How to obtain permanent residency from a Business Manager Visa Japan? Explanation of requirements and procedures.

For foreigners considering starting a business in Japan, a business manage rvisa ris essential for mid- to long-term stays. However, to conduct business in Japan over the long term, it is desirable to aim for permanent residency.

Obtaining permanent residency offers benefits such as no work restrictions in Japan, increased social credibility, and easier access to loans.

The key points of this article are as follows:

✓Effective October 16, 2025, meeting the new criteria (such as a minimum capital of 30 million yen) set by the company itself will become a mandatory requirement for Permanent Residency applications. ✓Applicants for permanent residency are required to have good conduct, adhere to the law, and have no criminal record. ✓The Permanent Residency applicant as an individual must be financially independent (with annual executive compensation of 3 million yen or more), and the company must also maintain a continuously stable and healthy financial condition. ✓Applicants must have resided in Japan for at least 10 years, with at least 5 years of work qualifications including a Business Manager Visa Japan. ✓Strict scrutiny will be applied to ensure that all public obligations, such as taxes, pensions, and the company’s social insurance contributions, have been properly fulfilled. ✓The applicant must currently hold the Business Manager visa with a period of stay of three years or more. ✓A guarantor who is a Japanese citizen or a permanent resident with a stable annual income of at least 3 million yen is required. ✓ The review period for obtaining permanent residency from a Business Manager Visa Japan generally takes about six months to a year. ✓If you hire an administrative scrivener to handle the permanent residency application process, the scope of support and fees will vary. If you handle it yourself, you will need to collect and prepare the necessary documents. ✓ If permanent residency is denied, you should confirm the reasons for the denial, implement improvement measures, prepare for reapplication, and consult with an expert if necessary.

In this article, we will explain the requirements and procedures for foreigners holding a Business Manager Visa Japan to obtain permanent residency in Japan.

1. What is a Business Manager Visa Japan?

A Business Manager Visa  is necessary for foreigners to establish or manage a business in Japan. The primary recipients of this visa are company executives, senior management, or entrepreneurs starting new ventures.

However, due to the legal amendment on October 16, 2025, the requirements for obtaining it have been significantly tightened.

Under the new system, several conditions have been newly mandated, including: capital of 30 million yen or more, the employment of at least one full-time employee, three years or more of management experience or a Master’s degree or higher, and a certain level of Japanese language proficiency. Consequently, the hurdle for acquisition has drastically risen.

The validity period for the Business Manager visa is typically one to five years, and it can be renewed depending on the business situation. However, this visa is intended for temporary stay. Therefore, those aiming for long-term residency must clear these strict new requirements and then further proceed to apply for Permanent Residency.

The Business Manager Visa is typically valid for 1 to 5 years, depending on the business circumstances, and can be renewed accordingly. However, as this visa is intended for temporary stays, those aiming for long-term residence or permanent settlement must pursue permanent residency.

2. What is Permanent Residency?

Permanent residency is a visa that allows foreigners to reside in Japan indefinitely. Holding permanent residency frees individuals from the restrictions related to visa renewals and work qualifications, making long-term career planning and life arrangements easier. Permanent residents enjoy almost the same rights as Japanese citizens in terms of employment and business activities within Japan.

Unlike naturalization, which requires giving up one’s original nationality due to Japan’s non-recognition of dual citizenship, permanent residency allows foreigners to retain their original nationality while living in Japan.

Applying for permanent residency is a process for those already residing in Japan, aiming to change their current visa status. Therefore, foreigners who wish to start a business in Japan cannot apply for permanent residency upon their initial arrival. They must first obtain a business management visa and then apply for permanent residency after meeting the necessary requirements.

3. Requirements for Obtaining Permanent Residency from a Business Manager Visa Japan

In order for a foreign national holding a Business Manager visa to obtain Permanent Residency in Japan, they must fulfill several requirements. These requirements establish the basic conditions for the applicant to successfully integrate into Japanese society and maintain a stable livelihood.

3-1. The business must satisfy the new criteria following the amendment of the Business Manager visa.

