Business Manager Visa Application
A residence status for foreign nationals to engage in management as a representative or officer of a Japanese corporation. The amendment effective October 16, 2025 significantly tightened requirements: ¥30M capital, 1 full-time staff (mandatory), Japanese B2 level, 3+ years of management experience or master's degree, expert review of the business plan. We handle both Japan expansion for foreign companies and transitional measures for existing visa holders.
What is the Business Manager visa?
The Business Manager residence status is a residence status established for foreign nationals to engage in business management or administrative work in Japan. Management work as representative director, director, or auditor; or administrative work as department manager, factory manager, or branch manager—are eligible. Substantive engagement in management/administrative work is required; nominal officers are not recognized.
Typical consultation cases:
- Foreign executives dispatched as representatives of Japanese subsidiaries of overseas companies
- Foreign nationals starting new businesses in Japan (serial entrepreneurs, etc.)
- Cases where foreigners assume positions as representatives or officers in existing Japanese corporations
- Foreigners acquiring Japanese corporations through M&A or business succession
Revision effective October 16, 2025 and comparison with old standards
On October 16, 2025 (Reiwa 7), the Landing Standards Ministerial Ordinance was amended, significantly tightening the approval criteria for the Business Manager visa. The framework has shifted from the old standards where approval could be obtained on formal requirements alone, to a multi-faceted review of the substance of the business, continuity, and the manager's capability.
| Item | Old standard (~2025/10/15) | New standard (2025/10/16~) |
|---|---|---|
| Capital / total investment | ¥5M or more | ¥30M or more |
| Full-time staff | 2+ (OR option) | 1+ (MUST) |
| Conditional relationship | Capital OR full-time staff | Capital AND full-time staff (both required) |
| Eligible full-time staff | No restrictions | Only Japanese, special permanent residents, status-based visa holders |
| Japanese language ability | Not required | B2 level or higher (JLPT N2 etc.) - newly added |
| Career / education | Not required | Master's degree or higher, or 3+ years of management experience - newly added |
| Business plan | Self-creation OK | Confirmation by SME consultant etc. required |
| Office | Home office allowed under certain conditions | Home office generally NOT allowed |
Source: Immigration Services Agency "On the Amendment of the Landing Standards Ministerial Ordinance for Residence Status 'Business Manager'".
Main requirements of the new standards
All 7 of the following must be met. Lacking even one results in denial, so advance preparation is critical.
① Securing an office
A business location exists (or is expected to be secured) in Japan. Home offices are generally not allowed. Verified through lease contracts, real estate registry certificates, etc.
② Capital / total investment of ¥30M or more
For corporations, the amount of paid-in capital; for sole proprietors, the total amount of property invested in the business. Not just deposits, but actual investment is verified through equipment investment contracts, employment contracts, etc.
③ 1 or more full-time staff
Other than the manager themselves, 1 or more full-time staff residing in Japan. However, eligible staff are limited to Japanese, special permanent residents, and status-based visa holders (permanent residents, spouse of Japanese national, spouse of permanent resident, long-term resident). Foreigners on work visas do not count.
④ Japanese language ability B2 equivalent
Either the manager or full-time staff must have "Japanese-Language Education Reference Framework" B2 level or higher (JLPT N2+, BJT 400+, etc.). Japanese, special permanent residents, graduates of Japanese universities, those who completed compulsory education + high school, and mid- to long-term residents of 20+ years are exempt from exam-based proof.
⑤ Applicant's education or experience
① Master's, doctoral, or professional degree in fields related to business management or technical/knowledge needed for the applicant business; OR ② 3+ years of experience in business management. Periods of "Designated Activities (Business Preparation)" residence are also counted as experience.
⑥ Expert confirmation of business plan
A document confirming the contents of the business plan by an SME consultant, certified public accountant, or tax accountant is required. We can introduce an expert if you need one.
⑦ Compensation equivalent to or higher than Japanese
The manager's compensation must be equal to or higher than that of Japanese engaged in similar businesses. Verified through articles of incorporation defining executive compensation, shareholders' meeting minutes, etc.
For companies already holding visas: utilizing the 3-year transitional measures
Foreign nationals who acquired the Business Manager visa before October 15, 2025 are subject to a 3-year transitional measure until October 15, 2028. During renewal applications in this period, even if some new standards are not met, approval may be granted based on a comprehensive judgment of "business situation and prospects of meeting new standards."
Systems to put in place during the transitional period (in priority order)
- Capital increase: If under ¥30M, plan capital increases through retained earnings transfer, additional investment, etc.
- Recruitment of full-time staff: Full-time hiring of Japanese, special permanent residents, or status-based visa holders
- Securing Japanese B2: Manager or full-time staff obtains JLPT N2, or hire someone with N2
- Re-organization of business plan: Obtain confirmation by SME consultant, CPA, or tax accountant
- Office independence: For home offices, move to an independent business location
The transitional period is until October 15, 2028. Full compliance with new standards is mandatory from October 16, 2028. Working backward, completing system development by 2027 is the practical schedule. We provide a package of renewal support during the transitional period and roadmap formulation for new standard transition.
