New System of Residence Management
Outline of the New System

What Exactly is the New System?

The new system of residence management aims to establish a system whereby the Minister of Justice continuously keeps
the information necessary for residence management by combining the information collected via the Immigration Control Act
and the Alien Registration Law respectively. Foreign nationals residing legally in Japan for a medium to long term aresubject to this new system. Along with the issuance of a residence card to the aforementioned persons, the new system hasrevised the filing procedures among others. The introduction of the new system ensures further convenience for such
persons by extending the maximum period of stay from 3 years to 5 years. In addition, a system of “presumed permit ofre-entry”, which essentially exempts the need to file an application for permission for re-entry when re-entering Japan within
one year of departure, will be implemented.
Upon introduction of the new system of residence management, the current alien registration system shall become defunct.

Effective Date

When Will It Take Effect?

The actual date of enforcement shall be determined by a Cabinet order within three years from July 15, 2009,
the promulgation date of the amended law

Applicable Persons

Who is Subject to the New System?

Foreign nationals residing legally for a medium to long term with a status of residence under the Immigration Control Act,EXCLUDING the persons described below, shall be subject to the new system of residence management:(1) Persons granted permission to stay for not more than 3 months(2) Persons granted the status of residence of “Temporary Visitor”(3) Persons granted the status of residence of “Diplomat” or “Official”(4) Persons whom a Ministry of Justice ordinance recognizes as
equivalent to the aforementioned foreign nationals(5) Special permanent residents(6) Persons with no status of residence

ExamplesPersons Subject to the New System

Persons NOT Subject to the New System

 Persons working for organizations with a status of residence such as “Engineer”
or “Specialist in Humanities/International Services”
 Persons attending school with a status of residence such as “College Student”
 Persons married to Japanese citizens with a status of residence of “Spouseor Child of Japanese National”
 Persons with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident”

 Persons staying in Japan for short periodsof time (i.e. for sightseeing) Entertainers such as actors and singers
granted permission to stay for not morethan 3 months with the status of residenceof “Entertainer”

What is the Residence Card?
Under the new system, a residence card shall be issued to applicable persons in addition to landing permission, permission
for change of status of residence, and permission for extension of the residence period, etc. The card is equipped with an IC
chip to prevent forgery and alteration, and the chip records all or part of the information included on the card.
The information on the details of the card is as follows.
Government of Japan

Compared to the Alien Registration Certificate, the items given on
the residence card have been considerably reduced!
For example, the name of the householder, place of birth, passportnumber, occupation, and the name and location of the place where
the foreign national is employed or his/her office are not given.

Residence Card

= Pe r iod of v a lidity =《Legal items given》①Name in full, date of birth, sex, nationality or region
provided for by a Cabinet order as stipulated inArticle2,item 5,sub-item2 of the Immigration Control Act②Address of main residence in Japan (hereinafterreferred to as "place of residence" )③Status of residence, period of stay, date of expiration④Type of permission, date of permission⑤Number of the residence card, date of issue, date ofexpiration⑥Existence or absence of working permit⑦Existence of permission to engage in activity otherthan those permitted under the status of residence
previously granted

Persons aged sixteen or over
Persons with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident”→Seven years from the date of issue
Persons other than those with the status of residence of “PermanentResident”→Until the expiration date of the status of residence
Persons under the age of sixteen
Persons with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident”→Until his/her sixteenth birthdayPersons other than those with the status of residence of “PermanentResident”→Until the expiration date of the status of residence or his/her
sixteenth birthday, whichever comes earlier

Photograph

法務大臣2

System for Special Permanent Residents
Outline of the System

What is the new System?

The new system of residence management does not involve special permanent residents, and therefore the systemfor persons under such status is essentially the same as before. However, some revisions will be made for the sake ofconvenience.
With the introduction of the new system of residence management, the Alien Registration Law and the alien
registration certificate will be abolished. In lieu of the alien registration certificate, which certifies the legal status, theMinister of Justice is to issue a special permanent resident certificate to special permanent residents.
Other changes involve the information detailed on the special permanent resident certificate. The details on thecertificate will be kept to a minimum; and required information has been significantly reduced compared to the current
alien registration certificate. Procedures such as changes in registered information and reissuance of the certificate
shall be handled at an office of the city, ward, town or village as before.
Furthermore, the requirements of the re-entry permit system will be eased, and a special permanent resident with avalid passport and a special permanent resident certificate will basically be exempt from applying for a re-entry permit incases where he/she re-enters Japan within two years from his/her departure. In cases where a special permanent
resident applies for a re-entry permit, the expiration date of the re-entry permit will be extended to 6 years from thecurrent 4 years.

Effective Date

When Will It Take Effect?

The actual date of enforcement shall be determined by a Cabinet order within three years from July 15,
2009, the promulgation date of the amended law

What is the Special Permanent Resident Certificate?
The special permanent resident certificate is equipped with an IC chip to prevent forgery and alteration, and the chiprecords all or part of the information included on the certificate.The information on the details of the certificate is asfollows.

Government of Japan

Special Permanent Resident Certificate

Compared to the alien registration certificate, the items
given on the special permanent resident certificate havebeen considerably reduced!
For example, the name of the householder, place of birthand passport number are not given.

《Legal items given》①Name in full, date of birth, sex, nationality
or region provided for by a Cabinet orderas stipulated in Article2,item 5,sub-item2of the Immigration Control Act②Place of residence③Number of the special permanent
resident certiﬁcate, date of issue, date of
expiration= Pe r iod of v a lidity =Photograph

Persons aged sixteen or over
Until his/her seventh birthday after each application or
notification (In cases of renewal of the special permanent
resident certificate, until his/her seventh birthday after theexpiration date of the special permanent resident
certificate before renewal)
Persons under the age of sixteen
Until the sixteenth birthday

法務大臣

Revision of the Training and Technical Intern Training Programs
Outline of the Revision

What Will Change?

For the purpose of enhancing the protection of trainees and technical interns, a new status of residence referred toas “Technical Intern Training” shall be established, which enables such persons to engage in the following activities:(1)“Activities to acquire knowledge through group training courses” and “activities to acquire skills through employmentagreements”
i .Activities performed by an individual enterprise accepting employees of companies with whom the individual
enterprise has business relations such as joint ventures overseas (Individual enterprise-based training)ii.Activities performed under the supervision and responsibility of a non-profit organization such as a tradeassociation (Association managed training)(2)Activities for a person who has acquired knowledge and skills to engage in business that requires such knowledge
and skills through an employment agreement
Labor laws such as the Labor Standards Law and the Minimum Wage Act shall be applied to activities for acquiring
skills through employment agreements. Transfer from (1) to (2) shall be effected in accordance with the proceduresfor change of residence status.
Relevant ministerial ordinances shall also be revised with regard to issues including:・Enhancement of the structure of accepting organizations in terms of instruction, supervision and support, andencouragement of disclosure and openness in the operation of such organizations
・Extension of the suspension period for organizations which have engaged in serious improper conduct in receiving interns
・Enhancement of confirmation of the conditions of the contract between the sending organization and the intern4