The Japanese government has officially announced that a new "Business Manager Visa" policy will be implemented starting October 16, 2025.
Key Changes in the New Policy
• Capital/Total Contribution: Increased from 5 million JPY to 30 million JPY.
• Managerial Qualifications: Must possess at least 3 years of management experience or hold a Master's degree or higher in a field related to business management.
• Employment Obligation: Must employ at least one full-time staff member who is a Japanese national, a permanent resident, a spouse of a Japanese national, or a long-term resident.
• Japanese Language Proficiency: At least one person, either the applicant or an employee, must have Japanese proficiency at the N2 level or above.
• Business Plan Review: The submitted business plan must be verified and stamped by a qualified professional, such as a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant or a Certified Public Accountant.
Transition and Renewal Requirements
Those who already hold a Business Manager Visa do not need to panic—the new policy provides a 3-year grace period for existing clients:
• If a renewal application is submitted within three years of the effective date (before October 16, 2028), the Immigration Services Agency will review the application by comprehensively considering business performance and the likelihood of meeting the revised criteria (an expert evaluation report may be requested).
• From three years after implementation (≥ October 16, 2028), renewals must strictly comply with the new standards in principle.
Cases involving home offices, nominal management, or insufficient actual business operations will be difficult to qualify as "business management."
Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa (Business Management)
“Simultaneous Tightening”
Applicants planning to apply for Permanent Residency via the “Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa” must simultaneously meet the new policy requirements:
• Capital must reach 30 million JPY;
• Employ at least one full-time staff member who meets the eligibility requirements.
Both conditions are mandatory; failure to meet these will result in the Immigration Services Agency refusing to accept the application for Permanent Residency.
In addition, the new policy includes several supplementary provisions:
• The registered company address and the residential address must not be the same; mixed residential-commercial use will not be recognized.
• Whether holding a regular Business Manager Visa or a Highly Skilled Professional Visa, all applications for Permanent Residency will now be subject to the new qualification review standards.
The tightening of the Japanese Business Manager Visa is not intended to close the immigration pathway, but rather to screen for higher-quality applicants.
If you are planning to apply for a Japanese Business Manager Visa, please contact us for details. Mainland China: 400-138-2929; Hong Kong Customer Service Center: (852) 2802 8798