Japan business manager visa holders leaving without reentry permits surge
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreigners holding business manager visas who left Japan without applying for reentry permits nearly quadrupled in the
The number of foreigners holding business manager visas in Japan who left the country without applying for reentry permits nearly quadrupled in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to government data. This surge occurred just before Friday marked the first anniversary of Japan's tightening of business manager visa requirements, which included raising the minimum capital requirement to 30 million yen from 5 million yen.
The number of such departures rose to 953 in the first half of 2026 from 246 in the same period last year. Under Japan's immigration system, foreign residents who leave without obtaining reentry permits lose their existing residence status. The business manager visa allows foreigners to start, operate, or manage a business in Japan, and the number of visa holders grew to 46,781 at the end of 2025, about 1.7 times the figure at the end of 2020.
The tightened visa requirements also stipulate that applicants must employ at least one full-time staff member.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
