Business Manager Visa 2026: The New ¥30M + JLPT N2 Rules Explained
🇯🇵 日本語要約
2025年10月16日施行の経営・管理ビザ大改正：資本金要件が500万円→3,000万円に引き上げ（かつ日本人・永住者フルタイム従業員1名が必須）。さらにJLPT N2相当の日本語能力（申請者または従業員が保有）、3年以上の経営経験または修士号、中小企業診断士・公認会計士・税理士による事業計画書認定が義務化。バーチャルオフィス不可・物理的専用事務所が必要。現ビザ保持者は2028年10月16日まで旧500万円基準での更新可能（猶予期間）。重要：合同会社（GK）を6万円で登記することと経営・管理ビザ取得は全く別物。ビザ目的なら新要件3,000万円等を満たす必要あり。詳細は行政書士または出入国在留管理庁で要確認。
Quick Summary
| Requirement | Old Rule (before Oct 2025) | New Rule (from Oct 16, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Capital / investment | ¥5 million OR 2 full-time employees | ¥30 million AND 1 full-time employee |
| Full-time employee | Optional (alternative to capital) | Mandatory — JP national, PR, Special PR, or spouse of JP/PR |
| Language | Not required | JLPT N2 (applicant OR employee must hold it) |
| Management experience | Not required | 3+ years experience OR master's/doctoral degree |
| Business plan | Self-prepared accepted | Must be certified by CPA, tax accountant, or SME consultant |
| Office | Home office sometimes OK | Physical dedicated commercial office required |
| Grace period | — | Existing holders: old ¥5M rule at renewal until Oct 16, 2028 |
Why Did Japan Change the Rules?
The Immigration Services Agency (ISA) implemented its most significant Business Manager Visa reform in over two decades on October 16, 2025.
The trigger was fraud. Investigators documented "dummy company" schemes — businesses registered on paper with minimum ¥5 million capital but no real activity — being used to fraudulently obtain or hold visa status. By end of 2024, over 41,000 foreign nationals held Business Manager visas. That was a 50% increase in five years. ISA concluded the old ¥5 million bar was too easy for dishonest applicants to clear.
The new rules require genuine investment, qualified staff, demonstrated management competence, and independently certified business plans. The era of minimal-capital companies as a visa pathway is over.
The New Requirements in Detail
Capital: ¥30 Million AND One Employee
The old rule offered two paths: ¥5 million capital OR two full-time employees. The new rule eliminates the OR. You need both ¥30 million AND at least one qualifying full-time employee. There is no employee-only alternative path anymore.
The Required Full-Time Employee
The employee must be one of these:
- Japanese national
- Permanent Resident (永住者)
- Special Permanent Resident (特別永住者)
- Spouse of a Japanese national or Permanent Resident (配偶者等)
The visa holder cannot count themselves as this employee. You need a separate qualifying person.
Language: JLPT N2 or Equivalent
Either the visa applicant OR the required full-time employee must demonstrate JLPT N2 level (CEFR B2).
Accepted equivalents:
- BJT Business Japanese Test: 400 points or higher
- 20 or more years of continuous residence in Japan
- Graduation from a Japanese university or vocational school
- Compulsory education plus high school completed in Japan
If either the applicant or the employee meets one of these bars, the language requirement is satisfied for the whole company.
Management Experience
One condition must be met:
- 3 or more years of relevant business management experience, OR
- A master's degree, doctoral degree, or professional degree in management or a related field
Certified Business Plan
For new applications, the business plan must be evaluated and certified by a licensed professional:
- SME Management Consultant (中小企業診断士)
- Certified Public Accountant (公認会計士)
- Licensed Tax Accountant (税理士)
A self-written plan or one from an unlicensed consultant is not sufficient.
Physical Office
A virtual office — address-only registration services — is not accepted. You need a dedicated physical commercial office that is demonstrably used for business operations.
❌ This Is NOT the Same as Registering a GK
This is the most critical distinction in this article.
Registering a Godo Kaisha (GK) in Japan costs around ¥60,000 in registration fees and stamps. EasyNihon has a full DIY Company Formation Guide that walks through every step of registration.
Registering a GK does NOT give you Business Manager Visa status. These are completely separate things.
| What you are doing | What it actually means |
|---|---|
| Registering a GK (¥60,000) | Creating a legal corporate entity in Japan |
| Business Manager Visa status | Immigration permission to live in Japan as the manager of that company |
You can still register a GK cheaply and quickly. That process has not changed. But if your goal is to live in Japan legally on the basis of running that company, you now need to separately meet all five new requirements: ¥30M + qualifying employee + JLPT N2 + management experience + certified business plan.
If you already hold a different valid visa — Engineer/Specialist in Humanities, Spouse of a Japanese national, or Permanent Residency — you may be able to own and operate a GK without a Business Manager Visa. PR holders and Spouse visa holders have no work restrictions. Running a company under those visa categories does not require the new ¥30 million.
The ¥60,000 GK registration is not a visa pathway. Do not proceed assuming that registering a company automatically gives you the right to live in Japan as its manager.
3-Year Grace Period for Existing Holders
If you currently hold a Business Manager Visa and you renew before October 16, 2028, you may be assessed under the old ¥5 million capital standard.
This grace period is real but strictly time-limited:
- You must submit your renewal before October 16, 2028
- After that date, all applicants (new and renewal) must meet the full new requirements
Start planning your renewal at least 6 months before your card expires. Do not wait until the last moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I have an existing Business Manager Visa. Does it change immediately?
A: No. Your current visa is valid until its expiry date. The new rules apply at your renewal appointment. If you renew before October 16, 2028, you may be assessed under the old ¥5 million standard (grace period). After that date, full new requirements apply to everyone.
Q: Can I count myself as the required full-time employee?
A: No. The rule explicitly requires a separate qualifying employee. The visa holder cannot satisfy their own employee requirement.
Q: My capital is under ¥30 million right now. What are my options?
A: Three paths: (1) Increase capital to ¥30 million before renewal. (2) Use the Startup Visa (スタートアップビザ) for up to 2 years while building capital and business track record. (3) If married to a Japanese national or PR holder, explore the Spouse Visa route. Confirm your specific situation with a licensed gyoseishoshi.
Q: What exactly counts as an acceptable certified business plan?
A: It must be formally certified by a licensed SME Management Consultant (中小企業診断士), CPA, or Tax Accountant (税理士). A plan you write yourself or have prepared by an unlicensed party does not qualify for new applications.
Q: I hold Permanent Residency. Do these rules affect me?
A: No. PR holders have unrestricted work rights and can own and manage a company without a Business Manager Visa. These rules only apply to people who need the Business Manager Visa as their basis for living and working in Japan.
Q: Is the Startup Visa a long-term solution?
A: No. It provides up to 2 years to establish your business. After that you must qualify for full Business Manager Visa status under the new rules, or transition to a different visa category.
Legal Disclaimer
This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules are subject to interpretation and change. Individual cases — especially borderline capital structures, acceptable proof of employee status, and management experience documentation — are decided by individual officers with case-by-case discretion.
Confirm your specific situation with a licensed gyoseishoshi (行政書士) or directly with the Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) before submitting any application.
For PR eligibility self-audit: easynihon.com/pr-compliance
For GK company registration guide: easynihon.com/gk-guide
Japanese Keywords
経営・管理ビザ · 資本金3000万円 · 日本語能力試験N2 · 経営管理ビザ改正2025 · ビジネスオーナービザ条件 · 経営管理ビザ更新2026 · 外国人起業ビザ · 中小企業診断士事業計画
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