[October 2025 Law Reform] Drastic Stricter Rules for the Business Manager Visa! An Immigration Lawyer Explains the New 30 Million Yen Capital Requirement

[October 2025 Law Reform] Drastic Stricter Rules for the Business Manager Visa! An Immigration Lawyer Explains the New 30 Million Yen Capital Requirement

Hello! We are the Oita VISA Support Center (Legal Gate Administrative Scrivener Office), providing visa application and startup support for foreign nationals in Oita Prefecture.

The “Business Manager” visa is the required residence status for establishing a company and working as a president in Japan. Previously, this visa was known to be “relatively easy to get if you have a capital of 5 million yen.” However, due to a law revision enacted in October 2025, the hurdle for approval has been raised to its highest level ever.

Several months have passed since the enactment, and our office has seen a surge in inquiries such as, “I want to start a business, but the requirements are too strict,” or “I am worried about whether my next visa renewal will be approved.”

In this article, we clearly explain to foreign business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs “what exactly has become stricter?” and “how should you prepare going forward?”

[Shocking] 5 Major Changes to the Business Manager Visa

This stricter approach is a strong message from the government to eliminate “paper companies” without substance and only recognize “stable businesses that truly contribute to the Japanese economy.” Specifically, the following five points have changed significantly:

1. Capital (Investment Amount) Increased from “5 Million Yen” to “30 Million Yen or More”

This is the most shocking change. The minimum line for capital (or total investment in the business), which used to be 5 million yen, has suddenly been raised to 30 million yen or more. Furthermore, the source of these funds—”how that 30 million yen was formed”—is now subject to extremely strict scrutiny.

2. Mandatory Employment of “At Least One Full-time Employee”

Previously, “as long as you had 5 million yen in capital, a company with only the president was acceptable.” Under the new rules, however, it is now mandatory to employ at least one “full-time employee with no work restrictions” (such as a Japanese national or permanent resident) in addition to the applicant (business manager).

3. Business-Level “Japanese Language Proficiency (JLPT N2)” is Required

Either the business manager themselves or the full-time employee hired above must prove they have a Japanese language proficiency equivalent to JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) “N2” or higher. The ability to communicate smoothly in Japanese in a business setting has become essential.

4. “Home-based Offices” are Generally Banned! A Completely Independent Office is Needed

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, using virtual offices or a room in one’s home as an office was partially allowed, but this has now been strictly prohibited. You must contract a clearly independent tenant space (office or storefront) exclusively for business use.

5. Requirements for the Manager’s “Education and Career History”

It is now a clear standard that the applicant must hold a master’s degree or higher in business administration/management, or possess at least 3 years of practical experience (experience in business management or administration).

Beware Not Only for New Establishments But Also “Visa Renewals”!

If you think, “I already have a Business Manager visa, so this doesn’t affect me,” you must not let your guard down.

Even for the “renewal of