On October 16, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan implemented stricter requirements for the Business Manager visa. The regulation was revised due to concerns that some applicants were improperly using the visa system mainly as a means to relocate to Japan rather than to operate genuine businesses.
Key updates published by the agency include:
- Employers must hire at least one full-time employee.
- Minimum capital increased to 30 million yen or more.
- Either the applicant or a full-time employee must possess a sufficient level of Japanese language ability.
- Applicants must hold a relevant doctoral, master’s, or professional degree. Alternatively, they must have three or more years of experience in business management or in a field related to the business.
- Business plans submitted for approval must undergo evaluation by qualified professionals such as certified public accountants to confirm feasibility and soundness.
The major changes introduce obligations that did not exist before, including mandatory employment, stronger financial requirements, and language proficiency checks. These new standards represent a significantly higher threshold for applicants.
The number of foreign nationals holding this visa has more than doubled, from about 18,000 in 2015 to approximately 41,600 in 2024. Chinese nationals account for roughly half of all holders, increasing from around 7,300 in 2015 to about 20,000 in 2024.
While the visa program is intended to stimulate Japan’s economy, cases where the visa is used primarily for relocation were raised in parliamentary discussions earlier this year, leading to the current tightening of requirements.