Business Manager Visa holders can apply for Permanent Residency (PR) in Japan if they meet the required residence period and other PR requirements.
This guide explains the key requirements, the 2025 Business Manager reforms, documents, fees and processing time based on the latest information for 2026.
Latest Japan Permanent Residency Updates (Last reviewed: )
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Current Permanent Residence Fee: ¥10,000 | ¥200,000 Proposal for October 2026 Is Not Yet Final
As of August 12, 2026, the fee payable when Permanent Residence is granted is ¥10,000. The government has published a draft Cabinet Order proposing a ¥200,000 fee from October 1, 2026.
The ¥200,000 amount is still a proposal as of this review date. The draft also provides that applications filed before October 1, 2026 would remain subject to the pre-revision fee even if permission is granted later.
Permanent Resident Status and Public Obligations from April 2027
Amendments scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2027 add certain conduct, including intentional non-payment of taxes or social insurance contributions, to possible grounds for revocation of Permanent Resident status.
Non-payment does not automatically cause revocation. The circumstances behind the non-payment, including situations where payment was genuinely difficult, must also be considered.
Permanent Residence Guidelines Revised: Timely Compliance and Current Status Requirements
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan revised its Guidelines for Permission for Permanent Residence on February 24, 2026. The guidelines emphasize proper compliance with public obligations by the original due dates and also review whether the applicant's current status satisfies the applicable landing-permission standards.
“Maximum Period of Stay” Treatment Changes in April 2027
Until March 31, 2027, a three-year period of stay is treated as satisfying the “maximum period of stay” requirement for Permanent Residence applications. The treatment changes from April 1, 2027, with a transitional measure for certain people who hold a three-year period on March 31, 2027.
1. Basic Requirements for Permanent Residency from a Business Manager Visa
For the standard route, a Business Manager Visa holder generally needs at least 10 years of continuous residence in Japan, including at least 5 years under an eligible work or residence status, and must hold a period of stay that satisfies the Permanent Residence guideline.
Required Period of Stay: How 3-Year and 5-Year Periods Are Treated
The Permanent Residence guidelines generally require the applicant to hold the maximum period of stay available for the current status.
Business Manager periods of stay include 5 years, 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 4 months and 3 months. As of August 12, 2026, a 3-year period is treated as satisfying the maximum-period requirement until March 31, 2027.
Current period of stay
PR treatment as of August 2026
5 years
Satisfies the maximum-period requirement
3 years
Treated as the maximum period until March 31, 2027
1 year or less
Generally does not satisfy the maximum-period requirement
From April 1, 2027, the treatment of a 3-year period changes. However, a transitional measure applies in certain cases to people who hold a 3-year period on March 31, 2027.
A 3-year or 5-year period does not by itself prove business stability or guarantee Permanent Residence.
10-Year Residence / 5-Year Work Rule and Main Exceptions
At least 10 consecutive years of residence in Japan
Within that period, at least 5 consecutive years under an eligible work or residence status
The Business Manager status is a work status, so the standard route normally follows this rule.
Typical standard route 10+ years of residence in Japan, including 5+ years under eligible work/residence status ↓ Hold a period of stay satisfying the PR guideline ↓ Apply for Permanent Residence
■ Main Exceptions to the 10-Year Rule
Category
Typical residence exception
Spouse of a Japanese national, Permanent Resident or Special Permanent Resident
Genuine marriage for 3+ years and continuous residence in Japan for 1+ year
Highly Skilled Professional: 80+ points
Potential 1-year route if all conditions are met
Highly Skilled Professional: 70+ points
Potential 3-year route if all conditions are met
The Business Manager status itself does not create a shortened PR residence period. Applicants who meet the Highly Skilled Professional points requirements may be able to use the applicable PR exception.
A high points score alone does not guarantee PR. The Permanent Residence guidelines also review whether your current status satisfies the applicable landing-permission standards. Business-management applicants should therefore check the revised Business Manager standards as well.
