My 3rd application for the 「経営・管理」 (Business Manager) visa is dragging on. What can I do?

This article is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails. Read the Japanese original（日本語版を読む）

What is this enquiry about?

No result has come through for a long time on a 3rd application for a Certificate of Eligibility, and the enquirer is also anxious about how the capital would be treated if it were denied.

Why does a 3rd round of screening drag on?

Screening for the 「経営・管理」 visa normally takes 1 month to 3 months, but for a 3rd time it is taken forward carefully.

• Checking the points raised before　Whether the reasons for the 2 previous denials have really been cleared completely is being checked strictly
• Verifying that the business exists and is stable　On-site investigation, or requests for further material, may be under way behind the scenes in relation to the business plan, the lease agreement, the source of the funds and so on that you have submitted
• Congestion in the screening section　Sometimes it is simply a matter of congestion, but on a 3rd application it is also possible that the examining officer is seeking a decision at a higher level

Is there anything the applicant can do?

Screening has not stopped, so avoid chasing impatiently and keep to checking the position by an appropriate route.

1. An enquiry from your 申請取次行政書士　Through the registered certified administrative procedures legal specialist (shinsei-toritsugi gyoseishoshi) you have instructed, you can have a polite enquiry made to the screening section of the 地方出入国在留管理局 (Regional Immigration Services Bureau) as to the state of screening and whether any further material is required. What matters here is to show that you want to make a final check that nothing is missing from the application and to respond promptly, rather than simply chasing
2. Providing favourable information　If new information favourable to the business has come to hand since the application (a new contract concluded, an increase in funds and so on), it is also effective to submit it through the gyoseishoshi as material supporting the contents of the application
3. Re-examining the reasons for the previous denials　Precisely because things are dragging on, please go through thoroughly with your gyoseishoshi whether the reasons for the 2 previous denials, and the improvements you made this time in response, were objectively sufficient

What is meant by the "3,000万円 rule" (30 million yen)?

Today, capital or total contribution of at least 30 million yen (3,000万円) is itself the criterion for permission in law.

The ministerial ordinance on the criteria for landing permission for 在留資格「経営・管理」 was amended and came into force on 16 October 2025 (令和7年10月16日). The requirement for capital or total contribution has changed from at least 5 million yen (500万円) to at least 30 million yen (3,000万円).

Separately from this, it has been said that in practice, where an application has been denied a number of times in the past and it is judged that doubts remain about the stability and continuity of the business, the applicant may be asked to show a route to a large increase in the capital (or the funds invested), as an objective indicator of the stability of the management. This is what has been called the "3,000万円 rule".

Today, however, the 30 million yen (3,000万円) is not such a matter of practice; it is the criterion for permission in law itself, under the amendment that came into force on 16 October 2025 (令和7年10月16日). Explanations such as that it is not an official rule, or that it is required only where applications have been denied repeatedly, do not apply to the current system.

In any event, if this application should be denied, the next application must meet the amended criteria for permission. To be ready for that, we recommend that you also prepare a concrete funding plan for putting up 30 million yen (3,000万円).

For now, it is important not to rush, to check the state of screening through a specialist such as a gyoseishoshi, and to concentrate on preparing further material.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• My 在留資格「経営・管理」 (Business Manager) certificate application has been under screening for 13 months. What can I do?
• What are the key points of a business plan for the 経営・管理 visa, by type of business?
• What should I write in a business plan for the 経営・管理 visa?
• Can I apply for an employee's work visa before the 在留資格「経営・管理」 (Business Manager) is granted?

This article provides general information. Immigration rules change, and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Please check the Immigration Services Agency website or consult a qualified specialist.
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. Where the two differ, the Japanese version prevails.