The essential elements of a golden visa are typically:
Core Investment Requirement: Applicants are required to make a significant financial investment in the host country, with the various aims of enhance local economic development, create jobs, and bring in expertise and business acumen.
Residency or Citizenship Benefits: In return for an investment, applicants receive either a temporary or permanent ability to live, work, and/or study in the country.
Japan has no single ‘golden visa’, but does have various visa options that fit the above core criteria. In general, once the visas are obtained there are no ongoing obligations; and no minimum stay or language requirements are imposed. Dependent family members are generally permitted in connection with each option, upon receipt of a separately obtained ‘dependent’ visa. Tax implications and other considerations may vary, and appropriate professionals should be consulted on a case-by-case basis. An outline of the formal and economic requirements are as follows:
1. Business Manager Visa (経営管理ビザ): This visa is intended for individuals who wish to start or manage a business in Japan. Please note that legal amendments that took effect on October 17, 2025 have tightened the requirements for this visa. To qualify, applicants typically need to either start a new Japanese business or manage an existing one, with a fresh investment of at least 30 million yen (the required investment amount was 5 million yen before the amendments). In addition to the investment requirement, applicants must now satisfy the following requirements:
(a) The applicant must secure a physical office space for the business and employ at least one full-time employee who is a Japanese national or a permanent resident in Japan, or the souse of a Japanese national or permanent resident;
(b) The applicant is required to either (i) have more than three years of experience in business management or (ii) hold a master’s degree or higher, or an equivalent degree, in business management or a field related to the business to be managed;
(c) Either the applicant or a full-time employee must have a certain level of Japanese language ability, such as CEFR Level B2 or equivalent;
(d) The applicant must have the business plan reviewed by a professional with expertise in business management.
2. High-Skilled Professional Visa (高度専門職ビザ): This option is designed to attract highly skilled professionals by offering a points-based system that evaluates education, professional experience, salary, and other factors. Those who achieve a high score on this system can enjoy benefits such as a faster path to permanent residency (typically within one to three years).
3. Venture Capital 5-Year Visa (海外のエンジェル投資家用のビザ) (Not Yet Available - in development as of April 2026): For foreign angel investors and entrepreneurs making significant investments (ranging from tens of millions to about 100 million yen) in Japanese startups. Requires substantial assets, a proven track record in business management or investment, and the ability to identify and support promising technologies and ideas. Provides a long-term residency visa initially up to five years, with periodic monitoring of investment and support activities. Investors must establish a base in a designated National Strategic Special Zone and support local startups.
4. Start Up Visa(スタートアップビザ): This visa is intended for foreign entrepreneurs preparing to launch a business in Japan. Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
(a) Within one year, the total amount of assets to be used for the proposed business is expected to reach at least 30 million yen;
(b) Within one year, at least one full-time employee is expected to be engaged in the business;
(c) Within one year, the applicant is expected to secure a business office in Japan;
(d) The applicant must either (i) have more than one year of experience in business management or (ii) hold a master’s degree or higher, or an equivalent degree, in business management or a field related to the business to be managed;
(e) The applicant must plan to reside in Japan during the period of startup preparation activities.
The applicant must submit a startup preparation activity plan at the time of application. After obtaining the visa, the applicant must report on the status of these activities each month for one year to an organization certified by the Japanese government to support foreign entrepreneurs.
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The material provided on this page is for information purposes only, as immigration policies are frequently subject to review and change, with each case being unique. We therefore strongly recommend contacting the law firm listed on this page for the latest, most accurate guidance and advice in respect of this jurisdiction.