Zagdim Reader Desk · Japan Business Manager visa
Japan Business Manager visaEligibility assessment and renewal preparation
Under the new Business Manager visa rules, if you plan to move to Japan to run a business you first need to confirm that the capital, a full-time employee and Japanese-language ability can be in place; the application you file and the regional immigration bureau that accepts it also differ depending on whether you are overseas, already in Japan or already hold the visa. The Zagdim Reader Desk first establishes your status of residence, your company’s progress and your location, then shortlists suitable Japanese administrative scriveners.
The visa step at a Japanese embassy or consulate, including who may apply there, how, and the fee charged, follows each mission’s rules and varies by nationality and country of residence. This page describes the general rule, often written from the position of applicants in Taiwan and Hong Kong; passport holders of the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Australia, Canada and other countries should confirm the position for their own nationality.
Information checked: 29 October 2026
01 · ABOUT
What changed under the new Business Manager visa rules? Start with your current situation
From 16 October 2025, the criteria for granting the Business Manager status of residence (経営・管理) were raised. The five main changes are set out in the table below (compiled from the summary of the revision published by the immigration authorities).
- Capital cannot be pieced togetherStaff salaries and office rent cannot be counted towards the capital threshold for a company.
- Start-up preparation can count as experienceTime spent on Designated Activities status (特定活動) for start-up preparation can be counted as business management experience.
- Long absences count against youIf you spend more than half of your period of stay outside Japan without good reason, this is assessed negatively at renewal.
What the new rules changed
| Old rules (up to 15 October 2025) | New rules (from 16 October 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | ¥5 million (about US$31,000) | Raised to ¥30 million (about US$190,000) |
| Full-time employees (常勤職員) | No obligation to employ; employing two or more could stand in for the capital requirement | At least one, limited to Japanese nationals, special permanent residents, permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals and similar statuses |
| Experience and education | No requirement | At least 3 years of business management experience, or a relevant master’s, doctoral or professional degree |
| Japanese language | No requirement | You or any one full-time employee at a level equivalent to B2, for example JLPT N2 |
| Business plan | No expert confirmation required | Must be confirmed by a person with a prescribed qualification, such as a certified tax accountant (税理士, zeirishi) or certified public accountant |
Examines status of residence and related applications.
Logos belong to the respective bodies and are shown only to identify where a matter is handled. Zagdim is not affiliated with them.
Start with your current situation
The regional immigration bureau that accepts the application depends on its type: for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), your intended place of residence or the location of the business office; for a change or an extension, where you currently live.
Start with the closest situation:
Overseas, applying for the first time
- Which criteria applyAll the conditions of the new rules apply.
- Who can fileA representative in Japan, such as a member of staff of the business office or a person engaged to set it up. An administrative scrivener (行政書士) registered with the immigration authorities can file on your behalf.
- After the certificate is issuedYou apply for a visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate; who they accept and how follows each mission’s rules. You must enter Japan within 3 months of the Certificate of Eligibility being issued.
- What the budget consists ofCapital of ¥30 million or more, rent for the business office, salary and social insurance for the full-time employee, official fees for company formation and professional fees. The COE application costs ¥0; the consular visa costs about ¥15,000 equivalent.
Next steps
- Confirm the prefecture where the business office and your home will be
- Decide who will act as your representative in Japan
Already in Japan, changing status
- Which criteria applyThe new rules generally apply. If you hold Designated Activities status for start-up preparation, the date your confirmation certificate was issued decides: on or before 15 October 2025 the old rules apply, after that the new rules.
- Who can fileYou, or an application agent (申請取次者) such as an administrative scrivener registered with the immigration authorities.
- What the budget consists ofCapital, business office, full-time employee and professional fees are as for a first application. If the company already exists, formation fees do not arise. The fee for the change depends on the period of stay granted (one year, at the counter: ¥33,000). The conditions must be in place within your current period of stay.
Next steps
- Check the expiry date on your residence card
- Confirm when the capital and the full-time employee will be in place, then decide when to file the change
Holding the visa, preparing to renew
- Which criteria applyFor renewals before 16 October 2028, falling short of the new rules is not on its own a ground for refusal; after that, the new rules apply in principle.
- What the immigration authorities look atHow the business is operating, labour insurance and social insurance, payment of national and local taxes, and the prospect of meeting the new criteria. An expert assessment document may be requested.
- What the budget consists ofOngoing rent for the business office, staff salary and social insurance, and taxes; professional fees for preparing the renewal file; the renewal fee depends on the period of stay granted (one year, at the counter: ¥33,000). If you have not yet increased the capital, plan separately for the funds needed to meet the threshold.
