How to Get a Business Manager Visa in Japan: 2026 Guide

Originally by Ryan | Revised June 2026

The Business Manager Visa is one of the main routes for foreign founders who want to live in Japan and run a company here.

It is also one of the easiest Japan business topics to misunderstand. Registering a company, opening a bank account, hiring staff, renting an office, and applying for a visa are connected, but they are not the same step.

This guide explains the Business Manager Visa in practical terms. It starts with the basics, then walks through the order in which foreign founders usually need to prepare the business, documents, office, capital, employees, and application.

If you are still deciding whether Japan is the right market, you may also want to read our guide to Japan market entry before you begin the setup process.

Key Takeaways

1. The Business Manager Visa is for founders who want to live in Japan, either alone or with their family, while actively managing a business in Japan. Registering a company is not enough by itself. Immigration needs to see a real operating setup, including capital, office, employee structure, business plan, tax and insurance readiness, and a clear management role for the founder.
2. For a 2026 application, plan around JPY 30 million in company capital or qualifying business assets. This is not a government fee, and it should not be confused with the total cost of starting the business. Separate setup costs may still apply depending on your office, license, hiring, accounting, payroll, and professional support needs.
3. The office and employee requirements should be planned before filing. A virtual office is not suitable for the Business Manager Visa route. You should also plan for at least one full-time employee, proper payroll setup, and social insurance enrollment where required.
4. Processing time depends heavily on the immigration bureau, case complexity, and whether the application was filed under the old or new system. Under the new post-October 2025 system, many applicants should prepare for around 3 to 6 months. For old-system cases filed before the rule change, regional applications have often moved faster, while Tokyo-managed cases have been much slower.

What Is the Business Manager Visa in Japan?

The Business Manager Visa, known in Japanese as the Keiei Kanri Visa, is a residence status for foreign nationals who manage or operate a business in Japan.

In plain English, this visa is for people who need to live in Japan because they are actually running the business. This can include a founder, company owner, representative director, branch manager, or senior manager responsible for business operations in Japan.

The visa is not just for people who invest money in a company. Immigration wants to see that there is a real business, a real office, a credible operating plan, and a person who will manage the business from Japan.

The official Immigration Services Agency page describes the status as being for people who conduct the management of trade or other business in Japan, or engage in the administration of that business. You can check the official Japanese page for the Business Manager status of residence, but most founders will need the practical version of what that means.

For a foreign founder, the key question is simple: Can you show that your business is ready to operate in Japan at a serious enough scale?

Do You Need This Visa to Start a Company in Japan?

You do not always need a Business Manager Visa to register a company in Japan.

In many cases, a foreign founder can incorporate a company from overseas. You can own shares or membership interests in a Japanese company without personally living in Japan. Company ownership and residence status are separate issues.

The Business Manager Visa becomes important when you want to live in Japan and manage the company yourself. This affects day-to-day operations, banking, licenses, employee management, tax procedures, and relationships with local partners.

For example, you may be able to register a company from outside Japan, but you may still struggle with:

• Opening a corporate bank account
• Signing an office lease
• Handling license applications
• Hiring and managing employees
• Meeting tax and social insurance obligations
• Explaining the business to Immigration

If you need a broader overview of incorporation, SmartStart Japan has a detailed guide to setting up a business in Japan.

If you want to create a Japanese company remotely before moving to Japan, our sister company SmartStart Japan may be able to help with the incorporation process.

2026 Business Manager Visa Requirements

For a 2026 Business Manager Visa application, plan around the following requirements.

1. Minimum capital of JPY 30 million
2. A full-time Japanese employee
3. A dedicated physical office in Japan
4. Clear documentation showing the source of funds
5. A business plan certified by a licensed SME Management Consultant
6. Japanese language ability at around JLPT N2 or CEFR B2 level, satisfied by the founder or relevant employee where applicable
7. 3+ years of relevant business management experience, or a relevant graduate-level/professional degree
8. Tax, payroll, social insurance, labor insurance, and license readiness

These requirements should not be treated as separate boxes that you fill in at the end. They affect the order in which you prepare the company.

For example, the office affects the registered company address. The office and company registration affect banking. The employee affects payroll and social insurance. The business plan affects whether the capital, hiring plan, and office look realistic. This is why the Business Manager Visa is best planned as a setup project, not just a document submission.

If the company hires a full-time employee, your company should also prepare for social insurance and labor insurance procedures. In many cases, full-time employees will need to be enrolled in social insurance, and the timing should be planned before the visa filing rather than treated as an afterthought.

