Japan Business Manager Visa: Who Can Qualify as a Full-Time Employee?

The new requirement may be more complicated than many people expect

Last updated: May 20, 2026

A common misunderstanding

Many people assume that the new Business Manager visa rule simply requires hiring one full-time employee.

However, recent immigration guidance suggests that the issue is more nuanced.

Who may qualify?

According to the FAQ, qualifying employees generally include:

• Japanese nationals
• Permanent Residents
• Long-Term Residents
• other status-based residents

However, foreign nationals under work visa categories may not automatically satisfy the requirement.

Japanese language ability may also become relevant

The FAQ also indicates situations where Japanese language ability certification becomes important.

This means that the evaluation may involve not only employment itself, but the overall structure of the workforce.

Part-time workers may not automatically qualify

Immigration guidance also includes detailed conditions regarding part-time workers.

• working days
• working hours
• employment insurance status
• actual working arrangements

The analysis appears more practical than simply looking at labels.

Final thoughts

The revised Business Manager visa standards may involve more than numerical requirements.

Who is employed and how that employment is structured may become increasingly important.