2. [Effective October 16, 2025] Five Main Business Manager Requirements
On October 16, 2025, amendments to the ministerial standards and related rules for the Business Manager status took effect. Permanent Residence and Business Manager renewal are separate examinations, but the PR guidelines also review whether the applicant's current status satisfies the applicable landing-permission standards.
① At Least One Qualifying Full-Time Employee
The business must employ at least one qualifying full-time employee.
Qualifying for this employment requirement
Not counted for this requirement
Japanese nationals Special Permanent Residents Permanent Residents Spouse or Child of Japanese National Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident Long-Term Residents
Foreign nationals with statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services Students Dependent status holders, etc.
Payroll, social insurance, labor insurance and the actual substance of employment may be relevant. The people who count for the full-time employment requirement and the people who may satisfy the Japanese-language requirement are not necessarily the same group.
② Capital of at Least ¥30 Million (or Qualifying Investment for a Sole Proprietor)
For a corporation, the revised standard requires capital of at least ¥30 million. For a sole proprietor, the relevant qualifying investment in the business is assessed under the revised rules.
③ Business Manager or Full-Time Employee with Japanese Ability at B2 Level or Above
Either the business manager or a full-time employee must have Japanese ability equivalent to B2 or above under the Framework of Reference for Japanese Language Education.
Possible evidence
Example
JLPT
N2 or above
BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test
400 points or above
Residence in Japan
20+ years in Japan as a mid-to-long-term resident
Japanese higher education
Graduation from a university or other higher-education institution in Japan
Japanese school education
Completion of compulsory education and graduation from high school in Japan
JLPT N2 is one way to prove the requirement; it is not the only method.
④ Educational or Management-Experience Requirement
The applicant must have either
a doctoral, master's or professional degree in business management or a field related to the proposed business,
or at least three years of experience in business management or administration.
Qualifying startup-preparation activities may be counted toward the three-year experience requirement.
⑤ Business Plan Feasibility Confirmed by a Qualified Professional
For a business plan submitted when a status of residence is initially granted or changed,
confirmation by a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant, Certified Public Accountant, or Tax Accountant is required.
The business plan should be concrete, reasonable, and realistically achievable.
For applicants who already hold Business Manager (経営・管理) status and are applying for an extension of stay,
Immigration may request a document containing an evaluation by a qualified professional during the transitional period.
6. Business Manager Visa New Requirements Self-Check Tool
If you are considering permanent residency from a Business Manager Visa, the first step is to confirm whether you meet the new requirements.
With this quick test, you can easily check how far you currently satisfy the new Business Manager Visa requirements.
All questions can be answered with “Yes / No”, and on the result page you will see which points need improvement for a future permanent residency application.
Please click the button below to try the Business Manager Visa New Requirements Self-Check Test.
[For Business Manager Visa holders] Get a free assessment of your eligibility for Permanent Residency
We will advise you based on the post-revision standards and explain what you need to do to obtain permanent residency from a Business Manager Visa.
Support available in English and Chinese. Contact us by email +81-3-6905-6371
3. Business Stability: What Immigration Reviews for PR
For a Business Manager applicant, Immigration may review whether the company has a sustainable financial and operational foundation. However, the current Permanent Residence guidelines do not state that several consecutive profitable years are a uniform statutory PR requirement.
Profit, Net Assets and Cash Flow Are Important Evidence
Sales and profit trends, including reasons for any loss-making year
Net assets and retained earnings
Whether the company has negative net worth and how it will improve
Borrowings and cash flow
Corporate tax and other tax compliance
A temporary loss does not automatically make a PR application impossible. If there was a loss, prepare objective evidence explaining the cause, subsequent improvement and future outlook.
Do Not Treat a 3-Year or 5-Year Period as Proof of Business Stability
A 3-year or 5-year period of stay is relevant to the PR guideline's maximum-period requirement, but the length of the period alone does not establish business stability or guarantee PR approval.
4. Executive Compensation and the “¥3 Million Income” Misunderstanding
The current Permanent Residence guidelines do not set a uniform minimum annual income of ¥3 million.
