ABOUT THIS VISA
Not an Investor Visa, Not a Work Visa
The Business Manager visa is granted to foreign nationals who operate a company and manage a business in Japan—company representatives, directors, branch managers, and business management executives. It is not an investor visa you can obtain simply by "putting in money"; what is examined is your genuine management capability. Nor is it a work visa where you are hired as an ordinary employee—you yourself are the operator.
You can establish a company, operate a lawful business (trade, IT, food & beverage, guesthouses, education…), hire employees, and sign contracts. It serves as the foundation for long-term life and business development in Japan, and can later connect to permanent residency and family visas.
"
The Business Manager visa is not a status visa. What it gives you is the right to run a real company in Japan.
— Sunrise Business Services
⚠ From October 16, 2025, the review standards for the Business Manager visa have been raised across the board—old-style plans are highly likely to be rejected outright.
POLICY UPDATE
Before vs. After the New Policy · Six Requirement Comparisons
Is your old plan still viable? Check it item by item.
▎Furthermore — renewal review places greater weight on tax, social insurance, and labor compliance; sustained compliance is the second gate. The above is a summary of key policy points; the latest announcements from the Immigration Services Agency take precedence.
ELIGIBILITY CHECK
Will Your Plan Pass Review?
The key to success is not proving "I have money," but proving you have the capability, resources, and plan to sustainably operate a real company in Japan. Self-check item by item:
HARD REQUIREMENTS
Registered capital of ¥30 million or more
Combining multiple companies is not accepted in principle
Hire 1+ full-time employee
Restricted status—student/technical-intern status holders cannot be counted
Japanese at B2 level
JLPT N2 / BJT 400 or above
Degree or 3+ years of management experience
Experience must match the proposed business
Business plan confirmed by a professional
Small and medium enterprise management consultant / certified public accountant / tax accountant
Dedicated business office
Home-office use is not recognized in principle
BUSINESS REALITY
Authentic capital
Clear source of funds, consistent documentation chain
Genuine business
Client contracts, transaction records, actual operations
Genuine operator involvement
Decision-making authority, attendance, business commitment
Future sustainability
Reasonable 3-year outlook, sustained compliance
The industry itself is not the deciding factor—what matters is whether license · capital · personnel · premises · revenue logic hold up. Two people doing the same food business: one is approved, the other is rejected outright. The difference lies here.
INDUSTRIES
Which Industries Are More Favored
The following industry directions all have successful cases, but the industry itself is not the deciding factor—license, capital, personnel, premises, and revenue logic are what matter in review.
ROADMAP
Application Roadmap — Four Phases
From initial diagnosis to approved business operation, the full process takes about 4-8 months
Diagnosis & Planning
STEP 01-03
01 Initial eligibility diagnosis
02 Define the business and company structure
03 Prepare capital and proof of its source
Company Incorporation
STEP 04-06
04 Incorporate / prepare corporate documents
05 Secure a dedicated office
06 Hire full-time employees
Application Submission
STEP 07-10
07 Prepare the business plan
08 Professional confirmation
09 Administrative scrivener prepares application documents
10 Submit application to the Immigration Bureau
Approved & Operating
STEP 11
11 Begin operations after approval
★ Organize business-operation records before renewal—this is the second critical gate
Initial Application · Four Dimensions of Core Documents
Personal Documents
Passport / resume
Degree or experience proof
Japanese proficiency proof
Company Documents
Company registration records
Capital proof
Office lease agreement
Personnel Documents
Employment contracts
Employee resident records
Salary terms / social insurance
Business Documents
Business plan
Capital source documents
Contracts / clients / website, etc.
▎Missing documents in any category will delay review—the document chain is synonymous with genuine operation.
SERVICE & FEE
Agency Services · Fee Overview
Office Location Recommendation
FREEActual contracting fees billed separately
Immigration Spot-Check Response Training
¥50,000Q&A training for spot-check phone calls
Family Visa Q&A Training
¥88,000/personSpot-check response for spouse / dependent visas
Pre-Arrival Custody
¥300,000Registered capital management / document management / mail reception (before the applicant lands in Japan)
Fee Notes · Key Points
· Pricing is based on company registration in Tokyo's 23 wards
· Travel expenses outside the 23 wards must be agreed in advance
· Includes the ¥210,000 articles of incorporation notarization fee
· Translation and special certificate costs billed at actual expense
· Representative director proxy fee includes 1 year of management
· Registered capital account management period: 1 year
· Dependent visa: ¥230,000 for the first family member
· Visa renewal: ¥110,000 per application
※ The above is a summary of fee points. The complete fee description is subject to the written contract. Please consult a consultant for details.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does the capital really have to be ¥30 million?
Under the new policy effective October 2025, ¥30 million or more is required in principle. But capital is only one threshold—the authenticity of the capital source and the feasibility of the business plan matter just as much.
Q. Can I still apply without JLPT N2?
The new policy requires the applicant or an employee to reach B2 level. If you haven't reached it yet, you can satisfy this requirement by hiring a qualified full-time employee. Please consult us for specific options.
Q. How long does it take from start to approval?
Company incorporation takes about 1-2 months, and residency status review about 1-3 months; the full process is usually 4-8 months. We plan the schedule backward from your target arrival date in Japan.
Q. Can my family come with me?
Yes. After the main applicant receives their visa, the spouse and children can apply for dependent visas. We provide dependent visa processing and spot-check response training (¥88,000/person).
Q. Is renewal difficult?
Renewal review places greater weight on actual operations—ongoing compliance with taxes, social insurance, and labor insurance. We recommend keeping good operational records after arrival; we provide a comprehensive compliance check before renewal.
Q. Can I still use my old plan?
Applications submitted after October 16, 2025 are subject to the new standards. We recommend an early condition diagnosis, checking your plan item by item against the six new-policy thresholds to assess whether adjustments are needed.
OUR SERVICES
Sunrise Business Services — What We Can Do for You
01
Condition Diagnosis
Free initial assessment of whether your plan meets the new policy
02
Business Direction Design
Customized plans based on your industry, resources, and background
03
Business Plan Organization
Market · revenue · sustainability · feasibility · authenticity
04
Incorporation Process Consulting
Key milestones from registration to opening, guided throughout
05
Expert Coordination
Office · tax accountant · social insurance · bank accounts
06
Pre-Renewal Improvement Consulting
Operational record management and compliance check before renewal
※ Immigration application documents are handled by partner administrative scriveners in accordance with the law, with clear scope of work and compliance first.
