You’ve read about the Business Manager Visa. You know owning a business in Japan can put you on the path to permanent residency. Now the real question: does buying a franchise count? The answer is yes — but the structure has to be right, and since October 2025 the bar is considerably higher.
What Immigration Actually Checks
Japanese immigration doesn’t assess your franchise brand. They assess the legal entity behind it and whether it satisfies all six current conditions. To qualify for a Business Manager Visa through franchise ownership, your application must show:
- A registered Japanese corporation (KK or GK) that holds the franchise contract
- A physical, independent commercial office or operating location — not a home address or virtual office
- Minimum company capital of ¥30,000,000 (approximately $187,000 USD)
- At least one full-time employee who is a Japanese national, permanent resident, spouse of a Japanese national, or long-term resident
- Japanese language proficiency at JLPT N2 / CEFR B2 — met by either the investor or the qualifying employee
- A business plan certified by a licensed CPA, tax accountant, or SME management consultant
The applicant must also demonstrate at least 3 years of business management experience — or hold a relevant master’s degree or higher.
💡 NB Insight: The language requirement is the condition that catches most international investors off guard. But it doesn’t require you personally to pass a JLPT exam — if your qualifying full-time employee holds JLPT N2 or higher, that satisfies the condition. The right hire solves two requirements simultaneously: the employment requirement and the language requirement.
Where People Go Wrong
The most common mistake is buying into a franchise first, then trying to reverse-engineer an immigration-compliant structure around it. The correct sequence is: choose a qualifying business model → incorporate the right legal entity → hire a qualifying employee → commission a certified business plan → fund to the ¥30,000,000 threshold → submit your visa application. Each step depends on the one before it. Order matters.
Which Franchise Types Tend to Qualify
Franchise models with physical Japanese locations, documented revenue streams, and local staff are the most straightforward to structure compliantly. Food and beverage franchises and service-sector businesses with qualifying employees all have clear precedent in approved Business Manager Visa applications.
🎌 Cultural Note: Immigration reviewers in Japan are specifically looking for sustainability. The 2025 reforms were designed to filter out businesses set up purely as visa vehicles. A real franchise — with physical operations, a qualifying employee, and a professionally certified business plan — directly addresses every one of those concerns.
A well-structured franchise investment remains one of the most practical routes to a Business Manager Visa for foreign nationals. The entry bar is higher than it was — but for investors who are serious about Japan, it is a bar worth clearing.
Want to know if a specific franchise model qualifies?
Book a free 30-min consultation — we review your situation and tell you exactly what structure you need.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
