Attorney Commentary: Stricter Approval Standards — Is the Business Manager Visa Hard to Obtain?
Why the Application Is Considered Difficult, and Examples of Past Approvals and Denials

Applications for the Business Manager Visa are often said to be among the most difficult of all work‑related visas in Japan. Furthermore, the legal amendment implemented in October 2025 significantly tightened the approval criteria for this visa.

Foreign nationals who wish to start a business in Japan or stay at a Japanese business location to perform managerial duties—and corporate representatives who wish to bring foreign managers to Japan—may feel hesitant after hearing that the procedures are difficult.

This article provides a clear explanation for those considering applying for the Business Manager Visa, covering why the visa is considered “difficult” to obtain, what the actual approval trends look like, and how the October 2025 amendment (stricter approval standards) affects the process.

Why the Business Manager Visa Is Considered Difficult to Obtain

Among the 19 types of work visas available in Japan (as of February 2026)—including Skilled Labor, Education, Legal/Accounting Services, Nursing Care, and others—the Business Manager Visa is widely regarded as one of the most challenging to apply for and obtain.

Below are several reasons commonly cited for this perception.

The Purposes for Obtaining the Visa Are Diverse, and Required Documents Vary by Situation

The Business Manager Visa covers the following activities
“Activities to engage in the management of trade or other business in Japan, or to engage in the operation or management of such business.”

Historically, this visa was known as the “Investor/Business Manager Visa.” After the 2015 amendment to the Immigration Control Act, requirements were revised and relaxed, and the visa was renamed “Business Manager Visa.”
This amendment expanded available periods of stay and reduced certain documentation requirements, making the visa more accessible for many foreign nationals.

However, the ministerial amendment effective October 16, 2025 reversed this trend and introduced significant tightening of requirements.
The purpose of the amendment is to prevent misuse of the system—such as obtaining visas through nominal company establishment—and to ensure genuine business operations and job creation.

Under the new standards
・The capital requirement increased from ¥5 million to ¥30 million
・At least one full‑time employee in Japan is required
・The applicant or full‑time employee must have JLPT N2‑equivalent Japanese ability
・The applicant must have at least 3 years of management experience, or a master’s degree in a related field
・Business plans must be evaluated by a certified accountant or management consultant
・Business continuity and operational substance are examined more strictly

Activities covered by the Business Manager Visa include
・Establishing a new company in Japan
・Transferring from a foreign corporation to its Japan branch to perform management duties
・Becoming an executive of a Japanese corporation
・Being hired as a manager by a Japanese corporation
・Operating a sole proprietorship after obtaining another visa status

Business Continuity Is Heavily Emphasized

During screening, immigration authorities place great importance on the stability and continuity of the business.

Applicants must submit documents such as
・Corporate registration certificate
・Company profile
・Business plan
These documents are examined rigorously to determine whether the business is viable and sustainable.

This requirement applies not only at the initial application stage but also at renewal. Foreign entrepreneurs who are still in the trial‑and‑error phase of starting a business in Japan may find themselves facing a deficit at renewal time, which makes the renewal process even more challenging.

When Applying for the Purpose of Starting a Business, Investment of ¥30 Million or More Is Required

Previously, foreign nationals applying for the Business Manager Visa to start a business were generally required to invest ¥5 million or more. There was also a flexible practice allowing approval without the full investment if the applicant hired two or more full‑time employees (including Japanese nationals) and met certain insurance requirements.

Under the new standards effective October 2025
・Investment of ¥30 million or more is required
・At least one full‑time employee who is a Japanese national or permanent resident must be hired
・Labor and social insurance enrollment is mandatory
・The previous flexible practice allowing reduced capital requirements has been largely abolished

Additionally, the source of the ¥30 million investment is strictly examined.

Without Thorough Preparation, Required Proof and Explanations Tend to Be Insufficient

As with all work visas, but especially with the Business Manager Visa, applicants must provide extensive proof and explanations tailored to their situation.

Examples include
・Proof of how the ¥30 million capital was formed (income certificates, loan agreements, bank transfer notices, etc.)
・Proof that the business office is legitimate and separate from residential space (property registry, lease agreement, landlord’s consent, etc.)
・Corporate documents such as articles of incorporation, shareholder meeting minutes, employment contracts, transfer orders, etc.
・Proof of category classification (Category 1–4), which determines required documents

Category definitions

■Category 1……Listed companies, mutual insurance companies, government bodies, independent administrative agencies, designated public corporations

■Category 2……Organizations/individuals with ¥10 million or more in withholding tax in the previous year

■Category 3……Organizations/individuals able to submit statutory withholding tax totals (excluding Category 2)

■Category 4……Those who cannot submit statutory withholding tax totals

Because the required documents vary widely depending on the applicant’s situation, many people find that simply understanding what they need to prepare takes considerable time.

Approval Rate for the Business Manager Visa Is Not Published, but Requirements Are Becoming Stricter

Approval Rate Is Not Published

Many people wish to understand the difficulty of obtaining the Business Manager Visa by looking at actual approval rates. However, the Immigration Services Agency and the Ministry of Justice do not publish approval rate statistics. Therefore, there is no official way to know the precise approval rate.

Stricter Requirements

The 2015 amendment introduced certain relaxations, such as creating a 4‑month period of stay for foreign nationals preparing to establish a company. This allowed individuals without a Japanese address to enter Japan if they could demonstrate a credible plan for company establishment.

However, the October 2025 amendment reversed this trend. With higher capital requirements and strengthened employment conditions, the screening standards have become significantly stricter.
This shift reflects a policy transition toward emphasizing substantial contribution to the Japanese economy, rather than allowing visa acquisition solely for the purpose of residence.

