Japan Visa Changes in 2025–2026

Reviewed by Jordy Meow & Emi (accountant) · Updated 22 Jun 2026 · About

Japan reformed its visa rules a lot during 2025 and 2026. If you are a freelancer, an entrepreneur or an employee in Japan, or planning to move here, several of these changes affect you directly. Here is a clear, sourced summary of what actually changed, with the official references so you can check everything yourself.

Visa rules change fast and your personal situation matters. Use this page to understand the big picture, then confirm the details with the Immigration Services Agency or an immigration lawyer1 before you act.

The Business Manager visa got much harder (16 October 2025) #

The Business Manager visa2 (経営・管理) is the visa used to run a company in Japan. As of 16 October 2025, the requirements were raised sharply:

  • Capital of at least ¥30 million (it was ¥5 million before, a six-fold increase).
  • At least one full-time employee who is a Japanese national, a permanent resident, or holds a long-term status.
  • A real, dedicated office, running the business from your home is generally no longer accepted.
  • Japanese language ability around CEFR B2 (≈ JLPT N23) for the applicant or a full-time employee.

In practice, this closes the door on the Business Manager visa as an easy route for solo freelancers and small startups. If you are freelancing, the realistic path remains a regular work visa, see our freelance visa guide.

Official source: Immigration Services Agency, 経営・管理

A Japanese-language requirement for the Engineer / Humanities visa (15 April 2026) #

The Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa4 (技術・人文知識・国際業務) is the most common work visa for foreign professionals. Since 15 April 2026, for applications under this status:

  • Roles that are mainly customer-facing or interpersonal services now require Japanese ability around CEFR B2.
  • Employers in Category 3 and Category 4 (smaller and newer companies) must provide extra documentation, including a declaration about the employer's representative. Large, listed employers (Category 1 and 2) are exempt.

If your work is purely technical (for example, software engineering), the language bar generally does not apply, but the extra paperwork for smaller employers does.

Official source: Immigration Services Agency, 技術・人文知識・国際業務

Permanent Residency: the "longest period of stay" rule (from 1 April 2027) #

To apply for Permanent Residency5, you have long needed to hold the longest period of stay available for your visa, usually a 5-year status. Until now, immigration often accepted a 3-year status as equivalent. That tolerance is being phased out: from 1 April 2027, you will effectively need a genuine 5-year status to apply through the work or business-manager routes.

The takeaway: if permanent residency is your goal, aim to secure a 5-year status of residence at your next renewal.

Official source: Immigration Services Agency, permanent residence guideline

Higher application fees are coming (FY2026) #

A 2026 amendment to the Immigration Act raised the legal ceilings for application fees:

  • Permanent residence permission: ceiling raised to ¥300,000.
  • Change of status and renewal: ceiling raised to ¥100,000.

Important: these are the legal maximums, not the amount you will actually pay. The real fees will be set later by government order, and the figures discussed in the press are still proposals. We will update this page once the actual amounts are confirmed.

Official source: Immigration Services Agency

A reminder: the Digital Nomad visa exists since 2024 #

Not a 2025–2026 change, but often missed: since March 2024 Japan has a Digital Nomad visa for high-earning remote workers who keep working for clients abroad. It is a 6-month stay and cannot be used to work for Japanese clients. We cover it in full on our Digital Nomad visa page.

What this means for freelancers #

If you freelance in Japan, the headline is simple: the company-owner route became expensive and demanding, so a regular work visa with solid, well-documented freelance income is more than ever the practical path. Keep your tax filings clean, your pension and insurance paid, and your client contracts in order, see Start a freelance activity and the freelance visa guide.

This might help #

1 Immigration lawyer / administrative scrivener : 行政書士 gyōsei shoshi
2 Business Manager visa : 経営・管理 keiei kanri
3 Japanese Language Proficiency Test : 日本語能力試験 nihongo nōryoku shiken (JLPT)
4 Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services : 技術・人文知識・国際業務 gijutsu jinbun chishiki kokusai gyōmu
5 Permanent Residency : 永住権 eijūken

Frequently asked questions

What changed for the Business Manager visa?
From October 16, 2025 the minimum capital rose to ¥30 million (from ¥5 million), plus you need at least one full-time employee, a real office, and Japanese ability around JLPT N2.
Is there a new Japanese-language requirement for work visas?
Yes. From April 15, 2026, customer-facing roles under the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities visa require Japanese at roughly CEFR B2, with extra documents for smaller employers.
Are visa fees going up?
The legal ceilings were raised (permanent residence up to ¥300,000), but the actual amounts are still being set by government order, treat the headline figures as not yet final.