【経営管理ビザ】2025 Law Amendment Guide & Its Future Impact
- minainvestjapan
- Nov 11
- 7 min read
“30 seconds to understand! Key changes to the Management & Business Visa”
・When: Effective from October 16, 2025. Applications already accepted will generally be processed under the old standards; current stay holders have transition relief for up to three years.
・What’s changing: The capital requirement rises to ¥30 million or more; a full-time employee is mandatory; Japanese language proficiency B2 (JLPT N2) or equivalent; a master’s degree in a related field or at least 3 years of business/management experience; business plan must be reviewed by a specialist.
・Who is affected: Those applying from now on will be subject to the new standards immediately. Current visa holders will face stricter checks on business performance, taxation and employment at renewal.
・First steps to take: Re-design your capital plan; hire Japanese language N2 level staff and set up social insurance; confirm required permits/authorizations; obtain specialist review of the business plan.
[Effective October 16, 2025] Key Points and Practical Measures for the Management & Business Visa Law Revision
Starting October 16, 2025, the Management & Business Visa (経営・管理ビザ) will undergo a significant overhaul under the new standards.
The previous minimum capital requirement of ¥5 million will be raised to ¥30 million.
In addition, new criteria will be introduced, including:
A mandatory full-time employee,
A Japanese language proficiency requirement equivalent to B2 (JLPT N2), and
A business plan verification system by certified professionals.
Furthermore, from July 2025, the visa renewal review process will also become more stringent in practice, with greater emphasis placed on verifying actual business operations, tax payment status, and employment structure.
This article provides a clear, expert-based explanation of the background of the revision, its impact on foreign entrepreneurs and business entities, the transitional measures and renewal considerations, and the practical strategies—including capital planning, hiring, and compliance management—that will help applicants successfully meet the new standards.
Contents
1．Business Manager Visa
2．[Effective October 16, 2025] Revision of the Management & Business Visa — Key Points and Practical Measures
3．Background of the Revision
4．Impact on Foreign Entrepreneurs
1．What is the Management & Business Visa?
This visa status allows foreign nationals to establish a company in Japan and engage in business as a manager or administrator. Historically the main requirements included:
・Capital of at least ¥5 million (or employment of at least two full-time staff)
・A secured office space
・A business plan demonstrating continuity and stability
2．[Effective October 16, 2025] Revision of the Management & Business Visa — Key Points and Practical Measures
1．Main changes to requirements
1．Employment of full-time staff (New)
Companies must now hire at least one full-time employee who is either a Japanese national, special permanent resident, or one of the designated categories under Table 2 of the Immigration Control Act (e.g., permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national, etc.).
📌Comment: The former rule of “¥5 million capital or two hires” has been replaced by the mandatory one full-time hire. It’s important to advance hiring plans and apply for social insurance and labor insurance early.
２．Capital requirement raised (¥5 million → ¥30 million)
・For corporations: evaluated by paid-in capital or total equity.
・For sole proprietors: evaluated by total investment amount including office setup, one year personnel costs, and equipment investment.
📌Comment: When planning capital, clearly distinguish between cash and debt; clarify capital nature and repayment conditions. If increasing capital, maintain proof of payment, registration extracts, bank transfer records in chronological order.
３．Additional Japanese language ability requirement (B2/JLPT N2 level)
Either the applicant or a full-time employee must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2 (e.g., JLPT N2, BJT 400 points). Alternatives include over 20 years’ residence or graduation from higher education in Japan.
📌Comment: External certificates are the most reliable proof. Another realistic approach is to hire a staff member who possesses N2 level and fulfill the requirement via system design.
4．Background requirement (Academic/Work experience)
Applicants must have either a master’s degree in a related field or at least 3 years of business/management experience (preparation period for establishing the business may count).
📌Comment：To prove authenticity and continuity of history, align employment certificates, tax records, registration, contracts, etc., with third-party documentation.
５．Mandatory review of business plan by a specialist
Business plans must now be reviewed by a certified SME consultant, CPA, or tax accountant (lawyers or administrative scriveners are not eligible).
📌Comment: The plan should provide numbers for revenue model, hiring/social insurance costs, cash-flow statements, and permit acquisition prospects, demonstrating reasonableness and feasibility. Early consultation with a specialist is key to success.
2．Treatment of applications (Practical notes)
After the amendment, attention should be paid to the following points, as “nominal businesses” with weak substance will find qualifying more difficult:
・Businesses operating only through outsourcing with little substance are excluded.
・Home-office setups are generally not permitted; companies need office space scaled to the new standard.
・Impact on applications for permanent residence or “Highly Qualified Professional” status: if the enterprise does not meet the new standards, some change of status or permanent residence applications may be declined.
