Japan Business Manager Visa vs Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa

About Japan Business Manager Visa

The Japan Business Manager Visa allows a foreign national to establish and run a company in Japan, requiring either at least ¥5,000,000 (~$33,000) in registered company capital or two or more full-time staff, plus a genuine leased office — virtual offices are explicitly rejected — and a business plan showing real viability. The initial grant is effectively probationary, often issued for as little as one year, with renewal refused if the company isn't visibly operating. Spouses and children can obtain a Dependent Visa. Unlike Japan's Highly Skilled Professional category, which can fast-track PR to 1–3 years, Business Manager status normally needs the standard 10 years of residence for permanent residency. Citizenship is possible after 5 years, requiring roughly B1 Japanese and renunciation of prior nationality, since Japan disallows dual citizenship. Tax residency triggers around 183 days; a 'non-permanent resident' status exempts foreign income not remitted to Japan for the first five cumulative years, while corporate tax runs roughly 23–35% combining national and local rates. Capital must stay in the company account rather than being drawn down early.

About Japan Highly Skilled Professional Visa

The Japan Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa is a points-based permit for advanced researchers, specialised technical workers and business managers who score at least 70 points on Japan's official table (weighing salary, age, education, career and Japanese ability). There is no fixed income minimum, and a qualifying job offer in one of the three HSP categories is required. Government fees are minimal (about $40), with first-year costs of $1,000–$7,000; the main bottleneck is the Certificate of Eligibility (1–3 months), and processing runs roughly 8–20 weeks. It offers Japan's fastest route to permanent residency — one year for those scoring 80+ points, three years at 70–79 — with no Japanese language test, versus ten years on a standard visa. A spouse and children are included, and some HSP categories even allow a domestic helper. Naturalisation is possible after five years of continuous residence, but Japan bars dual citizenship and requires renouncing your prior nationality. Holders are Japanese tax residents; for the first five years, Non-Permanent Resident status exempts foreign-source income not remitted to Japan.