Next steps
- Check your expiry date and count back about 3 months
- Gather year-end accounts, tax payment, social insurance and employment records
Spouse and children coming with you
A spouse and children supported by a Business Manager visa holder apply as Dependents (家族滞在), and their status depends on yours. Application fees and professional fees for each family member are separate, and the administrative scrivener lists them in the quote.
Next steps
- Mention accompanying family at the conditions assessment, so the administrative scrivener can plan the application timetable
Sources: Immigration Services Agency – residence application procedure pages (where to apply, who may file) / Q&A on the Certificate of Eligibility. Checked 29 October 2026.
Jurisdictions of the regional immigration bureaus (expand to view)
Japan is divided among 8 regional immigration services bureaus, with some areas covered by district offices. Each bureau also has branch offices; airport district offices do not handle residence procedures. The table lists only the prefectures covered by the bureaus and district offices. Check the notices of the office concerned before you apply.
| Office | Prefectures covered | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Hokkaido | Chuo Ward, Sapporo |
| Sendai Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima | Miyagino Ward, Sendai |
| Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Niigata, Yamanashi, Nagano | Minato Ward, Tokyo |
| Tokyo bureau – Yokohama District Office | Kanagawa | Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama |
| Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie | Minato Ward, Nagoya |
| Osaka Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Wakayama | Suminoe Ward, Osaka |
| Osaka bureau – Kobe District Office | Hyogo | Chuo Ward, Kobe |
| Hiroshima Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi | Naka Ward, Hiroshima |
| Takamatsu Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi | Takamatsu |
| Fukuoka Regional Immigration Services Bureau | Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima | Chuo Ward, Fukuoka |
| Fukuoka bureau – Naha District Office | Okinawa | Naha |
Sources: Immigration Services Agency – pages of each regional office (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Fukuoka, Naha), jurisdiction and location. Each page checked 29 October 2026.
07 · EXPERTS & PROFESSIONALS
Where your business office is located, who helps with the application?
Depending on the case, different Japanese professionals are involved.
Administrative scrivener
行政書士 · gyōsei shoshiA suitably qualified administrative scrivener can be engaged to prepare documents and submit residence applications on your behalf.
Certified tax accountant
税理士 · zeirishiCan confirm the business plan under the new criteria; whether tax filings are included is set out separately in the scope of the engagement.
Certified public accountant
公認会計士 · kōnin kaikeishiCan confirm the financial and feasibility content of the business plan under the new criteria.
MATCHING
How Zagdim shortlists the right professionals
You do not need to ask administrative scriveners in the area of your business office one by one, in Japanese, whether they take cases under the new rules or transitional renewals. Before the capital, employee and office are in place, work out with the Reader Desk which items are missing, then decide whether to commit funds.
What you need
Zagdim Reader Desk- Clarifying the need
- Matching providers
- Follow-up at key points
The right professionalZagdim Reader Desk
Free consultation · a written brief · shortlisting and introducing the right professionals
No charge to readersProfessionals in Japan
Professional advice and handling
Quote · contract · payment · receiptWhether a professional can be arranged locally
Based on where the business office is and the type of application, the Reader Desk checks whether an administrative scrivener registered with the immigration authorities can be arranged, along with a professional to confirm the business plan.
- You tell the Reader DeskThe prefecture where the business office and your home will be, and which type of application applies to you
- The Reader Desk checksWhether a suitable administrative scrivener can be arranged locally, with a separate professional to confirm the business plan where needed
- The Reader Desk repliesIf it can be arranged, we say which kind of professional will take it on. If no suitable provider is available for now, we say so plainly
08 · CONSULTATION
What happens next?
Four steps after you get in touch
- Contact the Reader DeskExplain your application and the location of the business office by WhatsApp or email, and arrange a call.
- A written briefThe Reader Desk sets out the current position on capital, employee, Japanese language, education and experience, and business office in a list. Once you confirm it, you agree to the introduction.
- Introduction to a local professionalIntroduction to an administrative scrivener by location of the business office, and to a certified tax accountant or certified public accountant where needed. Before the introduction, the written quote, out-of-pocket costs and conditions for extra charges are confirmed with them.
- Quote and engagementThe professional checks the conditions, explains the gaps and quotes. You decide whether to engage, and contract with and pay them directly.
Have these points ready before you get in touch, so the Reader Desk can identify the type of application straight away. Until the professional takes over after the introduction, the Reader Desk follows up on progress.
- Whether you are in Japan or overseas, which status of residence you hold and when it expires
- The prefecture where the business office and your home will be
- Whether the company has been formed, and its current capital or total capital contributions
- Whether you have a candidate for the full-time employee, and their status (Japanese national, permanent resident and so on)
- Japanese-language certificate (for example JLPT N2), and your education or years of business management experience
- Whether a spouse or children will come to Japan with you
The Zagdim Reader Desk handles contact and follow-up.
