Japan to Tighten Business Manager Visa Requirements from October 2025

First, list of detected linkable resources in order of appearance:
1. Immigration Services Agency of Japan (uscis_resource) — mentioned twice
2. Immigration Services Agency of Japan (MOJ) English page (policy) — mentioned once

Now the article with gov links added (only the first mention of each resource in the article body text, max 5 links). I added a .gov link for the first mention of “Immigration Services Agency of Japan” and for “Immigration Services Agency of Japan (MOJ) English page” (the visible text in the article matched exactly, so I used that exact resource name for the second link). No other changes were made.

(JAPAN) Japan will raise the bar for its Business Manager visa from mid-October 2025, sharply increasing the capital investment threshold from 5 million yen to 30 million yen and tightening the eligibility requirements around education, experience, and business plan quality. The Immigration Services Agency of Japan will implement the changes through an amendment to a ministerial ordinance under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act. Officials say the goal is to welcome serious entrepreneurs while curbing misuse of a route that some used to secure status without building real businesses.

The headline change is money and management depth. Applicants will need to show at least 30 million yen in capital for the business—about six times the current level—and meet one of two background tests: either a master’s degree or higher in business or management (or a relevant university degree under the latest detail) or three or more years of business management experience. In a shift that may help smaller teams, the employee rule will move from two full-time positions to at least one full-time employee who is a Japanese citizen or permanent resident. All new applications must include a business plan reviewed by a certified professional such as a CPA, Tax Accountant, or government-recognized SME Management Consultant.

Supporters call the change overdue, noting rising concern about shell companies and thin business activity. Critics warn the higher capital investment threshold will lock out many genuine small businesses and international founders who previously could enter the market with leaner models. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the requirement jump is likely to push early-stage entrepreneurs toward alternative paths, delay launches, or prompt relocation to ecosystems with lower upfront cash demands.

Policy changes — quick facts

• Effective date: Mid-October 2025, via ministerial ordinance under Japan’s immigration law
• Capital requirement: Increase from 5 million yen to 30 million yen
• Employment rule: Hire at least one full-time employee (Japanese citizen or permanent resident)
• Applicant qualifications: Either a relevant university degree (officials signaled master’s degree or higher in business/management) or three years of managerial experience
• Business plan scrutiny: Review and certification by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Tax Accountant, or SME Management Consultant
• Visa validity: Up to five years, renewable; renewals after the effective date will be assessed under the new rules

Under the current regime, entrepreneurs can qualify with 5 million yen or by employing two full-time staff, and there is no formal education or experience requirement. Business plans do not need professional review. That more permissive design helped a range of small foreign-run shops and services open in Japan, but it also left gaps the government now intends to close.

The new framework introduces higher proof of capacity and a standardized check on feasibility. A professionally reviewed plan should reduce weak projections and mismatched market assumptions. It will also add cost and time. Applicants should budget for advisory fees, translation, and document gathering, particularly for those balancing investments made outside Japan. For family-run ventures, the at least one employee rule still requires a baseline payroll presence and payroll compliance from the start.

Impact on applicants and industry response

For would-be founders, the sixfold increase in the capital investment hurdle is the most immediate shock. Many foreign entrepreneurs historically launched with 5–10 million yen, testing ideas in food service, education, e-commerce, or boutique tech outsourcing. Those models may now need outside investors, delayed timelines, or a shift into larger, less flexible corporate setups to reach 30 million yen.

Immigration lawyers and business consultants say cash-rich franchises and established overseas firms will adapt more easily than bootstrapped startups. Existing Business Manager visa holders are not immediately subject to the new eligibility requirements, but they should plan ahead. Renewals filed after mid-October 2025 will be viewed through the tighter lens, especially on business performance, staffing, and plan quality.

Founders aiming to expand or pivot may decide to shore up capital and documentation well before renewal windows. If an existing business already meets the higher thresholds, keeping clear records of capital inflows, audited accounts, and payroll history will be vital.

