Japan Business Manager Visa 2026: The New ¥30 Million Investment Requirement Explained

Japan Business Manager Visa 2026: The New ¥30 Million Investment Requirement Explained

If you have been researching how to run a business in Japan as a foreign national, you may have encountered older guides citing ¥5 million as the minimum investment required for a Business Manager visa. That figure is no longer correct.

As of October 2025, the minimum investment capital threshold was raised to ¥30 million (approximately $190,000–$200,000). The change was part of a broader policy shift aimed at attracting higher-quality business investment rather than small-scale nominal establishments.

This article explains what changed, how the Business Manager visa works under the new rules, and what alternatives remain for smaller-scale entrepreneurs.

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What the Business Manager Visa Is

The Business Manager visa (経営・管理ビザ) is Japan's primary visa category for foreign nationals who want to establish and manage a business in Japan. It covers:

• Business owners / founders
• Directors and managing officers of Japanese corporations
• Branch managers of foreign companies with Japan operations

The visa permits the holder to engage in business management and administration activities. Employees working for the business use different visa categories (engineer, humanities, etc.).

Duration: Initially 1 year, renewable. Can be extended to 3 or 5 years with a track record. Long-term holders can apply for permanent residency after 10 years (or faster via the Highly Skilled Professional points system).

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What Changed in October 2025

Prior to October 2025, the minimum business establishment investment was ¥5 million. This was set decades ago and was considered a low barrier that resulted in many borderline or nominal establishments.

The October 2025 revision raised this to ¥30 million, a sixfold increase. The official rationale cited:

1. Aligning Japan's investment threshold with comparable business immigration programs in other developed economies
2. Reducing applications from businesses without genuine operational intent
3. Attracting businesses likely to have meaningful economic and employment impact

The ¥30 million figure applies to the total investment in the Japanese entity — this includes office setup costs, initial operating capital, inventory, equipment, and other startup expenses. It does not have to be cash sitting in a bank account; it can be documented as invested and deployed capital.

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What the ¥30 Million Must Cover

The investment must represent genuine, verifiable business expenditure — not paper capital that has not been deployed.

Qualifying uses of investment capital:

• Office lease deposit and rent (covered for the first months to 1 year)
• Office equipment and furniture
• IT infrastructure and software
• Initial inventory or supplies
• Marketing and launch costs
• Salaries for initial employees (hiring at least 2 full-time Japan-resident employees, either Japanese or legally employed foreigners, remains a requirement for some application paths)
• Professional fees (accounting, legal, setup costs)

Not qualifying:

• Cash held in a personal account of the director
• Funds promised but not yet transferred to the Japanese entity
• Loans from the applicant to the company that have not been converted to equity

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Requirements Beyond Investment Capital

The ¥30 million investment is necessary but not sufficient. The full Business Manager visa requires:

Requirement	Detail
Legal entity	KK (株式会社) or GK (合同会社); foreign company branch also possible
Physical office	Real, dedicated office space (not just a virtual address in most cases)
Business plan	Concrete, credible plan showing operational intent
Management capacity	Applicant must have management experience and qualifications
No criminal record	Standard immigration requirement
Financial viability	Evidence the business can support the applicant's living expenses

The office requirement is taken seriously. Some immigration offices will not accept a shared coworking space address without proof of dedicated access. If you are using a serviced office, get a contract that clearly specifies exclusive use of a defined space.

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How the Application Process Works

1. Establish the Japanese entity: Register a KK or GK with the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局). This requires a registered address and an initial board structure.
2. Deploy investment capital: Transfer the required capital into the company's bank account, deploy it on qualifying expenses, and document everything.
3. Prepare the business plan and supporting documents: The immigration case hinges on the business plan's credibility. It should include market analysis, financial projections, organizational structure, and description of the applicant's management role.
4. Apply for Certificate of Eligibility (在留資格認定証明書): This is submitted to the Regional Immigration Services Bureau. Processing takes 1–3 months.
5. Apply for the visa: With the certificate, apply at a Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country.
6. Enter Japan and begin operations: The visa is granted for 1 year initially. Renewal depends on actual business performance.

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Alternatives for Smaller-Scale Entrepreneurs

The ¥30 million threshold effectively closes the Business Manager visa to many micro-entrepreneurs and early-stage founders who were using it under the old ¥5 million requirement.

What to consider instead:

Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) Visa

If your work and qualifications score sufficiently on Japan's HSP point system (specific skills, education, income), you can obtain a status that allows business management activities. The HSP visa does not have the same investment capital requirement, but requires meeting the point threshold (typically 70+ points for priority status).

Engineer / Specialist in Humanities and International Services Visa

If you are an employee of a Japanese entity (even one you control), and your role qualifies as engineering, IT, or humanities work, this visa may apply. Some founders structure their companies with a separate person as the nominal business manager and hold an engineer visa themselves. This requires genuine professional work, not just a workaround structure.

Long-Term Resident or Spouse Visa

If you have other pathways to legal residence (marriage to a Japanese national, long-term resident status), you can run a business in Japan without a business manager visa.

Startup Visa Programs (Startup Visa)

Select municipalities in Japan offer startup support visas (スタートアップビザ) that allow you to reside in Japan for 6 months–1 year while developing your business plan, before applying for a full business manager status. The investment requirement applies at the point of converting to Business Manager status, not during the startup visa period. Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, and other startup-friendly cities participate.

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Is the Business Manager Visa Still Worth Pursuing?

For those who can meet the ¥30 million threshold, the Business Manager visa remains a clear and functional pathway to running a business in Japan and building toward permanent residency. Japan's corporate environment, infrastructure, and market access make it attractive for the right type of business.

For entrepreneurs who cannot reach ¥30 million in documented investment, the alternatives above (especially HSP and startup visas) are worth evaluating with an immigration lawyer before assuming the Business Manager visa is the only option.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the ¥30 million have to come from my own funds, or can I use investors? Investment from third parties — including venture capital, angel investors, or institutional investors — qualifies as investment capital for the visa, as long as it is invested into the Japanese entity and documented appropriately. Investor funding strengthens the credibility of the application.

Q: Can I start a company in Japan as a tourist and then apply for the visa? You can register a company in Japan while on a tourist visa. However, you cannot run it (as a manager) until your Business Manager visa is approved. Starting the legal entity before applying for the visa is the normal process.

Q: I ran a business in my home country. Does that help with the Business Manager visa application? Yes. Prior business management experience is positively evaluated in the visa assessment. Bring documentation of your previous business history, including registration documents, financial statements, and a description of your management role.

Q: Will the ¥30 million requirement be raised again? Immigration policy is subject to change. Some immigration lawyers have noted that the October 2025 increase may not be the last, particularly if the government continues to pursue quality-over-quantity business immigration. Monitor official ISA announcements.

Q: What is the startup visa, and which cities offer it? The startup visa (スタートアップビザ) is a designated activities visa offered by participating municipalities to early-stage founders. It gives you 6–12 months in Japan to develop your business before converting to a full Business Manager status. As of 2026, participating cities include Tokyo (Shibuya, Shinjuku, and other special districts), Fukuoka, Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, and others. Check the immigration section of each city's official website for current program details.