Japan business manager visa entries drop 80% following rule changes

The number of foreign nationals entering Japan under the Business Manager visa has decreased by approximately 80% following stricter government requirements implemented a year ago. According to the Immigration Services Agency, 635 individuals arrived with this visa between January and June of this year, compared to 3,329 during the same period in 2025.

To prevent the misuse of the visa for creating shell companies, legislators and immigration officials increased the minimum capital requirement sixfold to over 30 million yen (approximately $190,000). Additionally, businesses established under this visa are now required to employ at least one full-time staff member.

While the visa was originally designed 15 years ago to encourage foreign entrepreneurship, the recent reforms have significantly impacted the volume of arrivals, with particularly notable declines among Chinese, Pakistani, and Vietnamese nationals. An official from the agency stated that the figures have become more ‘appropriate’ since the enforcement of the new standards.