The legal amendment on October 16, 2025, introduced the most crucial and fundamental rule for applying for Permanent Residency from the Business Manager visa.

This rule dictates that, at the time of applying for Permanent Residency, the applicant’s business must be in full compliance with the revised new permission standards for the Business Manager visa (such as capital of 30 million yen and the employment of one full-time employee).

According to the official announcement by the Immigration Services Agency, following the enforcement date, Permanent Residency applications based on the “Business Manager” visa, or the “Highly Skilled Professional” visa predicated on it, will not be granted if the business does not comply with these new permission standards.

In other words, the conventional requirements—such as the “Good Conduct Criterion,” the “Independent Livelihood Criterion,” and the “National Interest Criterion”—will be assessed under the major prerequisite that your company has cleared this new business standard. This is an extremely critical change: even if you have lived in Japan for over 10 years and fulfilled your tax obligations, the path to Permanent Residency will not open if the applicant’s company remains under the old standards (e.g., 5 million yen capital).

3-2. Good Conduct (Good Conduct Requirement)

The term “Good Conduct” refers to the Permanent Residency applicant’s compliance with the law and their conduct of a socially acceptable life as a resident in their daily activities. Specifically, this means the applicant has not been subjected to penalties such as imprisonment, confinement, or fines. This is one of the most important requirements when applying for Permanent Residency, and the applicant’s past behavior will be evaluated.

If there is a history of imprisonment or detention:

For lighter penalties such as fines, detention, or minor infractions, these are not considered major offenses if five years have passed since their completion.

Compliance with laws in daily and social life:

Adherence to laws in daily life is also required. For example, repeated minor violations such as traffic offenses or unauthorized activities may impact the permanent residency application.

Traffic Violations:

When applying for permanent residency, traffic violation history for the past five years is checked. The key point is whether the applicant has committed five or more violations within the past five years. Minor violations such as parking violations, failure to stop, or using a mobile phone while driving a few times are usually not a major issue. However, serious violations such as drunk driving, driving without a license, or speeding over 20 km/h may result in a denial of the permanent residency application, even if they occurred only once.

To check your violation history, you can obtain a driving record certificate from the Driver’s License Center.

Overwork Due to Unauthorized Activities by Family Members:

Particular attention must be paid to the employment status of the Permanent Residency applicant’s family members, such as a spouse or child, if they are working in Japan under a “Dependent visa” (Family Stay visa) with Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted (資格外活動許可).

If a family member is working with this “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted,” exceeding the 28-hour-per-week limit is considered an illegal activity.

Such illegal activities can be seen as a lack of proper supervision by the holder of the business manager visa, leading to the perception of engaging in illegal activities or disrupting public order, potentially resulting in the denial of the permanent residency application. In such cases, it will be necessary to correct the employment situation (to within 28 hours per week) and wait for five years before reapplying.

3-3. Requirement 2: Sufficient Assets or Skills for an Independent Livelihood (Independent Livelihood Requirement)

When applying for Permanent Residency, it is required that the applicant “possesses sufficient assets or skills to make an independent living.” This requirement means that the Permanent Residency applicant is not reliant on public assistance (such as receiving livelihood protection) for daily life, and is expected to maintain a stable livelihood in the future based on their occupation or assets.

Independence of Livelihood and Stability/Continuity of Management:

Permanent residency applicants must prove that they are not dependent on public assistance such as welfare and that they lead a stable life through their own assets or skills. Additionally, attention must be paid to the financial condition of the business they manage. Specifically, continuous deficit operations or even a positive balance with excessive borrowing leading to insolvency may be seen as failing to meet the independent livelihood requirement. It is desirable for the business to consistently generate stable profits and have well-managed finances.

Standard for Executive Compensation (Annual Income of 3 Million Yen or More):

The income of the business owner is also a crucial element of this requirement. Executive compensation is generally expected to be at least 3 million yen annually, considering the income status over the past three years. This standard demonstrates the stability of the individual’s livelihood.

The number of dependents the business owner supports is also a key factor in determining the necessary income. The more dependents, the higher the required annual income, with an additional 700,000 yen for each dependent. For example, if supporting a spouse and a child, an annual income of at least 4.4 million yen is desirable.

