How to Apply for a Japan Business Manager Visa from Overseas: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Are you planning to start a business in Japan whilst living overseas?

The Japan Business Manager Visa allows eligible foreign entrepreneurs to live in Japan and manage their own businesses. However, establishing a Japanese company and preparing a visa application from overseas can be challenging, particularly if you do not have someone you can trust in Japan.

The new Business Manager Visa requirements introduced in October 2025 have made the process even more demanding. With a higher capital requirement, mandatory employment of a qualifying full-time employee and additional language and professional qualifications, careful preparation is now more important than ever.

In our previous article, Japan Business Manager Visa: 3 Ways to Start a Business in Kyoto & Shiga, we compared three possible routes to establishing a business in Japan.

This article focuses on the regular Business Manager Visa route, explaining how to establish a company from overseas, the role of a trusted local partner and the steps involved in applying for a visa.

1. What Is the Regular Business Manager Visa Route?

The regular route involves preparing your business in Japan before applying for Business Manager status (one year).

One of its main advantages is that you can complete much of the company establishment process whilst remaining overseas. You generally do not need to relocate to Japan until your visa has been approved.

As you can apply directly for Business Manager status without first obtaining a separate startup preparation residence status, this often means fewer immigration applications, lower professional fees and less administrative work.

However, there is one significant challenge.

Establishing a Japanese company from overseas often requires considerable assistance from someone you can trust in Japan.

This has become particularly important under the stricter requirements introduced in October 2025.

2. Business Manager Visa Requirements Under the New Rules

On 16 October 2025, Japan introduced significant changes to the eligibility requirements for the Business Manager Visa.

The main requirements generally include:

• Capital: At least JPY 30 million in qualifying business capital or investment.
• Full-time employee: At least one qualifying full-time employee, such as a Japanese national or an eligible foreign resident.
• Japanese language proficiency: The applicant or an eligible full-time employee must meet the prescribed Japanese language standard, generally equivalent to JLPT N2 or CEFR B2.
• Management experience or education: Generally, at least three years of relevant management experience or an eligible advanced degree.
• Business premises: A suitable office in Japan for conducting the proposed business.
• Business plan: A credible business plan evaluated by an appropriately qualified professional.

These requirements mean that simply registering a Japanese company and investing JPY 30 million is no longer sufficient.

You must also prepare the necessary staffing arrangements, office premises and supporting documentation.

For entrepreneurs living overseas, satisfying these requirements before arriving in Japan can be particularly challenging.

3. How to Establish a Japanese Company from Overseas

The regular Business Manager Visa route generally requires several important preparations before submitting your immigration application.

Step 1: Find a Trusted Local Partner in Japan

When establishing a Japanese company from overseas, one practical approach is to ask a trusted person in Japan to act as a promoter (Hokkinin) and an initial director of the company.

A promoter is involved in establishing the company, whilst an initial director takes on management responsibilities from its incorporation.

Your local partner may be responsible for a wide range of practical arrangements, including:

• Arranging the payment of the company’s capital.
• Finding suitable office premises and signing the lease.
• Assisting with company incorporation and registration procedures.
• Recruiting a qualifying full-time employee.
• Co-ordinating other business establishment procedures in Japan.

The new Business Manager Visa requirements have increased the amount of work your local partner may need to undertake, particularly in relation to employee recruitment and Japanese language requirements.

Once your Business Manager Visa has been approved and you have arrived in Japan, your local partner can begin transferring management responsibilities to you and subsequently resign as a director.

In practice, your local partner may continue working alongside you for approximately three months after your arrival to ensure a smooth transition. The actual handover period will depend on the company’s circumstances.

During this period, they may assist with banking arrangements, office administration, employee management and other day-to-day business matters.

It is also important to understand that acting as a promoter may involve holding shares in the company. Any intended transfer of shares or ownership interests should therefore be agreed and properly arranged in advance. Resigning as a director does not automatically transfer ownership.

Before appointing a local partner, you should clearly agree on their responsibilities, financial arrangements, management authority and the process for transferring control of the business.

Choosing someone who is not only trustworthy but also willing and capable of providing substantial assistance is essential.

Step 2: Arrange the JPY 30 Million Capital Payment

Under the revised Business Manager Visa requirements, a Japanese company generally needs at least JPY 30 million in qualifying paid-in capital or contributions.

Arranging this payment can be particularly challenging for entrepreneurs living overseas who do not yet have a Japanese bank account.

Depending on the company structure and circumstances, it may be possible to arrange the capital payment through an eligible account held by an authorised person in Japan.

For example, your trusted local partner may be able to assist with receiving the capital payment as part of the company incorporation process.

However, this creates a significant risk.

Transferring JPY 30 million to another person’s bank account means entrusting that person with a substantial amount of money.

If the person is unreliable or fails to handle the funds properly, recovering the money could be extremely difficult.

You should therefore avoid transferring such a large sum to anyone you do not know and trust exceptionally well.

Before making any transfer, it is important to confirm the appropriate legal arrangements, prepare the necessary authorisations and establish clear safeguards for handling the funds.

Step 3: Register the Company and Secure an Office

Once the capital arrangements have been organised, the company incorporation procedures can proceed.