Applying from outside Japan
There are two ways to obtain the Business Manager status from outside Japan. Which one applies to you turns on whether you have someone in Japan able to help.
| With a helper in Japan | Without a helper | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Company formation, the office lease and the capital payment are all completed in Japan before you arrive | You enter first on a four-month period of stay, then form the company, sign the lease and open the account after arrival |
| Period on arrival | One year — the ordinary Business Manager status from the outset | Four months, renewed afterwards |
| What the helper does | Acts as founder, shareholder or representative director, opening the account and receiving the capital payment | Not required |
| Advantage | The company, the office and the structure are all in place the day you arrive | No money is spent on formation or rent before the status is granted |
| Point to watch | Your shares are held in another person's name, so how and when they come back to you must be designed from the start. Leaving the whole operation to someone else can be read as the business having no substance | Hiring a full-time employee has to be completed within four months. The renewal is the demanding part |
The helper route rests on the Ministry of Justice notification of 17 March 2017 (Minsho No. 41), under which payment into a third party's account is permitted where every founder and director at incorporation is resident outside Japan. Opening a corporate bank account still requires strict identity verification of the representative, so in practice a person resident in Japan holds the shares first and transfers them once the account is open. The terms and timing of that transfer need to be settled at the outset.
What the four-month period of stay is for
The October 2025 amendment requires capital of ¥30 million and one full-time employee. But before the company exists, you cannot register it, pay in the capital, or employ anyone. The four-month period of stay exists to break that deadlock. The examination manual describes it as the period for creating a resident record and completing the formation.
What cannot be done before the company exists
- 1Paying in ¥30 million requires a Japanese bank account
- 2Opening a Japanese bank account requires a residence card
- 3A residence card is issued only to a mid- to long-term resident
- 4Registration requires a seal certificate, which requires a resident record
What you do not need in place when applying for the four-month period
| Certificate of registered matters | The articles of incorporation, or other material showing that the company intends to start the business, will do |
| Office lease | Before the lease is signed, material outlining the property — location, size and budget — will do |
| Capital paid in | The amount to be contributed on formation is confirmed from the articles of incorporation |
| Full-time employee hired | We put this to several regional immigration bureaus and were told that material showing the intended employment will do |
The answer on the full-time employee was given by telephone and does not guarantee the outcome of any examination. The manual also instructs examiners not to refuse an application merely because no certificate of registered matters has been submitted.
Preparation
Draft the articles of incorporation, work up the business plan, obtain the expert confirmation, evidence the funds, shortlist premises.
File for the certificate from abroad
Filed while the company is not yet formed and no lease is signed. The draft articles, proof of funds, property material and hiring plan go in together.
Certificate → visa → arrival
You enter Japan with a four-month Business Manager status.
What has to happen in those four months
Resident registration → residence card → bank account → transfer of the ¥30 million → notarisation of the articles → registration → office lease → hiring a full-time employee.
Renewal, or a change to Highly Skilled Professional
With the company formed and operating, the period is renewed to one year. Those who qualify may instead change to Highly Skilled Professional Type 1 (c).
On the Immigration Services Agency figures for July 2026 approvals, a certificate application took 241.9 days on the nationwide average. Allow around a year from first consultation to holding a one-year period of stay.
The renewal after four months
Entering on the four-month period is a route the system provides for. What is difficult is what follows. Four months is a staging post on the way to a one-year period, and at renewal the ordinary standards apply in full.
What the renewal asks for
A certificate of registered matters, and documents showing that public dues have been paid. Where these are not submitted, the manual provides that the application is to be examined carefully, including against the business plan filed with the original application.
Can it be done in four months
Payment, registration and the office lease all follow once the bank account is open. What takes the longest is hiring. Advertising, onboarding and the first wage payment all have to fall within the four months.
Who counts as a full-time employee
Japanese nationals and special permanent residents qualify, and so do permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals, spouses of permanent residents and long-term residents. Holders of work-based statuses do not count. The Japanese language requirement (N2 or equivalent) can be met by either the manager or the employee, so the right hire can settle both at once.
Renewals that were refused
Several offices report cases where the applicant relaxed once the four-month status came through and could not assemble what the renewal required. Being granted four months does not mean the year is assured.
We settle which route you are taking at the first consultation. With a helper in Japan, entering on a one-year status is the surer path; without one, we enter on four months and draw up the four-month schedule before anything else. Which suits you turns on whether you have that helper, and on how much you can commit before the status is granted.
Approximate processing times (Immigration Services Agency published values)
July 2026 approvals, nationwide average (days to disposal)
| Procedure type | Average review period |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Eligibility (COE) | 241.9 days |
| Period extension | 43.9 days |
| Status change | 194.5 days |
New applications for the Business Manager visa (COE) is the type with the longest review period among all residence statuses. This is because multi-faceted reviews are conducted on the validity of the business plan, the source of funds, the substantive nature of the applicant's career, and more.
