Business Manager Visa Japan 2026: Requirements, Costs & Steps

The Business Manager visa (経営・管理, keiei kanri) lets foreigners run or manage a business in Japan. It is one of three types of visas built for entrepreneurs. Until 2015, it was called the Investor/Business Manager visa; the separate Investor visa guide covers that history.

Since October 16, 2025, the business manager visa requirements are much stricter. You need ¥30 million in capital investment and at least one full-time employee. You also need Japanese at B2 level (you or your employee), relevant experience and an expert-checked business plan.

This guide covers each requirement, the costs, the timeline and renewal. It also covers the setup work you must finish before you apply: company establishment procedures, a bank account, bookkeeping and tax compliance.

Note: Japan's immigration rules change often. Refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan or your immigration lawyer for situation-specific questions.

Business manager visa in Japan: requirements at a glance

Summary table of comparison

Here is a quick comparison of the new requirements vs. the old requirements.

Business manager visa requirements in detail

These are the requirements for business manager visa applicants, also known as the business management visa. Immigration checks six areas, and you must meet all of them in order to obtain a business manager visa.

1. Capital investment of ¥30 million

A stock company needs at least ¥30 million in paid-in capital. Other companies count total contributions, and sole proprietors count the total assets used for the business.

Immigration calls this the business scale test. It replaced the old system, where capital requirements could be met with staff instead. Keep remittance records and bank statements, because immigration checks where the money came from.

2. At least one full-time employee

You must employ at least one full-time employee in Japan. The employee must be a Japanese national, permanent resident, special permanent resident, spouse of either, or long-term resident.

Foreign staff on work visas, such as Engineer/Humanities, do not count.

3. Experience or education

You need one of these:

• At least 3 years of business management activities or administration experience

• A master's degree, doctorate or professional degree in management or a field related to the business

4. A business plan checked by an expert

A business plan alone is not enough. A CPA, tax accountant or SME management consultant must review it before you apply. See our short list of bilingual accounting firms in Tokyo.

5. Japanese language ability

You or your full-time employee must have Japanese at B2 level. JLPT N2 or a BJT score of 400 or more proves it. Graduating from a Japanese university also counts.

6. A physical business office

Your business office needs to be a real space in Japan, leased for business use. Virtual offices, shared desks and home-office combinations do not qualify.

Common reasons for business manager visa denial

Most refusals come from the office, the money or the business plan. Watch for these issues:

• The wrong office: a virtual office, shared space or home office instead of a dedicated business office

• A residential lease: the lease must allow business use. Separate office space is safest.

• Unclear capital: you cannot show where the ¥30 million came from

• A weak business plan: no expert review, or no credible path to profit

• Hands-on work: you plan to serve customers yourself, for example as a chef or stylist

• A missing employee: no qualifying full-time employee on payroll

• A criminal record or poor immigration history

👉 Read also: Japan Immigration News: What Every Foreign Resident Needs to Know

What to set up before you apply

Immigration reviews the substance of the business, not a plan on paper. So you need to establish a company and set up its finances before you apply. This is where most founders lose time.

1. Register a company in Japan

Most founders form a stock company (kabushiki kaisha) or a godo kaisha. Compare them in godo kaisha vs kabushiki kaisha.

Company establishment procedures include notarized articles of incorporation and registration at the Legal Affairs Bureau. You will also register a company seal and get a seal certificate (inkan shomeisho).

You can also register your company in English with licensed scriveners through MailMate. See registering a company in Japan for the full process.

2. Open a corporate bank account

You need a corporate bank account to hold the ¥30 million and pay staff. Keep every remittance record, because immigration checks the source of your capital.

3. Lease a real business office

Before applying for a visa, sign a lease for an office used only for business. Our guide to renting an office covers leases and deposits, and our office space in Tokyo guide lists options. A virtual address can register a company, but it will not support a business manager visa.

4. Hire your full-time employee

Add the employee to payroll and enroll them in social insurance. Immigration asks for proof of salary payments and enrollment.