Instead, Immigration reviews whether the applicant can be expected to maintain a stable livelihood in the future. For a business owner, this may involve executive compensation, household size, dependents, savings and other assets, and the company's financial condition.
¥3 Million Is Not an Official Minimum PR Income Rule
¥3 million is sometimes discussed as a practical reference point, but the Immigration Services Agency does not state that “¥3 million or more means approval” or “below ¥3 million means refusal.”
Balance the Company's Finances and Your Personal Living Foundation
Points to review
Whether executive compensation supports the applicant and family Whether compensation is reasonable in light of profit and cash flow Whether taxes and social insurance can be paid properly Whether savings and other assets support long-term financial stability
5. Late or Unpaid Taxes and Social Insurance Can Significantly Affect PR
Permanent Residence screening places strong weight on proper compliance with taxes, public pension and public health-insurance obligations.
It is not enough simply to have no unpaid balance on the filing date. The current PR guidelines state that where a public obligation was not fulfilled by its original due date, it may in principle be evaluated negatively even if it was paid later.
Check Both Personal and Company Taxes
Resident tax and income tax
Corporate tax and local corporate taxes
Withholding income tax
Consumption tax and local consumption tax where applicable
Health Insurance, Employees' Pension and Labor Insurance
Corporations are generally covered workplaces for Employees' Health Insurance and Employees' Pension Insurance. Where employees are hired, required employment-insurance and workers' compensation procedures should also be checked.
Paying late just before filing does not necessarily cure the issue. Timely compliance in the ordinary course is important.
6. Office Requirements and Travel History – Important Points for PR from a Business Manager Visa
For a Business Manager Visa, it is a fundamental requirement that the main base of your business activities is in Japan. The Immigration Bureau will carefully examine both the office you secure and the actual business activity conducted in Japan.
Home Office Not Allowed / Securing an Office Appropriate to Business Scale
Under the revised rules, using your home as a combined residence and office is, in principle, not permitted. The Immigration Bureau will check whether the size and facilities of your office are appropriate for the real scale of your business.
Office location and lease contract details
Existence of a landline, company signboard, and interior fittings
Whether clients can actually visit the office
Long-Term Stays Abroad May Be Viewed as “No Real Business Activity in Japan”
If you leave Japan for a long period without a valid reason while holding a Business Manager Visa, the Immigration Bureau may doubt whether you are truly engaged in management activities in Japan.
⚠ Long or frequent absences may be relevant to the review. Be prepared to explain the duration and purpose of travel, how the business was managed while you were abroad, and why your main living and business base remained in Japan.
You must be able to prove that your primary business and main place of work are in Japan when applying for permanent residency from a Business Manager Visa.
[For Business Manager Visa holders] Free diagnosis of your eligibility for Permanent Residency
We will advise you on strategies to obtain permanent residency based on the post-revision standards. Support available in English and Chinese. Click here for email consultation 03-6905-6371
7. Transitional Measures, PR Documents, Fees and Processing
The October 16, 2025 Business Manager reform includes transitional treatment for extensions of stay during the first three years. This renewal treatment should not be confused with the separate Permanent Residence examination.
Business Manager Renewals Until October 16, 2028
For extension applications filed during the three years after the reform, failure to meet a new standard does not by itself mean automatic refusal. Immigration may review the business situation, the prospect of meeting the revised standards, taxes and social insurance, labor-law compliance, and required business licenses.
PR is separate from the renewal transitional measure. The Permanent Residence guidelines separately review whether the applicant's current status satisfies the applicable landing-permission standards. The existence of a renewal transition period does not mean that PR is examined only under the old Business Manager standards.
Business Manager Renewals from October 16, 2028
As a general rule, compliance with the revised standards will be expected. However, the Immigration Services Agency Q&A indicates that even where every standard is not fully met, a case may still be assessed based on factors such as business condition, tax compliance and the prospect of satisfying the revised standards by the next extension.
Accordingly, statements such as “you must leave Japan if you do not have ¥30 million by October 16, 2028” or “any single unmet item automatically means refusal” are too absolute.
