Current Status of the Business Manager Visa (as of October 2025)
As of October 16, 2025, Japan has significantly tightened the screening criteria for the Business Manager Visa. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to obtain a visa through nominal company registration alone. Applicants are now required to demonstrate the operation of a legitimate and substantive business.
Key changes include:
- The minimum capital requirement has been raised from 5 million yen to 30 million yen.
- Applicants must now have at least three years of managerial experience or hold a master’s degree or higher.
- It is now mandatory to employ at least one full-time staff member, who must be either a Japanese national or a permanent resident.
- Either the applicant or the full-time staff member must possess Japanese language proficiency equivalent to JLPT N2 or higher.
- The business must operate from a dedicated office space, rather than a home-based or shared location.
- Business plans must be accompanied by an evaluation report prepared by a certified professional, such as a tax accountant or small business consultant
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
We look forward to supporting your new chapter in Japan.
OBP Academy – International Support Division
info@obp.academy