If you want help reviewing whether your company plan is visa-ready, SmartStart Japan provides Business Manager Visa support for foreign founders setting up in Japan.

Step-by-Step Application Process

The exact process depends on whether you are applying from overseas, changing status from within Japan, acquiring an existing business, or expanding a foreign company into Japan.

Still, most founder-led applications follow the same basic flow.

Step 1: Decide the Right Setup Route

Before you rent an office or move capital, decide which setup route fits your situation. Most foreign founders choose one of these paths:

• Incorporate a Japanese company and apply for the Business Manager Visa
• Use a Startup Visa first to prepare the business
• Expand an existing overseas company into Japan
• Acquire or invest in an existing Japanese business

For a new founder, the most common route is to set up a Japanese company. The two company types most foreign founders compare are Godo Kaisha and Kabushiki Kaisha.

A Godo Kaisha, or GK, is often the cost-efficient default. It is simpler to establish and can work well for founder-owned businesses, consulting companies, small teams, and many service businesses. You can learn more in SmartStart Japan’s guide to Godo Kaisha in Japan.

A Kabushiki Kaisha, or KK, is often used when outside investors, enterprise clients, or corporate perception matter. It usually costs more to set up, but it can look more familiar to Japanese partners. SmartStart Japan also has a guide to Kabushiki Kaisha in Japan.

Do not choose the entity only based on setup cost. Choose it based on your visa plan, business model, banking needs, investor expectations, and customer expectations in Japan.

Branch offices need extra care. They may sound simpler for overseas companies, but they can create limits around subsidies, loans, liability, and documentation. If you are considering a branch office, confirm the visa and capital treatment before committing to the structure.

Step 2: Build the Business Plan Before Spending Money

For the Business Manager Visa, the plan needs to show that the business is specific, realistic, and able to operate in Japan. It should explain what the company sells, who the customers are, why the Japanese market needs it, how revenue will be generated, and how the company will use its capital.

At a minimum, the plan should cover:

• Business model
• Target customers in Japan
• Market research
• Sales and marketing strategy
• Office plan
• Hiring plan
• Use of capital
• Revenue and cost projections
• Licenses or permits if needed
• Founder role and management experience

This is where many founders need to slow down. A business that sounds promising overseas may still need localization for Japan.

For help turning the business idea into a visa-ready plan, SmartStart Japan has a guide to writing a business plan for a Japanese startup. For market planning, our guides to market research in Japan and B2B marketing in Japan can help you think through demand, positioning, and customer acquisition.

If you are selling products directly to consumers, our guide to selling online in Japan may also help you prepare the sales side of the plan.

The goal is not to make the plan look impressive. The goal is to make it believable.

Step 3: Secure an Office That Works for Immigration and Banking

Your office is one of the most important parts of the application. For a Business Manager Visa, you should plan for a dedicated physical office that can support real business activity. Immigration and banks both care about whether the office looks suitable for the business you claim you will operate.

A virtual office is not enough for this route. It can also create serious banking problems. Many Japanese banks treat virtual offices as an automatic rejection issue for corporate accounts.

Office rent also matters in practice. If the rent is below JPY 70,000 per month, the office may be viewed as high risk for a visa application. A rent level of JPY 100,000 or more per month is generally a safer planning benchmark, although the right amount depends on the city, industry, office size, and business activity.

Before signing a lease, confirm:

• The address can be used as a company office
• The lease allows corporate registration
• The space is not just a mailbox or shared address
• The office can fit your business activity and employee plan
• You can provide lease documents and office photos

If you are new to Japanese office contracts, SmartStart Japan’s guide to rental office in Japan is a useful place to start.

Office choice also affects banking. For more on that side of the setup, see our guide to opening a corporate bank account in Japan.

Step 4: Prepare and Document the JPY 30M Capital

The current capital requirement is JPY 30 million. This is not a government fee. It is capital for the company. The money should support the business plan, office, hiring, equipment, marketing, and operating costs.

Immigration will also care about the source of funds. You should be ready to explain where the money came from and provide documents that support the explanation.

Common source-of-funds documents may include:

• Bank statements
• Salary records
• Company sale documents
• Investment agreements
• Loan agreements
• Gift agreements
• Tax records
• Overseas transfer records

The sequence matters. In many founder setups, the office lease should be secured before the capital is deposited for incorporation. If the order is wrong, the documents may become harder to explain.

The capital deposit certificate also has a short practical window. Plan for the incorporation documents to be filed within the required timing after the deposit certificate is prepared. If you miss the window, you may need to redo documents and lose time.

