As you probably already know, from following our channel, or from reading the news: the official changes to Japan’s Business Manager visa have been announced. While I wanted to get this blog and video out as quickly as possible, I needed to take some time to let it sink in and formulate my thoughts.
The new Business Manager visa requirements had been looming for only a few short months, but during that time, we were feeling really uncertain as to how it would affect us personally. There were rumors, speculation, accusations, and many more questions than answers. To make the situation more complicated and stressful, our own visa renewal applications were in-progress during the time the changes were announced.
Don’t worry, we have successfully received our renewal! However, we now find ourselves at the beginning of a new and different uphill battle, as we navigate the three year “grace period” given to existing visa holders.
We have a lot of information to cover. I think the most streamlined way to present this information is to: first outline exactly what the changes are, then, discuss the future of Benton Homestead in Japan.
As I’ve made clear with each of our public discussions of the Business Manager visa changes: I know many of us have a lot of feelings about this topic, which is understandable. However, there are plenty of other spaces online to express those feelings, and I want to be very clear that political or unhelpful comments aren’t welcome on our channel. This space is for rational discussion and coming up with solutions. Let’s explore this topic based on information available directly from Japan’s official Immigration Services Agency website.
I always state at the beginning of these blogs and videos: We are not experts in Japanese immigration! We are just two people who received the 6-month Startup visa from Imabari city, incorporated our business into a ‘kabushiki gaisha’, completed the Startup visa requirements within the timeframe, and have successfully received three 1-year extensions for the Business Manager visa. We only have our experience to draw from, along with public information that is readily available online for everyone to read, plus some insight from our immigration lawyer. Please consider the information we share with that in mind. If you have detailed questions about your own immigration process, we always suggest that your first step should be contacting an immigration lawyer, to discuss your unique situation.
If you prefer to listen to your content, we can read through the blog together with our YouTube video ⌄
This new page on Japan’s immigration website, entitled Revision of the Ministerial Ordinance on Landing Standards for the Status of Residence “Business Manager”, outlines the new requirements, how they differ from the former requirements, and some additional notes for clarification. This is the only reliable source of information.
In order to not bore you to tears, and read a bunch of dense text, my brief explanation of the new requirements will be simplified from the official guidelines. Please refer to the official website for details.
Main revisions:
- Employment of a full-time employee
- A Japanese national;
- A permanent resident of Japan; or
- A spouse of one of the above.
- ¥30 million business capital (approximately $200,000 USD equivalent)
- This is “paid-in capital”. That means, it’s not just income the business has earned. There is a process to certify funds as paid-in capital. I defer to the official website for a more thorough explanation.
Previously, a Business Manager visa could be obtained with ¥5 million (approximately $35,000 USD equivalent), or, hiring two full-time employees. As you can see, these requirements are no longer either/or, and the minimum capital investment has increased six times over.
- Japanese language proficiency
- (JLPT) Japanese Language Proficiency Test level N2 or higher;
- BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test score 400 or higher;
- Have resided in Japan for 20 years or more as a mid- to long-term resident;
- Have graduated from a Japanese university or other institution of higher education; or
- Have completed compulsory education in Japan and graduated from high school.
Note that, if the Business Manager visa applicant cannot meet one of the above mentioned language requirements, their full-time employee can satisfy this requirement.
- Academic Achievement or Work Experience
- Applicants must hold a Doctorate, Master’s, or Professional Degree in a field related to Business Management or specifically related to their field of work; or
- Have three or more years of experience in business management or administration
Note that the work experience may include the period of time the Business Manager visa applicant has been working in their business in Japan. I will assume this means the time spend in the Startup visa period (if the applicant has completed the Startup visa prior to the Business Manager visa), along with, for those of us who are existing visa holders, the time already spent managing our business in Japan.
- Business Plan Reviewed by a Professional
- The business plan must be evaluated “to determine whether the plan is concrete, reasonable, and feasible”, by one of the following:
- Small and medium-sized business management consultants ;
- Certified public accountants; or
- Certified tax accountants.
