Hello, this is Hong from IMS Legal Professional Corporation. On October 16, 2025, revisions were made to the Ministerial Ordinance and related standards governing the Business Manager visa. Japan has more than 20 types of residence statuses, and amendments to the relevant standards are not uncommon. However, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the recent revisions to the Business Manager visa standards are among the most stringent ever implemented. In other words, the application requirements have become significantly stricter. As a result of these changes, we have seen a noticeable decrease in inquiries from foreign nationals regarding the Business Manager visa.
For details on the main points of the revisions, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency’s official guidelines below:
・Revisions to the "Business Management" Status of Residence Standards (Effective October 16, 2025) (Japanese only)
・Revision of the Ministerial Ordinance on Landing Standards for the Status of Residence "Business Manager" (Preferred language can be chosen)
Until now, many applicants established a company with capital of at least JPY 5 million and successfully obtained a Business Manager visa. In this article, however, we would like to explain the procedures for increasing the capital of a company (a joint-stock corporation)—known as a capital increase—in order to meet the new capital-related requirements introduced under the revised standards.
An increase in company capital is referred to as a “capital increase.” Unlike visa application procedures handled with the Immigration Bureau, the process for increasing capital is entirely different. Ultimately, it is completed through registration procedures filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau.
Documents Required for Capital Increase Registration Procedures
The following documents are generally required for the registration of a capital increase:
- Minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders regarding the capital increase resolution
- Shareholder register
- Application form for subscription of newly issued shares
- Proof of payment certifying that the capital contribution has been made
- Certificate regarding the accounting treatment of the increased capital amount
Although these documents may not be familiar to many companies in their day-to-day operations, if you retain IMS Legal Professional Corporation to handle the registration procedures, we will prepare all of the above documents on your behalf. On the client side, you will only be required to affix the company’s registered seal (official company stamp) to the prepared documents.
Timing of Capital Contributions for a Capital Increase
The capital contribution must be transferred to the company’s corporate bank account. The timing of the transfer is flexible and can be made at any time. You may proceed with the transfer in parallel with the preparation of the documents required for the registration application.
However, if you have a desired effective date for the capital increase*, the funds must be transferred before that date.
(*The “capital increase date” refers to the date on which you wish the stated capital amount to be changed—for example, increasing the capital to JPY XX million as of a specific date.)
How Long Does It Take to Complete the Capital Increase Registration?
Once all required documents are prepared, the registration application is filed with the Legal Affairs Bureau. From the date of submission, it generally takes approximately one month for the registration to be completed, although this may vary depending on the workload and processing time of the Legal Affairs Bureau.
After the registration is completed, we will obtain one certified copy of the company registry (Certificate of All Registered Matters) and send it to you. Receipt of this document marks the completion of the capital increase registration procedure.
Workflow for Registration Procedures When You Retain Our Firm
Under the newly implemented standards, which came into effect on October 16, 2025, the revised requirements apply to new applications for the Business Manager visa (including COE applications and change of status applications) as well as renewal applications.
However, for individuals who already hold a Business Manager visa, a three-year transitional period has been established. If a renewal application is filed during the period from the effective date until October 16, 2028, the application may still be approved even if it does not fully meet the revised standards, taking into account factors such as the company’s business performance and the likelihood of meeting the new requirements in the future.
That said, after the effective date, if the revised standards are not met, Permanent Residence applications based on the statuses of “Business Manager,” “Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c),” or “Highly Skilled Professional (ii)” (where the underlying activity is business management)—as well as applications to change status from Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c) to Highly Skilled Professional (ii)—will not be approved. In other words, no transitional measures apply to these applications, and full compliance with the new standards is required. Special attention should therefore be paid to this point.
Although a three-year transitional period has been provided for renewal applications, from the perspective of future Permanent Residence applications, we strongly recommend addressing and complying with the new standards at an early stage.
At IMS Legal Professional Corporation, we work closely with our affiliated judicial scriveners to provide comprehensive support for capital increase registration procedures. If you are experiencing difficulties or have concerns regarding capital increases, please feel free to contact us for assistance.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