Do not treat the JPY 30 million as the total cost of the process. It is the capital requirement. You will still need to budget for office deposits, setup fees, professional support, accounting, payroll, insurance, and possible licenses.

Step 5: Incorporate the Company

Once the office, structure, and capital plan are ready, you can move into incorporation.

The incorporation process normally includes:

• Choosing the company type
• Preparing the articles of incorporation
• Confirming the business purposes
• Preparing founder and director documents
• Depositing the capital
• Filing the registration documents
• Receiving the company registration certificate

Business purposes deserve special attention. If your business needs a license, the company purposes should support that licensed activity. Restaurants, travel businesses, real estate businesses, recruitment businesses, and some import-related businesses may need extra planning.

If your business may require a permit, review SmartStart Japan’s guide to business licensing in Japan before finalizing the company documents.

Step 6: Complete Post-Incorporation Setup

After incorporation, the company has compliance work to complete before the visa filing is ready.

You should plan for:

• National tax office registration
• Prefectural tax office registration
• Municipal tax registration where applicable
• Payroll setup
• Accounting setup
• License applications if needed
• Preparation for social and labor insurance

Tax registrations are time-sensitive. In many cases, key tax office notifications are due within two weeks after incorporation. This is easy to miss if the founder is focused only on the visa application.

For a deeper checklist, see SmartStart Japan’s guide to post-incorporation requirements. You may also want to review their guide to Japanese taxes for new businesses.

At this stage, you should also prepare for employee-related insurance obligations. The actual enrollment deadline depends on the hiring event in the next step, but the company should be ready before the employee joins.

Step 7: Hire the Required Full-Time Japanese Employee

For the 2026 Business Manager Visa route, plan to hire a full-time Japanese employee.

This person should not be a contractor in name only. The employee should have a real role in the business, a proper employment contract, realistic pay, and the documentation needed to show employment.

Prepare:

• Employment contract
• Job description
• Salary details
• Work location
• Social insurance and labor insurance setup
• Employee identification documents
• Payroll records if employment has already started

Once the employee is hired, insurance deadlines can begin. In many cases, social insurance procedures should be handled within five days after the company becomes subject to enrollment. Labor insurance and employment insurance procedures may also apply depending on the employee and work arrangement.

This is one reason the employee step should not be left until the end. Hiring affects payroll, insurance, office use, budget, and the business plan.

The Japanese language requirement should also be checked here. For 2026 planning, prepare to show Japanese ability around JLPT N2 or CEFR B2 level through the founder or a relevant employee, where applicable. If you are relying on an employee to satisfy the language requirement, confirm the documentation before filing.

Step 8: Get the Business Plan Certified

The business plan should be certified by a licensed SME Management Consultant, known in Japanese as chusho kigyo shindanshi.

This certification is not just proofreading. The consultant reviews whether the plan is specific, rational, and feasible. They may look at the market, sales plan, cost structure, staffing plan, capital use, and whether the business can realistically operate in Japan.

Give yourself time for this step. A weak plan may need revisions before it can be certified.

A useful business plan should answer practical questions:

• What will the company sell?
• Who will buy it?
• Why is Japan a good market?
• How will customers be reached?
• What will the founder actually manage?
• What will the employee do?
• How will the JPY 30 million be used?
• What licenses or registrations are needed?
• How will the company stay compliant after approval?

If the plan only says the business will “expand into Japan” or “connect global markets,” it is probably too vague.

Step 9: Compile and Submit the Application

Once the company, office, capital, employee, certification, and compliance documents are ready, you can prepare the visa application.

Applicants outside Japan usually apply through the Certificate of Eligibility, or COE, route. A COE is issued in Japan and then used for the visa process at a Japanese embassy or consulate overseas.

If you are already in Japan on another status, confirm whether a change of status is available for your situation before relying on that route. The path can depend on your current residence status, business preparation history, and timing.

A typical application package may include:

• Application form from the Immigration Services Agency
• Passport copy
• Photo that follows Immigration photo standards
• Company registration certificate from the Legal Affairs Bureau
• Articles of incorporation
• Office lease and office photos
• Business plan
• SME Management Consultant certification
• Capital documents
• Source-of-funds documents
• Employee contract and employment documents
• Japanese language proof where applicable
• Tax and registration documents
• License documents if required
• Founder resume and experience or education documents

The Immigration Services Agency notes that document requirements vary by company category and application type. It may also request extra materials during review.

This is normal. The best preparation is to keep the story consistent across every document.

