Nearly 1,000 business manager visa holders left Japan in first half of 2026

The number of foreign residents of Japan with business manager visas who have left the country has been steadily climbing since last October, when stricter visa rules were introduced. | JOHAN BROOKS

Sep 2, 2026

Nearly 1,000 foreign residents of Japan with business manager visas left the country in the first half of this year — about four times the figure in the same period last year, according to government data — following stricter visa rules introduced last October.

Immigration Services Agency (ISA) data showed that 953 business manager visa holders left Japan between January and June without completing procedures required to reenter the country, meaning they effectively left for good. 

The figure has been steadily climbing since last October. 

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.