Japan

Business Manager visa. Japan has no retirement visa; the realistic residence-building option is founding and running a real company, though the capital bar tripled in October 2025.

Free, with the law behind every answer

Business Manager visa

An initial status of residence of about 1 year, renewable to 1, 3, or 5 years once the business is shown to be operating and profitable.

Who qualifies

Since 16 October 2025, at least JPY 30,000,000 (about $200,000) in capital, up from the previous JPY 5,000,000; holders who obtained status before that date may renew under the old figure until 16 October 2028.
Immigration Services Agency of Japan — revised Business Manager criteria
At least one full-time employee who is a Japanese national, a special permanent resident, or a holder of a status such as Permanent Resident, Long-Term Resident, or spouse/child of a Japanese national or permanent resident; either the applicant or that employee must show "considerable" Japanese ability (JLPT N2 or equivalent, 20-plus years living in Japan, or education completed in Japan). The applicant must also show 3 or more years of relevant business-management experience or a master’s degree or higher, and have the business plan reviewed by a certified outside specialist (tax accountant, SME consultant, or similar) unless the company is listed or equivalent.
Immigration Services Agency of Japan — revised Business Manager criteria
A genuine physical office in Japan; a virtual address or residential mailbox does not qualify.
Immigration Services Agency of Japan — status of residence categories

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

Does it fit your family?

One question, from the program’s own rules.

Savings you could move or invest?

Not legal advice.

What it takes.

Savings: About $200,000.
Time: 3–6 months for company incorporation and visa approval, longer under the stricter post-2025 scrutiny.
Cost: JPY 30,000,000 (about $200,000) in business capital — meant to be used in the business, not held idle — plus incorporation, legal, and visa-agent fees typically $5,000–15,000, and ongoing office and accounting costs.
The hard part: The October 2025 rules raised capital sixfold and added a mandatory qualifying-employee hire, an outside specialist’s review of the business plan, and a Japanese-ability bar (met by either the applicant or the employee), making this substantially harder than before.

Dollar figures are converted from the local currency at the rate the program’s research used; the official figure is in the local currency.

Citizens by 2038.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

2027
First residence permit
1 year, renewable for 3 years at a time.
2028
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 3 years.
2031
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 3 years.
2034
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 3 years.
2037
Permanent residence
Ten years living in Japan, at least five of them on a work or residence status; good conduct; able to support yourself; taxes, pension and health insurance paid on time; and holding the longest period of stay your status allows. Highly Skilled Professionals can apply after 3 years with 70 points or 1 year with 80.
2037
Apply for citizenship
With a language test.
2038
Citizenship

Language: Japanese good enough for daily life: speaking, reading and writing.
Time away: The Nationality Act requires five years’ continuous domicile in Japan on a lawful status, but since 1 April 2026 the Legal Affairs Bureaus generally expect ten years or more as proof of integration. The ministry publishes no day count for trips abroad; long absences can break the continuity.
Two passports: Usually not: new citizens are asked to give up their other citizenship.

Usually one year at first, then 1, 3 or 5 years once the business is shown to work; since October 2025 it needs JPY 30 million capital, and it counts as a work status toward the ten-year permanent-residence rule.
How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
This country asks new citizens to give up their other citizenship.

The law behind these dates

Living there.

Time you must spend there: The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax: Becoming a Japan tax resident (generally after about a year of residence) subjects worldwide income to Japanese tax, and the company itself pays Japanese corporate tax.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

Start today.

Review status-of-residence requirements with the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.Open moj.go.jp ↗
Gather these documents.
- Proof of savings: at least $200,000
- Request your FBI Identity History Summary
- Health cover for the move

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