The Justice Ministry building houses the offices of the Immigration Services Agency. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

EDITORIAL: Flexibility a must in granting stricter business manager visa

（社説）経営・管理ビザ　実情ふまえ判断柔軟に

While preventing the abuse of rules is needed, excluding foreign managers who have worked diligently will not lead to an inclusive society.

Since October 2025, the government has implemented stricter conditions for foreign entrepreneurs seeking to obtain the “business manager” residence status.

But that has led to such major negative effects as the closing of ethnic restaurants or forcing owners to consider going out of business.

The Immigration Services Agency must make more flexible decisions by considering such factors as the number of years an owner has lived in Japan, the business format as well as whether they have family here.

Based on criticism that the business manager status was being abused by foreigners seeking to migrate to Japan, the minimum capital requirement was raised from 5 million yen ($31,300) to 30 million yen.

The residence status began in 2015 with the aim of broadly accepting foreigners who might want to join the management of domestic companies.

The period of stay ranges from three months to five years, with the possibility of renewal. Family members could also accompany the visa holder to Japan.

Initially, either 5 million yen in capital or at least two full-time workers were the conditions for being granted the status, which served to allow in foreign entrepreneurs.

But confirmation was made of abuse of the system by individuals obtaining the residence status using paper companies.

Diet members repeatedly called for a review of the conditions for granting the status.

The government raised the capital requirement sixfold to 30 million yen and also required at least one full-time employee.

According to the Immigration Services Agency, before the stricter conditions, less than 10 percent of those with the business manager status had at least 30 million yen invested in their business.

In the five months or so around the time the stricter conditions went into effect, there was a monthly average decline of 96 percent in the number of new applications, including for the highly skilled professional status.

Administrative scriveners involved in helping with the application process have said that it was difficult for individual restaurant owners to expand their business to meet the capital requirement of 30 million yen.

Most examples of foreign entrepreneurs starting a business have led to the raising of 5 million yen in capital.

Immigration Services Agency officials said they settled upon what they considered to be an amount for stable business management after consulting foreign cases.

But there are business sectors that do not need 30 million yen in capital so the setting of that condition must be considered excessive.

The government is also pushing through other stricter policies toward foreigners.

The earnest views of foreigners asking why their best efforts to succeed in Japan are not being considered have been voiced.

If Japan is the only place that serves as a base for their lives, the future of family members living with them will also be taken away.

Even if it is only a small business, the venture supports the local economy and there would be effects on customers, business partners and employees.

The Immigration Services Agency has said that transitional measures will be in place until October 2028 for those seeking to renew their status.

Even if the new conditions are not met, a decision would be made based on business conditions and the expected state of the business at the next renewal period.

The agency should implement measures while considering the actual situation without excessively focusing on the 30-million-yen requirement after the end of the transition period.

Strengthening the grasp of the situation by studying what is occurring in the real world will serve to prevent abuse.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 3

ルールの悪用は防ぐ必要があるが、まじめに経営してきた外国人まで排除しては「共生社会」にはならない。
　政府は外国人が日本で起業する際に必要な在留資格「経営・管理」の取得要件を２０２５年１０月に厳しくしたが、廃業検討やエスニック料理店などの閉店といった死活的な影響が出ている。出入国在留管理庁には、滞在年数や営業実態、家族などの実情を考慮した柔軟な判断を求める。
　「経営・管理」が移住に悪用されているとの批判から、資本金や出資総額の要件が５００万円から３千万円に引き上げられた。そもそもは１５年、国内企業で経営に関わる外国人を広く迎えたいとのねらいで始まった在留資格だ。
　在留期間は３カ月から５年。更新可能で、家族も帯同できる。従来は「５００万円以上の資本金など」か「２人以上の常勤職員」のいずれかが必要で、起業する外国人の受け皿になってきた。
　しかし、ペーパー会社を使って在留資格を得る悪用が確認され、国会で要件の見直しを求める質問が相次いだ。政府は必要な資本金を６倍の３千万円にし、１人以上の常勤職員なども要件に加えた。
　入管庁によると、厳格化前に「経営・管理」を持っていた人のうち資本金３千万円を満たしていた人は１０％未満。新規申請（一部の高度専門職含む）は厳格化前後の約５カ月間で、月平均で９６％も減った。在留申請に関わる行政書士の間では「個人経営の飲食店で資本金３千万円まで成長させるのは厳しい」との声があがる。外国人による起業では、やっと５００万円を集めた例が多いという。
　入管庁は他国の制度を参考にした上で安定経営に適する額を考えたとする。しかし、３千万円の資本が不要な業態もある。金額設定に無理があったと言わざるを得ない。
　政府は外国人政策の厳格化を進めるが、当事者からあがる「一生懸命、日本で店を続けている頑張りを、どうして見てくれないのか」という声は切実だ。日本にしか生活基盤がなければ、一緒に暮らす家族の将来も奪う。零細企業であっても地域経済を支えており、客や取引先、従業員の雇用にも影響する。
　入管庁は、２８年１０月までの経過措置の間に更新する場合、新要件を満たさなくても、経営状況やさらに次の更新時の見通しをふまえて判断するとしている。入管庁は経過措置終了後も３千万円にこだわらず、実情を考慮した対応をとるべきだ。悪用防止には、実地調査などによる実態把握の強化が先だ。

(2026年6月3日)