Capital under ¥30 million?
Understand the transition and how to document a realistic response to the revised standards.
Japan Business Manager Visa Renewal for Existing Business Owners
Japan Business Manager Visa Renewal for Existing Business Owners
Already running a company in Japan and worried about renewing your Business Manager (経営・管理) residence status? The standards changed on October 16, 2025, but renewal rules for existing qualifying residents include transitional treatment. We help business owners review financial statements, capital, employees, tax and insurance compliance, actual management activities and the evidence needed for an Extension of Period of Stay.
Standard Business Manager renewal · Our professional feeFrom ¥66,000Tax included · No major change / individual assessment
Renewal involving losses, capital issues or compliance problemsIndividual quoteComplex documentation or improvement statements may cost extra
Losses or business difficulties?
Prepare accurate accounts, explanations of performance and evidence of business continuity.
Tax or insurance concerns?
Identify records of legally required tax, employment and social-insurance compliance before filing.
Renewing an Existing Business Manager Residence Status
This guidance focuses on entrepreneurs and managers already holding the Japanese residence status Business Manager, especially people who held that status under the rules in force before October 16, 2025. It is different from applying for a first Certificate of Eligibility or changing from another residence status into Business Manager.
Your company was formed or your business began under the earlier immigration criteria.
Your company has less than ¥30 million in registered capital or qualifying business investment.
You employ staff, but are unsure whether anyone meets the revised full-time employee criterion.
Your business has losses, negative net assets, reduced sales or an irregular financial year.
You need to clarify corporate tax, pension, health-insurance or labor-insurance records.
Your office, business activities, directors or operational arrangements have changed.
Important: The transitional treatment is not a guarantee of renewal and does not automatically apply to everyone with a business-related application. Your previous immigration status, timing and actual circumstances must be verified.
Will You Be Refused Renewal If You Do Not Have ¥30 Million by 2028?
No automatic refusal or departure rule follows solely from that amount. The Immigration Services Agency distinguishes the situation of existing qualifying residents from ordinary first-time applications. However, every renewal is examined individually.
| When the renewal application is filed | Official approach for eligible existing residents |
|---|---|
| From October 16, 2025 through the three-year transition ending October 16, 2028 | Not meeting the revised requirements alone does not automatically cause refusal. Immigration also considers actual business conditions, compliance and the prospect of meeting the new standards. |
| After the transition | Compliance with the revised standards is generally required. Where business performance and tax compliance are good and there is a credible prospect of meeting the standards by the next renewal, immigration may still consider the overall circumstances. |
| First-time COE or a change into Business Manager | The revised requirements generally apply unless a specific transitional or other special provision covers the case. Do not assume the existing-holder renewal approach applies. |
The official guidance is explicit: the idea that every existing business owner must leave Japan if they cannot prepare ¥30 million by October 2028 is incorrect. A renewal still depends on the company's actual condition and the applicant's residence history.
Not the same as permanent residence: Under the post-reform policy, a Business Manager holder who does not meet the revised criteria may face restrictions on a permanent residence application or certain changes into Highly Skilled Professional management categories, even where transitional renewal treatment is available.
Which Requirements Should Existing Owners Work Toward?
The October 2025 reform introduced a stricter ordinary framework. Even if you currently qualify for transitional renewal assessment, these are the areas that should be reviewed and planned for.
| Area | Current general requirement / what to prepare |
|---|---|
| Business capital or scale | Generally ¥30 million in qualifying corporate paid-in capital / contributions, or eligible actual investment for a sole proprietor. |
| Full-time employee | At least one full-time employee in the specific eligible nationality or status-based residence categories. A worker on an ordinary activity-based work status does not necessarily count. |
| Japanese language | The manager or an employee meeting the separate language-rule conditions must demonstrate approximately CEFR B2-equivalent Japanese by an accepted method. |
| Manager's qualifications | Applicable graduate/professional degree related to management or the business field, or generally at least three years of qualifying management experience. |
| Real business office | A genuine establishment suitable for actual operations; using a residence as the business office is generally not accepted under the revised approach. |
| Business activity and plan | Actual participation in management, a credible operating plan, necessary permits and appropriate professional evaluation where required. |
Existing-owner point: Being short of one revised criterion during the transition should not be presented as automatically disqualifying. It is still important to identify the gap accurately and show progress that can be substantiated by records.
Can You Renew a Business Manager Visa If Your Company Is Losing Money?
