Business Manager Visa
Japan's Business Manager visa is for running a company in Japan. From 16 October 2025 the rules tightened: minimum capital rose to JPY 30 million (about US$200,000), and applicants must employ at least one full-time worker and meet business-experience/education criteria. A physical office and active in-country management are required.
How popular is this programme?
Based on Google search demand (US). Updated periodically.
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Key Details
Stay Requirements
Entrepreneur/startup visa: active residence permit - must physically run the business in-country; genuine presence (~183 days) required to renew
medium confidenceHighlights
- JPY 30 million minimum capital (from 16 Oct 2025)
- At least one full-time employee required
- Pathway to permanent residency
- Active business management needed
- Fast processing time of 4 months
- Local office and employee requirements
The catch
- You have to actually live there. At least 183 days a year in-country — this becomes your main home, not a paper residency.
- Long road to a passport. Citizenship takes around 15 years of qualifying residence.
- Language requirement. Language requirement: B2 Japanese or full-time employee with B2.
- No dual citizenship. You may have to give up your current citizenship to naturalise.
Auto-summarised from the data we hold — always confirm specifics on the official page.
What could change
Economic downturns could impact business viability and immigration policies.
Tax Notes
Japan employs a progressive tax system with rates from 5% to 45%. Non-permanent residents are taxed on Japan-sourced income only for the first five years.
Figures are AI-assisted and can change. Confirm every detail on the official source before you act on it.