Capital Requirement for the Business Manager Visa [October 2025 Amendment — Licensed Immigration Specialist]
The capital requirement for the Business Manager Visa (status of residence "Business Manager") was raised from 5 million to 30 million yen on October 16, 2025. A licensed immigration specialist explains the full scope of the amendment — including the full-time employee requirement, Japanese language requirement, background and experience requirement, and transitional measures.
On October 16, 2025, the eligibility standards for the Business Manager Visa were significantly tightened. The biggest change was a sixfold increase in the capital requirement — from 5 million yen to 30 million yen. New requirements were also added: employment of a full-time employee, Japanese language proficiency, and the business operator's educational background or experience. Anyone considering applying needs to accurately understand the latest standards.
Background to the October 2025 Amendment
The Business Manager Visa is the status of residence for foreign nationals who operate a business in Japan. As of 2024, approximately 41,000 people held this status — an increase of roughly 50% compared to five years earlier. At the same time, fraudulent cases involving the establishment of shell companies with no real operations to obtain visa status were increasing, and the Diet repeatedly raised concerns that the visa had become a loophole for settling in Japan.
Against this background, the Immigration Services Agency revised the ministerial ordinance on October 16, 2025, significantly tightening the eligibility standards.
Comparison of Requirements Before and After the Amendment
| Requirement | Before Amendment (up to October 15, 2025) | After Amendment (from October 16, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Business scale | Capital of 5 million yen or 2 or more full-time employees (either) | Capital of 30 million yen and 1 or more full-time employees (both required) |
| Operator's background / education | No requirement | 3+ years of management experience or master's-level or higher degree (new) |
| Japanese language proficiency | No requirement | Applicant or full-time employee must have JLPT N2 equivalent or higher (new) |
| Business plan | Optional | Expert confirmation by a certified SME consultant, CPA, or tax accountant is now mandatory |
| Home used as business premises | Permitted in some cases | Not permitted in principle |
Requirement ①: Capital of 30 Million Yen
What Counts as "Capital"
For incorporated entities (kabushiki kaisha / joint-stock corporations), the paid-in capital must be 30 million yen or more. For limited liability companies (godo kaisha), general partnerships (gomei kaisha), and limited partnerships (goshi kaisha), the total investment amount must be 30 million yen or more.
For sole proprietors, the total amount invested in the business — including securing a business premises, one year of full-time employee wages, and equipment investment — must be 30 million yen or more.
Sourcing the Capital
Capital must fundamentally come from the applicant's own funds. If another person's funds or borrowed money is recorded as capital, the circumstances of how those funds were obtained and the repayment burden must be explained. The Immigration Services Agency will verify whether the applicant is actually bearing the business risk.
Requirement ②: Employing At Least One Full-Time Employee
Who Counts as a "Full-Time Employee"
Only the following individuals are recognized as full-time employees:
- Japanese nationals
- Special Permanent Residents
- Foreign nationals holding Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, or Long-Term Resident (Teijusha) status
Definition of "Full-Time Employee"
A full-time employee is a person who satisfies all of the following conditions:
- The employer is required to grant 10 or more days of paid annual leave to employees who have worked continuously for 6 months and have attended work on at least 80% of all working days
- The employee is an employment insurance enrollee
- The employee's weekly prescribed working hours are 30 hours or more
Workers who perform their duties through secondment, dispatch (temp agency), or contracting arrangements are not recognized as full-time employees.
Requirement ③: Operator's Educational Background or Experience
The applicant (business operator) must satisfy one of the following:
- Hold a doctoral, master's, or professional degree in a field related to business management or the relevant business activity
- Have 3 or more years of practical experience in business management (periods of residence in Japan under Specified Activities for the purpose of preparing to start a business may also be counted)
Requirement ④: Japanese Language Proficiency
Either the applicant (business operator) or the full-time employee being hired must possess "a sufficient level of Japanese language proficiency (equivalent to CEFR B2 or above)."
Any of the following qualifies:
- JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N2 or above
- BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test score of 400 or above
- 20 or more years of residence in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident
- Graduation from a Japanese university or vocational school
- Completion of compulsory education in Japan and graduation from high school
Requirement ⑤: Business Plan and Expert Confirmation
When a visa status decision is made (application for Certificate of Eligibility or application to change status of residence), it is now mandatory for the business plan to be reviewed and confirmed by a certified SME management consultant (chusho kigyo shindan-shi), a certified public accountant (kokunin kaikei-shi), or a tax accountant (zeirishi).
Additional Points Reviewed at Renewal
The following are also reviewed in Business Manager Visa renewal applications:
- Payment status of taxes (withholding income tax, consumption tax, etc.)
- Application and payment status of labor insurance and social insurance
- Reality of business activities (spending more than half of the period of stay outside Japan is evaluated negatively)
- Whether the home is being used as the business premises
Transitional Measures
Applications accepted by October 15, 2025 will be reviewed under the pre-amendment standards.
For those already residing in Japan on a Business Manager Visa, renewals will continue to take the pre-amendment standards into consideration for a certain period after the effective date. However, if the new standards are not met, applications for permanent residence or a change to Highly Skilled Professional 2 (koudo senmonshoku 2-go) will not be approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does the 30 million yen need to be prepared all at once? Is a phased investment approach acceptable?
A. At the time of application, a business scale of 30 million yen or more (in paid-in capital, etc.) must be verifiable. If you plan to increase the capital in stages, the amount at the time of application is the standard used. However, presenting a future plan through the business plan and expert confirmation documents is effective. Please consult a specialist about your specific situation.
Q. Can I renew my Business Manager Visa for a company established before the amendment with 5 million yen in capital?
A. For those already residing in Japan on a Business Manager Visa, transitional measures apply — the pre-amendment standards will continue to be considered for a certain period after the effective date. However, if you are planning to apply for permanent residence or a change to Highly Skilled Professional 2, early adaptation to the new standards will be necessary. Please consult a specialist about your individual situation.
Q. I have a foreign national co-business operator. Can they be counted as a full-time employee?
A. Co-business operators (directors / executives) do not count as "full-time employees." Foreign nationals holding work-type visas such as Gijinkoku are also excluded from the full-time employee count. Only Japanese nationals, Special Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals holding status-based visa statuses such as Permanent Resident are recognized as full-time employees.
Summary
The October 16, 2025 amendment transformed the Business Manager Visa into a status that requires satisfying a combination of requirements: "30 million yen in capital + at least 1 full-time employee + operator's background and education + Japanese language proficiency." It is no longer the case that "having 5 million yen ready is enough."
Anyone considering applying should confirm the requirements early and organize their financial plan, staffing plan, and business plan. If you have concerns about your preparation, please consult a licensed immigration specialist.
This article is based on the Immigration Services Agency's "Amendment to the Ministerial Ordinance on Landing Standards Relating to the Status of Residence 'Business Manager' (effective October 16, 2025 / Reiwa 7)." Requirements are subject to revision. Always verify the latest information on the Immigration Services Agency's official website.
RELATED ARTICLES