Japan: What is changing for the Business Manager Work Permit?

In our Spotlight on APAC series, we round up the latest immigration updates from around the region.  In this post we focus on Japan’s new requirements for the Business Manager Work Permit.

In August 2025 the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (ISA) announced that it will revise the requirements for the business manager work permit. The new rules, set to take effect in mid-October 2025, will result in much stricter eligibility criteria.

Currently, to obtain a business manager work permit (“keiei kanri” in Japanese), the host company must either:

(1) employ two or more full-time workers resident in Japan

(2) have 5 million yen (approximately $34,000) or more of stated capital or capital contribution, or

(3) be equivalent to (1) or (2).

Under the significantly increased new requirements set by ISA, the host company will be required to:

(1) employ at least one full-time worker resident in Japan; and

(2) have 30 million yen (approximately $204,000) or more of stated capital or capital contribution.

In addition, the visa applicant will be required to either:

(1) hold a doctoral degree, master’s degree, or professional degree in a field related to business management or related to the technical skills or knowledge necessary for the business operations;  or

(2) have at least three years of business management experience.

There will also be a requirement to submit a business plan for evaluation by a business management expert.

The period for public comment ends on 25 September and the ministerial ordinance will be promulgated in early October and will become effective mid-October.

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