・Long-term absences from Japan may trigger renewal denial.
・Renewal procedures will enforce stricter checks on tax/social insurance compliance.
・Required permits/authorizations must be submitted; if not yet obtained, you may need a valid reason and schedule for acquisition by the next renewal.
3．Transitional measures
・Applications already accepted before the enforcement date will in principle continue to be examined under the old standards.
・For visa holders already in residence: up to three years after the enforcement date, renewal decisions will consider projections etc. in the comprehensive assessment.
・After three years have passed, the standards after amendment will apply (though if business performance and tax compliance are good and there is reasonable prospect to meet requirements by next renewal, overall assessment may allow).
・Change of status from “Designated Activities (No. 51/ Future Innovators)” to the Management & Business Visa: applications made before enforcement date are treated under old standards; those made after are subject to the new standards.
3．Background of the Revision
This set of ordinance and notification amendments does not merely revise the capital threshold; it marks a shift toward screening for entrepreneurial substance and business sustainability.
The immigration authorities raised the capital guide to ¥30 million and clarified new composite requirements including:
・Full-time employee hiring obligation
・Japanese language ability (B2/N2)
・Verification of business/management experience or academic background
・Specialist review of business plan (SME consultant/CPA/tax accountant)
In doing so, they aim to curb purely nominal companies or businesses that disappear quickly, and make only substantive enterprises eligible for stay.
In recent years, foreign entrepreneurship applications have increased—but not all enterprises had sufficient substance; business scale or operational capability were sometimes lacking, leading to concerns over short-term closures or visa misuse.
Media and expert commentary cast the reform as a shift from “volume to quality” – higher entry barriers, but greater post-entry sustainability and credibility. In particular, the raised capital and full-time employee requirement serve to promote early internal control and compliance-oriented company formation, which can improve initial creditworthiness with banks or suppliers.
4．Impact on Foreign Entrepreneurs
This amendment is not simply an increase in immigration hurdles. It refocuses entrepreneurs’ attention on the foundations of business—capital, human resources, governance and compliance.
While fewer entrants may apply, those who do will tend to have stronger business resilience and credibility. Below are the practical changes, divided into advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages: Higher-quality entry and credibility uplift
1. A healthier business environment and higher quality competition
・Requirements such as ¥30 million capital, one full-time hire, and Japanese B2 level help eliminate nominal startups.
・The market retains those entrepreneurs with real plans and capability; competition shifts from price to quality, service and operational strength.
・For serious founders, this reform offers a competitive advantage.
2. Improved evaluation by clients and financial institutions
・Capital level is a primary indicator in transaction start-up, account opening and credit evaluation.
・¥30 million is a credible scale for Japanese SME setup, making initial checks easier.
・Fewer bottlenecks in payment or financing accelerate business ramp-up.
3. Early establishment of organisational framework
・With mandatory full-time staff hiring, social/ labour insurance compliance, tax and social insurance payment checks and specialist-reviewed business plans… start-ups must build internal controls and compliance from day one.
・This strengthens frameworks for later financing, subsidy applications or audits.
4. Enhanced talent acquisition and customer/authority communication
・Having an applicant or full-time staff with Japanese B2 level improves business negotiations, contracts and government relations.
・Better responsiveness to claims and procedures leads to stronger reputation and repeat orders.
Disadvantages: Entry barriers rise sharply and transition-phase uncertainty
1.Burden of capital fundraising and personnel costs
・Maintaining ¥30 million capital (or equivalent investment) and one full-time hire increases early cash-burn.
・For small-scale businesses (e.g., single restaurant, solo consulting, mini cross-border EC) this may be an excessive initial investment; cash-flow until profitability is a major risk. Debt-only funding may lead to running out of working capital.
2．Reduced flexibility for “lean startup” approaches
・Previously one could start small, test and iterate; post-amendment one must “go big” from the start, raising validation cost and risking higher withdrawal losses. Some may choose to test overseas first.
3．Renewal risk and operational lag for existing holders
・For those who obtained the visa under ¥5 million standard, renewal will focus on business substance, tax/social compliance and employment.
・“Company exists but business lacks substance” cases will face stricter scrutiny. Until operational guidelines and office practices settle, each case may face uncertainties.
Final Note
The reform design narrows entry but enhances survival rate and credibility. While starting small becomes more challenging, entrepreneurs who can secure capital and build structure now have a clear return through initial screening, funding, hiring and reputation.
To succeed, focus on:
Transparent capital planning
Building requirements-compliant structure through “people + system”
Specialist-reviewed business plan
Compliance operations with renewal in mind
Stay tuned for our next article, where we will delve into the specific actions and procedures you need to prepare for.
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