⚠ Major reform — effective October 16, 2025
Japan revised the 経営・管理 (Business Manager) visa standards on this date, raising the bar significantly:
- Registered capital: ¥5M → ¥30M (and now mandatory, not just one of several scale options)
- Mandatory hiring of at least 1 full-time employee (Japanese national / PR / Spouse of Japanese or PR)
- Japanese language requirement: applicant OR full-time employee must hold JLPT N2 (CEFR B2) or higher
- Management experience: 3+ years OR a master's / doctoral / professional degree
- Business plan must be expert-verified by a 中小企業診断士 / 税理士 / 公認会計士
Transitional rule: existing 経営・管理 holders renewing before October 16, 2028 may be assessed individually under the previous standard.
Sources: MOJ ISA official notice, Nikkei (2025-08).
The Business Manager visa (経営・管理) is the primary pathway for foreign entrepreneurs, investors, and senior executives who wish to establish or run a business in Japan. It covers both the management of new startups and the administration of existing Japanese companies, branches, or subsidiaries of foreign corporations.
Important: Holders of the Business Manager visa are authorized exclusively to manage or operate their own business. They cannot take up employment as a regular worker for any other company. This distinction is fundamental — the visa is designed for business owners and managers, not for employees. Violating this restriction carries serious immigration consequences, including possible deportation.
To qualify, the business must be a legitimate, operating legal entity registered in Japan with a real office space, a credible business plan, ¥30M minimum capital AND at least 1 full-time employee with no work restriction (per 2025-10-16 reform — both now mandatory rather than alternatives). Japan actively welcomes foreign entrepreneurs through this visa, and some municipalities offer additional startup support programs (スタートアップビザ) that allow applicants to begin the process with a temporary 6-month visa while they finalize their business setup.
Who Is This For
- ✓Entrepreneurs launching a new business in Japan
- ✓Foreign investors establishing or acquiring a Japanese company
- ✓Senior executives managing a Japanese branch or subsidiary
- ✓Business owners relocating their operations to Japan
Validity Periods
4 months1 year3 years5 years
Single Residence Period: Up to 5 years
Requirements
- •Establish a Japanese legal entity (Kabushiki Kaisha 株式会社, Godo Kaisha 合同会社, etc.)
- •Registered capital ≥ 30,000,000 JPY (¥30M) — raised from ¥5M effective 2025-10-16
- •Hire at least 1 full-time employee with a status that has no work restriction: Japanese national, Permanent Resident, Special Permanent Resident, or Spouse of Japanese / PR
- •Japanese language ability JLPT N2 (CEFR B2) or higher — held by either the applicant OR by a full-time employee
- •3+ years of management experience OR a master's / doctoral / professional degree
- •Business plan reviewed for feasibility by a 中小企業診断士 (SME consultant), 税理士 (tax accountant), or 公認会計士 (CPA)
- •Physical office space (private residence not accepted; co-working acceptable with proper usage permission)
- •Applicant must substantively manage the business (not nominee management)
- •Compensation must be commensurate with Japanese counterparts (typically ≥ ¥300,000/month)
Costs & Fees
Certificate of Eligibility applicationFree
Visa sticker issuance fee15,000-30,000 JPY (single/multiple, from 2026-07-01)
Company registration fee (Kabushiki Kaisha)approx. 200,000-250,000 JPY
Company registration fee (Godo Kaisha)approx. 60,000-100,000 JPY
Administrative scrivener fee (reference)approx. 200,000-400,000 JPY (more for new 2025 standard)
Registered capital (mandatory)30,000,000 JPY (¥30M, raised 2025-10-16 from ¥5M)
Annual employee salary (mandatory ≥1 full-time)approx. 3-5,000,000 JPY+ per person
Business plan expert reviewapprox. 100,000-300,000 JPY (中小企業診断士/税理士/公認会計士)
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Visa fees
Full breakdown of Immigration fees, scrivener rates, and all other costs for this visa type.
Required Documents
- Valid passport
- Application for Certificate of Eligibility
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Company registration certificate (登記事項証明書)
- Business plan (detailed, including market analysis, revenue projections, and operational structure)
- Lease agreement for business office space
- Proof of capital investment (bank transfer records, capital table)
- Financial statements or investment evidence showing at least 30 million yen capital (per 2025-10-16 reform)
- Articles of incorporation (定款)
- Resume / CV of the applicant demonstrating business management experience
Where to Apply
Within Japan: Regional Immigration Bureau with jurisdiction; Overseas: First apply for Certificate of Eligibility, then process visa at an overseas Japanese embassy or consulate
Application Process
- 1Establish a Japanese legal entity (KK or GK) or prepare documentation for a branch office
- 2Secure a physical office space in Japan with a valid lease agreement
- 3Invest the required capital (≥ JPY 30 million, raised 2025-10-16) AND hire at least 1 full-time employee with no work restriction (Japanese / PR / Special PR / Spouse of Japanese or PR)
- 4Prepare a comprehensive business plan
- 5Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility at the regional Immigration Services Agency
- 6Receive the COE and apply for a visa at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate
- 7Enter Japan and register your address at the local municipality within 14 days
- 8Begin business operations and maintain proper accounting records
Next step
Apply for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Once you've chosen your visa, your Japan-side sponsor (employer / school / family) files the COE with Immigration — then you exchange it for a visa at the embassy.
Residence Status (COE) Review Time
Average processing days as of Jun 2026, based on official Ministry of Justice statistics.
COE (from overseas)
Certificate of Eligibility issuance, applied from outside Japan.
212.3days
30-mo avg: 120.5 days
Change of status
Switching from another residence status while in Japan.
