Can You Work a Side Job on a Business Manager Visa in Japan?

What Is a Business Manager Visa?

The Business Manager Visa is a visa for foreign nationals who reside in Japan for the purpose of operating a business.

Since obtaining this visa involves significant costs—such as a JPY 30 million investment, employee salaries, office rent, and taxes—some people may consider taking on part-time work or side jobs until their business becomes stable.

If you know Japanese entrepreneurs, you may have heard stories such as working late-night shifts at convenience stores or taking part-time jobs in traffic control or security to make ends meet until their business succeeded.

This page explains whether it is possible to engage in side jobs (part-time work) on a Business Manager Visa.

You Cannot Work a Side Job on a Business Manager Visa

In conclusion, it is not possible to work part-time on a Business Manager Visa. This is because, unlike Japanese nationals, foreign nationals are limited to activities permitted under their visa.

As mentioned above, the Business Manager Visa is intended for business management activities. Part-time work falls outside these activities, so if a Business Manager Visa holder engages in such work, it becomes “unauthorized activity” and is illegal.

Can You Obtain Permission for Unauthorized Activities?

Those who have previously stayed in Japan on a student visa may be familiar with the system called “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted”.

This system allows certain types of otherwise unauthorized activities under specific conditions.

For example, since a student visa is for studying in Japan, part-time work is considered unauthorized activity. However, with this permission, students are allowed to work part-time up to 28 hours per week.

In theory, it is possible to apply for this permission even with a Business Manager Visa.
However, in practice, such permission for part-time work is not granted to Business Manager Visa holders.

Therefore, from this perspective as well, part-time work is not allowed under this visa.

What Happens If You Work Part-Time Without Permission?

If immigration authorities discover unauthorized part-time work, it may lead to denial when renewing your Business Manager Visa.

Additionally, if too much time is spent on part-time work and you are not properly managing your primary business, your visa may be revoked.

In the worst-case scenario, you may face criminal penalties such as imprisonment or fines, and even deportation from Japan.

Part-Time Work During Startup Preparation for Graduates of Top Universities

Since April 2023, the J-Find (Future Creation Talent Program) has been introduced. Under this system, graduates of top-ranked universities can apply for a visa categorized as “Designated Activities (Future Creation Talent)”.

This visa is available to those who graduated (including from graduate school) from universities ranked within the top 100 in at least two global university rankings. Applicants must have graduated within the past five years and possess savings equivalent to at least JPY 200,000 at the time of application.

Holders of this visa can engage in job hunting or startup preparation activities in Japan for up to two years. During this period, they are allowed to work part-time without hourly restrictions, enabling them to support themselves while preparing their business. Additionally, this visa allows applicants to avoid meeting the strict requirements of the Business Manager Visa from the outset.

However, this visa is limited to two years. After that period, you must meet the Business Manager Visa requirements, and once you switch to a Business Manager Visa, part-time work is no longer permitted.

Engaging in Business Management as a Side Activity

A slightly different case involves foreign nationals on other work visas (such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services) who wish to start and manage a company as a side business while working.

In such cases, this may be permitted, unlike part-time work under a Business Manager Visa.
However, you must pay attention to the following two points:

① Compliance with your current employer’s rules
Some employers prohibit side jobs in employment contracts or workplace regulations. Even if permitted under immigration law, you may not be allowed to start and manage a company as a side business if it violates your employer’s rules.

② Permission for Unauthorized Activities
As mentioned earlier, managing a company under a visa other than the Business Manager Visa constitutes unauthorized activity, so you must obtain permission specifically to engage in business management.

Compared to applying for permission to do part-time work under a Business Manager Visa, this type of permission may be granted in some cases.

Note that company management activities do not have measurable working hours. Therefore, permissions such as the “up to 28 hours per week” allowance for students or dependents cannot be used for business management side activities. You must apply separately for permission to manage a specific company.

However, since a dedicated “Business Manager Visa” already exists, it is generally difficult to obtain such permission in practice.

In the Case of Highly Skilled Professional Visa

For holders of a Highly Skilled Professional Visa, it is legally permitted to manage a company related to their visa field as a side activity.

However, this must remain a side activity, and company management cannot become the main activity.

Also, managing an unrelated business would be considered unauthorized activity and illegal, so it is advisable to consult a professional before establishing a company.

Conclusion

The Business Manager Visa is already difficult to obtain, and as explained above, it is also difficult to maintain because part-time work cannot be used as a financial bridge until the business becomes profitable.

To avoid financial difficulties during periods of low revenue, it is essential to carefully plan your finances and business strategy from the company formation stage.