
- Business plan: whether the plan is concrete, reasonable and feasible, and whether professional review is required.
- Office and licenses: whether the office, licenses, transactions and business substance can be explained with supporting documents.
A Business Manager application should be reviewed from several angles: the applicant, the company, the supporting documents and current immigration screening trends. For a new business, the order of preparation is especially important.
Company formation, capital payment, office lease, hiring, licensing and the business plan should be checked from an immigration perspective before the structure is fixed. If the company is formed first and the immigration requirements are checked later, it may be difficult to correct the structure.
What is the Business Manager status of residence?
The Business Manager status of residence covers activities to operate a trade or other business in Japan, or to engage in the management of such business. Typical examples include business owners, company executives and managers.
However, the intention to start a business is not enough. The applicant must be able to explain the office, funding, staffing structure, business plan, licenses, expected transactions and actual management role through supporting documents.
Main points after the October 16, 2025 revision
For a corporation, Immigration generally checks whether the paid-in capital or total amount of capital contributions is at least JPY 30 million.
The business must employ at least one full-time staff member. The status or nationality of the staff member used for this requirement must be checked carefully.
Either the applicant or a relevant staff member must have Japanese-language capability equivalent to B2 level under the Framework of Reference for Japanese Language Education.
The applicant’s background is important. A doctoral, master’s or professional degree in business management or in a field related to the business, or at least three years of business management experience, may be relevant.
For status determination, the business plan may need to be reviewed by a qualified professional to confirm its concreteness, reasonableness and feasibility.
The independence of the office, licenses, contracts, quotations, invoices, expected transactions, equipment and other materials are important to show the substance of the business.
Common misunderstandings about the JPY 30 million requirement
The amount “JPY 30 million” is often discussed by itself, but the practical issue is what can be counted toward that amount.
| Item | Practical point |
|---|---|
| Corporation | For a corporation, the requirement is generally checked through paid-in capital or total capital contributions. |
| Sole proprietor | For a sole proprietor, Immigration may review the total amount actually invested in the business, such as office setup, one-year staff salary and equipment investment. |
| Capital reserves and retained earnings | These items are not automatically counted toward the corporate JPY 30 million capital requirement. |
| Salaries, office rent and equipment costs | For a corporation, these costs should not simply be added to the capital amount to satisfy the JPY 30 million requirement. |
| Managing multiple companies | The capital of several companies cannot simply be combined to meet the JPY 30 million requirement. At least one relevant company must satisfy the scale requirement. |
| Acting as a manager | Even where the applicant acts as a manager rather than an owner, the scale of the relevant business still matters. |
Full-time staff and Japanese-language capability
Under the revised criteria, the employment of at least one full-time staff member and Japanese-language capability are important points. For full-time staff, Immigration may review not only the employment contract but also working days, weekly working hours, wage payments, employment insurance and actual work.
A key practical point is that the person counted as a full-time staff member for the business-scale requirement and the person used to prove Japanese-language capability may not always be reviewed in the same way. It is important to identify which person is being used for which requirement before filing.
| Item | Practical caution |
|---|---|
| Eligible full-time staff | For the business-scale requirement, Japanese nationals, special permanent residents, and foreign nationals with status under Appended Table II are generally central. |
| Foreign nationals under Appended Table I | They are generally not counted as full-time staff for the business-scale requirement, but may be relevant for the Japanese-language capability requirement. |
| Full-time nature | Weekly working hours, working days, employment insurance, salary level and actual work situation should be checked. |
| Japanese-language evidence | Examples include JLPT N2 or higher, BJT score of 400 or higher, graduation from a Japanese higher education institution, or long-term residence in Japan. |
You can also use BJT 400 and JLPT N2-level practice to check Japanese ability
For the Business Manager status, Japanese-language capability may be checked by examples such as JLPT N2 or higher and BJT 400 or higher. Tommy’s Legal Service provides original practice materials for self-check, including a BJT 400-level mini test, a free JLPT N2 mini mock test, and the paid JLPT N2 Practical Half Mock Exam – Web Version.
These materials are not official JLPT or BJT products. They are original practice materials created by Tommy’s Legal Service for study support and self-check. They do not guarantee passing any test, approval of any residence status application, employment, or job change.
Business plan and professional review
For a new business, the business plan is extremely important. It should not merely state projected sales. It should explain the business model, customers, suppliers, sales channels, pricing, cash flow, staffing plan, licenses and profit forecast in a concrete and reasonable way.