199.6days
30-mo avg: 83.2 days
Renewal / Extension
Extending the same residence status in Japan.
46.8days
30-mo avg: 42.8 days
Figures include waiting time for supplementary documents. Denied and withdrawn applications are excluded.
Renewal and change-of-status 'notice' figures include the wait between review completion and pickup at Immigration Bureau.
Work Restrictions
Restricted to business management activities only. May not be employed by others as an employee, nor engage in side businesses unrelated to company management. Permission for Activities Outside Status is required for any additional business activities. **The 2025 reform also requires hiring at least 1 full-time employee with no work restrictions (Japanese / PR / Spouse of Japanese or PR).**
Family & Dependents
Spouse and minor children may apply for a Dependent (Family Stay) visa. With Permission for Activities Outside Status, the spouse may work part-time up to 28 hours per week. Children may attend school normally. If the spouse needs full-time employment, a separate work visa must be obtained.
Renewal & Extension
May be renewed within 3 months before the residence period expires. Per the 2025-10-16 reform, the Immigration Bureau reviews: ① whether the company is operating normally; ② timely tax and social insurance payments; ③ business revenue and profit situation; ④ continued maintenance of ¥30M capital AND ≥1 full-time employee with no work restriction; ⑤ continued substantive management by the holder. Continuous losses for 2+ years may affect renewal, but approval is still possible with a reasonable business plan demonstrating improvement. Existing 経営・管理 holders renewing before 2028-10-16 may be assessed under the previous (¥5M) standard.
Common Visa Transition Paths
These are the most common paths — many other transitions are possible if you meet the eligibility criteria for another residence status.
Highly Skilled Professional (Type 1 & 2)
Can switch to Highly Skilled Professional visa with 70+ points
Permanent Resident
Can apply for permanent residence after 10+ years of management with good tax records
Engineer / Humanities / International Services
Can switch to Engineer/Specialist in Humanities visa if giving up management for employment
Important Notices
- ⚠2025-10-16 reform: capital raised to ¥30M, 1 full-time employee + JLPT N2 + 3y management experience all newly mandatory
- ⚠Pure virtual offices (without actual right of use) are not accepted; an actual usable business premises is required
- ⚠Nominee management will result in rejection — the applicant must substantively participate in management
- ⚠Capital cannot be immediately withdrawn after company establishment; the Immigration Bureau will trace fund flows
- ⚠Personal and corporate accounts must be kept separate; mixing them may cause renewal difficulties
- ⚠Overdue tax filings or unpaid social insurance are common reasons for renewal rejection
- ⚠The hired full-time employee must have a work-restriction-free status (Japanese / PR / Special PR / Spouse of Japanese or PR) — not a foreign worker on Engineer/Humanities visa
- ⚠Business plan must now be expert-verified (中小企業診断士/税理士/公認会計士) before submission
Practical Tips
- →Existing 経営・管理 holders renewing before 2028-10-16 may still be assessed under the OLD standard
- →Preparing capital well above ¥30M and a clear path to revenue makes the review smoother
- →The business plan is the core document — and now requires expert verification
- →It is advisable to hire a tax accountant early to avoid tax compliance issues
- →You may enter Japan using the preparation period (4-month short-term stay visa) to complete procedures
- →Working with an administrative scrivener specializing in the 2025 standard significantly increases first-time approval rate
- →If the applicant lacks JLPT N2, hiring a Japanese-speaking full-time employee with N2 satisfies the language requirement
FAQ
What changed in the 2025 reform of the Business Manager visa?▾
Effective October 16, 2025, the standards were significantly tightened: (1) registered capital raised from ¥5M to ¥30M, now mandatory rather than one of several alternatives; (2) at least 1 full-time employee must be hired (Japanese / PR / Special PR / Spouse of Japanese or PR); (3) JLPT N2 / CEFR B2 Japanese ability required for the applicant OR a full-time employee; (4) 3+ years of management experience OR a master's / doctoral / professional degree; (5) the business plan must be feasibility-reviewed by a 中小企業診断士, 税理士, or 公認会計士. Existing 経営・管理 holders renewing before October 16, 2028 may still be assessed under the old standard.
Can a Business Manager visa holder work as an employee for another company?▾
No. This is a critical restriction. The Business Manager visa authorizes you only to manage or operate your own business. You cannot work as an employee for any other company or organization, whether Japanese or foreign. Doing so would constitute a violation of your visa status and may result in revocation and deportation. If you wish to both run a business and work part-time elsewhere, you would need special permission.
What is the minimum investment required?▾
¥30 million (¥30M) registered capital is now mandatory (raised from ¥5M effective 2025-10-16), AND at least 1 full-time employee with no work restriction must be hired (Japanese / PR / Special PR / Spouse of Japanese or PR). These are no longer alternatives — both are required simultaneously. Simply depositing ¥30M in a personal account is not sufficient — the capital must be formally invested in the registered company. Existing 経営・管理 holders may still renew under the old standard until 2028-10-16.
Do I need to live in Japan to apply?▾
No. You can begin the company registration and COE application process from abroad with the help of a legal representative (行政書士 or 弁護士). However, you will ultimately need to enter Japan on the Business Manager visa to actively operate the business.
Can a virtual office address be used?▾
Generally no. Immigration authorities require a genuine, dedicated office space where business operations actually take place. Virtual offices that merely provide a mailing address are typically rejected. A small but real office with a lease in the company's name is necessary.
How long does the application process take?▾
The COE application typically takes 1–3 months. Company incorporation takes approximately 1–2 weeks. Allow at least 3–4 months from initial planning to receiving your visa.