PR Documents, Where to Apply, Fee and Processing Time
Business Manager Visa holders should use the Immigration Services Agency's Permanent Residence checklist for employment-based statuses as the starting point. Additional evidence may be required depending on the applicant's business, family, tax and social-insurance circumstances.
Permanent Residence application form and photo
Statement of reasons
Resident record (juminhyo)
Evidence of occupation and income
Resident-tax and other tax documents
Public pension and public health-insurance enrollment/payment records
Evidence of savings and other assets
Guarantor documents
Acknowledgment form required by Immigration
Where relevant, financial statements and other documents showing actual Business Manager activity and business stability
Item
As of August 12, 2026
Where to apply
Regional Immigration Services office with jurisdiction over your place of residence
Current fee
¥10,000, payable if PR is granted
Standard processing period
4 to 6 months
A PR application does not extend your current Business Manager period of stay. If your current period expires while PR is pending, you must separately apply for an extension.
The government has published a draft Cabinet Order proposing a Permanent Residence fee of ¥200,000 from October 1, 2026, but the proposal is not final as of August 12, 2026.
8. Q&A: Permanent Residency from a Business Manager Visa
What if my company had a loss-making year before I apply for Permanent Residency?
Profit every year is not a uniform statutory PR requirement. A temporary loss does not automatically prevent an application. Explain the cause, subsequent improvement, net assets, cash flow and tax position with objective evidence.
Does a one-person company have to enroll in social insurance?
A corporation is generally a covered workplace for Employees' Health Insurance and Employees' Pension Insurance. Where enrollment is legally required, proper enrollment and payment by the original due dates are important.
Can I apply if my executive compensation is below ¥3 million?
¥3 million is not an official uniform minimum income requirement for PR. Immigration considers executive compensation, assets, household size, dependents and the company's financial condition when assessing future financial stability.
Will long periods outside Japan affect my PR application?
They may. Immigration can consider long or frequent absences when reviewing continuous residence and the reality of management activity in Japan. Keep evidence of the reason for travel, management arrangements while abroad and your continuing base in Japan.
Can high Highly Skilled Professional points alone qualify me for PR?
No. A qualifying points route may shorten the residence-period requirement, but the PR guidelines also review whether your current status satisfies the applicable standards. Business-management applicants should check the revised Business Manager rules as well.
Can I apply for PR with a 3-year Business Manager period of stay?
Until March 31, 2027, a 3-year period is treated as satisfying the maximum-period requirement. The treatment changes from April 1, 2027, with a transitional measure for certain people holding a 3-year period on March 31, 2027.
Do the three-year Business Manager renewal transitional measures also apply to PR?
Treat the two examinations separately. Business Manager extensions have transitional treatment, while PR separately reviews whether the applicant's current status satisfies the applicable landing-permission standards.
Does negative net worth matter even if my company is currently profitable?
It may. Net assets, borrowings, retained earnings and cash flow can be relevant to business stability. If the company has negative net worth, explain the cause and realistic improvement outlook with objective evidence.
How much is the Japan Permanent Residency fee?
As of August 12, 2026, the fee payable if PR is granted is ¥10,000. A draft Cabinet Order proposes ¥200,000 from October 1, 2026, but that proposal is not yet final as of this review date.
How long does Permanent Residency processing take in Japan?
The standard processing period published by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan is 4 to 6 months. Actual processing can take longer depending on the office, workload, case and requests for additional evidence.
What if my Business Manager period expires while my PR application is pending?
You must separately apply to extend your Business Manager period of stay. Filing a PR application does not automatically extend your current status.
What documents are generally required for PR from a Business Manager Visa?
Start with the Immigration Services Agency checklist for employment-based statuses: application form, photo, statement of reasons, resident record, occupation/income evidence, tax records, pension and health-insurance records, asset evidence, guarantor documents and the acknowledgment form. Business managers may also need financial statements and evidence of actual business activity and stability.
