Japan Immigration News

Immigration Agency to Tighten Visa Requirements for Foreign Entrepreneurs; Move Eyed as Chinese Nationals Increasingly Obtain Status

Release Date: 2025-06-10
Media: Japan News
Summary: Japan’s Immigration Services Agency is considering raising the minimum capital requirement for the business manager visa—a residency status for foreign entrepreneurs—from the current ¥5 million. The current threshold is seen as low compared to countries like South Korea, which requires roughly ¥30 million.

The move aims to address concerns that the visa is being misused, particularly by Chinese nationals who obtain it primarily to live in Japan rather than to start genuine businesses. As of June 2024, over 20,000 Chinese nationals hold this visa, accounting for more than half of all holders. Some have used it to run private lodging services (minpaku) or to relocate families, raising concerns about its role as a backdoor to permanent residency and its impact on public safety and the business environment.

The agency intends to start formal discussions within the fiscal year to revise the related ordinance, aiming to preserve the visa’s original purpose of attracting highly skilled entrepreneurs.
Tags: Immigration Policy,Business Manager

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