Business Manager visa in Japan

The Business Manager status of residence lets a foreign national manage or operate a business in Japan. On 16 October 2025 revised landing criteria took effect to curb shell companies. A corporation now needs paid-in capital of JPY 30 million, up from JPY 5 million; sole proprietors must show a comparable total investment. The business must employ at least one full-time Japanese national, special permanent resident or holder of a family-based status such as permanent resident. The applicant or that employee must have Japanese at around CEFR B2 (for example JLPT N2 or BJT 400), and the applicant needs a relevant master's or doctoral degree or three years of management experience. An SME management consultant, CPA or tax accountant must confirm the business plan, and virtual offices are not accepted.

The status is granted for up to five years at a time and renewed on the basis of real activity. On extension the Immigration Services Agency (ISA) checks labour and social insurance enrolment and payment of national and local taxes, and may treat long absences without good reason as a lack of genuine business. Holders approved under the old rules can renew until 16 October 2028 on a transitional basis; after that the new criteria apply in full. Spouses and children join as Dependents, who need separate permission to work; parents are generally not covered.

An individual domiciled in Japan, or resident for a year or more, is tax resident. A foreign national domiciled in Japan for five years or less in the last ten is a non-permanent resident, taxed on Japan-source income and on foreign income paid in or remitted to Japan; thereafter worldwide income is taxed at progressive national rates plus local inhabitant tax. Foreign nationals residing under a work-type status such as Business Manager are generally subject to inheritance and gift tax only on Japan-situs assets. Exit tax can apply to those with financial assets of JPY 100 million or more resident for more than five of the previous ten years.

Japan is tightening its long-term routes. Permanent residence ordinarily requires ten years of residence, five of them on a work or business status, with good conduct, financial independence and a full record of tax, pension and insurance payments. Highly Skilled Professionals with 70 or 80 points can apply after three years or one year, but those in business management must now also meet the new Business Manager criteria. Stricter permanent residence guidelines are being phased in from October 2026 and the fee rises to JPY 200,000 for applications from 1 October 2026. Since 1 April 2026 naturalisation has in principle required ten years of residence, and Japan does not allow adult dual nationality.