New restaurant founders
Assess the location, business structure, capital, qualifying staff and eligibility before making major commitments.
Japan Business Manager Visa for Restaurant Owners
Japan Business Manager Visa for Restaurant & Café Owners
Do you want to open a restaurant, café, ramen shop, international cuisine restaurant or other food-service business in Japan? Restaurant ownership involves two separate approvals: suitable immigration status to manage the business and the appropriate permission to operate the food establishment. We help foreign entrepreneurs understand the revised Business Manager residence requirements, prepare immigration documents and plan relevant restaurant-licensing procedures.
Business Manager COE / Change of status · Professional feeFrom ¥165,000Tax included · Immigration application support
Restaurant business license application · Yamagata PrefectureFrom ¥55,000Tax included · Separate service and fee
Existing restaurant operators
Review business activity, records, permits and changing residence requirements before renewal.
Immigration and licensing
Understand what the immigration authority and local public health center examine separately.
Does a Foreign Restaurant Owner Need a Business Manager Visa?
The official residence status Business Manager (経営・管理) covers genuine operation or management of a business in Japan. A foreign national who will make important business decisions, direct operations, manage personnel and bear responsibility for a restaurant may need this status if they do not already hold another status allowing such activities.
Opening a new restaurant
An overseas investor planning to establish and actively manage a Japanese food-service company.
Buying an existing restaurant
An entrepreneur acquiring an operating restaurant and assuming actual management responsibilities.
Expanding a restaurant group
An overseas business owner or manager planning to run a Japanese restaurant operation.
Owning shares is not the same as qualifying for residence. Passive investment, holding a company registration certificate or appointing yourself as a director does not automatically qualify you. If your principal activity is cooking, serving customers or working as an employee, a different immigration status may be relevant. People with Permanent Resident or certain other unrestricted statuses may not need a Business Manager status to operate a restaurant.
Business Manager Visa Requirements for New Restaurant Businesses
Japan revised the Business Manager permission criteria effective October 16, 2025. A typical new restaurant application must address the requirements together; an old explanation relying only on ¥5 million or two employees is no longer sufficient.
| Requirement | What a restaurant applicant must demonstrate |
|---|---|
| Business premises | A genuine, appropriate place of business in Japan. A separate restaurant premises or office arrangement must meet the actual business requirements; home-only arrangements are generally not accepted. |
| Capital or qualifying business scale | Generally at least ¥30 million. For a company, paid-in capital or eligible contributions are central. The calculation differs for a sole proprietor. |
| Full-time employee | At least one qualifying full-time employee. For this criterion, the employee generally must be Japanese, a Special Permanent Resident or hold an eligible status under Immigration Act Appended Table II. |
| Japanese-language ability | The applicant or a qualifying full-time employee must demonstrate CEFR B2-equivalent Japanese, such as JLPT N2 or another officially accepted method. |
| Applicant's degree or career | A qualifying master’s/doctoral/professional degree in management or a relevant field, or generally at least three years of qualifying business-management experience. |
| Credible business plan | A concrete and realistic plan; an appropriately qualified external professional must review the plan as required by the official procedure. |
| Genuine operations and permits | Real management activities, compliant business operation, appropriate licenses and documents showing a credible and sustainable restaurant. |
Two common misunderstandings: ¥30 million is not simply your personal savings balance or a restaurant's annual sales target. Hiring someone on an Engineer or Specified Skilled Worker status does not by itself fulfill the specific qualifying-employee rule for the business-scale requirement. The Japanese-language requirement has its own rules, which are not identical to the eligible-employee count.
How to Document Your Restaurant Investment and Employees
Business financing
Prepare incorporation/capital records, source-of-funds explanations, investment history and a budget for the actual restaurant operation.
Employee evidence
Confirm the qualifying employee’s residence category, full-time contract, work schedule, remuneration and payroll documents.
Manager's genuine role
Describe decisions about finances, suppliers, pricing, hiring, regulatory compliance and store operations—not only kitchen shifts.
For a corporate business, paid-in capital or contributions are assessed under the applicable rules. For a sole proprietor, documented qualifying expenditure on premises, employee wages and business equipment may be evaluated differently. We review the proposed form of business before suggesting documents.
Restaurant budgets require care: a proposed renovation quote, projected revenue or money deposited into a personal account is not automatically equivalent to qualifying capital. Proof of funding and the company's financial position should be consistent across all immigration records.
Restaurant Business License: A Second Approval You Must Plan For
A Business Manager residence status does not authorize a restaurant to operate without required food-business permission. Ordinary restaurants and cafés typically need a restaurant business permit from the competent local public health center. Permission depends on the food-service activity, premises, equipment and hygiene standards.
| Restaurant item | What to confirm before opening |
|---|---|
| Business permit | Food Sanitation Act permit or other applicable license; the menu and method of preparation determine the exact category. |
| Kitchen and layout | Washing facilities, handwashing, storage, refrigeration, equipment, floor plan and applicable local structural standards. |
| Food sanitation supervisor | An appropriately qualified person must normally be designated for each establishment; training may be required. |
| HACCP hygiene management | Appropriate food safety plan and operational hygiene records, following relevant standards. |
| Additional operations | Separate rules may apply to packaged-food manufacturing, late-night alcohol-focused service, entertainment, fire safety or building use. |
We recommend consulting the responsible public health center before signing a costly lease or completing kitchen renovations. Even a property that previously operated as a restaurant may require an individual assessment or new procedures when the operator changes.
