Business Manager Visa Japan: Complete Guide 2026

Starting a Business in Japan: The Visa for Those Who Want to Create

Do you have an entrepreneurial project and want to launch it in Japan? The Business Manager visa (経営・管理 keiei kanri) is for you. It's the visa that allows you to create, own, or manage a business in Japan. Whether you want to open a French restaurant in Tokyo, launch a tech startup in Fukuoka, or import artisanal products to Europe, this is the visa you need.

But be warned: it's one of the most demanding visas. Minimum capital, mandatory physical office, solid business plan — Japanese immigration wants to ensure your project is serious and viable. We'll detail everything so you start with all the cards in hand.

The Conditions of the Business Manager Visa

The Minimum Capital: 5 Million Yen

This is the figure that always comes up: 5 million yen, or about 30,000-32,000 euros at the current rate. This capital must be invested in your Japanese company. Some important clarifications:

• The capital must be actually invested in the company (paid into the company's bank account). It's not a security deposit you get back — it's the share capital of your company.
• The funds must be of legitimate origin: immigration may ask you to justify the source (savings, inheritance, documented family loan, investor...). Money that mysteriously appears in your account will be scrutinized.
• You can combine sources: your own savings + a family loan + an investor, for example.
• Alternative to capital: instead of 5 million yen, you can employ at least 2 full-time Japanese employees. In practice, most people opt for capital, as it's simpler to start with.

The Physical Office

Your company must have a dedicated physical office (事務所 jimusho) in Japan. This is a non-negotiable condition. Some rules:

• The office must be for commercial use — not your apartment. Japanese residential leases generally prohibit commercial activity.
• You must provide the lease agreement with the visa application, proving that the premises are rented for professional purposes.
• A coworking space with a fixed address and dedicated desk may be accepted in some cases, but a virtual office alone is generally not sufficient.
• The office can be small (even 10m2 is enough), but it must physically exist with a sign or mailbox in the name of the company.

Tip: some Japanese cities have implemented special programs for foreign entrepreneurs. Fukuoka, Kobe, Osaka and a few others offer "Startup Visas" with relaxed conditions (6 months to 1 year to meet the Business Manager conditions). This is an excellent entry point if you want to test your idea on site first.

The Business Plan

You must present a detailed business plan (事業計画書 jigyō keikakusho) that demonstrates the viability of your project. Immigration doesn't expect a 100-page document, but a clear and realistic plan:

• Description of the activity: what you will do, what market, what positioning
• Market research: who are your potential customers, what is the demand
• Financial plan: revenue and expense forecasts over 1-3 years, break-even point
• Use of capital: how you will spend the 5 million (equipment, rent, stock, salaries...)
• Your role: why you, what skills you bring
• Planned jobs: your recruitment plan, even in the medium term

The business plan can be in Japanese or English (Japanese is preferable if possible). Some candidates use a gyōsei shoshi (行政書士, administrative scrivener) or a lawyer specializing in immigration to help with the writing — it's an investment that is often worth it.

The Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: Prepare the Ground from France

Even before applying for the visa, you must lay the foundations for your business in Japan. The classic problem: how to create a company in Japan if you don't have a visa, and how to get a visa without a company? Here are the solutions:

• Option A — The Representative: you designate a Japanese resident (friend, partner, lawyer) as a temporary representative to create the company and sign the lease. Once the visa is obtained, you substitute yourself as the manager.
• Option B — The Startup Visa: you go through a municipal program (Fukuoka, Kobe, Osaka, etc.) that gives you a visa for 6 months to 1 year to prepare your project on site. During this period, you set up your company and meet the conditions.
• Option C — The Change of Status: you enter Japan as a tourist or on a WHV, you create your company during your stay (it's legal as long as you don't actively manage it), and you apply for a change of status to Business Manager.

Step 2: Create the Japanese Company

There are two main types of companies in Japan:

• KK — Kabushiki Kaisha (株式会社): the equivalent of the SA/SAS. More prestigious, more formalities, creation costs of around 200,000-250,000 yen (registration + notary). It's the preferred choice if...

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