Practical effects will show up in banking and staffing:

• Banks may ask for more detailed documentation to confirm paid-in capital.
• Payroll providers will need to set up statutory benefits for the required full-time hire.
• Accountants and SME consultants—now central to the process—will see higher demand to review business plans and issue certifications.

That supply-and-demand shift could raise fees, at least in the first year of implementation, and extend timelines for applicants seeking appointments.

Officials argue the standards will raise the average quality of ventures and improve compliance. They point to cases in which small companies never launched genuine operations after visa approval. By requiring either a university degree tied to business or three years of managerial experience, authorities expect more applicants to bring tested skills and clearer strategies. The government’s stance is that tighter filters help serious investors, employees, and customers trust that approved businesses have a real chance to survive.

Consultants counter that entrepreneurship often involves nontraditional paths—such as self-taught founders—and that cash-light, high-creativity projects can grow into steady employers if given time. They warn that pushing up-front cash to 30 million yen will deter diversity in the pipeline of foreign-run firms. Some founders may instead choose nearby markets with lower entry capital or seek remote-friendly structures that avoid a physical footprint in Japan. Others may look for Japanese partners to meet the capital requirement, which could shift ownership dynamics and risk tolerance.

Recommended preparation steps for applicants

Applicants weighing their options can prepare by building a thorough file now. Under the updated process, expect the following sequence:

1. Secure at least 30 million yen in capital and document its source and transfer into the company.
2. Hire or plan to hire one full-time employee who is a Japanese citizen or permanent resident; prepare an offer letter and job description.
3. Prove qualifications with a degree in business or a related field, or records showing three years in a management role.
4. Draft a detailed business plan covering the model, market, staffing, compliance, and financial projections.
5. Obtain a formal review and certification from a CPA, Tax Accountant, or SME Management Consultant before filing.
6. Submit the application with proof of capital, staffing, credentials, and the certified plan; then await the decision under the stricter review.

Practical tips:

• Convert foreign funding and time transfers carefully; retain bank records and receipts.
• Consider phased or conditional lease agreements to avoid sunk costs if approval takes longer.
• Engage certified reviewers early to surface weak spots in forecasts or compliance steps.
• Keep audited or well-documented financial records to support renewals after mid-October 2025.

Regional context and longer-term effects

Comparisons with the region help explain the shift. Advisors note Japan’s prior standard—5 million yen or two employees—was relatively accessible compared with stricter neighbors that ask for higher capital, longer payroll records, or tougher local presence. Aligning upward brings Japan closer to those models, signaling a preference for scale and proven management credentials over lean experimentation.

The human side of the policy is complex. Many foreign founders build small community businesses—language schools, cafes, design studios—that add local jobs and services. Raising the financial floor risks pricing out these projects. At the same time, larger capitalized ventures may expand faster and anchor more stable hiring. Policymakers say the new balance is meant to protect system integrity without closing the door. How many applicants will clear the higher bar remains an open question that observers will track in the first year after launch.

Law firms expect a learning curve as case officers, consultants, and founders work through edge cases—what counts as qualifying management experience, how to treat hybrid degrees, and how to evaluate non-traditional revenue models. While formal guidance is expected to arrive ahead of the effective date, companies caught between rules should document every step and consider staged filings if timelines allow.

VisaVerge.com reports that applicants who prepare early, secure credible third-party reviews, and present conservative financial assumptions tend to fare better when standards rise.

Where to watch for official updates

For official updates, applicants can monitor the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (MOJ) English page for implementation notices and detailed instructions close to the rollout date. Agencies and professional bodies are also expected to publish lists of qualified reviewers for business plans, which will help applicants find the right expert for their industry.

Bottom line: Japan still wants foreign entrepreneurs, but it now asks for more proof—more cash, more skill on paper, and more careful planning backed by professionals. Founders who can meet the eligibility requirements will likely face a more predictable review built around audited numbers and real staffing. Those who cannot may explore partnerships or alternative routes. Either way, the Business Manager visa is moving from a flexible door to a narrower gateway built for ventures with stronger starting points.