Exits without reentry permits soar among Japan's business manager visa holders
In the first half of 2026, 953 foreign business managers left Japan without reentry permits, nearly four times the number recorded a year earlier.
Immigration Services Agency statistics reveal a sharp increase in foreign business managers abandoning their stay in Japan without securing reentry permits, climbing to 953 in the first half of 2026 from 246 a year prior. This surge coincides with the government’s tightened visa regime, which raised the required capital from 5 million to 30 million yen and added a mandate to employ at least one full-time staff member. Monthly departures, which had lingered in the double digits through November 2025, surged to triple digits in December and peaked at 226 in June 2026.
The business manager visa programme, which permits foreigners to start or run companies, has drawn criticism after cases emerged of firms created solely to obtain residency. Despite the scrutiny, the total pool of visa holders grew to 46,781 by the end of 2025, roughly 1.7 times the 2020 figure. The tighter rules are part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls, including higher application fees.
Why it matters
The spike highlights how stricter immigration rules are affecting foreign entrepreneurs and could reshape Japan's business landscape.
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