Japan Tightens Requirements for Business Manager Visa to Prevent Misuse

October 10, 2025

The Japanese government has announced stricter requirements for the Business Manager Visa, a residency status for foreign entrepreneurs looking to start a business in Japan. The key change is a significant increase in the required capital investment, raised sixfold from the current 50 million yen to 300 million yen, aiming to curb misuse of the visa for migration purposes rather than genuine business activities.

Justice Minister Suzuki

Justice Minister Suzuki revealed the details during a press conference following a Cabinet meeting. The revised Ministry of Justice regulations were promulgated on October 10 and will take effect from October 16, 2025.

Under the new rules, applicants must also meet additional conditions:

• Employ at least one full-time staff member

• Fulfill experience and educational requirements

• Submit a business plan verified by experts, ensuring the business is substantive and operational

• Meet Japanese language proficiency requirements, either for the applicant or for the full-time staff, at an intermediate-to-advanced level

The previous system allowed a minimum capital of 5 million yen and granted a stay of up to five years. Compared with other countries, these requirements were relatively lenient, and there were concerns about misuse in ventures such as short-term rental businesses without real operational substance.

According to the Immigration Services Agency, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached a record 3,956,619 as of the end of June 2025, representing 3.2% of the total population. The agency expects the number to rise to approximately 4.15 million by the end of the year.

These revisions aim to strengthen the integrity of Japan’s Business Manager Visa program, ensuring that foreign entrepreneurs contribute to the Japanese economy with genuine and sustainable business operations. Source : https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/businessmanager.html?hl=en https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/「経営・管理」ビザ厳格化へ改正省令を公布