Apply for Permanent Residency After More Than Two Years of Establishing the Business:

Entrepreneurs who have just started their business after leaving a corporate job are advised to wait until their business stabilizes before applying for permanent residency. It is particularly important for the business to continue operating profitably, ideally for more than two years, demonstrating stable management.

3-4.  Recognition that Permanent Residency Aligns with Japan’s National Interest (National Interest Requirement)

The “National Interest Criterion” (国益適合要件) in Permanent Residency applications is a crucial factor for evaluating whether the applicant’s residence is suitable for the interests of Japan. This requirement is established to ensure that the applicant has a positive impact on Japanese society and is not engaged in activities contrary to the public interest.

Continuous Residence in Japan for Over 10 Years and Employment Qualification for Over 5 Years:

To apply for permanent residency, holders of a business manager visa must have resided continuously in Japan for over 10 years. Of these, the applicant must have held employment qualifications (such as business management, specialized/technical knowledge, or international services) for at least the last 5 years. “Continuous” refers to residing in Japan without any interruption in visa status.

Continuous Residence in Japan for Over 10 Years:

Temporary departures from Japan for work or other reasons are not problematic. However, if the applicant has been abroad for more than 100 days in a year or has a single departure lasting over three months, it is not considered “continuous” residence. This may indicate that the applicant’s life base is not in Japan, and without a reasonable explanation, permanent residency may not be granted. In cases of long-term departures, applicants need to provide a thorough explanation of the reasons for the extended absence, past periods of departure, family situation (e.g., children attending school in Japan), asset status (e.g., owning a home in Japan), and future plans for life and activities in Japan.

Holding Employment Qualification for Over 5 Years:

This requirement is established to confirm that the Permanent Residency applicant has continuously and stably engaged in activities based on their status of residence (work visa) in Japan. If the applicant holds a work visa, they are required to continuously conduct activities that align with that status. For example, if the applicant holds a Business Manager visa, they must be continuously involved in business management activities. This means not merely holding the visa, but actually performing activities that align with the visa’s purpose.

For instance, if an individual with a business manager visa managed a company for three years, then took a one-year break or was unemployed, and resumed management for another two years, this would be considered a break in continuity. To meet the permanent residency requirements, the applicant would need to resume management activities, ensuring that the most recent five years align with the activities stipulated by the visa.

Additionally, if someone held a Technical, Humanities, and International Services visa and worked as an employee for two years, then switched to a business manager visa and started a business for three years, the total of five years with employment qualifications would meet the requirement for permanent residency.

Compliance with Laws, Including Fulfillment of Public Obligations Such as Tax Payment:

When applying for Permanent Residency, the fulfillment of public obligations such as tax payments, and general compliance with laws and regulations, are important requirements. This criterion is necessary to demonstrate that the Permanent Residency applicant is engaging in responsible social conduct.

Fulfillment of Tax Obligations:

Permanent residency applicants must appropriately pay personal taxes (such as residence tax and income tax), pension contributions, and, in the case of business owners, corporate taxes (such as corporate tax, business tax, and consumption tax). Timely and proper tax payments are crucial for obtaining permanent residency.

Enrollment in Social Insurance:

For business owners, it is also important to ensure that their company is appropriately enrolled in social insurance programs (such as employees’ pension, health insurance, and employment insurance). Even companies with only one employee, including the president, must enroll in these programs. Failure to enroll in social insurance or delayed payments can affect the permanent residency application. If required to enroll, the applicant must promptly complete the procedures and continue making appropriate payments.

Addressing Tax Payment Delays:

Ideally, applicants should provide evidence of tax and payment compliance over the past five years. However, if there have been delays, it is necessary to demonstrate timely payments for at least the two years preceding the permanent residency application. Additionally, submitting a statement explaining the reasons for the delays, reflections, and future preventive measures can increase the likelihood of approval for the permanent residency application.

