Business Manager Visa Application Service
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?
Overview
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
2025 Revision
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'", Immigration and Residence Examination Procedure (February 2026 disclosed version).
Main requirements of the new standards
Requirements
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 affiliated experts.
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
Transition
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.
Japan entry of foreign corporations: 4-month visa pre-acquisition scheme
Entry Strategy
When acquiring a Business Manager visa from a starting point of no Japanese base, the practical standard is to pre-acquire a 4-month visa, and proceed with company establishment, office contracts, and staff hiring after arrival in Japan. If company establishment is done first, there is a risk that establishment costs and rent will be wasted if the visa is not granted.
Advance preparation (1-2 months)
Draft articles of incorporation, concretize business plan, obtain confirmation by SME consultant, organize fund proof, select property candidates.
4-month visa COE application (from overseas)
Application possible at the stage when corporation is not established and office not contracted. Submit as a package: draft articles of incorporation (¥30M capital noted), proof of fund existence, property candidate information, hiring plan.
COE issuance → Visa from home country → Arrival in Japan (4-month visa)
Arrive in Japan with "Business Manager" residence status of 4 months. Begin practical work: corporation establishment, office lease contract, full-time staff hiring, social insurance enrollment, etc.
Setup work during the 4-month visa period
Resident registration → bank account opening → ¥30M capital remittance → articles certification → corporation establishment registration → office contract → full-time staff hiring.
4-month → 1-year visa renewal
Renew to a 1-year visa with the company actually established and operating. Subsequently extend in stages to 3 years and 5 years.
Approximate total period: about 10-12 months from inquiry to 1-year visa acquisition. Phase 2 COE review has been trending longer in recent years (national average of 169.0 days for January 2026 approvals).
Approximate processing times (Immigration Bureau published values)
Processing
January 2026 approvals, nationwide average
| Procedure type | Average review period |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Eligibility (COE) | 169.0 days |
| Period extension | 58.4 days |
| Status change | 92.3 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
Pricing
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) | Business plan support +¥38,500, corporate registration (judicial scrivener cooperation) separate, includes expert confirmation acquisition support |
| Business Manager visa change (from other visas) | From ¥198,000 (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 ¥33,000/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
- ・Re-application after denial: +¥55,000 (higher than other visas due to need for business plan/document reconstruction)
- ・Corporate establishment registration is separately quoted by partner judicial scrivener
- ・For business plan expert confirmation, we introduce our affiliated SME consultants etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
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.