Overview

• Japan’s Immigration Services Agency released a draft ministerial ordinance on Aug. 26 to tighten the Business/Management residency status.
• The proposal raises the capital threshold from ¥5 million to ¥30 million and requires hiring at least one full-time employee.
• Officials point to abuse of the status, citing a 2023 Tokyo review that found about 90% of roughly 300 scrutinized cases lacked real business activity.
• An initially considered exemption for certified startup-visa holders was dropped following pushback within the ruling party, making the rules apply uniformly.
• The agency cites U.S. and South Korean benchmarks in setting the higher bar, and Osaka’s mayor welcomed the move given misuse linked to special-zone short-term rentals.