Under the revised system, the business plan submitted for status determination may need to be reviewed by a professional with business management expertise to confirm whether the plan is concrete, reasonable and feasible. As of the enforcement date, the listed professionals are Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultants, Certified Public Accountants and Certified Tax Accountants in Japan.
- What products or services will be offered?
- Who are the target customers?
- How will the business acquire customers?
- Are suppliers, sales channels and potential customers concrete?
- Are sales, costs, expenses and profit projections reasonable?
- Does the business require any license or permit?
- What will the applicant actually do as a business manager?
Documents to check before applying
A Business Manager application should be reviewed from several angles: the applicant, company, office, funding, staff and business plan. Preparing only a few documents without overall consistency may lead to additional document requests or refusal risk.
- Passport and residence card
- Resume and career history
- Certificates proving business management experience
- Degree certificate or graduation certificate
- Japanese-language evidence, if applicable
- Company registry certificate
- Articles of incorporation
- Shareholder or capital contribution documents
- Business plan
- Licenses, contracts, quotations and invoices
- Evidence of capital payment
- Documents showing the source of funds
- Documents explaining the investor relationship
- Records explaining the flow of funds
- Office lease agreement
- Office photos
- Layout, equipment, signage and related materials
- Explanation showing that the office is not merely a home office
- Employment contract or labor conditions notice
- Salary payment records
- Residence record or related documents
- Employment insurance and social insurance documents
- Evidence of actual work
- JLPT, BJT or other test certificates
- Graduation certificate
- Documents showing residence history in Japan
- Identity and background documents of the person proving Japanese capability
Typical application flow
Confirm whether the planned business activity fits the Business Manager status. Nominal companies, weak business substance, or unclear management roles require 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, 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 status holders
Current Business Manager status holders should also check whether their business can meet the revised requirements for future renewals, permanent residence applications, or Highly Skilled Professional-related procedures. Until October 16, 2028, Immigration may consider the business situation and the likelihood of meeting the revised criteria when the revised criteria are not yet fully satisfied.
However, after three years have passed from the enforcement date, the revised criteria will generally need to be satisfied. 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.
Additional document checks from April 15, 2026
According to the Immigration Services Agency guidance, applications filed on or after April 15, 2026 may require additional documents where the organization falls under Category 3 or 4. In management-type cases, a declaration concerning the representative of the affiliated organization may become relevant.
Category 3 and 4 companies, newly established companies, companies with limited financial history, and small businesses should check the latest document checklist before preparing the application.
Frequently asked questions
If the company has JPY 30 million capital, is approval guaranteed?
No. Capital or business scale is important, but it does not guarantee approval. Immigration also reviews the office, full-time staff, Japanese-language capability, applicant background, business plan, licenses, source of funds and actual business substance.
Can I use my home as the business office?
In principle, using a home as the business office is difficult under the revised criteria because the business must secure an office suitable for the scale and nature of the business. The independence, legal right to use, facilities, signage and actual business use of the office should be checked.
Can any employee be counted as full-time staff?
For the business-scale requirement, Japanese nationals, special permanent residents, and foreign nationals with status under Appended Table II are generally central. Foreign nationals under Appended Table I may not be counted for the full-time staff requirement, although they may be relevant for Japanese-language capability in some cases.
Can an administrative scrivener conduct the professional review of the business plan?
As of the enforcement date, the professionals listed for business plan review are Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultants, Certified Public Accountants and Certified Tax Accountants in Japan. Administrative scriveners can support immigration application documents, reasons, explanations and supporting materials, but the professional business plan review itself may require cooperation with one of the listed professionals.
Do the new requirements matter if I already have Business Manager status?
Yes. The revised criteria may affect future renewal applications, permanent residence applications, and Highly Skilled Professional-related procedures. Transitional treatment may apply for a certain period, but preparation should begin early.
How Tommy’s Legal Service can assist
Tommy’s Legal Service reviews Business Manager 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 or business scale, full-time staff, and Japanese-language evidence
- Review of business plan, funding plan and licensing issues
- Organization of issues where professional business plan review is required
- Preparation for renewal or change-of-status applications for existing companies
- Strategy review after refusal
- Consultations for foreign entrepreneurs, overseas applicants and corporate representatives
Related Pages
Official References
- 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.
Check the immigration requirements before forming the company
If you form a company first and later find that the Business Manager 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.
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