Interpreting Japan’s 30 Million Yen Business Manager Visa Reform through Global Money Flows｜Remittance Rules, AML, and Economic Security

Introduction｜Why Did the Capital Requirement Rise to 30 Million Yen?

In October 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Justice raised the minimum capital requirement for the Business Manager Visa from 5 million yen to 30 million yen.

This change is more than a simple numerical increase.
Behind it lies a broader trend toward transparency in international fund flows and a strengthening of economic security policy.

Under the previous 5 million yen rule, it was relatively easy to establish a nominal company that merely existed on paper.
This led to a rise in so-called broker-arranged or name-only companies, undermining the credibility of the system.
The new standard aims to curb such risks and shift the focus toward the source, route, and sustainability of capital.

Furthermore, the 30 million yen threshold reflects international considerations —
the global AML (Anti-Money Laundering) framework under the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) and the need to align with foreign remittance and foreign-exchange regulations.

In short, this is not merely a domestic immigration reform.
The new requirement should be understood within the broader context of international money flows and economic security.

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Chapter 1｜Japan’s Immigration System as a “Safety Valve” for Global Money Flows

The Business Manager Visa is based on Article 7(1)(ii) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

While past examinations mainly focused on the substance of the business and employment creation,
recent years have seen growing emphasis on financial transparency and the legitimacy of fund transfers.

This shift is driven by tighter global evaluation of national AML/CFT systems under the FATF’s fourth mutual evaluation round.
Japan’s financial, tax, and immigration authorities now cooperate more closely to prevent the inflow of opaque or high-risk funds.

As a result, the immigration system is no longer just an entry-control framework.
It increasingly functions as a “safety valve” for international money flows,
verifying the origin of funds, the remittance route, and the genuine operation of the business as interconnected elements in visa review.

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Chapter 2｜Global Remittance Restrictions and the Degree of Transfer Freedom

When assessing the Business Manager Visa, it helps to compare how different countries regulate outbound remittances and capital mobility.
Even for the same “foreign investment,” the ease of sending funds abroad varies greatly.

Region	Regulation on Foreign Currency Remittance	Difficulty of Sending to Japan	Notes
🇨🇳 China	Annual limit of USD 50 000 per individual (Individual FX Management Regulations) ＋ SAFE approval required	🔥 Very High	Hong Kong routes under increased scrutiny
🇮🇳 India	LRS scheme: annual USD 250 000 cap ＋ RBI reporting	🟡 Medium	Purpose-based bank screening
🇻🇳 Vietnam	State Bank authorization required for outbound FX	🔥 High	Strong foreign exchange controls
🇵🇭 Philippines	FX rules liberal but bank AML checks strict	🟡 Medium	Compliance tightening
🇸🇬 Singapore	Fully free remittance (MAS Notice 757)	🟢 Low	Global financial hub
🇭🇰 Hong Kong	Free remittance but Mainland-linked funds monitored	🟢 Low	Enhanced screening for Mainland sources
🇯🇵 Japan	Generally free (under the Foreign Exchange Act)	🟢 Low	Reporting obligations apply
🇺🇸 USA	Free with reporting only (FinCEN)	🟢 Low	CTR filing over USD 10 000
🇪🇺 EU	Free movement of capital ＋ AML Directives	🟢 Low	Transparency and reporting balance

In China, for example, individuals may purchase or remit foreign currency only up to USD 50 000 per year, and any amount above that requires State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) approval.

This means sending the 30 million yen (≈ USD 200 000) capital needed for a Business Manager Visa from China is extremely difficult in practice.

Even transfers through Hong Kong — long known for its free-remittance environment — are now monitored more strictly by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).

These realities explain why Japanese immigration now places strong emphasis on verifying where the money comes from and how it arrives,
since the regulatory environment in the origin country directly affects the reliability of each application.

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Chapter 3｜Structural Challenges in Capital Inflows from China, India, and ASEAN

Many Asian economies still maintain state-level controls on capital outflows,
meaning “free remittance” cannot be taken for granted.

🇨🇳 China

Under the Individual Foreign Exchange Regulations, individuals face an annual cap of USD 50 000.
Corporate remittances require separate approval under the ODI (Overseas Direct Investment) framework.
Consequently, sending 30 million yen (≈ USD 200 000) to Japan is difficult for both individuals and companies.
Some attempt legitimate routes via Hong Kong or Singapore, but SAFE and HKMA now share data,
and funds may still be classified as “Mainland Chinese” money.

🇮🇳 India

India’s LRS (Liberalized Remittance Scheme) limits individual outbound remittances to USD 250 000 per year.
Banks must verify the purpose of each transfer, and company-formation funds receive particular scrutiny.

🇻🇳 Vietnam & ASEAN

Vietnam requires State Bank authorization for any overseas transfer, making outflows highly restricted.
While countries like the Philippines are formally liberalized, bank-level AML checks remain strict and slow.

Because of these structural differences, Japanese authorities now place greater importance on how the funds actually reached Japan and whether that process complies with both domestic and foreign laws.

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Chapter 4｜Japan’s Reform as a “Filter” for the Quality of Funds

The 30 million yen threshold is not just a higher number — it represents a shift from the quantity to the quality of capital.

It effectively filters out small-scale or improper investments while leaving room for legitimate corporate and investor-level funding.

During review, immigration officers focus on:

• the transparency of investors,
• the verifiable remittance path, and
• the sustainability of business operations.

This approach aligns with global AML standards set by the FATF and OECD, where a reliable entrepreneur equals financially sound funds.

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Chapter 5｜“Explainable Funds” as the Core of Visa Screening

In practice, a legal remittance is not necessarily an explainable one.

Even if money was sent through a bank properly, a lack of documentation about its origin or purpose can harm credibility.

Key items commonly verified include:

• SWIFT transfer records (with clear sender and purpose)
• Supporting documents for the fund source (contracts, salary, tax records)
• Bank certificate of capital payment
• Consistency with company registration data

Increasingly, judicial scriveners, banks, administrative scriveners, and tax advisors work together to check the integrity of fund flows.
Ultimately, a clearly explained fund trail matters more than the amount itself.

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Chapter 6｜Looking Ahead — An Era of Trust and Transparency

Going forward, Business Manager Visa reviews will prioritize:

• Compliance with the remitter’s home-country FX rules
• Verifiable documentation of the fund source and route
• Evidence of sustainable business operations

This represents a broader transition toward identifying trustworthy entrepreneurs rather than simply wealthy ones.
Japan’s ongoing FATF evaluation will further link immigration policy with AML and CFT standards, making visa screening a mechanism for global financial credibility.

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Conclusion｜From Restriction to Trust-Building

The 30 million yen requirement is not about excluding foreign entrepreneurs.
It aims to ensure that credible business owners are properly recognized and approved.

For those from countries with strict foreign exchange controls, moving capital is challenging — yet what matters most is showing a legitimate, well-documented fund route, not finding shortcuts.

In the new era of the Business Manager Visa, success will depend less on money alone and more on transparency, credibility, and integrity.

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