Revisions to the "Business Manager" Visa

The Immigration Bureau plans to revise requirements for the Business Manager Visa around mid-October 2025.
TKG Immigration Consulting Office translates the details they published for the public hearing from citizens before its promulgation and enforcement.

As part of the "Comprehensive Measures for Accepting and Harmonizing with Foreign Human Resources" (revised in FY2025), it is stated that, for residence statuses that permit employment, measures will be considered to ensure a more appropriate acceptance of foreign human resources. This will be done by reviewing landing permission standards and examination methods as necessary, while taking into account the impact on Japan's industries and the lives of its citizens (Policy Number 196).  Accordingly, for the 'Business Manager' residence status, necessary measures will be taken to revise the landing permission standards, etc., based on similar systems in other countries.

(1) Ministerial Ordinance on the Criteria for Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

The requirements for applicants seeking to engage in "Business Manager" activities, as specified in the Ministerial Ordinance on the Criteria for Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Ministry of Justice Ordinance No. 16 of 1990), will be revised as follows:

① Regarding the scale of the business related to the application:
Previously, the applicant was required to meet one of the following requirements:

  A) The business employs at least two full-time employees residing in Japan other than the applicant.

  B) The capital or total amount of investment is at least 5 million yen.

  C) The business is recognized as being of a scale equivalent to A or B. 

The revision changes this to require the applicant to meet both A and B. The number of full-time employees is reduced to at least one, and the minimum capital or total investment is increased from 5 million yen to 30 million yen. Requirement C is eliminated.

② The applicant will be required to meet one of the following requirements:

  A) Hold a doctoral, master's, or professional degree in a field related to business management or in the technical or knowledge-based field necessary for the business.

  B) Have at least three years of experience in business management or administration. This includes periods of stay in Japan with a "Designated Activities" visa (limited to those who were designated to perform preparatory activities, such as securing an office, to start a trade or other business in Japan, as defined by the activities listed in the lower section of Table 1-5 of the Act).

(2) Appended Table 3 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

The required documents for applying for a Certificate of Eligibility, a change of status, or an acquisition of the "Business Manager" residence status will be revised as follows:

① The business plan: A business plan that has been evaluated by a person with specialized knowledge in management must be submitted.

② Documents proving the scale of the business:
Previously, one of the following documents was required:

  A) Documents clarifying the total number of full-time employees excluding the foreign national, and if the number is two or more, documents related to the wage payment for those two employees, as well as copies of their resident registration, residence card, or special permanent resident certificate.

  B) Documents clarifying the amount of capital or total investment.

  C) Other documents clarifying the scale of the business.

The revision changes this to require both A and B. In A, the phrase "and if the number is two or more, for those two employees" is changed to "and for those employees." Requirement C is eliminated.

③ For those engaged in business administration: Previously, documents proving work history and a certificate proving a period of study in business or management at a graduate school were required. The revision now requires the submission of either a document proving a degree or a document proving work history or other qualifications for either engaging in business management or administration.

④ Other necessary revisions will be made.

(3) Appended Table 3-7 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

The required documents for applying for an extension of the "Business Manager" residence status will be revised as follows: 

Regarding documents proving the scale of the business:

Previously, one of the following documents was required:

  A) Documents clarifying the total number of full-time employees excluding the foreign national, and if the number is two or more, documents related to the wage payment for those two employees, as well as copies of their resident registration, residence card, or special permanent resident certificate.

  B) Documents clarifying the amount of capital or total investment.

  C) Other documents clarifying the scale of the business.

 The revision changes this to require both A and B. In A, the phrase "and if the number is two or more, for those two employees" is changed to "and for those employees." Requirement C is eliminated.

Date of Promulgation: Around early October 2025

Date of Enforcement: Around mid-October 2025

Asahi Shimbun reported on Sep. 11th that the Immigration Bureau plans to require either the applicant or one full-time employee to have a "considerable level of Japanese language proficiency." This will be an additional requirement to those already published for the public hearing by the government.

The new requirement would be a B2 (upper-intermediate) level, which is the third highest of the six international standards. The requirement can be met by hiring a Japanese full-time employee.