- The business plan must be evaluated “to determine whether the plan is concrete, reasonable, and feasible”, by one of the following:
Additional points clarified by immigration:
1. Regarding Business Content
If the actual activities of a business owner are not fully recognized due to outsourcing, etc., the applicant will be treated as not engaging in activities that fall under the “Business Manager” status of residence.
2. Regarding Business Place
Because it is necessary to secure a business place for business activities in accordance with the revised scale, etc., it is generally not permitted to use one’s home as a business place.
3. Regarding Permanent Residence Permission Applications, etc.
After the enforcement date, if the applicant does not meet the revised permission criteria, they will not be granted permanent residence from “Business Manager” to “Permanent Resident” [summarized].
4. Regarding Departure from Japan During Residence
If an applicant leaves Japan for an extended period without a valid reason during their period of residence, they will be deemed to have no actual activities in Japan and will not be granted a renewal of their period of stay.
5. Regarding Payment of Public Taxes
When renewing their period of stay, the applicant’s payment status for the following public taxes will be confirmed [summarized].
6. Obtaining Licenses and Permits Necessary for Operating a Business
The applicant is required to submit documents certifying the acquisition of necessary licenses and permits for the business they will operate.
Important points regarding timeline of implementation:
For those submitting new applications:
- The new standards have been in effect since October 16, 2025
For those existing visa holders:
- We’ve been given a three year “grace period” until October 16, 2028
As 1 of the approximate 41,000 existing Business Manager visa holders, (and as 1 of the only 51 Business Manager visa holders in all of Ehime prefecture!), we fall under the second category of folks. So this is where we can start discussing how this specifically affects Benton Homestead. I will read the wall of text from the official website:
“For individuals already residing in Japan with “Business Manager” status who apply for extension of period of stay, between the effective date [October 16, 2025] and the date three years have passed [October 16, 2028]. Since the effective date [October 16, 2025], even If the application does not meet the revised standards, approval will be determined based on the applicant’s business situation and the likelihood of compliance with the revised standards [emphasis added by me]. Please note that you may be required to submit documents evaluated by a business expert during the review process [this was not a previous requirement, but will be an addition during the “grace period”].
“Applications for extension of period of stay submitted after three years have passed since the effective date [October 16, 2028] must comply with the revised standards. (Note) Even if an application does not meet the revised standards, if the applicant’s business situation is good, the applicant has properly fulfilled its corporate tax and other payment obligations, and the applicant is expected to meet the new standards by the time of the next renewal application, approval will be determined based on a comprehensive consideration of the applicant’s other residence status [emphasis added by me].”
Let’s break that down a little bit:
It seems that what this is saying is: during the three year “grace period”, each renewal will be based off the likelihood that our business will reach the goals within the timeframe. I may be incorrect in this assessment, but my theory is that each of the 40,000 Business Manager visa holders will only receive 1 year renewals, for the duration of the three year “grace period”. That way, immigration can closely monitor progress towards the goals, at one year intervals. At any time the business does not demonstrate reasonable progress towards the new goalposts, they might not get a renewal.
However, it seems that what this is also saying is: at the end of the three year “grace period”, if our business does not quite meet the new goals, but it looks like we would probably meet the new goals within one more renewal period, they can choose to give one more renewal in order to do so.
Having this kind of leniency in their decision making process will probably help them put an end to the “paper business” loophole. Of course, that’s good news.
The takeaway is that they seem to be giving themselves some wiggle room to make decisions on a case-by-case basis. For our business situation, that’s almost certainly good news too! Which brings me to the next obvious question:
How is Benton Homestead going to meet these new Business Manager visa requirements?
Well, that’s a really good question.
Here’s the situation: We are a small rural business on a small rural island in a small rural prefecture. We have a small budget, but big dreams, and we work hard to make up the difference. Our preference is to rehabilitate otherwise abandoned properties for our business and farm, which of course adds a lot of extra work and unexpected obstacles. Benton Homestead is in all ways a small blue collar business. So how are we even considering the monumental task of increasing our business capital by ¥25 million…??? That’s about $170,000 USD.
