Overview

• An Immigration Services Agency draft would raise the minimum capital requirement sixfold to ¥30 million and mandate at least one full-time employee residing in Japan.
• Applicants would need three years of managerial experience or a graduate-level qualification in a relevant field under the proposed criteria.
• Business plans would face expert review by certified small and medium enterprise management consultants, with stricter documentation requiring proof of investment and verified employee records for both initial and renewal applications.
• The Justice Ministry’s draft places the changes in formal consultation now, with adoption targeted for October and implementation expected by mid-October according to multiple reports.
• Authorities cite screenings that found firms with no real operations; immigration data show 41,615 holders at end-2024, and Kyodo reported only about 4% would meet the new capital threshold.