Here is where to get the main official forms and documents:

Step 10: Wait for Review and Respond to Requests

Business Manager Visa review times vary by region and case complexity, but you should plan from the start as if the process will take most of a year.

If you are starting from zero, prepare for this timeline:

Processing time depends on whether the case is under the old pre-October 2025 system or the new post-October 2025 system. For new-system applications, many applicants should prepare for around 3 to 6 months, depending on the immigration bureau, the business type, and the strength of the documents.

For old-system applications filed before the October 2025 rule change, regional cases outside Tokyo-managed immigration have generally moved faster, often around 3 to 4 months.

Tokyo-managed cases, including some areas outside Tokyo that are handled by Tokyo Immigration, have been much slower, with some applicants waiting around 14 to 16 months.

These are practical planning ranges, not guaranteed processing times.

Common follow-up areas include:

• Source of funds
• Office suitability
• Business plan details
• Employee role
• Licenses
• Founder experience
• Capital use
• Tax or insurance status

Respond clearly and consistently. If the application says one thing and the supporting document says another, the review becomes harder.

Step 11: Receive Approval, Enter Japan, and Register Residence

If your COE is approved, you will use it to apply for the visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate. After the visa is issued, you can enter Japan.

When you arrive, you will receive or later obtain a residence card depending on your entry airport and procedure. After moving into your address, you must register your residence at the local municipal office within 14 days.

After arrival, keep your company records clean from the beginning. Immigration will look at the reality of your business again when you renew.

This means you should keep:

• Office lease records
• Tax filings and payment records
• Payroll records
• Insurance records
• Employee records
• Accounting records
• Contracts and invoices
• License records

The first approval is not the end of the process. It is the start of operating the business in a way that supports future renewal.

How Much Should You Budget?

Prepare JPY 30 million in company capital plus at least JPY 3 million for setup and early operating costs before you apply.

That means a practical minimum starting budget is JPY 33 million. A safer planning budget is JPY 35 million to JPY 40 million, especially in Tokyo or any business that needs licensing, a larger office, inventory, equipment, or higher salaries.

The JPY 30 million capital is not a government fee. It is money placed into the company to support the business. It should match the business plan and be documented properly.

The additional JPY 3 million to JPY 10 million is for setup and early operation. This is the money you spend to prepare the company and keep it running while the application is being reviewed.

Use this as a concrete planning budget:

For a simple consulting or service business outside central Tokyo, prepare JPY 33 million to JPY 35 million. For a Tokyo-based company, restaurant, retail shop, recruitment business, import business, or any business needing a license, prepare JPY 35 million to JPY 40 million or more.

Do not spend the capital too aggressively before the visa is approved. Immigration will want to see that the business still has enough resources to operate according to the plan.

Startup Visa as a Preparation Route

Some founders are not ready for the Business Manager Visa immediately.

In that case, the Startup Visa may be worth reviewing. The Startup Visa is a preparation route offered through approved local governments. It can give founders time to prepare the business before moving into the full Business Manager Visa path.

It is not a shortcut around the Business Manager Visa.

You should still have a credible plan to meet the full requirements later, including capital, office, employee, business plan, language, and compliance requirements. If the Startup Visa is used only to delay hard decisions, it can create problems later.

The Startup Visa can make sense when:

• You need more time to prepare capital
• You need to test the market
• You need to build relationships in Japan
• You need time to secure the right office
• You need time to prepare hiring and licenses

SmartStart Japan has a separate guide to the Startup Visa in Japan if you want to compare this route with applying directly for the Business Manager Visa.

Important: the Startup Visa can give founders time to prepare, but it does not automatically remove the Business Manager Visa requirements. When converting from a Startup Visa to a Business Manager Visa, applicants may still need to satisfy the post-October 2025 Business Manager Visa requirements, including the JPY 30 million business scale requirement and full-time employee requirement.

Some local Startup Visa programs may have their own rules and timing. For example, Shibuya has its own Startup Visa framework, so founders considering that route should check the latest Shibuya requirements directly before choosing the Startup Visa as their main plan.

Renewal and Ongoing Compliance

Renewal depends on whether the business is actually operating and staying compliant.

Immigration may review the company’s business activity, financial condition, office, employee status, tax payments, insurance enrollment, licenses, and the founder’s management role.

A business does not always need to be highly profitable from the first year. Early-stage businesses can take time. But the company should be able to explain its activity, spending, revenue progress, and future plan.

