Thinking of starting a business in Japan? It might soon get tougher. The justice ministry has proposed stricter requirements for the popular “business and management visa.” The draft suggests raising the minimum capital from 5 million yen to 30 million yen (about $204,000) and requiring at least one full-time employee in Japan.

Public feedback will be open until September 24, with the new rules expected in October. This change comes after an anti-immigration party gained ground in July’s election. Currently, the visa allows stays of up to five years, family sponsorship, and even a path to permanent residency. At the end of 2024, around 41,600 people held this visa, most of them Chinese nationals.