- Japan’s Immigration Services Agency said 953 business manager visa holders left without completing reentry procedures in early 2026.
- The total was 3.9 times higher than the same period in 2025 after tougher rules began October 16, 2025.
- New applications fell from about 1,700 a month to 70, while monthly departures stayed at 100 to 200.
Japan's Immigration Services Agency data show 953 business manager visa holders left the country between January and June 2026 without completing reentry procedures, a step that effectively ended their stays. The total was about 3.9 times the figure for the same months of 2025. The jump followed stricter rules that took effect on October 16, 2025.
The figure surfaced on Sept. 2, 2026. It covered people who did not return through the normal process. The monthly flow ran at 100 to 200 through June.
Officials tightened the category to curb shell companies and visa abuse. The pressure has fallen especially on foreign-run businesses and restaurants. That was the point of the overhaul.
The new framework also brought tougher scrutiny of business plans. It now weighs experience, language ability, and tax and social insurance compliance. The screening went deeper.
The count covers the first six months of 2026. June 30 closes the window. It is a half-year snapshot.
Japan stacked a cash test, a staffing test, and a language test
Three conditions changed together.
| Condition | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Capital | Minimum of ¥30 million, up from ¥5 million |
| Staffing | At least one full-time qualifying employee |
| Language | Either the applicant or that employee must show Japanese ability at about CEFR B2 or equivalent |
| Start date | October 16, 2025 |
The package raised the capital floor. It also added staffing and language tests.
One report said new applications fell from an average of about 1,700 a month before the change to about 70 afterward. That works out to about 96%.
The same reporting put the monthly departure pace at 100 to 200 through June. The first-half total, 953, sat far above the 2025 level.