Keep the following in good order:

• Corporate tax filings
• Consumption tax filings if applicable
• Payroll records
• Social insurance and labor insurance records
• Employee records
• Office lease
• Accounting documents
• Bank statements
• Invoices and contracts
• License documents

If your business changes direction, document the reason. If your employee leaves, act quickly. If your office changes, update the relevant registrations. Small administrative gaps can become larger problems at renewal.

SmartStart Japan has a guide to Business Manager Visa renewal, but renewal standards should always be checked against your current situation before filing.

FAQ

Can I get a Business Manager Visa with JPY 5 million in 2026?

No. For a new 2026 application, plan around the JPY 30 million capital requirement.

JPY 5 million is not enough for a standard new application in 2026. Confirm the capital plan before signing leases, moving funds, or preparing incorporation documents.

Can I use a virtual office for a Business Manager Visa?

No, you should not plan to use a virtual office for this route.

A Business Manager Visa application needs a dedicated physical office that supports real business activity. Virtual offices also create serious problems when opening a corporate bank account in Japan.

Does my office rent matter?

Yes, in practice.

A very low rent can make the office look unsuitable for the business. As a planning benchmark, rent below JPY 70,000 per month is high risk, while JPY 100,000 or more per month is usually safer. The right office still depends on your location, industry, employee plan, and business activity.

Can I apply before incorporating the company?

In most founder-led cases, the company setup comes before the Business Manager Visa application.

Immigration will usually need company documents, office documents, capital documents, and a business plan connected to the actual Japanese entity. If you are applying through a different structure, such as an existing company or branch, confirm the process before preparing documents.

Does the employee have to be Japanese?

For 2026 planning and on, treat the requirement as needing a full-time Japanese employee.

This should be a real employee with a real role, proper salary, employment documentation, and insurance setup. Do not rely on a contractor, part-time worker, or informal arrangement.

Is JLPT N2 required?

Japanese ability around JLPT N2 or CEFR B2 level should be planned for.

Depending on the case, this may be satisfied by the founder or a relevant employee. Confirm the acceptable proof before filing, especially if you are using a Startup Visa route or relying on an employee’s Japanese ability.

Can I bring my family on a Business Manager Visa?

In many cases, a Business Manager Visa holder can bring eligible family members under dependent status. This usually covers a spouse and children, but the family application needs its own documents.

SmartStart Japan has a guide on bringing family on a Business Manager Visa if this is part of your plan.

Can I use a branch office instead of a Japanese company?

A branch office can be an option for some overseas companies, but it needs careful planning.

Branch offices can create issues around liability, subsidies, loans, banking, and documentation. They are not always the easier route for a founder who wants a Business Manager Visa.

How long is the first Business Manager Visa period?

The period granted depends on the case.

The official residence periods include five years, three years, one year, six months, four months, or three months. Many new founder cases should not assume they will receive a long period at first. Renewal depends on the company’s activity and compliance.

Can I renew if the business is not profitable yet?

Profit helps, but early-stage businesses are not always profitable immediately.

What matters is whether the business is real, active, documented, and moving according to a credible plan. Keep records of sales activity, contracts, invoices, expenses, tax filings, employee status, and office use.

Is the Startup Visa easier than the Business Manager Visa?

It may be easier as a preparation route, but it is not a replacement.

The Startup Visa can give some founders time to prepare, but you still need a credible path to full Business Manager Visa compliance. Use it to build readiness, not to avoid the main requirements.

Should I choose GK or KK?

For many founder-owned small businesses, a GK is the cost-efficient default.

A KK may be better if you need stronger corporate perception, plan to raise investment, work with larger Japanese partners, or want a structure that looks more familiar to traditional companies.

Choose based on your business model, customers, investors, banking needs, and visa plan.

Do I need a university degree for the Business Manager Visa?

Not necessarily. The requirement is usually satisfied through either relevant management experience or relevant graduate-level education. For the education route, a regular bachelor’s degree should not be presented as enough by itself. The safer explanation is that the applicant should have a doctoral degree, master’s degree, or professional degree related to business management or to the business field. An MBA may qualify if it is relevant.

Final Thoughts

The Business Manager Visa is not just an immigration form. It is a test of whether your Japan business is ready to operate.

The strongest applications usually come from founders who plan the company, office, capital, employee, business plan, banking, tax, and compliance pieces together.

If you are serious about building in Japan, start with the business reality first. Then make the documents reflect that reality clearly.

Scaling Your Company helps founders understand the Japan market and growth side of the journey. For incorporation, visa, banking, and compliance support, SmartStart Japan can help you prepare the setup in the right order before you apply.