Yamagata Prefecture support: Our office offers restaurant business permit application assistance from ¥55,000 (tax included), separately from Business Manager immigration fees. Permits for other prefectures require an individual scope and availability check. Read our Japanese restaurant permit guide.
Can a Business Manager Visa Holder Cook or Serve Customers?
Immigration examines the actual primary activities, not merely the words “restaurant owner” on a business card. A manager who mainly prepares meals, waits tables or performs routine shifts rather than genuinely operating the business may have difficulty establishing Business Manager eligibility. Incidental involvement in day-to-day operations must be assessed in context.
Restaurant owner / manager
Business planning, staffing, financing, contracts, supplier relationships, compliance and executive responsibility.
Professional foreign chef
Some specialized foreign-cuisine cooking positions may be assessed under the Skilled Labor status, subject to its particular experience requirements.
Food-service employee
Certain kitchen, service and store-management duties may fall under Specified Skilled Worker, subject to the applicable category and conditions.
If you wish to be both the principal chef and owner, tell us how your time, staff and decision-making responsibilities will be divided. Simply changing a title from “chef” to “director” does not solve a mismatch between activities and status.
What Should a Restaurant Business Plan Explain?
Restaurant concept, proposed cuisine, customer demand and competitors.
Shop location, lease terms and usable premises.
Capital structure, funding source and investment spending.
Staffing plan, eligible full-time employee and payroll costs.
Projected sales, food costs, fixed expenses and cash flow.
Food permit, kitchen equipment, hygiene and opening timetable.
Owner's duties, qualifications and management track record.
Reasonable evidence supporting assumptions and financial forecasts.
For new Business Manager residence-status determinations, the plan generally needs verification of concreteness, reasonableness and feasibility by an accepted professional, such as a Japanese certified SME management consultant, CPA or tax accountant, under current ISA rules. That assessment is separate from preparing immigration forms and may incur an additional professional fee.
Documents Commonly Needed for Restaurant Owners
| Document group | Examples of evidence |
|---|---|
| Applicant | Passport, current immigration status if applicable, professional CV, degree or management-career proof, identity and related records. |
| Company and capital | Corporate registration, articles, proof of paid-in capital or qualifying business spending, financial documentation and funding explanations. |
| Restaurant premises | Property lease, business address, shop and kitchen plans, photographs and documents confirming appropriate use. |
| Employee and language | Eligible full-time employee contracts, proof of status, payroll documentation and Japanese-language qualification evidence. |
| Operating plan | Restaurant business plan, market research, revenue and cost forecasts, required professional review and contracts. |
| Business permission | Applicable food-business permit, application status, hygiene-supervisor documentation and explanations where a permit cannot yet be obtained for a legitimate reason. |
The actual list changes according to the application (COE, change or renewal), the company's category, its operating history and local conditions. From April 15, 2026, additional documents also apply in some category 3 and 4 Business Manager cases.
How to Apply for the Business Manager Residence Status
Check your current status
Confirm whether a COE from overseas or a change of status from inside Japan is the right procedure. Visitor status alone is not permission to manage a restaurant.
Assess the business model
Review capital, eligible staff, premises, qualifications, Japanese-language requirements and the real management role.
Plan restaurant licensing
Confirm the food-business permit, local health-center requirements, kitchen layout and practical opening timetable.
Gather supporting records
Coordinate company documents, financial evidence, business plan and applicable expert verification.
Prepare and submit
File the appropriate immigration application within the accepted procedures. The final decision belongs to the immigration authority.
Complete opening steps
Address remaining health-center, operational, registration and notification steps through the appropriate professionals and authorities.
Do not assume your visa will be granted because you invested money. Starting construction or signing a lease before verifying immigration and licensing feasibility can create substantial financial risk. Permission is assessed case by case.
Renewal Rules for Existing Foreign Restaurant Owners
The revised standards do not affect every existing Business Manager resident in the same way as a new applicant. For those already holding the status before October 16, 2025, renewal applications made within the first three years after the reform are evaluated with transitional treatment. Until October 16, 2028, missing a new standard is not, by itself, an automatic refusal; business performance, compliance and prospects of satisfying the new criteria still matter.
Renewal review may also cover tax payments, employment and social-insurance compliance, required restaurant licenses and actual management. Different standards generally apply after the transitional period, subject to the ISA's case-specific guidance.
If your existing restaurant has insufficient capital, fewer eligible full-time staff or operating losses, disclose these issues rather than assuming the transitional rules guarantee renewal. See our English Business Manager visa and renewal guide.
