5 May, 2026
The Business Manager Visa underwent some major changes in late 2025, making this path far less feasible for many small business owners hoping to set up shop in Japan.
In addition to more stringent language, education, and staffing requirements, the biggest change raised the required initial capital from 5 to 30 million yen, or approximately $200,000 USD. (For a more detailed look into the renewed Business Manager Visa, see our article here.) Immigration reported a significant 96% decline in new applications.
Many applicants who submitted their paperwork shortly before the requirements changed are still waiting for decisions, creating uncertainty for founders who have already invested substantial time and money into their plans.
But while the Business Manager Visa may be inaccessible for many now, it doesn’t mean your dream of running a business in Japan is hopeless! For entrepreneurs willing to be flexible, there are several other visa solutions worth considering.
The good news is that there are several practical pathways available, depending on your circumstances, budget, and long-term goals.
For many entrepreneurs, this has become the most practical and fastest alternative.
Rather than sponsoring yourself through a company you own, you can work through a Japanese employer structure that legally employs you in Japan.
In this scenario, you continue to operate your business activities under an agreed framework.
In practice, this often means partnering with a local organization that becomes your employer of record in Japan. You receive a Japanese employment contract, salary, and a visa pathway while continuing to focus on growing your business.
Compared to the Business Manager Visa, this approach avoids many of the major hurdles:
For entrepreneurs whose primary goal is simply to live and work in Japan while building a business, this is often the most straightforward path.
Expect costs in the range of:
While these costs can appear substantial, they are often lower than the combined expenses associated with maintaining a Business Manager Visa structure. Consider office rent, accounting, legal support, and staff salaries. $1200 could be a good deal if you don’t actually need those things to run your business!
In many cases, entrepreneurs can be operational in as little as two months, making this one of the fastest available options. If you already know this is the route best for you, talk to us (it’s free!) and we can connect you with a service provider.
Another possibility is to establish or maintain a Japanese company while appointing a local resident director who serves as the legal representative.
Become an employee of the company rather than acting as its director.
This structure can be particularly useful because a local director can:
The challenge is that a director is not simply a name on paper.
A representative director has real legal authority and can exercise significant control over the company. If the arrangement is poorly structured, conflicts can arise over decision-making, banking access, contracts, or company assets.
Historically, some administrative scrivener firms and corporate service providers offered nominee director services. However, these arrangements are becoming less common due to increasing compliance scrutiny and regulatory risk.
It’s generally advisable to avoid informal arrangements involving:
Costs vary significantly depending on the level of involvement required.
The difference between these two ends of the spectrum is substantial. A low-cost nominee arrangement may satisfy a registration requirement but provide little practical assistance, while a senior executive partner can provide irreplaceable value to the business.
For entrepreneurs who already have strong professional relationships in Japan, another option is to bring your business under the umbrella of an existing Japanese company.
Perhaps you’ve been working with:
In some cases, it may be possible to negotiate an arrangement where your business operates as a division, brand, or “doing business as” entity under their corporate structure. Or, they could really like what you do, offer to buy your business and keep you on board.
You become an employee of the parent company while continuing to lead and develop the business activity you created.
This model is most successful when you bring clear value to the parent company.
Examples include:
The sponsoring company is taking on legal, employment, and compliance obligations, so there needs to be a compelling business case for them to do so.
Costs typically include:
Unlike the other options, costs here can vary dramatically depending on the relationship and the strategic value of the partnership.
For most founders, the answer depends on what they’re trying to achieve.
If your goal is simply to live in Japan while running your business, the local partner (option 1) structure is typically the fastest and least complicated solution.
If you already have a Japanese company and need local representation, appointing a qualified director may be worth exploring, provided the governance structure is carefully designed.
And if you’ve spent years building relationships in Japan, integrating under a trusted client or partner’s corporate umbrella can create opportunities that go well beyond immigration benefits.
The reality is that the Business Manager Visa is no longer the only pathway available to entrepreneurs. As requirements become more stringent and processing times remain uncertain, many founders are finding that alternative structures can provide a faster, more practical route to establishing themselves in Japan.
Here at Japan Remotely, our goal is to empower people to live and work in Japan in a way that is best for both you and Japan! While immigration hasn’t caught up with many types of modern career styles (such as online businesses and remote work), we’ve made it our business to help you navigate things! From lifestyle to visas, our extended network of experts can help you plan with confidence, better understanding your options and larger implications on things like permanent residency status.
5 May, 2026
23 February, 2026