Foreign entrepreneurs commonly establish either a Kabushiki Kaisha (KK) or a Godo Kaisha (GK).

Both structures can potentially support a Business Manager Visa application.

Company registration procedures should be handled in accordance with Japanese company law, with assistance from a solicitor (judicial scrivener) where appropriate.

You must also secure suitable business premises.

A virtual office will not satisfy the immigration requirements. Furthermore, under the new requirements introduced in October 2025, using your home as both your residence and business office is generally not permitted. You should therefore plan to secure separate, dedicated business premises.

Your local partner may assist with finding premises, communicating with estate agents and landlords, and arranging the lease.

One important point to bear in mind is that rent will normally become payable from the start of the lease, even if you have not yet arrived in Japan or started operating your business. As the visa application process can take time, you may need to pay several months’ rent before your business begins generating any income. You should therefore factor these costs into your initial budget and carefully consider the timing of your office lease.

Step 4: Recruit a Qualifying Full-Time Employee

Under the new requirements, the business must generally employ at least one qualifying full-time employee.

Recruiting someone before arriving in Japan can be difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with Japanese recruitment practices and employment procedures.

Your local partner may need to assist with advertising vacancies, interviewing candidates and preparing employment arrangements.

The employee must genuinely work for the business and meet the applicable immigration criteria.

You should also consider whether the employee can satisfy the Japanese language proficiency requirement.

Step 5: Prepare the Business Plan and Required Documents

Once the business arrangements are in place, you must prepare a comprehensive business plan and the supporting documents for your visa application.

The business plan should explain the company’s activities, target customers, financial projections, staffing arrangements and future business strategy.

Under the revised requirements, the business plan must also be evaluated by an appropriately qualified professional.

Other supporting documents generally include evidence of company registration, capital contributions, office premises, employment arrangements and the applicant’s qualifications.

Careful preparation is important because inconsistencies or insufficient evidence may delay the application or affect the outcome.

4. How to Apply for a Business Manager Visa from Overseas

Once the necessary business preparations have been completed, you can proceed with the immigration application.

The process generally involves three stages.

Step 1: Apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is issued by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan after examining whether the proposed activities meet the applicable immigration requirements.

The application documents required depend on the company’s immigration category and the applicant’s circumstances. For entrepreneurs establishing a new company in Japan, the following documents are commonly relevant:

Category	Main Documents
Application	COE application form, photograph and applicable application-related forms
Company registration	Certificate of registered matters and articles of incorporation
Business activities	Documents confirming the applicant’s position, responsibilities and remuneration
Business plan	Detailed business plan evaluated by an appropriately qualified professional
Capital	Evidence of the required business capital or investment, including relevant corporate and financial documents
Business premises	Office lease agreement, property registration documents or other evidence of suitable premises
Employees	Documents confirming the employment, remuneration and qualifying status of at least one full-time employee
Japanese language ability	Evidence that the applicant or an eligible full-time employee meets the prescribed language requirement
Qualifications	Degree certificates or documents proving the required management experience
Business licences	Relevant permits or licences, together with the prescribed explanation where applicable
Tax and payroll administration	Applicable tax, payroll and withholding-related documents, including notifications for newly established businesses where required

Additional documents, such as financial statements, business information and explanations concerning the company’s circumstances, may also be required.

Step 2: Apply for a Visa at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate

Once the COE has been issued, you can generally apply for a visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence.

The specific procedures vary depending on the country.

Step 3: Enter Japan and Take Over Business Management

After obtaining your visa and entering Japan, you can begin carrying out the business management activities authorised by your residence status.

If your local partner has been acting as an initial director, you should arrange a proper handover of management responsibilities.

The necessary changes to the company’s directors and management arrangements should be completed in accordance with Japanese company law.

5. Is the Regular Business Manager Visa Route Right for You?

The regular route can be an attractive option if you have sufficient capital, a realistic business plan and a highly reliable person in Japan who can assist with establishing the company.

One of its biggest advantages is that you can prepare your business whilst remaining overseas and apply directly for Business Manager status.

However, the stricter requirements introduced in October 2025 have made the process more demanding.

Your local partner may need to handle substantial financial arrangements, company incorporation, office contracts and employee recruitment before your arrival.

If you do not have a suitable and trustworthy person in Japan, the regular route may be difficult to pursue safely.

In such cases, it may be worth considering other options, including the four-month Business Manager Visa or the Japan Startup Visa, depending on your eligibility.

6. Consult an Administrative/immigration Lawyer

Establishing a company in Japan from overseas requires careful planning, particularly under the new Business Manager Visa requirements.

An experienced Administrative/Immigration Lawyer (Gyoseishoshi) can assist with immigration procedures and help you prepare the documents required for a Business Manager Visa application.

Professional assistance can also help you identify potential problems with company establishment, capital arrangements, office premises and employee recruitment before making substantial financial commitments.

If you are planning to start a business in Kyoto or Shiga, obtaining advice at an early stage can help reduce unnecessary risks, delays and expenses.

Contact us to discuss your Japan Business Manager Visa application and company establishment plans in Kyoto or Shiga.

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Last updated: November 2026.

This article provides general information. The appropriate company establishment and immigration procedures depend on individual circumstances. Please confirm the current requirements with the relevant authorities before applying.