Philippines → Japan: the Business Manager Visa (経営・管理 / Keiei-Kanri), with the Startup Visa as a preparatory route roadmap
The Business Manager Visa is the primary status of residence for a non-resident who wants to start, invest in, or run a company in Japan. Following a major overhaul effective 10 October 2025, the bar rose sharply: registered/invested capital must now be at least 30 million yen (up from 5 million), the company must employ at least one full-time qualifying local worker, and the applicant must show either 3+ years of management experience or a relevant master's/doctoral degree, plus a business plan certified by a Japanese professional (SME consultant, CPA, or tax accountant) and Japanese-language ability (around JLPT N2/CEFR B2) held by the applicant or an employee. Entrepreneurs not yet able to meet these thresholds typically enter on the Startup Visa (up to 2 years) to incorporate and raise capital first. Confidence is medium-high: the October 2025 rules are confirmed by official and law-firm sources, but some implementation details (exact language-level wording, professional-certification scope) are still settling and a 3-year transitional period applies to existing holders.
Moving from Philippines
- You apply for the Business Manager Visa (経営・管理 / Keiei-Kanri), with the Startup Visa as a preparatory route at the Japan consulate, embassy, or visa application centre that serves Philippines, confirm the office and the current appointment wait for your region.
- Qualifications and work experience earned in Philippines usually need a credential assessment or recognition before they count toward Japan's requirements.
- Budget for certified translation and apostille or legalisation of your Philippines documents (degree, police certificate, civil records).
- Check whether a Philippines passport needs a short-stay visa for any in-person biometrics or interview steps.
General guidance for any Philippines to Japan applicant; the eligibility and fees below are set by Japan.
At a glance
Who qualifies
- Establish or invest in a genuine, operating business in Japan (typically a Kabushiki Kaisha or Godo Kaisha) with at least 30 million yen in registered/invested capital, effective 10 October 2025
- Employ at least one full-time worker who is a Japanese national, permanent resident, special permanent resident, or spouse/child of a Japanese national or permanent resident
- Have 3 or more years of business management or executive (CxO-level) experience, OR hold a master's/doctoral/professional degree relevant to the business
- Submit a feasible business plan confirmed by a qualified Japanese professional (certified SME consultant 中小企業診断士, CPA 公認会計士, or tax accountant 税理士)
- Demonstrate Japanese language ability around JLPT N2 / CEFR B2, satisfiable by the applicant or by a full-time employee
- Secure a physical business office in Japan (a residential address or virtual office is generally not sufficient)
Your step-by-step roadmap
Phase 1 — Prepare and incorporate (optionally via Startup Visa)
- If not yet able to meet the thresholds, obtain a Startup Visa (up to 2 years) to enter Japan and prepare
- Incorporate a company (KK or GK), secure an office, and open a corporate bank account
- Inject at least 30 million yen of capital and have a professional certify the business plan
Phase 2 — Apply for the Business Manager status
- File a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) at the regional Immigration Services Agency, or change status from inside Japan
- Submit corporate registration, capital evidence, employee documentation, and the certified business plan
- Receive the COE / status grant (no COE fee; 6,000 yen on a status grant)
Phase 3 — Enter, operate and renew
- If applying from abroad, convert the COE to a visa at a Japanese embassy/consulate and enter Japan
- Run the business and maintain the capital, employee, and office conditions
- Renew the period of stay (commonly 1-year, then up to 3- or 5-year periods) based on business performance
Phase 4 — Permanent residence and naturalization
- After ~10 years (or 1-3 years on the Highly Skilled Professional fast-track), apply for permanent residence
- After 5 years' continuous residence and meeting the conditions, optionally apply for naturalization
- Naturalization requires renouncing the original citizenship (Japan does not allow dual nationality)
Government fees
Timeline & path to citizenship
Timeline: From incorporation and capital injection to visa issuance typically takes about 6-8 months, with the Certificate of Eligibility alone averaging roughly 124 days as of late 2025.
Citizenship: Permanent residence is generally available after 10 years of residence (or 1-3 years using the Highly Skilled Professional points fast-track), and naturalization (citizenship) is possible after about 5 years of continuous residence, but Japan does not permit dual nationality, so naturalizing requires renouncing the original citizenship.
This is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.