A loss-making year does not by itself decide the outcome. Immigration may examine whether the enterprise actually operates, whether the owner's managerial activities remain genuine and whether the company has a realistic ability to continue. Negative net assets, persistent deficits or weak liquidity may require more extensive evidence.
| Business problem | What to explain and document |
|---|---|
| First-year or temporary loss | Startup costs, opening schedule, purchase and investment records, current sales, customer contracts and reasonable forecasts. |
| Repeated operating losses | Causes of losses, current monthly results, cost reductions, revised pricing or marketing and credible financial recovery steps. |
| Negative net assets / excess liabilities | Balance-sheet position, repayment obligations, shareholder financing, cash availability and a feasible continuity plan. |
| Reduced sales or dormant activity | Evidence of ongoing customers, transactions, employees, premises and actual work by the manager; the reason for inactivity. |
| Sudden change of business | New business contracts, permits where required, changes to staff, office or revenue model, and the applicant's management responsibilities. |
Not a guaranteed exception: A written improvement plan is useful only when it reflects actual facts and credible measures. False invoices, fabricated business activity or backdated employment records can seriously damage an application.
Taxes, Social Insurance, Employment Insurance and Business Permits
The Immigration Services Agency confirms compliance with public obligations when considering Business Manager extensions. Good sales or sufficient capital do not by themselves overcome serious compliance issues. The duties that apply depend on the company's actual legal and employment situation.
Tax obligations
Check applicable corporate/income tax, withholding tax, consumption tax, resident tax and business tax filing and payment status. Distinguish a lawful non-taxable position from unpaid liabilities.
Health and pension insurance
Confirm company enrollment and contributions where required, including employees' coverage and payment evidence. Personal insurance records can also be relevant.
Labor insurance and wages
Verify workers' accident compensation insurance, employment insurance, labor-law compliance, wage payments and actual employment arrangements where applicable.
Tax returns, tax payment certificates or other proof for the taxes that apply to the business.
Social-insurance enrollment and premium payment records where enrollment is legally required.
Employment-insurance and workers' compensation compliance where relevant.
Employment contracts, payroll and minimum-wage compliance.
Valid licenses for regulated business activities, such as restaurants, accommodation or used-goods dealing.
A truthful explanation and objective supporting records where obligations have not been fulfilled.
If payments are overdue: review the problem promptly with the tax office, pension service, labor authority or the appropriate specialist. An agreement to pay later does not automatically erase the adverse immigration issue. We do not provide services reserved to tax accountants or labor-and-social-security attorneys.
Does Immigration Check Whether You Actually Manage the Company?
Yes. A representative-director title is not enough if a person does not genuinely participate in decisions or operations. Immigration may examine contracts, employee supervision, payments, operational responsibilities and records showing the owner understands and directs the business.
Genuine decisions
Hiring, supplier agreements, budgets, customer negotiations, marketing, financial control and business direction.
Excessive outsourcing
When almost all activities are delegated and the visa holder does not carry out day-to-day management, status eligibility may be questioned.
Long absences from Japan
Without a valid reason, long overseas absences can undermine evidence of management in Japan. Official guidance identifies absences exceeding half the granted period as a potential negative factor, subject to individual circumstances.
If you run an international company and travel frequently, document why travel is required, who makes the decisions and what you actually manage from Japan. The agency assesses the full facts rather than a single flight itinerary.
Documents Commonly Needed for Business Manager Renewal
Official renewal submission lists depend on the category of the Japanese organization and the individual's case. The competent immigration authority may request additional records, especially where there are financial or compliance problems or a transitional assessment is required.
| Document group | Typical materials to check |
|---|---|
| Applicant and application | Extension application form, compliant photograph when required, passport, residence card and any applicable explanations. |
| Corporate and activity records | Certificate of registered matters, office evidence, job or management description and proof of organizational category. |
| Business financials | Recent financial statements, business performance records, tax filings, sales and cash-flow evidence; supplementary recovery plan if needed. |
| Public obligations | Relevant national/local tax payment records, social insurance, labor insurance and employment compliance evidence. |
| Revised-criteria preparation | Registered capital / contribution information, eligible employees, Japanese-language evidence, managerial qualifications and progress toward revised standards as relevant. |
| Licenses and business changes | Any required sector permits, office lease, change-of-business records, employee contracts and explanations of significant changes. |
Do not prepare every possible document blindly. We first verify whether the company belongs to category 1, 2, 3 or 4, check the current official renewal list and then request the records necessary for that particular case.
When Should You Apply for a Business Manager Visa Extension?
As a general rule, residents with a period of stay of six months or longer may apply from three months before their residence expiry date. The application must be submitted before expiry. The Immigration Services Agency also encourages sufficiently early filing so that a decision can be made before the current period ends.
About 3 months before expiry
Confirm current residence card, corporation category, financial results and any capital/staff gaps. Begin gathering recent supporting documents.
Before the final 45 days
Aim to submit a complete application with time to respond to requests. This is practical agency guidance, not a guarantee of a decision date.
If the application remains pending
Where statutory conditions apply, the special pending-application period may allow continued stay until a decision or up to two months after original expiry, whichever is earlier.
