Business Manager Visa

Name: とさか行政書士事務所
Address: 香里北之町１丁目１−５ 勧栄ビル2階203, 寝屋川市, 大阪府, 572-0080, JP
Price range: ¥¥

Japan's October 2025 reforms have fundamentally changed the Business Manager Visa. Here is what you need to know and how we can help.

Major reform effective October 2025

What Changed in October 2025

A side-by-side comparison of the old and new requirements.

Requirement	Before Reform	After Reform (Oct 2025)
Capital Requirement	¥5,000,000 (or 2 full-time employees)	¥30,000,000 or more (no lower alternative)
Employees	2+ full-time (or ¥5M capital)	At least 1 full-time employee who is a Japanese national, special permanent resident, or holder of a residence-based status (e.g. permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national, long-term resident)
Japanese Proficiency	Not required	The applicant or a full-time employee must have B2-level Japanese (e.g. JLPT N2, BJT 400+, or a degree from a Japanese university)
Business Experience	Required only for hired managers	3+ years of business management experience, or a master's, doctoral or professional degree in a related field
Business Plan Evaluation	Not required	The plan must be confirmed by a Japanese SME Management Consultant, certified public accountant or certified tax accountant who is not an officer or employee of your company
Existing Visa Holders	—	Renewals until 16 October 2028 are judged on business condition and the outlook for meeting the new rules; an expert-evaluated document may be requested

Capital Requirement

Before¥5,000,000 (or 2 full-time employees)

After¥30,000,000 or more (no lower alternative)

Employees

Before2+ full-time (or ¥5M capital)

AfterAt least 1 full-time employee who is a Japanese national, special permanent resident, or holder of a residence-based status (e.g. permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national, long-term resident)

Japanese Proficiency

BeforeNot required

AfterThe applicant or a full-time employee must have B2-level Japanese (e.g. JLPT N2, BJT 400+, or a degree from a Japanese university)

Business Experience

BeforeRequired only for hired managers

After3+ years of business management experience, or a master's, doctoral or professional degree in a related field

Business Plan Evaluation

BeforeNot required

AfterThe plan must be confirmed by a Japanese SME Management Consultant, certified public accountant or certified tax accountant who is not an officer or employee of your company

Existing Visa Holders

Before—

AfterRenewals until 16 October 2028 are judged on business condition and the outlook for meeting the new rules; an expert-evaluated document may be requested

Why You Need a Dual-Qualified Professional

The New Business Plan Requirement

Since 16 October 2025, the business plan submitted for a new Business Manager Visa must be confirmed by an expert in business evaluation. The Immigration Services Agency accepts three Japanese qualifications for this: SME Management Consultant (chusho kigyo shindanshi), certified public accountant, and certified tax accountant. Officers and employees of your own company cannot act as the reviewer.

Administrative Scrivener + Management Consultant = Complete Coverage

Preparing immigration documents for a fee is work for a licensed Administrative Scrivener (gyoseishoshi), while the plan confirmation needs one of the three qualifications above. I hold the gyoseishoshi license and the SME Management Consultant qualification, so the legal documents and the business plan are built together from the start. The guidance does not say explicitly whether the person who drafted a plan may also confirm it, so at the first consultation we explain how the confirmation will be arranged for your case.

How It Works

From initial consultation to visa approval, four clear steps.

Initial Assessment

Free 30-minute consultation to evaluate your eligibility under the new rules. We identify potential challenges and map your optimal application strategy.

Business Plan Development

Using my SME Management Consultant qualification, I develop a business plan that meets immigration standards — financial projections, market analysis, and operational roadmap.

Documentation & Filing

As a licensed Administrative Scrivener, I prepare all legal documents and submit your application to the Immigration Services Agency. No third-party coordination needed.

Approval & Ongoing Support

After visa approval, I provide ongoing compliance support, renewal preparation, and business advisory services to help you meet evolving requirements.

For existing visa holders

Reform Transition Package

Already have a Business Manager Visa? Renewals until 16 October 2028 are not refused simply because the new rules are not yet met; the Immigration Services Agency looks at the condition of the business and whether you are likely to meet the new rules by the next renewal, and may ask for a document evaluated by a business expert. After that date, the new rules apply. Our transition package prepares you for both.

Gap analysis of your current status vs. new requirements
Updated business plan with professional evaluation
Renewal documentation preparation and filing
Ongoing compliance advisory

Discuss Your Renewal

Ready to Start?

Book a free 30-minute consultation. I will assess your eligibility and outline the next steps.

Book a Free Consultation View Pricing →

info@tosaka-office.jp

Arriving as a student first

10.1% of international students in Japan intend to start a business here

That figure comes from the government's own survey, and it is the route many people take — study first, then the change of status. If you are at that earlier stage, we publish Actually Japan: ten findings from the same survey on what studying here actually costs, how much students work, and which step they report as the hardest.

It recommends no school and takes no commission. Every figure links back to the government document it came from.

actuallyjapan.com