Holding the Longest Possible Residence Period for the Current Visa:

This requirement is intended to demonstrate that the Permanent Residency applicant has been stably residing in Japan for a long period. Although the Business Manager visa grants periods of stay such as one, three, or five years, the applicant must possess a period of stay of “three years” or “five years” at the time of applying for Permanent Residency.

【Note following the 2025 Amendment】
Due to the legal amendment, merely holding a “period of stay of three years or more” is no longer sufficient to meet this requirement. Having obtained that period of stay (three years or more) must be coupled with the applicant’s business itself meeting the revised new permission standards (such as capital of 30 million yen). It is necessary to prove that both the length of the period of stay and the content of the business are at a level commensurate with the national interest of Japan.

Not Posing a Public Health Risk:

Applicants must not be at risk of causing harm from a public health perspective. This includes not being diagnosed with Class 1 or Class 2 infectious diseases, designated infectious diseases, new infectious diseases, or being a chronic drug addict (such as addiction to narcotics, marijuana, or stimulants).

3-5.Having a Guarantor

When applying for Permanent Residency, the requirement that the applicant “must have a guarantor” is mandated. This requirement is intended to confirm that the Permanent Residency applicant will have reliable support for their life in Japan.

Qualifications of the Guarantor:

The guarantor must be a Japanese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residency in Japan. Additionally, the guarantor must have a stable income (with an annual income of at least 3 million yen) and must properly pay taxes.

Scope of the Guarantor’s Responsibility:

The guarantor’s responsibilities include moral obligations related to living expenses, return expenses, and legal compliance, but do not include financial compensation. If the foreigner violates the law, the guarantor does not bear legal responsibility. While the guarantor does not have economic liability, if issues arise with the guaranteed foreigner, the guarantor may not be accepted as a guarantor for other permanent residency applicants in the future.

4. Examination Period for Permanent Residency Approval

According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the standard processing period for a permanent residency application is four months, but it generally takes about six months to a year. The actual period varies depending on factors such as the content and completeness of the submitted documents, and the congestion at the immigration office.

The review process for permanent residency applications is more stringent than for other visa types, and it takes longer for a decision to be made. During the examination period, it is important to continue adhering to the law and maintain a stable life in Japan. Additionally, it is advisable to promptly respond to any additional questions or requests for documents from the immigration office as needed.

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5. Necessary Documents for Foreigners Holding a Business Manager Visa Japan to Apply for Permanent Residency

Foreigners holding a business manager visa need the following documents to apply for permanent residency. Depending on the situation, additional documents may be required.

5-1. Documents for Foreigners Holding a Business Management Visa Japan

• Permanent Residency Application Form
• Passport
• Residence Card
• Resident Record (for all family members)
• Taxation Certificate and Tax Payment Certificate for the past 5 years
• Annual Pension Statement and Pension Records Inquiry
• Health Insurance Cards for all family members
• Copy of Home Rental Agreement (or Property Registration Certificate if you own real estate)
• Photos of Home (exterior, entrance, kitchen, living room, bedroom)
• At least 3 Family Snapshots
• Copies of Bank Passbooks
• Graduation Certificate or Copy of Diploma from the Highest Educational Institution
• Statement of Reason for Application (detailing why permanent residency is needed)
• Chronology (including residence history, educational background, work history, and personal status changes)

5-2. Documents Related to the Company

• Certificate of Company Registration
• Copy of Company Articles of Incorporation
• Copy of Business License
• Copies of Financial Statements (for the past 3 years)
• Company Brochure

5-3. Documents Related to the Guarantor (Japanese Citizen or Permanent Resident)

• Letter of Guarantee
• Resident Record
• Tax Payment Certificate for the Past Year
• Withholding Tax Statement for the Past Year
• Employment and Salary Certificate
• Document Explaining the Relationship with the Applicant

6.Process for Applying for Permanent Residence Permission

Applying for permanent residence is more challenging compared to other residence status applications due to the large number of documents required, their complexity, and the lengthy examination period. Therefore, it is common to seek the assistance of professionals. Below, we explain the process for both hiring an administrative scrivener and doing it yourself.