Fees
Because the difficulty and required documents vary greatly per case for the Business Manager visa, we provide custom quotes. Below are typical fee ranges.
| Procedure type | Price | Content |
|---|---|---|
| New Business Manager visa (COE certification) | From ¥330,000 (custom quote) | Includes support in obtaining the expert confirmation. Business plan support is charged separately at ¥88,000, and corporate registration is instructed separately to a judicial scrivener |
| Business Manager visa change (from other visas) | From ¥330,000 (custom quote) | When business already exists in Japan. Engineer/Specialist → Business Manager, Designated Activities → Business Manager, etc. |
| Business Manager visa renewal | From ¥88,000 | Quote varies between transitional period (~2028/10/15) and after transition |
| Retainer agreement (separate plan) | From ¥22,000/month | Package including legal amendment response, annual reporting, retainer for foreign hiring overall |
- ・Tax included. Out-of-pocket costs (fees, postage, translation, etc.) charged separately
- ・If the case is denied, we handle one re-application without charging our fee, limited to one per applicant and residence status (a second re-application is quoted separately)
- ・Corporate registration is the work of a judicial scrivener and is instructed separately (we can introduce one)
- ・For the expert confirmation of the business plan, we introduce an SME consultant, certified public accountant or tax accountant
- * No government fee is payable on a Certificate of Eligibility application
- * For change-of-status and extension applications, a government fee is payable to Immigration separately (see the amounts)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I already have a Business Manager visa—can I still renew after the amendment?+
A. For 3 years until October 15, 2028 as a transitional measure, even with parts not meeting the new standards, renewal can be decided based on a comprehensive judgment of "business situation and prospects of meeting new standards." However, full compliance with new standards is mandatory from October 16, 2028, so systematic preparation during the transitional period is necessary.
Q. Is exactly ¥30M of capital OK?+
A. Exactly ¥30M meets the standard, but whether ¥30M is sufficient relative to the scale of the business plan is reviewed separately. If judged insufficient against business content/initial investment plan, denial is possible even when meeting formal standards. Consistency between business plan rationality and capital size is important.
Q. Does the 1 full-time staff need to be Japanese?+
A. OK if special permanent resident, or status-based visa holder ("Permanent Resident," "Spouse of Japanese National," "Spouse of Permanent Resident," "Long-term Resident"). Foreigners on work visas (Engineer/Specialist, Specified Skilled Worker, etc.) cannot count as full-time staff. If the status-based visa holder has Japanese ability of N2 equivalent or higher, the Japanese language requirement is also satisfied simultaneously.
Q. What if the applicant (manager) has insufficient Japanese ability?+
A. Either the manager or full-time staff meeting B2 satisfies the requirement. Therefore, even if the manager lacks Japanese, hiring 1 full-time staff with N2+ (Japanese, permanent resident, etc.) simultaneously meets two requirements (full-time staff + Japanese). We also advise on this system construction.
Q. When entering Japan from overseas, can I apply for the visa before establishing the company?+
A. Yes. With the 4-month visa pre-acquisition scheme, COE application is possible at the stage when corporation is not established and office not contracted. We verify "intent to start business" through draft articles of incorporation, fund proof, business plan, property candidate information, etc. The flow of company establishment, office contract, and staff hiring after COE issuance and arrival is the most practical for overseas corporation expansion cases.
Q. Is expert confirmation of business plan needed for renewal during the transitional period too?+
A. For renewals during the transitional period, even if any item of the new standards is unmet, comprehensive judgment based on "business situation and prospects of meeting standards" is made. However, attaching an expert confirmation of the business plan as documentation showing the plan to transition to new standards may increase the likelihood of renewal approval. Case-by-case judgment is needed.
Q. Are there licenses/permits needed in parallel with the Business Manager visa, like real estate license?+
A. It depends on the business content. Real estate (sales/brokerage) requires a Real Estate Transaction Business license and assignment of a dedicated Real Estate Transaction Specialist. Restaurant business requires food sanitation supervisor and operating permit. Construction requires a construction business license, etc. Since the Business Manager visa review also confirms the prospects of acquiring necessary licenses, the visa application must proceed in parallel with the license acquisition schedule.
Q. When dispatched as the Japanese subsidiary representative of a foreign-affiliated headquarters, which is more appropriate—Intra-Company Transfer or Business Manager?+
A. When engaging in management/administrative work as representative director/director, Business Manager. When having 1+ year of work experience at the overseas headquarters and transferring to a Japanese branch as department manager/manager, Intra-Company Transfer. The former has stricter business scale requirements (capital, etc.), the latter does not require education and is relatively easier to obtain. Judgment is based on the dispatchee's responsibilities, business scale, and the form of the Japanese corporation (subsidiary or branch).
Please feel free to consult about the Business Manager visa
For Japan expansion, executive visa acquisition, or transitional measures—we propose plans optimal for your situation in the 60-minute free consultation.
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