In short, while approval rates are not published, recent reforms clearly indicate that the visa is not becoming easier to obtain. Instead, business substance and continuity are being scrutinized more rigorously than ever.

For further reference, the Immigration Services Agency’s guidelines may be helpful.

Examples of Approved and Denied Business Manager Visa Applications

Below are several examples previously published on the Immigration Services Agency website.
These are only past cases; each application is reviewed individually, and similar circumstances do not guarantee identical results. However, they provide valuable insight into how immigration authorities evaluate business substance and continuity.

【Approved】Case Where Business Operation Was Allowed in a Rental Property Originally Intended for Residential Use

The Business Manager Visa requires that the business office be clearly separated from residential space.
In this case, the applicant applied to operate a privately owned restaurant. The lease agreement for the designated office space listed the “purpose of use” as residential. Ordinarily, this would be non‑compliant. However, the applicant had a special agreement with the landlord explicitly permitting use of the property as a company office. Therefore, immigration recognized that a legitimate business office had been secured.

【Approved】Case Where Office and Residence Were in the Same Building but Had Separate Entrances

The applicant established a corporation to operate a sales business.
The office and residence shared the same address, but
・The office and residence had clearly separate entrances
・A signboard displaying the company name was installed at the office entrance
・The office contained business equipment such as a computer, business phone, copier, and desks Based on these factors, immigration determined that a proper business office had been secured.

【Denied】 Case Where the Residence Was Used as a Business Office but Lacked Business‑Appropriate Facilities

The applicant established a limited company and applied for the visa to manage the business.
Immigration conducted an on‑site inspection because the designated office appeared to be the applicant’s residence.
Findings included
・No business mailbox or signage
・Interior contained only daily living items
・No equipment necessary for business operations
・No payroll records or attendance logs for employees
As a result, the application was denied.

【Approved】Case Where the Registered Head Office Was a Residence but a Separate Rental Property Was Recognized as a Business Office

The applicant applied to operate a seafood import/export and processing business. Although the registered head office was the executive’s residence, the applicant had separately leased a property from the local Chamber of Commerce as a branch office. Immigration recognized this as a legitimate business office.

【Denied】Case Where the Rental Contract for the Business Office Was Under an Employee’s Name and Used as a Residence

The applicant established a limited company to operate a design business.
The designated business office was not under the corporation’s name nor the manager’s name.
Investigation revealed
・The property was leased under an employee’s name
・The employee used it as a residence
・Utility bills were paid by the employee
・The landlord did not consent to non‑residential use
The application was denied.

【Approved】Case Where the Company Had a Loss but Was Not in Negative Equity, and Business Continuity Was Recognized

This case involved a renewal application.
The company had a loss in the most recent fiscal year, but
・ It was not in negative equity
・It was the company’s first fiscal year

Immigration determined that business continuity existed, and renewal was approved.
Reference indicators
・Equity ratio: approx. 30%
・Gross profit margin: approx. 60%
・Operating profit margin: approx. –65%％

【Denied】Case Where the Company Had Gross Losses and Significant Deficits, and Business Continuity Was Not Recognized

Another renewal case.
The company’s financial statements showed
・ Gross loss (sales – cost of sales)
・Operating deficit
・Accumulated deficit equal to twice the capital amount
Immigration concluded that business continuity could not be recognized, and renewal was denied.

Reference indicators
・Equity ratio: approx. –100%
・Gross profit margin: approx. –30%
・Operating profit margin: worse than –1,000%超

【Approved】Case Where Two or More Foreign Nationals Were Recognized as Joint Business Managers

Three examples fall under this category

1. Foreign nationals A and B each invested ¥5 million (total ¥10 million) to establish an import goods company.
・ A specialized in overseas trade
・ B specialized in quality control, inventory, and accounting
・ Both jointly determined business policies

2. Foreign nationals C and D invested ¥6 million and ¥8 million (total ¥14 million) to establish a transportation service company.
・ Each managed operations in separate service areas
・ Business policies were jointly determined

3. Foreign nationals E and F invested ¥8 million and ¥2 million (total ¥10 million) to establish a digital marketing education company under the National Strategic Special Zone Foreign Entrepreneurship Program.
・ E served as CEO based on prior entrepreneurial experience
・ F served as Chief Marketing Officer
・ Both jointly operated the business

Summary of the Business Manager Visa Application Process

Why Consulting a Professional Is Recommended

The Business Manager Visa is a residence status system that foreign nationals can use when they wish to start a business in Japan or perform managerial duties within a corporation.
Because it is designed for managers and executives—and because the system allows for a wide range of situations by requiring detailed documentation—the application process is inherently complex.

Questions such as:
・ Does my situation meet the requirements?
・What additional documents should I prepare?

require accurate legal interpretation and extensive practical experience.
The quality of document preparation and requirement analysis has a significant impact on the screening outcome.
Furthermore, renewal of the Business Manager Visa can also require substantial preparation.

Visa Application Support Services

First & TandemSprint LPC offers free consultations regarding visa acquisition for foreign nationals.
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・Proper preparation of application documents
・Legal advice
・Development of optimal application strategies
All staff members at our law firm hold the Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Scrivener) qualification and, under the supervision of our attorneys, possess professional expertise in visa applications, foreign employee management, labor matters, and contract law.
Please feel free to consult us with confidence.

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The contents of this article are based on laws and information as of August 2026.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. We strive to provide accurate information; however, we do not guarantee the accuracy of the contents.

Author: ONO, Tomohiro
Attorney at Law
First & TandemSprint LPC