Business Manager / Administration Visa (Keiei Kanri Visa – 経営管理ビザ)

1. What is the “Business Manager / Administration” Visa?

The “Business Manager / Administration” visa is a residence status that allows foreign nationals to engage in business management or administrative activities in Japan.

Foreign nationals who hold a Permanent Resident, Spouse of Japanese National, Spouse of Permanent Resident, or Long-Term Resident status are not subject to work restrictions. Therefore, they may engage in business management activities without changing their current status of residence.

This article explains the “Business Manager / Administration” residence status (Keiei Kanri Visa). It provides an overview of:

• The basic framework of the visa

• The authorization requirements

• The major legal revisions that came into effect on October 16, 2025

• Renewal procedures for those who obtained the visa before the revision

• The Startup Visa system as a pathway to obtaining the Business Manager visa

2. Overview of the Authorization Requirements

In general, applicants for the Business Manager / Administration visa must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• Securing an Office in Japan

A physical office must exist in Japan.

If the business has not yet commenced operations, the applicant must at least have secured premises that will be used as the business office.

• Business Scale Requirement

The business must satisfy one of the following:

a) Employment of at least one full-time employee residing in Japan, other than the applicant.

This employee must be either:

• A Japanese national; or

• A foreign national with a status based on personal status (e.g., Permanent Resident, Spouse of Japanese National, Long-Term Resident).

Foreign nationals holding work visas do not qualify for this requirement.

OR

b) A capital amount or total investment of at least JPY 30 million.

• Residence and Japanese Language Requirement

The applicant — or a person with sufficient autonomy and ability to understand and use Japanese — must be scheduled to reside in Japan while conducting business management activities.

• Educational Background or Experience

The applicant must satisfy one of the following:

a) Hold a doctoral degree, master’s degree, or professional degree related to business management or the technical/specialized knowledge necessary for the business; OR

b) Have at least three years of experience in business management or administration.

• Salary Requirement (for Administrative Roles)

If the applicant engages in administrative duties, he or she must receive remuneration equal to or greater than that of a Japanese national performing equivalent work.

• Business Plan Verification

The business plan submitted with the application must be reviewed and verified by a professional with specialized knowledge in management, such as:

• A certified public accountant (CPA)

• A tax accountant

• A certified small and medium enterprise (SME) management consultant

3. Important Considerations

Meeting the formal requirements does not automatically guarantee visa approval.

The Immigration Bureau conducts a strict examination of whether there is a realistic and sustainable prospect that the applicant will be able to continuously operate and manage the business in Japan.

In particular, Immigration carefully evaluates:

• The nature of the business

• The strategy for stabilizing and maintaining revenue

• The necessity of conducting the business in Japan

Each requirement is examined individually and strictly.

For example:

• If the business office is located at the applicant’s residence, the residential space and office space must be clearly separated.

• The source of capital is also carefully reviewed. If the origin of funds is unclear or cannot be properly documented, the application may be denied.

4. Legal Reform (Effective October 16, 2025)

The requirements described above reflect the revised standards that came into effect on October 16, 2025.

The major changes compared to the previous requirements are:

• Mandatory employment of at least one full-time employee in Japan

• Increase of required capital/investment from JPY 5 million to JPY 30 million

• Requirement that the applicant or one full-time employee possess significant Japanese language proficiency (generally equivalent to JLPT N2 or higher)

• Requirement of a doctoral/master’s/professional degree related to management or at least three years of management experience

• Mandatory professional verification of the business plan

These revisions significantly raised the threshold for obtaining the Business Manager visa.

5. Applicants Who Obtained the Visa Before the Reform

For individuals who already held the “Business Manager / Administration” visa prior to the reform:

If they apply for renewal by October 16, 2028 (three years after the reform took effect),

even if they do not fully satisfy the new criteria, Immigration will make a decision taking into account:

• The actual business performance; and

• The realistic possibility of meeting the revised requirements in the future.

6. Startup Visa

As explained above, the Business Manager visa imposes high requirements, particularly for foreign nationals in the early stages of entrepreneurship (such as company incorporation, securing office space, and obtaining necessary licenses).

To address this, Japan has implemented the Startup Visa system.

The Startup Visa allows foreign nationals who intend to establish a new business in Japan to stay in the country during the preparation phase without immediately meeting all Business Manager visa requirements.

The typical period of stay is one to two years. During this time, the applicant:

• Incorporates the company

• Secures office premises

• Obtains necessary permits and licenses

• Hires employees

The ultimate goal is to transition from the Startup Visa to the Business Manager / Administration visa.