If expiry is imminent or passed
Do not assume you can simply apply online on the last day or that a late filing is automatically valid. Seek immediate case-specific guidance from the competent authority.
Important: A pending-application period is subject to its legal conditions. It does not promise approval or indefinite lawful stay. An online submission cannot be made on the residence expiry day under the agency's online procedure guidance.
How to Prepare for Renewal If the New Standards Are Not Yet Met
A realistic plan should identify each issue, set out specific actions and attach supporting records. For example, a business with adequate orders but limited registered capital may need different evidence from a company with high capital but no actual operating activity.
Check the current position
Review capital, full-time qualifying employee, Japanese-language evidence, applicant career, office and actual business activities.
Check public obligations
Confirm taxes, employment conditions, health/pension insurance, labor insurance and sector-specific permits.
Explain business performance
Use financial statements, sales/contracts and credible projections to explain losses or prospects for continuity.
Plan feasible improvements
Identify lawful funding or capital changes, recruitment, qualifications, premises adjustments and concrete operating milestones.
Prepare a truthful narrative
Explain which revised conditions are met, which are not, why, and how the actual evidence supports future compliance.
Submit the correct application
Prepare the official renewal forms and supporting materials with a realistic assessment of the legal and factual risks.
Are you short of ¥30 million, an eligible employee or a required document?
Explain your current business position, residence expiry and the exact issue. We can review the appropriate renewal route and provide an individual quotation before paid work.
Ask About Your Renewal in EnglishWhat If You Changed Your Company, Office or Business Activities?
Renewal presupposes that the holder continues qualifying Business Manager activities. If the company has closed, the applicant is no longer genuinely managing the enterprise, or the intended activities have fundamentally changed, a standard extension may not be appropriate. The correct procedure depends on the facts.
Relocation or expansion
Confirm the genuine business premises, required licenses, changed operating location and company records.
Sale, merger or closure
Check whether business-management activities continue and whether another status or filing is needed.
New ownership or officers
Explain who directs the business, the applicant's duties and relevant corporate transactions.
When your circumstances change substantially, tell us before submitting a renewal. Commercial registration and tax matters may need separate professionals, and immigration notification or a different residence procedure may be relevant.
Business Manager Renewal Fees and the New Immigration Charges
| Our service | Professional fee (tax included) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Business Manager extension | From ¥66,000 | Ordinary renewal without major business or status changes. |
| Complex renewal / transitional evidence / losses | Individual quote | Documentary analysis, additional explanation and volume of records assessed first. |
| New Business Manager COE or change-of-status application | From ¥165,000 | Separate procedure, not included in the ordinary renewal fee. |
Our professional fee is separate from the statutory immigration permission fee. Translations, certificate procurement, postage, travel, independent expert assessments and other necessary expenses may also be charged. We provide the scope and fee quote before you engage us.
Government permission fee from October 1, 2026
For applications received on or after October 1, 2026, the fee on approval varies by the period granted and the filing method. The figures below are examples for an ordinary period-of-stay extension; online payments also involve a payment-service charge.
| Period granted | Counter application | Online application |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | ¥33,000 | ¥27,000 + ¥330 payment fee |
| 3 years | ¥64,000 | ¥56,000 + ¥550 payment fee |
| 5 years | ¥75,000 | ¥65,000 + ¥550 payment fee |
The fee for the actual period granted applies, not necessarily the period requested. Separate reduction/exemption rules may apply. Applications accepted by September 30, 2026 follow the earlier fee framework even if approved later. The permitted payment method differs between counter and online applications. See the official fee revision guidance.
Want to know the total cost before applying?
Send us your residence expiry date, type of business, current financial situation and the problem you want reviewed. We will explain our professional fee separately from government charges and third-party expenses.
Request a Renewal Fee QuoteFrequently Asked Questions About Business Manager Renewal
My company has ¥5 million in capital. Can I renew my Business Manager visa?
Potentially. For qualifying existing holders under the transitional approach, falling short of ¥30 million alone does not automatically cause refusal. The business's actual operation, compliance and prospect of meeting the revised requirements are important.
Will I have to leave Japan automatically in October 2028?
No. The Immigration Services Agency expressly rejects that interpretation. Later renewal applications generally need to satisfy revised standards, but its guidance provides for individual overall assessment in certain cases with good performance, tax compliance and a credible plan to meet the standards. There is no guarantee.
Can a company with operating losses obtain renewal?
A loss alone is not an automatic refusal. The reasons, duration, financial position, actual activity, ability to continue and supporting records need to be assessed. Persistent losses or negative net assets may present greater difficulties.
What if my company has negative net assets?
We review the financial statements, cash flow, liabilities, creditor arrangements and a realistic improvement plan. A written explanation cannot replace genuine financial viability.
