Japan’s Stricter Renewal Standards for Business Manager Visas as of July 2025
Tightening the Screws: Japan’s Stricter Renewal Standards for Business Manager Visas as of July 2025
By Masakazu Murai, Gyoseishoshi (Immigration Legal Specialist)
Continental Immigration Law Office, Tokyo
As of July 2025, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan has implemented stricter requirements for the renewal of the Business Manager visa. This policy shift stems from growing concern over misuse of the visa as a mere vehicle for relocation—without genuine business activity being undertaken by the visa holder.
Under Japan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, the legal foundation for granting the Business Manager visa is the applicant’s bona fide engagement in executive or managerial duties. However, a troubling number of cases have emerged in which applicants secure the visa for the purpose of residence in Japan but do not actually engage in any meaningful business operations.
In response, immigration officers are now requiring applicants to submit a detailed activity report outlining their entrepreneurial and managerial efforts over the past year as a condition for renewal. This marks a significant departure from the previously more flexible review process.
Furthermore, while still under internal review, the Japanese government is reportedly considering even more substantial reforms to the initial visa eligibility criteria. These may include:
- A minimum capital investment of JPY 30 million (compared to the current JPY 5 million threshold), and
- The mandatory employment of at least one full-time staff member, effectively eliminating the previously accepted one-person company model.
These developments reflect the government’s clear intention to tighten enforcement and limit visa issuance exclusively to active and legitimate business operators.
At Continental Immigration, we are closely monitoring these regulatory updates and providing ongoing legal guidance to ensure that our clients remain compliant under the evolving framework.
