First-time 'business manager' visa grants in Japan fall 80.9% in first half of 2026

The number of foreign nationals granted a business manager visa in Japan for the first time in the first half of 2026 fell 80.9% from a year earlier, according to newly released data.

The decline reflects a sharp drop in first-time grants of the visa for business operators during the January-to-June 2026 period. The report did not specify the actual number of people granted the visa.

The business manager visa is among the common visa categories for foreign nationals seeking to establish or run a business in Japan.

Source: Kyodo News