5. Set up bookkeeping and tax filings from day one

Notify the tax office when you open, then keep monthly books. At renewal, immigration asks for financial statements and tax payment certificates. MailMate's Bookkeeping & Tax Filing service handles this in English. Expense & Receipt Capture keeps every receipt organized from day one.

How to apply for the business manager visa

1. Prepare your CV and proof of experience

Gather your degree certificate or employment records showing 3 years of management experience.

2. Prepare your company documents

Show that your company has completed registration in Japan. You will also need:

• A business plan in Japanese, reviewed by an expert

• Proof of ¥30 million in capital investment

• Your employee's contract and payroll records

• Proof of your office, such as the lease and photos (or a real estate contract)

• Any industry license, for example for restaurants, real estate or construction

• Contracts with any business partner or major client

3. Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility

Download the forms from the Immigration Services Agency's Business Manager page. A lawyer or administrative scrivener can file for you while you are overseas. Your result will be ready in about 1 to 3 months.

In addition, since April 15, 2026, some applicants must add a declaration about the company representative. It applies to Category 3 and 4 companies when you will work as a manager, not as the owner-operator.

4. Apply for your visa at a Japanese embassy

Once you receive your COE, apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad. It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. See MOFA's Business Manager visa page.

5. Enter Japan and register your address

Enter Japan while your CoE is still valid, usually within 3 months of issue. Register your address at your city office within 14 days.

Already in Japan on another visa? Apply for a change of status instead of a CoE.

How long it takes and what it costs

How to renew a business manager visa after the 2025 reform

Most first business manager visas last 1 year. At renewal, immigration checks that your business is real, stable and paying its obligations.

What immigration checks at renewal

• Your latest financial statements and corporate registration

• Your resident tax and tax payment certificates

• Proof that the company pays social insurance and labor insurance

• Corporate tax, consumption tax and withholding tax certificates

• That your full-time employee is still on payroll

• A written summary of your business activities in the last period

Can you renew with a loss?

Yes, in many cases. A loss does not mean automatic refusal. Immigration looks at your last two fiscal periods, your gross profit and whether the company is insolvent.

Pay yourself a stable salary, too. Advisers suggest more than ¥200,000 a month, so your personal income supports your stay.

If you held the visa before October 16, 2025

Renewals filed by October 16, 2028 are judged case by case. Immigration looks at your results and whether you will meet the new rules soon. Plan to meet the ¥30 million capital requirement and staff rules before that date.

Fee: an extension costs ¥10,000 to ¥75,000 from October 1, 2026, based on the period granted. See Visa Renewal Japan 2026 for the full table. Moved your office? Update the corporate registry first; see how to change your company address.

What taxes does a business in Japan pay?

Every type of business pays national and local taxes. Late or missing payments can block your renewal, so tax compliance is part of the visa.

National taxes

• Corporate tax: 15% on the first ¥8 million of taxable income, and 23.2% above that, for companies with capital of ¥100 million or less (see corporate tax in Japan)

• Local corporate tax: 10.3% of your corporate tax

• Defense special corporate tax: 4% of corporate tax above a ¥5 million deduction, for fiscal years from April 1, 2026

• Consumption tax: 10% standard, 8% on some food

A new company with capital under ¥10 million can skip consumption tax for up to two years. Your ¥30 million company does not qualify, so plan to file from year one. Check the invoice system rules too.

Local taxes

• Business tax: standard rates of 3.5%, 5.3% or 7.0% by income band, plus special corporate business tax. Tokyo charges slightly higher rates.

• Corporate inhabitant tax: a share of your corporate tax plus a per-capita levy. A ¥30 million company pays a higher levy than a small company.

Tell the tax office when you open your company. File financial statements every year and submit them at renewal.

Your fiscal year sets your filing deadlines. For a wider overview, read what startups should know about Japan tax.

