Business Manager Visa Reform FAQ (2025–2028) | Official ISA Q&A Explained

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has published detailed official Q&A clarifying how the revised standards for the “Business Manager” status of residence will be applied in practice.

This article provides an accurate English explanation of those official FAQs, organized by topic.

⚠️ This article is based strictly on official Immigration Services Agency guidance.
It provides general information only and does not constitute individual legal advice.

Full-Time Employee Requirement (常勤職員の雇用)

Q1. Who qualifies as the newly required “full-time employee”?

A.
Only the following persons qualify as a “full-time employee” under the permission standards:

• Japanese nationals

• Special Permanent Residents

• Foreign nationals residing under Table II statuses:

  • Permanent Resident

  • Spouse or Child of Japanese National

  • Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident

  • Long-Term Resident

Foreign nationals residing under Table I statuses (e.g. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Skilled Labor, Student, etc.) do not qualify as full-time employees for this requirement.

Q2. The guideline seems inconsistent: Table I foreigners are excluded in the employment section but included in the Japanese language section. Who should actually be hired?

A.
The requirements must be understood separately. Concrete examples are as follows.

Examples that meet the standard:

• Employing at least one Japanese national or Special Permanent Resident as a full-time employee

• Employing at least one Table II foreign national with proven Japanese ability as a full-time employee

• Employing:

  • One Table II foreign national without Japanese ability proof, and

  • One Table I foreign national with Japanese ability proof

Examples that do NOT meet the standard:

• Employing only Table I foreign nationals, even if they have Japanese ability

• Employing only Table II foreign nationals without any proof of Japanese ability

Q3. What does “full-time employee” mean?

A.
Whether an employee is considered full-time is determined based on the following factors.

General criteria:

• The employee works daily under a fixed work schedule (excluding holidays)

• Appropriate salary and benefits are set according to the position

Treatment-related criteria (compared with part-time workers):

1. Works 5 or more days per week, 217 or more days per year, and 30 or more hours per week

2. After 6 months of continuous employment with 80% or higher attendance, is entitled to at least 10 days of paid annual leave

3. Is enrolled in Employment Insurance and works 30 or more hours per week

⚠️ Workers engaged under secondment, dispatch, subcontracting, or outsourcing arrangements are not considered full-time employees of the business.

Q4. If there are multiple full-time employees, must documents for all of them be submitted?

A.
No.
It is sufficient to submit documents proving that at least one employee satisfies the required standard.

Capital / Business Scale (資本金の額等)

Q5. How is the ¥30 million business scale confirmed?

A.
Immigration confirms whether the business scale is ¥30,000,000 or more using documents such as the Commercial Registry Certificate.

• Corporations:

  • Kabushiki Kaisha: paid-in capital

  • Gomei/Goshi/Godo Kaisha: total investment amount

• Sole proprietors:

  • Total amount actually invested for business purposes (office securing, one year of employee salaries, equipment, etc.)

Q6. What if the first fiscal year has not ended and no balance sheet exists?

A.
Even if the fiscal year has not ended, you must prepare and submit a balance sheet as of incorporation or another arbitrary date.

Q7. Are capital reserves, capital surplus, or retained earnings included?

A.
No.
Only paid-in capital or total investment is counted.
Capital reserves, capital surplus, and retained earnings are not included.

Q8. For corporations, can salaries or office expenses be added to reach ¥30 million?

A.
No.
For corporations, the determination is based only on paid-in capital or total investment.
Operating expenses cannot be added.

Q9. How should the capital section of the application form be completed?

A.
On Affiliated Organization Form 1 (7):

1. Line 1: Total assets used for the business

2. Line 2: Paid-in capital / total investment (corporations only)

3. Line 3: Portion of Line 1 invested by the applicant personally

Q10. Does the ¥30 million requirement apply even if the applicant acts only as a manager?

A.
Yes.
The requirement applies regardless of whether the applicant acts as a manager.

Q11. Can capital from multiple companies be combined?

A.
No.
At least one company alone must meet the ¥30 million threshold.

Q12. How can a sole proprietor prove a ¥30 million business scale?

A.
By submitting:

• Financial documents from the most recent year, and

• Receipts and other evidence proving actual investment (office, payroll, equipment, etc.)

Japanese Language Ability (日本語能力)

Q13. What level of Japanese is required and how is it proven?

A.
Japanese ability equivalent to B2 or higher under the Japanese Language Education Reference Framework is required.

For non-Japanese / non-Special Permanent Residents, one of the following must be proven:

• JLPT N2 or higher

• BJT score of 400+

• 20+ years of mid- to long-term residence in Japan

• Graduation from a Japanese university or other higher education institution

• Completion of compulsory education and high school in Japan

Q14. Does entering junior high school mid-way qualify?

A.
No.
Completion of both elementary and junior high school plus high school is required.

Q15. Are vocational schools included as higher education institutions?

A.
Yes, provided the school is in Japan and does not offer education primarily in a foreign language or via correspondence.

Business Plan Verification (事業計画書)

Q16. Who qualifies as an expert to verify the business plan?

A.
As of enforcement:

• SME Management Consultant

• Certified Public Accountant (Japan)

• Licensed Tax Accountant (Japan)

Q17. Are foreign licenses (e.g. US CPA) acceptable?

A.
No.
Only Japanese qualifications are accepted.

Q18. Can company officers or employees serve as evaluators?

A.
No.
However, external CPAs or tax accountants serving as advisors are acceptable.

Application Practice (申請の取扱い)

Q19. What constitutes insufficient management activity?

A.
Examples include:

• Outsourcing most operations without real managerial involvement

• Lacking understanding of the company’s business or finances

Q20. Is a home office allowed?

A.
In principle, no.

Q21. Is there a minimum office size?

A.
No fixed size, but it must be sufficient for the revised business scale.

Q22. How long abroad is considered problematic?

A.
Generally, if more than half of the permitted stay is spent abroad without justification, it is viewed negatively.

Q23. What about joint managers?

A.
Each foreign manager must:

1. Have a rational reason to manage the business

2. Have clearly defined duties

3. Receive appropriate compensation

Q24. Which taxes are checked at renewal?

A.
All legally required national and local taxes, including corporate or personal taxes depending on the business form.

Q25. If a sole proprietor is not required to enroll in social insurance, what must be submitted?

A.
Submit:

• Explanation of non-applicability

• Proof of the proprietor’s own National Health Insurance enrollment

Q26. Can only one tax certificate be submitted?

A.
No.
All applicable tax payment certificates must be submitted.

Q27. Where are these certificates obtained?

A.
From labor offices, pension offices, municipal offices, and tax authorities, depending on the item.

Q28. What if required licenses can only be obtained after approval?

A.
Submit a written explanation of the reason and obtain the license by the next renewal.

Transitional Rules (施行に伴う留意点)

Q29. What documents are required at renewal?

A.
Commercial registry certificates, tax payment records, and related documents.

Q30. If I applied before the amendment, do new standards apply?

A.
No.
Applications accepted before enforcement are reviewed under old standards.
However, after three years, new standards apply.

Q31. What if I cannot meet the new standards by renewal time?

A.
Until October 16, 2028, renewal may still be approved based on business status and prospects.

Q32. What about Startup Visa (Designated Activities No.44)?

A.
If the confirmation certificate was issued before October 15, 2025, old standards apply at change of status.
Subsequent renewals follow the same 3-year transition rules.

Final Note

These FAQs show that Japan’s Business Manager visa is now assessed on substance, scale, language capability, verified planning, and compliance.

If you already hold this status, use the transition period strategically.

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