BUSINESS MANAGER VISA RENEWAL
How to Renew Your Business Manager Visa After Changing from Corporation to Sole Proprietorship (2025 Reform Updated)
If you changed your business structure from a corporation to a sole proprietorship in Japan, visa renewal may still be possible. However, after the 2025 reform, Immigration will examine your actual business activity, business scale, office stability, tax compliance, and future plan more carefully.
This article reflects the 2025 amendment to Japan’s Business Manager Visa standards, effective from October 16, 2025.
- 1 Who is this article for?
- 2 Can I renew my Business Manager Visa after switching to a sole proprietorship?
- 3 What changed under the 2025 Business Manager Visa reform?
- 4 What if you do not yet meet the ¥30 million scale requirement?
- 5 Required documents for renewal
- 6 Why a Statement of Reasons is especially important
- 7 How to prove investment as a sole proprietor
- 8 Office requirement after the 2025 reform
- 9 Common risks in renewal after changing to a sole proprietorship
- 10 Practical conclusion
- 11 Need support with Business Manager Visa renewal?
- 12 Official references
- 13 Business Manager Visa Renewal Support
Who is this article for?
- Foreign entrepreneurs who changed from a corporation, such as a Godo Kaisha or Kabushiki Kaisha, to a sole proprietorship.
- Business Manager Visa holders preparing for renewal after the 2025 reform.
- Applicants who need to explain business continuity, office stability, tax compliance, and business scale.
- Entrepreneurs who do not yet meet the new ¥30 million scale requirement but need to show a realistic transition plan.
Can I renew my Business Manager Visa after switching to a sole proprietorship?
Yes, renewal may still be possible.
Changing from a corporation to a sole proprietorship does not automatically make your Business Manager Visa renewal impossible.
Immigration does not examine only the legal form of the business. It examines whether you are genuinely continuing activities that fall under the status of residence “Business Manager.”
In practical terms, you should be ready to prove the following:
Your business is actually operating in Japan.
Sales, profit, or future income prospects can be explained.
You have an office suitable for continuous business operations.
You can show that the business can continue long-term.
The key issue is not simply “corporation or sole proprietorship.” The key issue is whether your business has real substance, continuity, and sufficient scale under the Business Manager Visa framework.
What changed under the 2025 Business Manager Visa reform?
The Business Manager Visa standards were significantly revised and came into effect on October 16, 2025.
The main changes include:
| Item | New standard |
|---|---|
| Full-time employee | At least one eligible full-time employee must be employed. |
| Capital / business scale | The business must have a scale equivalent to at least ¥30 million. |
| Japanese ability | The applicant or a full-time employee must have Japanese ability equivalent to B2 level, such as JLPT N2 or BJT 400 or above. |
| Experience / education | The applicant must have relevant graduate-level education or at least three years of business management experience. |
| Business plan | For status determination, the business plan must be confirmed by a qualified professional such as a SME management consultant, CPA, or tax accountant. |
For a sole proprietor, the ¥30 million scale is not “capital” in the corporate sense.
Immigration explains that, for an individual business, the amount includes the total invested into items necessary for operating the business, such as office establishment, one year of employee salary, equipment investment, and other business operation costs.
What if you do not yet meet the ¥30 million scale requirement?
If you were already residing in Japan under the Business Manager Visa before the reform, the transitional treatment is important.
Until October 16, 2028
Even if you do not yet meet the new standards, Immigration may make a decision by considering your business condition and whether you are expected to meet the new standards.
After October 16, 2028
In principle, renewal applications must comply with the revised standards. Therefore, applicants should prepare a realistic plan to reach the new scale before future renewals.
Required documents for renewal
The exact documents vary depending on your category, business type, tax status, and individual circumstances.