Keep your books ready for renewal

The renewal file for the business manager visa depends on clean records. Set up these routines from your first month:

• Monthly bookkeeping and receipt capture

• Digital records that meet the Electronic Bookkeeping Act

• Payroll, withholding tax and social insurance filings

• Annual corporate tax and consumption tax returns

• Notifications to the tax office and city office when details change

MailMate's Bookkeeping & Tax Filing service handles these in English. Bill-Pay & Invoice Management pays your Japanese bills on time. A virtual mailbox keeps tax office mail in one place.

Business manager visa vs startup visa vs 4-month visa

You do not have to meet every requirement on day one. Two routes give you time to set up first. Each is a way to prepare before the full rules apply.

Participating cities include Shibuya in Tokyo and Fukuoka City. Check METI for the current list.

For help in English, see our startup support guide. Subsidies for startups can also offset your setup costs.

Both routes still lead to the full rules. When you switch to a business manager visa, you must meet the ¥30 million and staff requirements.

Other ways to run a business in Japan

Foreign residents overseas can establish a company in Japan. But to manage it while living here, most need a business manager visa. Foreign firms can also open a branch office or a representative office, whose managers may need this visa too.

Visas that already allow business activities

• Permanent resident: no limits on work or business. Naturalized Japanese citizens have none either.

• Spouse of Japanese National or of a permanent resident: no work limits

• Highly Skilled Professional: some side business activities are allowed with conditions

Visas that need a change of status

Engineer/Humanities, student and dependent visa holders cannot run a company as their main activity. To do so, change your residency status once your company is ready.

If you work on a standard work visa, you can sometimes run a small sole proprietorship or freelance career on the side. This requires permission from immigration.

👉 Read also: Franchise Opportunities in Japan: Guide to Business Success

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a Japan business manager visa from overseas?

Yes. A lawyer or administrative scrivener in Japan can file your Certificate of Eligibility for you. You then apply for the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate. You do not need to visit an immigration office in person.

Is ¥30 million capital mandatory for all business manager visa applications?

Yes, for applications filed on or after October 16, 2025. You also need at least one full-time employee. Applications filed by October 15, 2025 were reviewed under the old 5 million yen rule.

Do I need Japanese language ability for a business manager visa?

Yes. You or your full-time employee must have Japanese at B2 level, such as JLPT N2. A BJT score of 400 or more, or a degree from a Japanese university, also counts.

Can I switch from a student visa or work visa to a business manager visa?

Yes. Apply for a change of status once your company is ready. You need the ¥30 million capital, your office, your employee and any business license in place first.

Does my business need to be profitable to renew the business manager visa?

Not always. Immigration checks whether the business is stable and paying its taxes and social insurance. A loss does not mean automatic refusal, but repeated losses raise the risk.

Can I personally provide services to customers under a business manager visa?

Generally no. The visa covers management, not frontline work. Managing a restaurant is fine, but working as its chef or server can lead to refusal.

Can I use a virtual office for a business manager visa?

No. A virtual address can register a company, but the visa needs a physical business office. The lease must allow business use, and a home office does not qualify.

How long does it take to get a business manager visa?

The Certificate of Eligibility takes about 1 to 3 months. The embassy visa then takes about 1 to 2 weeks. Company setup, the office and hiring usually add one to four months before you apply.

Can my family come with me on a business manager visa?

Yes. Your spouse and children can apply for a dependent visa. You can apply for both at the same time.

Can a sole proprietor get a business manager visa?

Yes. Instead of paid-in capital, immigration counts the total assets used for the business. They must reach ¥30 million, and all other requirements still apply.

In closing

The business manager visa now rewards real businesses. Plan your ¥30 million capital, your office and your first hire before you apply.

Set up company registration, bookkeeping and tax compliance from the start. Those records decide your first renewal. For legal advice, see our list of business lawyers in Japan or speak to an immigration lawyer.

Sources

• Immigration Services Agency: Business Manager status

• Immigration Services Agency: fees from October 1, 2026

• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Startup Visa

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Business Manager visa