Do I need one full-time employee for renewal?
One qualifying full-time employee is part of the revised framework. Existing qualifying holders have transitional renewal treatment, so not meeting this item during the transition does not automatically settle the outcome. Future compliance should be planned.
Do I personally have to pass JLPT N2?
Not always. Under the revised framework, certain qualifying full-time employees can establish the accepted Japanese-language ability instead of the applicant. The employee eligibility and evidence requirements differ from the separate staffing-count test.
I have paid corporate tax but missed social-insurance contributions. Is renewal safe?
No assurance can be given. Immigration considers compliance with applicable health/pension and labor-insurance obligations independently of the tax position. Check outstanding issues with the relevant authority or specialist promptly.
Can late tax payments affect Business Manager renewal?
Yes. Immigration examines whether required taxes have been properly filed and paid. The circumstances of any arrears and supporting evidence must be reviewed; paying one tax does not prove all obligations are fulfilled.
Can I renew if my business has no customers or transactions?
Prolonged inactivity can raise serious questions about whether genuine management activity exists. Evidence of a real operating business and a lawful explanation for inactivity are important.
Does an overseas trip lasting several months affect renewal?
Potentially. Long absences without reasonable justification can affect the assessment of actual management in Japan. Official guidance identifies overseas absence exceeding half the granted period as a possible adverse consideration, assessed individually.
Can I use my apartment as my business office at renewal?
Under the revised approach, sharing a residence as the business office is generally not accepted. Transitional treatment and the facts of an existing business need individual review; do not assume old premises will remain sufficient indefinitely.
When can I file my extension application?
For a residence period of at least six months, applications are generally accepted from three months before expiry. Submit before the expiry date and allow time for document review. Special rules apply to shorter residence periods and exceptional circumstances.
Can I apply online on the day my residence card expires?
No. The Immigration Services Agency states that online applications cannot be submitted on the last day of the residence period. Contact the competent office immediately for the appropriate filing procedure if the deadline is imminent.
If I applied before expiry, can I remain while waiting for the result?
Where the statutory requirements are met, a special pending-application period can apply until a decision or two months after the original expiry, whichever occurs first. The rule is conditional and does not guarantee approval.
What if my company changed its name, location or directors?
Review the corporate and immigration implications. Changes to the real management activities, office or operating company may require additional records, notifications or another immigration procedure.
Can I apply for permanent residence while relying on transitional renewal treatment?
Do not assume so. The Immigration Services Agency states that after the reform, Business Manager holders not meeting the revised criteria may be ineligible for permanent residence permission based on their present management status. Review the separate official rules before applying.
Is the immigration renewal fee still ¥6,000?
Not for ordinary applications received from October 1, 2026. Statutory permission fees now depend on the period granted and whether filing was online or at a counter. These are separate from our ¥66,000 starting professional fee.
Can your office assist me if my business is outside Yamagata?
Yes, we welcome enquiries from foreign business owners throughout Japan. The competent immigration office, method of application and scope of application-intermediary support are confirmed individually.
Is Business Manager renewal approval guaranteed?
No. We provide document review, practical application support and transparent quotations, but the final decision on an extension belongs to the Immigration Services Agency.
Work With a Licensed Administrative Scrivener
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office is based in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture. We assist foreign company owners and managers with Japanese residence-status applications and related documents within our authorized scope. English enquiries from anywhere in Japan are welcome. Where tax, corporate registration or labor-and-social-insurance specialist work is required, we clarify the role of the appropriately qualified professional.
Masanobu Kawagoe
Licensed Administrative Scrivener / Immigration Application Intermediary
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office
Sagae, Yamagata, Japan
English enquiries welcome. Professional fee, jurisdiction, documents and application arrangements are confirmed for the individual case.
Related Business Manager and Residence Guidance
Official Sources for Renewal and the 2028 Transition
Consult the Immigration Services Agency for the authoritative Business Manager rules, transition guidance, renewal documents and fee tables. Forms, required records and submission methods should be checked for the actual case.
Immigration Services Agency: 2025 Business Manager Reform and Q&AImmigration Services Agency: Business Manager Renewal DocumentsImmigration Services Agency: Extension of Period of StayImmigration Services Agency: Special Pending-Application PeriodImmigration Services Agency: October 2026 Fee ReformImmigration Services Agency: Genuine Business Management Activities
Need to Renew Your Business Manager Visa in Japan?
Tell us when your residence expires, the type and location of your company, registered capital, staff, business performance and any concerns about taxes or insurance. We will explain the relevant renewal documents and our professional fees before engagement. No immigration outcome is guaranteed.
Telephone 9:00–18:00 Japan time · Standard Business Manager renewal from ¥66,000 (tax included) · Government charges and expenses separately