Tokyo – The Immigration Services Agency of Japan has decided to tighten the requirements for the “Business Manager” visa, aimed at foreigners starting businesses in Japan. The agency is considering raising the capital requirement from the current “5 million yen or more” to six times that amount, “30 million yen or more.” The goal is to align with standards in other countries and prevent the visa from being obtained for purposes other than its original intent.
The “Business Manager” visa is designed to encourage foreign entrepreneurship and enhance Japan’s international competitiveness. To qualify, applicants must meet requirements such as a capital investment of “5 million yen or more” or employing “two or more full-time staff” and securing a business office in Japan. The visa allows a stay of up to five years, permits family accompaniment, and can be renewed indefinitely.
However, concerns have been raised in the Japanese parliament that some foreigners are establishing shell companies in Japan, where requirements are relatively lenient, to obtain the “Business Manager” visa for immigration purposes rather than genuine business activities.
At an expert panel meeting held on the 20th, some members argued that “the system is allowing entry by foreigners who deviate from its intended purpose, and a significant increase in the capital requirement is necessary.” Others suggested that “strengthening investigations into actual business operations would be the most effective way to prevent misuse” or that the government should first assess the extent of foreigners obtaining the visa for non-intended purposes.
The Immigration Services Agency plans to conduct public comments based on the panel’s input and aims to amend and implement the ordinance by the end of the year.
According to the agency, as of the end of 2024, approximately 41,000 foreigners held the “Business Manager” visa, an increase of about 14,000 over the past five years. In comparison, similar visa programs in other countries require higher capital thresholds, such as 300 million won (approximately 30 million yen) in South Korea and 100,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 11 million yen) in Singapore. [Kenji Tatsumi]