However, in a case involving a change from a corporation to a sole proprietorship, the following documents are commonly important.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Application form for extension of period of stay | Use the latest Immigration form. |
| Passport and residence card | Original documents must be presented. |
| Tax certificates and payment records | To prove proper fulfillment of tax obligations. |
| Financial statements or income records | To explain sales, expenses, profit, and business stability. |
| Office lease agreement or property documents | To prove that the business has a proper office in Japan. |
| Notification of business opening as a sole proprietor | To show the legal start of the sole proprietorship. |
| Documents explaining closure or suspension of the corporation | To explain why the business structure changed. |
| Proof of investment | Contracts, invoices, receipts, bank transfer records, equipment purchase records, salary records, and other evidence. |
| Statement of Reasons and Business Plan | Strongly recommended to explain the business change, continuity, financial condition, and future plan. |
Why a Statement of Reasons is especially important
A Statement of Reasons is not only a formality.
In a case where the applicant changed from a corporation to a sole proprietorship, it can be one of the most important documents.
Immigration needs to understand why the structure changed and whether the business is still stable and continuous.
Without a clear explanation, the change may look like business downsizing, instability, or lack of continuity.
Key points to include
- Reason for changing from corporation to sole proprietorship.
- Whether the business itself continued without interruption.
- Current sales, profit, expenses, and future income outlook.
- Office location, lease status, and business equipment.
- Tax filing and tax payment status.
- Investment already made into the business.
- Plan to meet the revised standards, including hiring, reinvestment, or business expansion.
How to prove investment as a sole proprietor
For a corporation, business scale is usually confirmed through registered capital or total contribution.
For a sole proprietor, the explanation is different.
You should organize documents showing the total amount invested into the business, including:
- Office lease costs, deposit, rent, and renovation expenses.
- Business equipment, computers, furniture, machinery, signage, or tools.
- Employee salary for one year, if applicable.
- Advertising, website production, software, and digital infrastructure.
- Inventory, materials, or other business assets.
- Professional fees related to the business, where relevant.
Prepare a clear investment evidence file. The file should connect each contract, invoice, bank transfer record, receipt, and accounting record. Consistency is more persuasive than simply submitting many documents.
Office requirement after the 2025 reform
Immigration has made clear that, because the revised standards assume a larger scale of business activity, using a private residence as the business office is generally not accepted.
For a sole proprietor, the office requirement is especially important.
You should be able to show that the office is a real, independent, and continuous place of business.
The lease should allow business use.
The office should be distinguishable as a place of business.
Desk, computer, storage, signage, or other equipment may help prove actual use.
Common risks in renewal after changing to a sole proprietorship
| Risk | How to address it |
|---|---|
| The change looks like business downsizing. | Explain the business reason for the change and show that the actual business continued. |
| Sales or profit are low. | Submit a realistic business plan, contracts, client records, and future revenue explanation. |
| Investment evidence is unclear. | Prepare a chronological list of payments with supporting documents. |
| Office use is weak. | Provide lease terms, photos, equipment records, and proof of business use. |
| Tax or social insurance issues exist. | Clarify the situation and prepare payment certificates or corrective records where possible. |
Practical conclusion
Renewal after changing from a corporation to a sole proprietorship is not automatically impossible.
However, after the 2025 reform, applicants should not rely only on the fact that they previously obtained a Business Manager Visa.
The safer approach is to prepare a complete explanation package showing:
- why the business structure changed;
- how the business continued;
- how the business earns or will earn stable income;
- how the office is secured;
- how much has been invested into the business;
- how the business will meet the new standards in the future.
Need support with Business Manager Visa renewal?
Trust Administrative Scrivener Office supports foreign entrepreneurs with Business Manager Visa applications, including complex renewal cases involving business structure changes, business plans, and explanation documents.
We can assist with document review, preparation of a Statement of Reasons, business plan organization, and application submission.
Official references
- Immigration Services Agency: Amendment to Business Manager Visa standards
- Immigration Services Agency: Business Manager Visa application information
- Immigration Services Agency: Clarification of standards for foreign business managers
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT
Business Manager Visa Renewal Support
If your business structure has changed, careful explanation is essential.
We can help you prepare a clear and realistic renewal application.
Trust Administrative Scrivener Office
Based in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan ｜ Online consultations available