Business Manager Visa and Restaurant Permit Fees
| Service | Professional fee (tax included) | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Business Manager COE application | From ¥165,000 | Immigration documents and application support |
| Change to Business Manager status | From ¥165,000 | Immigration change application support |
| Ordinary Business Manager extension | From ¥66,000 | Renewal without major changes; subject to individual assessment |
| Yamagata restaurant business permit | From ¥55,000 | Separate local permit-application service |
The fees above are starting amounts for separate services and are not a bundled price. The precise quote depends on business complexity, locations and required work. Food-health-center permit fees, immigration permission fees where applicable, translation, certified documents, postage and travel expenses are additional. Corporate registration, tax filing, insurance and independent business-plan evaluation may require other professionals and separate fees.
COE applications do not ordinarily carry an immigration filing fee. For an approved change or renewal, the statutory immigration permission fee must be confirmed under the rules applicable to the application.
Planning a restaurant in Japan?
Tell us where you plan to open, the proposed restaurant type, available capital, staff arrangements and your current country or residence status. We will help identify which immigration and permit procedures need attention first.
Ask for an English Fee QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Can a foreigner open a restaurant in Japan?
Foreign nationals can participate in restaurant businesses, but the right to live in Japan and conduct management activities depends on their residence status. A restaurant also needs the applicable local food-business permission.
Is ¥5 million still sufficient for a new Business Manager visa?
Generally no. The Business Manager standards changed on October 16, 2025. Typical new applications must meet the revised business-scale requirement of at least ¥30 million and other conditions, subject to special or transitional situations.
Must I hire one full-time employee even if I own a small café?
The revised standard generally requires at least one qualifying full-time employee. Part-time help or an employee whose immigration status does not meet the specific rule may not satisfy that requirement.
Do I personally need JLPT N2?
Not always. The applicant or an appropriately qualifying full-time employee can meet the Japanese-language requirement through an accepted method. The applicable proof and employee conditions need individual confirmation.
Can I use restaurant kitchen work as my three years of management experience?
Cooking experience is not automatically business-management experience. Records need to demonstrate genuine operational or managerial responsibility if relying on the career requirement. Qualifying degree routes should also be considered.
Can I work as the main chef on a Business Manager visa?
Business Manager is intended for genuine management or administration. When most working time involves cooking or routine service rather than management, eligibility can be problematic. The actual activities must be reviewed.
Does buying an existing restaurant guarantee a visa?
No. Buying shares, a shop or an existing company does not automatically confer immigration status. The applicable capital, staff, management, business-viability and permission requirements must be examined.
Do I need restaurant permission before applying for a visa?
Immigration normally asks for proof of licenses required for the intended business. If permission cannot legally be obtained until residence permission is granted and a legitimate reason is shown, the authority may accept a different timing and request proof at a subsequent renewal. This should be discussed before filing, not assumed.
Can I apply while living overseas?
A COE application may be possible with the necessary Japanese business arrangements and evidence. A consular visa and examination at entry are separate steps. We welcome online enquiries from overseas.
Is restaurant business license assistance available outside Yamagata?
Our published restaurant-license service and starting price are for Yamagata Prefecture. We can discuss immigration cases nationwide, but restaurant permit work outside Yamagata requires confirmation of our ability to handle the particular location and scope.
What if I already hold a Business Manager visa and have less than ¥30 million?
Existing residents may have transitional renewal treatment depending on when they held the status and when they apply. This does not guarantee extension, and business performance, compliance and plans to meet the revised rules remain important.
Does your office handle company registration and tax returns?
Our office handles administrative scrivener work such as immigration documentation and applicable permit applications. Commercial registration, tax returns and certain employment-insurance work belong to other qualified professionals. We clarify responsibilities before accepting an engagement.
Work With a Licensed Administrative Scrivener in Japan
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office is based in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture. We provide immigration application-intermediary services within our authorized scope, including Business Manager COE and residence-status applications for entrepreneurs throughout Japan. We also support restaurant business permit applications in Yamagata Prefecture. We welcome English enquiries from business owners and investors abroad.
Masanobu Kawagoe
Licensed Administrative Scrivener / Immigration Application Intermediary
Kawagoe Masanobu Administrative Scrivener Office
Sagae, Yamagata, Japan
English support for overseas founders and Japanese receiving companies. Application feasibility and required documents are assessed individually.
Further Guidance for Starting a Restaurant in Japan
Official Sources for Immigration and Food Business Permits
Eligibility, documentary requirements and local licensing procedures can change. The competent immigration authority and the public health center make the final decisions.
Planning to Open or Manage a Restaurant in Japan?
Before committing to a lease, major renovations or immigration filings, tell us about your restaurant concept, location, business funding, staff and management background. We will help identify the requirements and explain the appropriate scope of application support and fees.
Telephone 9:00–18:00 Japan time · Business Manager COE / change: from ¥165,000 (tax included) · No immigration or licensing outcome can be guaranteed.