6-1. When Hiring an Administrative Scrivener

The range of services provided by an administrative scrivener varies depending on the office and the scrivener. The support provided may include the following:

• Collection of Necessary Documents: Gathering the necessary documents for the permanent residence application.
• Preparation of a Statement of Reasons: Creating a statement of reasons to increase the likelihood of approval.
• Preparation of a Complete Set of Documents: Preparing the complete set of required documents.
• Comprehensive Support from Document Preparation to Application Submission: Offering comprehensive support from document preparation to proxy application submission.

Fees vary by office, but they generally range from around 150,000 to 200,000 yen. It is important to inquire with the administrative scrivener’s office in advance about the support content and fees.

6-2. When Doing It Yourself

If you choose to apply on your own, you will need to follow these steps:

• Collection of Necessary Documents: Gather the documents required for the permanent residence application.
• Preparation of Application Documents: Prepare the application forms, statement of reasons, and other necessary documents yourself.
• Submission of Application: Submit the prepared documents to the Immigration Bureau.
• Waiting for Examination: Wait for the examination to be completed.
• Receiving the Result: Receive the examination result from the Immigration Bureau.

When applying on your own, the accuracy and thoroughness of document preparation and planning are crucial. Mistakes or omissions can result in the rejection of your application.

7.How to Handle a Rejection of Permanent Residence from a Business Manager Visa Japan

If your application for permanent residence from a business management visa is rejected, it can be disappointing, but there is no need to give up. Below are the steps to take if your application is denied.

7-1. Confirm the Reason for Rejection

First, it is important to understand the reason for the rejection. The notice from the Immigration Bureau usually contains a brief statement of the reason, without much detail. To accurately grasp the reason, visit the Immigration Bureau where you applied and ask to speak with the reviewing officer in a private room for a detailed explanation.

7-2. Consider Measures Based on the Reason

Based on the reason for the rejection, plan specific countermeasures. For example, if the reason is due to incomplete documents, prepare the necessary documents again and review the application content. If the reason relates to financial stability or behavior, develop a concrete action plan to improve these aspects.

7-3. Prepare for Reapplication

After addressing the reason for rejection, consider reapplying. When reapplying, it is crucial to clearly demonstrate that the previous reasons for rejection have been resolved. This involves preparing comprehensive application documents that include improvements and new information.

7-4. Consult with a Professional

If your permanent residence application is rejected, consulting with a professional, especially an experienced administrative scrivener or lawyer, can be effective. They can analyze the reasons for rejection and propose an appropriate reapplication strategy.

8.Summary

✓Effective October 16, 2025, meeting the new criteria (such as a minimum capital of 30 million yen) set by the company itself will become a mandatory requirement for Permanent Residency applications. ✓Applicants for permanent residency are required to have good conduct, adhere to the law, and have no criminal record. ✓The Permanent Residency applicant as an individual must be financially independent (with annual executive compensation of 3 million yen or more), and the company must also maintain a continuously stable and healthy financial condition. ✓Applicants must have resided in Japan for at least 10 years, with at least 5 years of work qualifications including a Business Manager Visa Japan. ✓Strict scrutiny will be applied to ensure that all public obligations, such as taxes, pensions, and the company’s social insurance contributions, have been properly fulfilled. ✓The applicant must currently hold the Business Manager visa with a period of stay of three years or more. ✓A guarantor who is a Japanese citizen or a permanent resident with a stable annual income of at least 3 million yen is required. ✓ The review period for obtaining permanent residency from a Business Manager Visa Japan generally takes about six months to a year. ✓If you hire an administrative scrivener to handle the permanent residency application process, the scope of support and fees will vary. If you handle it yourself, you will need to collect and prepare the necessary documents. ✓ If permanent residency is denied, you should confirm the reasons for the denial, implement improvement measures, prepare for reapplication, and consult with an expert if necessary.

Through this article, we hope you have gained a deeper understanding of the process and requirements for applying for permanent residence from a business management visa. However, the actual application process is complex and may require specialized knowledge depending on individual circumstances.

If you have specific questions or concerns about applying for permanent residence, or if you need professional advice for your particular case, please feel free to consult with our office. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff will provide comprehensive support to help you obtain permanent residence.

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