経営・管理ビザの条件が大幅に変更されました。

Dear all,
A new ministerial ordinance was announced last week on October 10th.
As a result, the conditions for Business Manager Visas have been significantly changed.
This ordinance will come into effect on October 16, 2025.
The new standards will apply to applications made after this date.
In addition, current Business Manager Visa holders will be required to meet the new standards when applying for visa renewals after October 16, 2028, three years after the new ordinance's implementation date.
Please see below for an overview of the changes.
For more detailed information, please refer to the guidelines below, "Regarding the Revision of the Permission Standards for Business Managers.

Yoshihisa Takenaka

(This is the English translation of the attached file (Guidelines for the Revision of the Permission Criteria for Business Manager Status of Residence) from the web page of the Immigration Services Agency.)
(Published on October 10, Reiwa 7 [2025])
Regarding the Revision of the Permission Standards for "Business Manager,"
(Enforcement Date: October 16, Reiwa 7 [2025])
Main Revision Details

1. Employment of Full-time Staff
    It will be necessary to employ one or more full-time staff in the company, etc., operated by the applicant (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Article 7, Paragraph 1, Item 2 Standard Ordinance, "Activities listed in the lower column of the 'Business Manager' item of Appended Table I (2) of the Act," Item 2(i)).
    (Note) "Full-time staff" are limited to Japanese nationals, Special Permanent Residents, and foreign nationals residing under the statuses of residence listed in Appended Table II of the Act
   ("Permanent Resident," "Spouse or Child of Japanese National," "Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident," "Long-Term Resident") , and foreign nationals residing under the statuses of residence listed in Appended Table I of the Act are not included.
2. Amount of Capital, etc.
    Capital or investment of 30 million yen or more will be required (Item 2(ii)).
   (Note)
   o This refers to the amount of paid-in capital (capital) for a Kabushiki Kaisha (stock company), or the total amount of investment for a Gomei Kaisha, Goshi Kaisha, or Godo Kaisha.
   o This refers to the total amount invested as necessary for operating the business, such as securing an office, staff salaries (for one year), and capital expenditure.
3. Japanese Language Proficiency
    Either the applicant or a full-time staff member (Note 1) is required to possess a certain level of Japanese language proficiency (Note 2) (Item 3) .
   (Note 1) In this context, foreign nationals residing under the statuses of residence listed in Appended Table I of the Act are also included as "full-time staff".
   (Note 2) A certain level of Japanese language proficiency refers to a level equivalent to B2 or higher on the Common Framework of Reference for Japanese Language Education (Nihongo Kyoiku no Sansho-waku) , and for those other than Japanese nationals or Special Permanent Residents, confirmation will be made based on one of the following:
   o Certification of N2 or higher on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) administered by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services and the Japan Foundation.
   o A score of 400 points or higher on the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test administered by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation.
   o Having resided in Japan for 20 years or more as a medium- to long-term resident.
   o Having graduated from a university or other higher education institution in Japan.
   o Having completed compulsory education and graduated from a high school in Japan.
4. Career (Academic Background/Work History)
    The applicant must have acquired a Ph.D., Master's, or Professional degree (Note 1) in a field related to business management or the necessary skills or knowledge for the business pertaining to the application , or have a work history (Note 2) of three years or more in business management or administration (Item 4) .
   (Note 1) This includes equivalent degrees conferred in a foreign country.
   (Note 2) This includes the period of activities (preparation for starting a business) for securing an office and other preparatory acts necessary for starting a business such as trade, based on the "Designated Activities" status of residence.
5. Handling of the Business Plan
    The business plan submitted at the time of status of residence determination will be required to be confirmed by a person with specialized knowledge of management (Note) as a document that assesses the plan as having concreteness, rationality, and feasibility (Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Enforcement Regulations, Appended Table III, "Activities listed in the lower column of the 'Business Manager' item of Appended Table I (2) of the Act," Item 1(i)). (Note) As of the enforcement date, the following persons are deemed to be the said person:
   o Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant (Chusho Kigyo Shindanshi) o Certified Public Accountant (Kōnin Kaikeishi)
   o Tax Accountant (Zeirishi)
   In addition, please note that engaging in the creation of application documents, etc., to be submitted to government agencies for a fee as a business by anyone other than a lawyer or administrative scrivener may constitute a violation of the Administrative Scrivener Act.

Application Handling

1. Business Content
    If the actual state of activity as a manager is not suƯiciently recognized, such as when outsourcing all operations, it will be treated as not being engaged in activities that fall under the "Business Manager" status of residence.
2. Business Office
    As it is necessary to secure an office for conducting business activities corresponding to the revised scale, etc., using one's residence also as the business office is, in principle, not permitted.
3. Application for Permanent Residence, etc.
    If the applicant does not conform to the revised permission standards after the enforcement date, the following will not be approved:
   o Applications for permanent residence from "Business Manager," "Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c)," or "Highly Skilled Professional (ii)" (those based on "Business Manager" activities).
   o Applications for change of status of residence from "Highly Skilled Professional (i)(c)" to
   "Highly Skilled Professional (ii)".
4. Departure from Japan During Stay
    If the applicant has departed from Japan for a long period without justifiable reason during their period of stay, permission for extension of the period of stay will not be granted, as the actual state of activity in Japan will be deemed non-existent.
5. Fulfillment of Public Dues (Taxes and Social Security Contributions)
    At the time of application for extension of the period of stay, the fulfillment status of the following public dues payment obligations will be confirmed:
   1 Labor Insurance Application Status
    Fulfillment of qualification acquisition for employment insurance
    Fulfillment of insurance premium payment for employment insurance
    Status of application procedures for workers' compensation insurance
   2 Social Insurance Application Status
    Fulfillment of qualification acquisition for health insurance and employees' pension insurance
    Fulfillment of payment of the above social insurance premiums