Recently, I had a consultation with a potential applicant who told me:
“I went to the immigration office and asked if I need 30 million yen.
They said ‘it depends on the business.’ So I think I can apply with 1 million yen.”
This is a serious misunderstanding.
In this article, I will explain why this interpretation is incorrect and how immigration actually evaluates Business Manager Visa applications in practice.
“It depends on the business” does NOT mean “any amount is acceptable”
When immigration officers say:
“It depends on the business”
they are not saying:
- “You can apply with any amount of money”
- “1 million yen is enough”
- “There is no financial requirement”
What they mean is:
- The required scale of the business must be reasonable
- The financial resources must match the business plan
- The business must be sustainable
In other words:
The requirement is flexible — but not optional.
Why applying with 1 million yen is unrealistic
Let’s think about this practically.
To operate a business in Japan, you typically need:
- Office rent (deposit + monthly rent)
- Company establishment costs
- Equipment and operational expenses
- Living expenses until the business becomes profitable
With only 1 million yen, it is extremely difficult to demonstrate:
- Stability
- Continuity
- Real business activity
From an immigration perspective, this raises a clear concern:
“Can this business actually operate?”
And if the answer is unclear, the application is very likely to be rejected.
Temporary funding is NOT acceptable
Another question I received was:
“Can I just show 30 million yen for one week?”
This is a critical issue.
Immigration does not only look at the amount of money.
They also examine:
- The source of funds
- The continuity of funding
- Whether the funds are genuinely used for the business
If the funds are:
- Borrowed temporarily
- Returned immediately after application
- Not actually used in the business
this may be considered misrepresentation or fraud.
This can lead not only to rejection but also to serious negative consequences for future applications.
What immigration is really evaluating
In practice, immigration evaluates the overall credibility of the business:
- Is the business realistic?
- Can it continue in Japan?
- Does it have sufficient financial backing?
- Is the structure genuine?
This is not a “minimum number game.”
It is a comprehensive evaluation of your business.
Why misunderstandings happen
There are two main reasons:
(1) Simplified explanations online
Many websites oversimplify the requirements, which leads to misunderstanding.
(2) Misinterpretation of immigration responses
Statements like:
“It depends on the business”
are often misunderstood as:
“There are no real requirements.”
This is incorrect.
Conclusion
If you are considering applying for a Business Manager Visa:
- Do not rely on vague interpretations
- Do not assume minimal funding is sufficient
- Do not attempt to use temporary or artificial funding
Instead, prepare a business that is:
- Realistic
- Sustainable
- Properly funded
If you are unsure whether your current plan is sufficient, it is strongly recommended to review your situation before applying.
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