For starters, we have a great team of professionals. We have begun initial discussions with our business consultant, accountant, and immigration lawyer. These three professionals have already been our guides for the past three years, through the Startup visa process, and helped us successfully navigate the first two fiscal years of Benton Homestead in Japan. Since the Business Manager visa changes were announced a few months ago, we’ve already started rolling a lot of different ideas around. So over the next few months, we will continue discussions, and come up with a new business plan, to put us on the proper trajectory. We just have to make very wise decisions with limited additional funding.
Very importantly, we have the support of our community. Many of our friends and neighbors on Ōmishima are also business owners. The outpouring of support has been really heartwarming. One friend in particular sent an encouraging message that brought tears to my eyes, “You are an essential asset to the island, so I sincerely hope you can stay. Let’s all come up with some great ideas together for the Bentons”. Another friend said, “The new goals are so big, but you two have a great story that inspires many”. I know the residents of Ōmishima are not the ones who get to choose if we can continue to live in Japan, but I do believe being a small part of this tight-knit small community will help us meet our goal.
Have you noticed by now that we are a little bit crazy? It’s true. We didn’t become (as others have said) “the poster children for the Startup visa program” without throwing caution to the wind and diving into the deep end. Moving across the globe to Japan, as two foreigners, to start a business in the countryside, and do all kinds of things we had never done before, is crazy. But hey, we got on NHK! Weren’t we all taught to believe we can do anything we set our minds to?
So, long story short, our tentative plan will include a number of different avenues towards securing an additional ¥25 million in capital, including, possibly: certifying future business income as capital, launching one or more additional income streams which will increase the amount of income we can certify as capital, crowd-funding specific projects which can increase our income capacity quickly, potentially seeking investors, and lastly, general fundraising.
Three years is a long time. Anything can happen in three years, even a miracle. But if we’re able to put a great new business plan together, we may not need a miracle. Just another three years of hard work and determination, combined with your continued support and encouragement! A friend told me recently to “leave room for magic”.
The very first step is to start a general fundraising campaign
Please understand that we don’t take this lightly. Every other avenue towards meeting this goal involves our own hard work to grow our business. We were encouraged by many friends and subscribers to start a GoFundMe, so we decided to give it a try. Fundraising is a way to take the edge off, and make that very high target just a little bit closer to reach. We don’t anticipate that fundraising donations will make up for a large percentage of the goal, but as they say, every little bit helps!
So, if you feel compelled to donate towards Benton Homestead’s continued operation in Japan, please feel free. But also, please do not feel obligated. We’ve enjoyed meeting so many new friends on this three year journey so far, and none of that comes with the expectation of receiving anything in return.
You can also help Benton Homestead by purchasing a YouTube membership, or becoming a Buy Me a Coffee member. Other ways to help include: visiting Benton Guesthouse on your next Shimanami Kaido trip; enjoying our ‘mikan’ or ‘hyakkamitsu’ honey; browse our vintage records; schedule a video consultation or real estate property tour; or (for free) just continue to like, comment, and share our videos and posts.
That concludes my brief overview of the new Business Manager visa requirement changes. As you can see: it affects us personally, and we are just beginning a new uphill battle, in order to continue revitalizing our little part of Japan’s countryside. We know we’re not the only ones affected by this; I’ve probably had over fifty people reach out to me personally about how these changes have affected their plans or their current life in Japan.
I would just like to say once more: let’s not lose hope. Again, three years is a long time. Maybe the situation will change, once many of the “paper businesses” are weeded out, and only the remaining legitimate businesses remain working towards the new goals in the “grace period”. Who knows.
If you’re interested in discussing further, please consider joining us on our monthly livestream. We will have a great little community of regular chat participants, many of whom are also on their own path towards Japan, and have some great personal experience to share. It’s always held the last Sunday of the month. However, November’s livestream will be one week early, on Sunday, November 23rd, from 8-10am Japan time. If you can’t make the livestream time, you’re always welcome to leave your questions in advance, then you can watch the replay later. Everyone’s welcome.
See you in the livestream, or, see you in the next video!
頑張りましょう!!!
Thanks for reading,
Dani & Evan Benton
English 
日本語