Japan Business Manager status in 2026

Business Manager is the principal status of residence for a foreign national who will actually operate or manage a qualifying business in Japan.

The old JPY 5 million rule is stale for new applications

Japan changed the Business Manager landing criteria on 16 October 2025. For new cases under the current framework, ISA states that the business must satisfy a JPY 30 million or more business-assets/capital requirement.

For a corporation, this generally concerns paid-in capital or contributions. For an individual business, the official guidance explains that qualifying business investment can include amounts genuinely committed to the business, such as office, employee salary and equipment costs.

At least one qualifying full-time employee

The revised framework requires at least one full-time employee in the business. The qualifying employee category is limited by the immigration rules, including Japanese nationals and specified settled-status residents.

This is a major change from older summaries that described capital or employee alternatives.

A real business office in Japan

The business must have a genuine office in Japan. JETRO warns that a non-physical virtual office or an unsuitable shared/open workspace can create problems because the business location must be sufficiently independent and real for the activity.

Japanese-language and applicant qualification requirements

The 2025 reform also introduced additional requirements. ISA's current materials state that the manager or a qualifying full-time employee must have Japanese-language ability at the required level, described in the official reform material as approximately B2.

The applicant must also satisfy the current background standard, which includes a master's-level or equivalent qualification related to management/business, or at least three years of relevant business management experience, depending on the case.

Existing holders have transitional treatment

Do not assume every person who held Business Manager before the reform must instantly satisfy the new-entry criteria. ISA provides transitional treatment for renewal applications following the October 2025 change and evaluates the broader business and compliance circumstances.

Company registration alone is not immigration permission

Incorporating a company, becoming a shareholder or renting an office does not itself grant residence or work permission. The applicant must separately qualify for the Business Manager status and genuinely perform the permitted management activity.

Startup Visa can be a preparation bridge

For a founder who cannot yet meet all Business Manager requirements, the Startup Visa may provide a structured preparation period under an approved support organization.

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Verified against current ISA and JETRO sources on 20 September 2026.

Official and supporting sources

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