[Business Manager Visa] Unable to Renew Due to Stricter Rules? The “3-Year Grace Period” and Thorough Countermeasures You Should Know Before Giving Up

“I hear that the criteria for the Business Manager visa will become stricter under the upcoming legal amendments.”

“I don’t think I can meet the new criteria such as 30 million yen in capital or Japanese language ability, and I’m about to give up because I believe my next extension will be impossible……”

Recently, we have often heard such deeply felt concerns from foreign business owners. We fully understand how bewildering it must feel when, after working so hard to grow your business in Japan, paying taxes, and creating employment, the rules suddenly change and the hurdles seem to rise.

However, please calmly check the facts. If you correctly interpret the official guidelines published by the Immigration Services Agency, you will see that there is no need to panic right now.

Today, we will share the greatest “reassuring fact” that will help you keep going without giving up on your Business Manager visa extension, along with concrete measures you can start taking now for the future!

1. Even if you cannot meet the new criteria, you will not be immediately “denied”!

The most reassuring point we want to convey is this: “For those who already hold a Business Manager visa, a ‘three-year grace period’ is provided to adapt to the new criteria.”

The official announcement by the Immigration Services Agency (Frequently Asked Questions) clearly states the following:

Until three years have passed since the enforcement of the amended Act (until October 16, 2028 [Reiwa 10]), even if the new criteria are not met, an application for extension of the period of stay will not be denied solely on that ground.

In other words, there is absolutely no need to give up right away thinking, “I can’t prepare 30 million yen in capital by my next extension (next year or the year after), so it’s hopeless.” The government has given you ample time to come into compliance with the new criteria.

2. Caution! The real reasons you can still be “denied” during the grace period

So, will your visa be automatically extended during these three years even if you do nothing? The answer is “no.” In fact, there are quite a few business owners who stumble over matters entirely unrelated to the stricter new criteria and end up losing their visa.

In immigration examinations, the authorities check extremely strictly not only the “business situation,” such as the company’s sales and profits, but also “whether you, as a business manager, comply with Japanese rules (laws and regulations) and operate the company properly.”

Specifically, if there are problems with the following items, you may be judged to “lack the qualifications required of a business manager,” and the risk of your extension being denied increases even during the grace period.

As long as you thoroughly maintain the compliance that is expected of any business manager (observing laws and regulations, properly paying insurance premiums, and paying taxes) on a daily basis, your visa will not be unreasonably taken away during the grace period.

3. Toward the deadline in Reiwa 10 (2028)! Three steps to take right now

To eliminate your anxiety, you need correct knowledge and action. Precisely because you still have the grace period, start working on the following three steps right away!

• Conduct a full review of your company’s compliance

  The top priority is to shore up your foundation. Check right now whether employees’ working hours and salary calculations are correct, whether there are any failures to enroll in or pay social insurance and labor insurance, and whether there are any unpaid personal taxes—and correct any deficiencies immediately.

• Create a “backward-planned” business plan to clear the new criteria

  Create a roadmap so that you can clear the new criteria by “October 2028 (Reiwa 10),” the end of the grace period. For example, calmly set concrete milestones such as “by when will I hire one full-time employee,” “how will I channel profits into retained earnings and increase capital,” and “when will I take the JLPT (N2).”

• Build a support structure involving professionals

  It is extremely difficult for a business owner to get through a visa extension involving legal amendments and to formulate a business plan all alone. When you feel uneasy, don’t carry the burden by yourself—ask professionals such as an Immigration Lawyer (Gyoseishoshi) well-versed in immigration procedures or a tax accountant strong in financial matters to conduct a “diagnosis of your company’s current situation.”

In closing: We are cheering for your business in Japan

Extending your Business Manager visa is an important procedure that proves to the government the painstaking effort you have made in Japan and the value of your business.

Even if the wall of the law suddenly appears higher, please never give up. If you calmly confirm the rules on the grace period and take measures one by one with the help of professionals, a path will surely open up.

At our office, we have also handled cases where a foreign national applied on their own and received a 4-month visa, but we recovered the situation and obtained a 1-year visa.

We wholeheartedly support you as you take on the challenge of doing business in Japan and work hard. Let’s move forward together toward your next extension and the expansion of your business beyond that! If you have any concerns, please feel free to consult our office at any time.