The Immigration Services Agency of Japan has just announced their finalized plans to significantly revise the requirements for the Business Manager visa. The revision will be made through an amendment to the ministerial ordinance, scheduled for mid-October 2025 (following a period for public comments).
For entrepreneurs and foreign nationals considering launching or managing a business in Japan, these changes represent a major shift in the eligibility criteria.
Current Requirements
At present, applicants for the Business Manager visa must satisfy one of the following conditions:
- Investment (capital) of 5 million yen or more, or
- Employment of two or more full-time employees.
New Stricter Requirements (Planned Revision)
Under the new rules, both conditions must be met simultaneously:
- Capital of at least 30 million yen, and
- At least one full-time employee.
This marks a significant increase from the current standard and will raise the entry threshold for many foreign entrepreneurs.
Additional Requirements for Business Managers
Beyond company-side conditions, business managers themselves will be subject to stricter personal requirements. They must now have either:
- Three or more years of business management experience, or
- A master’s degree or higher in business and management.
This change emphasizes the government’s aim to ensure that only candidates with sufficient qualifications and managerial background can obtain this visa.
Business Plan Review Requirement
In addition, business plans submitted for visa applications must now undergo review by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Tax Accountant, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Management Consultant, or similar. This step is intended to improve the quality and feasibility of submitted business plans.
What This Means for Entrepreneurs
For those planning to start a business in Japan, it is essential to be aware of these upcoming changes. The higher capital requirement, combined with stricter personal qualifications and professional review of business plans, will make the Business Manager visa significantly more difficult to obtain.
This blog post is accurate as of August 26, 2025.
