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Japan Business Visa New Rules 2025: Complete Guide to Management Visa Changes

1. What Changed? Complete Comparison of Old vs. New Japan Business Visa Rules

What specific aspects have been modified in this revision? Let's first examine the most critical changes in a comprehensive table to understand the overall scope of the new rules.

Requirements	New Rules (After Amendment)	Previous Rules (Before Amendment)
Capital Investment	30 million yen or more	5 million yen or more
Management Experience/Education	One of the following required: • 3+ years of management or administrative experience • Master's degree or higher in business management	None
Full-time Employee Hiring	Mandatory hiring of 1 or more full-time employees	None (2+ employee requirement as alternative to capital requirement)
Japanese Language Proficiency	Applicant or full-time employee must have JLPT N2 equivalent or higher proficiency	None
Business Plan Expert Verification	Expert verification of business plan mandatory (excludes listed company scale, etc.)	None

Even from this table alone, you can see that the required standards have been significantly elevated. Now, let's examine each of these changes in detail.

2. Five New Requirements You Must Meet: Detailed Analysis

Under the new Japan Business Visa rules, you must meet all five of the following requirements. We will explain in detail what each requirement means and what you need to prepare.

2.1 Capital Investment Increased from 5 Million to 30 Million Yen

The most significant change is the capital investment requirement, which indicates the scale of your business. You now need 30 million yen or more in capital, which is six times the previous amount. What constitutes "capital investment" varies depending on your business structure.

• For Corporations:
  This refers to the "paid-in capital amount" for stock companies or the "total investment amount" for limited liability companies.
• For Individual Businesses:
  This refers to the total amount of funds invested in the business. Specifically, this includes office rental costs, one year's worth of employee salaries, equipment costs, and other business-related expenses.

2.2 Three Years of Management Experience or Master's Degree Now Required

Applicants must now demonstrate their qualifications as business leaders through relevant experience. You must meet one of the following criteria:

• Option 1: Three or more years of business management or administrative experience
  • This includes periods of "startup preparation activities" conducted under the "Designated Activities" visa status.
• Option 2: Master's degree or higher in business management or a field related to your intended business
  • Degrees obtained from overseas universities are also acceptable.

2.3 Mandatory Hiring of One or More Full-time Employees

Companies operated by applicants are now required to hire one or more new full-time employees.

2.4 Japanese Language Proficiency (JLPT N2 Equivalent) Now Required

To ensure smooth business operations, a certain level of Japanese language proficiency is now required. However, this requirement can be met by either the applicant themselves or a full-time employee hired by the company. The required level is B2 level according to international standards (equivalent to JLPT N2).

Specifically, this can be demonstrated by meeting any of the following criteria:

• Passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) at N2 level or higher
• Achieving 400 points or higher on the Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT)
• Graduating from a Japanese university or graduate school
• Completing Japanese compulsory education and graduating from high school
• Having resided in Japan for 20 years or more as a medium to long-term resident

2.5 Business Plan Requires Expert Verification

You must prove that your submitted business plan is not just a pipe dream. It is now mandatory to have a business management expert verify that your plan is "specific and feasible."

The following professionals can provide this verification:

• Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant
• Certified Public Accountant
• Tax Accountant

These experts' objective evaluations play a crucial role in the review process.

In addition to these main requirements, there are new important considerations regarding business operations.

3. Other Important Rules for Business Operations

Even after obtaining your visa, you must pay attention to the following points in your business operations:

• Business Substance:
  Businesses where all operations are outsourced to other companies, resulting in minimal actual management activity by the business owner, will not be approved. It is important that you are actively and independently involved in management.
• Business Location:
  Using your home as a business location is generally no longer permitted. The increase in capital requirements to 30 million yen sends a clear message that the government is seeking more serious, well-funded businesses. Therefore, securing an independent, professional business location that matches your business scale is essential for demonstrating business credibility.
• Tax and Social Insurance Payments:
  When applying for visa renewal, you must submit documents proving that the following taxes and social insurance premiums have been properly paid to demonstrate that you are fulfilling your public obligations. This is a very important review criterion.
  • Labor Insurance
    • Employment Insurance (employee registration, premium payments)
    • Workers' Compensation Insurance (application procedures)
  • Social Insurance
    • Health Insurance and Employee Pension Insurance (employee registration, premium payments)
  • National and Local Taxes
    • For Corporations:
      • National Taxes: Withholding income tax, corporate tax, consumption tax
      • Local Taxes: Corporate residence tax, corporate business tax
    • For Individual Businesses:
      • National Taxes: Withholding income tax, declared income tax, consumption tax, inheritance tax, gift tax
      • Local Taxes: Individual residence tax, individual business tax

What about those who already hold a "Management" visa and are currently residing in Japan?

4. For Current Management Visa Holders: Three-Year Grace Period

Some readers may already be residing in Japan under a "Management" visa. Rest assured, the new rules will not be applied immediately.

During visa renewal applications within this three-year period, decisions will be made based on a comprehensive evaluation of your current business situation and prospects for adapting to the new requirements.

However, after the three-year grace period ends, you must generally meet all the new requirements. Nevertheless, there are important exception provisions. Even if you cannot meet the new requirements after three years, if you can demonstrate that your business is performing well, you are properly paying taxes and social insurance premiums, and you have prospects for meeting the new requirements by the next renewal period, other circumstances will also be considered, and renewal may be approved. For current visa holders, it is most important to plan and prepare to meet the new standards during this grace period.

5. Summary: What You Need to Prepare for Starting Your Business

5. Handling of Business Plans  
At the time of determination of the status of residence, the submitted business plan must be evaluated for its specificity, rationality, and feasibility, and confirmation by an expert with professional knowledge of business management is required (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Enforcement Regulations, Appended Table III, Item 1(i)).  
(Note) As of the enforcement date, the following are recognized as such experts:  
- Certified SME Management Consultant  
- Certified Public Accountant  
- Licensed Tax Accountant  
Please note that except for attorneys and administrative scriveners, preparing application documents for submission to government agencies for remuneration may constitute a violation of the Administrative Scrivener Act.