Japan 2026 Business Manager Visa Enforcement Storm: PM Takaichi's New Rules Force Long-Term Foreign Entrepreneurs Out
Under PM Sanae Takaichi, Japan has dramatically tightened enforcement of business manager visa renewals. Long-term foreign business owners with decades of operations are being denied renewals and forced to leave. Japan also launches social media cyber patrols to track visa overstayers. This second wave of enforcement follows the 2025 capital requirement hike to 30M yen - creating unprecedented uncertainty for overseas Chinese investors relying on the business manager visa path.

Policy Summary
In May 2026, The New York Times reported that Japan under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is dramatically tightening enforcement of the Business Manager Visa, with numerous long-term foreign entrepreneurs being denied renewals and facing deportation.
This enforcement wave follows the October 2025 Business Manager Visa reform that raised the minimum capital requirement from 5 million yen to 30 million yen (approximately $200,000 USD). Unlike the previous policy-level adjustment, this enforcement tightening directly targets foreign entrepreneurs who have been operating stably in Japan for many years - even those with normally operating businesses, paying taxes on time, employing Japanese staff may now be deemed ineligible for renewal under the changed review standards.
Simultaneously, the Japanese government announced it will launch social media patrol mechanisms, monitoring Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms to track visa overstayers and illegal work activities, further strengthening the regulatory network for foreigners.
Background: The Takaichi Administration's Immigration Policy Shift
Since taking office in late 2025, PM Takaichi has significantly shifted immigration policy toward strictness. Her government's core logic is: Japan must ensure foreign residents 'truly contribute to Japan's economy' rather than using visa loopholes to obtain long-term residence rights. This stance has directly led to the comprehensive upgrade of business manager visa review standards.