The Business Manager Visa : Adapting to the New Strict Criteria

7 days ago
2 min read

　To All Foreign Business Owners & Entrepreneurs:

The Screening process for the Business Manager Visa has become significantly stricter. Is your company truly prepared?

To continue operating a business in Japan, holding a valid "Business Manager" status of residence is indispensable.

However, starting from October 2025, the immigration screening rules underwent a major overhaul, introducing much more rigorous standards.


If you are thinking, "My visa has always been renewed without any issues before, so next time should be fine as well" — please exercise extreme caution. 
Under these new rules, there are real-life cases where renewals have been denied, even if the company's situation remained exactly the same as in previous years.

Key Points Monitored by the Immigration Services Agency

Currently, Immigration is conducting far more detailed investigations than ever before, focusing heavily on the following aspects:

The concrete nature of the business and its actual operational status.
Proper enrollment and participation in Social Insurance (社会保険) and Employment Insurance (雇用保険).
The actual payment status of executive compensation (Officer Rewards) and staff salaries.
The company’s management structure and organizational governance.
The physical reality, setup, and continuity of the business office.
Business stability and viability for future continuation.
The tax payment status of both the individual CEO and the corporate entity.

Simply gathering the required documents is no longer enough to pass today’s screening.

The actual day-to-day operations of your company must strictly comply with all legal regulations.

Our Proven Track Record

　since the implementation of the new criteria

（ after 2025/10/16 ）

"renewals for the Business Manager Visa"

Number of cases handled 　　

Dozens of cases

　　Record after the new criteria

（ as of today 2026/5/19）

Number of "Denied"

0 cases

At our firm, we do not just fill out application forms. We work closely with you from the initial stage to review and restructure your company's operational framework, ensuring it perfectly aligns with the new regulations. This thorough, proactive preparation is precisely what drives our unbroken record of success.