Business Manager visa 2025: the new Japanese requirement (N2 or BJT 400)
Since October 2025, someone in your company needs B2-level Japanese. Who that can be, the five ways to prove it, and the fastest one.
Short answer
Since 16 October 2025, the Business Manager visa (経営・管理, keiei-kanri) needs Japanese at B2 level from either the applicant or a full-time employee. JLPT N2 or a BJT score of 400 proves it. Japanese citizens and special permanent residents do not need a test. People renewing a visa they already hold have a transition period until 16 October 2028.
What changed on 16 October 2025
The Japanese requirement came as part of a wider tightening. These are the main points of the new rules, as published by the Immigration Services Agency.
| Before | From 16 Oct 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | ¥5 million, or two full-time employees instead | ¥30 million |
| Staff | Not required if capital was met | At least one full-time employee: a Japanese citizen, special permanent resident, permanent resident or spouse-type visa holder |
| Japanese | No requirement | B2 level: the applicant or a full-time employee |
| Experience | Not required for the owner | 3 years of managing a business, or a relevant master's, doctorate or professional degree |
| Business plan | Your own plan | Checked by a certified SME consultant, accountant or tax accountant |
Who has to show the Japanese level
- You, or one full-time employee. Only one person needs to meet it.
- The employee can be a foreigner. For the language rule, a full-time employee on a work visa such as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services also counts.
- No test for Japanese citizens and special permanent residents. The rule asks for proof only from everyone else.
So if you hire a Japanese citizen full-time, the language requirement is covered by them. If your only full-time employee is a foreign national, or you want to rely on your own Japanese, one of you needs proof.
Five ways to prove B2
The official list is short. Any one of these is enough:
- JLPT N2 or N1.
- A BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test score of 400 or more.
- 20 years or more living in Japan as a mid- to long-term resident.
- A degree from a university or other higher education school in Japan.
- Compulsory education and high school completed in Japan.
For most applicants, the realistic options are JLPT N2 or BJT 400.
JLPT N2 or BJT 400: which is faster
| JLPT N2 | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| Next chance in Japan | July 2027 (December 2026 applications closed on 7 September) | Any day a test centre is open |
| Result | About two months after the test | Score report on the same day |
| What you need | Pass: 90 of 180, and 19 of 60 in each section | 400 of 800, no section minimum |
| Fee in Japan | ¥7,500 | ¥8,000 |
| If you miss | Next session, about six months later | Retake after three months |
If your application or your employee's hiring is planned for the next few months, BJT is the only one of the two that can give you a result in time. More on the choice in BJT or JLPT for your visa.
If you already hold a Business Manager visa
For renewals until 16 October 2028, immigration looks at how your business is doing and whether you are likely to meet the new standards. After that date, renewals are generally judged by the new rules. The transition period is not an automatic approval, so it makes sense to plan the Japanese requirement early, whether through your own test result or through the person you hire.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Visa decisions depend on your whole application. Check the Immigration Services Agency pages below or ask an immigration specialist (gyōseishoshi).
Questions people ask
Does the owner have to pass JLPT N2?
No. The applicant or one full-time employee needs B2 level. Japanese citizens and special permanent residents need no test.
Is BJT accepted for the Business Manager visa?
Yes. A BJT score of 400 or more is named in the official rule, next to JLPT N2.
What does B2 mean?
It is the upper-intermediate level of the Japanese Language Education reference framework, which follows the European CEFR scale.
When did the rule start?
On 16 October 2025. Existing visa holders have a transition period for renewals until 16 October 2028.
Can my foreign employee take the test instead of me?
Yes. For the language rule, a full-time employee on a work visa counts, so their JLPT N2 or BJT 400 is enough.
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