Free Consultation: Permanent Residency from a Business Manager Visa We can review your residence history, current period of stay, compliance with the October 2025 Business Manager standards, company finances, executive compensation, taxes and social insurance, and explain the points to prepare for a PR application. Contact us by email 03-6905-6371
9. Approved Case Studies: Obtaining Permanent Residence from a Business Manager Visa
Here, we introduce actual cases in which applicants
successfully obtained Permanent Residence after holding a Business Manager visa.
For those aiming for Permanent Residence from a similar position,
please review these cases as a reference for determining the appropriate timing
and overall approach to the application.
10. Business Manager Visa to Permanent Residency Application Support Service
1. Service Overview
This service is a specialized support program designed to help corporate owners and executive officers residing in Japan under the Business Manager (Keiei・Kanri) status of residence (Business Manager Visa) to obtain Permanent Residency (PR), so that both their business and personal life in Japan can become more stable.
ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office reviews the examination points that are especially relevant to business owners, including business continuity and financial condition, executive compensation, and tax and social insurance compliance, and supports preparation and filing of the Permanent Residence application.
To move smoothly from a Business Manager Visa to permanent residency, it is crucial to prepare application documents that carefully demonstrate the stability and soundness of your management and business. At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, immigration lawyers who thoroughly understand the examination criteria specifically for business managers will closely review your company’s situation and propose an application strategy suited to your individual circumstances.
2. Scope of Services
Proposing and preparing the documents appropriate to your individual case
Submitting the application to the Immigration Services Agency and handling the seal / passport stamping procedures upon approval
Simultaneous application for re-entry permit (upon request)
Checking the examination status during the processing period and responding to requests for additional documents
Free re-application in case of non-approval
3. Advantages of Choosing ACROSEED
When applying for Permanent Residence from a Business Manager visa,
immigration authorities do not only assess whether the required period of residence has been met,
but also conduct a strict examination of whether the business demonstrates continuity and stability,
and whether the applicant, as a company representative, has established a stable living foundation in Japan.
Factors such as sales performance, financial statements, trends in executive remuneration,
the actual substance of the business, and employee structure are all reviewed,
and the impression received by the examiner can vary greatly depending on
the “presentation” and “order of organization” of these individual facts.
At ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office, we design the application in advance by determining
which documents should be used as evidence and how far each point should be explained,
and structure the case from both the business and personal perspectives
into a clear application narrative that enables immigration examiners to make accurate judgments.
ACROSEED has received high evaluations from many clients regarding the quality of our services,
regardless of visa type or nationality.
5. Fees for Permanent Residency Application Support from a Business Manager Visa (Excluding Tax)
• There are no additional charges based on your individual circumstances.
• ACROSEED provides services throughout Japan. Clients living outside the Tokyo area may also use our services at the fees listed below.
• We accept payment by Visa and MasterCard.
Fees (Effective August 1, 2026)
Permanent Residency Application from a Business Manager Visa
200,000 yen
For Complex or Difficult Immigration Cases
Even if your situation is more complicated than a standard application, there may still be options available. We recommend discussing your circumstances with an immigration professional before making assumptions about your eligibility.
Your previous visa or Permanent Residency application was refused.
You have a history of overstaying or deportation from Japan.
You have a criminal record or past legal issues.
The Immigration Services Agency has requested additional documents or explanations.
Another immigration lawyer or administrative scrivener declined to handle your case.
Cases like these may be eligible for our Complex Immigration Case Support Service. After reviewing your circumstances, ACROSEED Immigration Lawyer's Office will explain the available options, possible challenges, and the documents or preparation that may improve your application.
1998 Graduated from Aoyamagakuin University 2001 Registered as an administrative scrivener
He has Over 20 years of experience as an international administrative scrivener, specializing in foreign employment consulting and residence procedures for foreign residents in Japan.
Since opening our practice in 1986, we have been involved in consulting on visa applications for foreigners for nearly 40 years as an immigration lawyer.
Telephone consultation, email consultation, online consultation, and consultation at our office are available.
