Kochi Consultation Center for Foreign Residents（Kocoforre）
こ う ち け ん がいこくじんせいかつそうだん

Kocoforre News高知県外国人生活相談センター（ココフォーレ）

Issue 3: Winter 2023

Kocoforre is the nickname for the Kochi Consultation Center for Foreign Residents

We hope that everyone is doing well in this beautiful new year. In Kocoforre
News, we introduce our center’s activities and useful information for foreignresidents, those who are connected with foreigners, and people interested inmulticulturalism.

Topics About Status of Residence

For more information, please visit the website ofthe Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/index.html

In this issue, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the status of residence granted
to foreigners when they enter Japan, depending on their purpose of entry and stay.

Ｑ. I want to hire an overseas student as a part-time worker, but their residence card says

Learn how to apply
for an exception
herethat they are not permitted to work (就労不可). Can I hire them?

Ａ. If there is an entry on the back of the residence card stating that they are permitted to engage in activities other thanthose stated on the front of the card (資格外活動許可), they can be employed. If it is not written, you need to apply for suchan exception at the nearest immigration office. Please also note that for part-time jobs outside of those permitted under thestatus of residence, there is a limit of 28 hours per week.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-8.html

Ｑ. I have lived in Japan for a long time, so I would like to stay in Japan for the rest of myLearn how
to apply forpermanentresidencelife.

Ａ. If you want to live permanently in Japan, you will need to apply for permanent residence. The permanent residence

status (永住者) has lesser restrictions than other statuses, as it has no restrictions on both permitted activities andperiod of stay. For this reason, obtaining a permanent residence status requires a more careful examination. There
are special requirements that other statuses do not require. They are that the applicant ①Must be of good behavior ②
Must possess sufficient assets or ability to make an independent living ③Must be acknowledged that their permanent
residency would be in the best interests of Japan.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/16-4.html

Ｑ. I came to Japan as a tourist and am here with a temporary visitor status (短期滞在). CanI work in Japan?

Ａ. As a general rule, foreigners staying in Japan with a temporary visitor status (for sightseeing, visiting relatives,etc.) are not allowed to work in Japan, except for short-term business purposes such as business trips.

Ｑ. We are a foreign couple and we recently had a child. What should we do?

See Q&A on
immigration
matters

Ａ. You will need to apply for a status of residence for your child. This application should be made within 30 days

from the date of birth, at the regional immigration office in charge of your residence area. If the child is to leave
Japan within 60 days from the date of birth (except in cases of the usage of re-entry permits), there is no need for a
status of residence application. Other procedures include registering the birth of your child at your local municipal
office, obtaining health insurance for them, and contacting your embassy or consulate in Japan to register their birthand obtain a passport.
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/guide/kanri_qa.html

Foreign residents in Kochi! Are they increasing or decreasing?
Based on foreign residents statistics from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan

As of end-June 2022: 5,038 people
Foreign Residents of Kochi

6,000
5,000
4,000

3,763

3,997 4,127

4,332 4,371

4,580 4,746

4,967<By Nationality> Top 10 Countries

4,798 4,832 4,725

4,500

5,038

3,000
2,000
1,000.

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160Pop.
Ranking

Country

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Vietnam
China
Philippines
Korea
Indonesia
USA
Myanmar
Nepal
Cambodia
India<Unit: Person>

No. ofResidents
1,356
892
754
447
442
161
115
109
105
66

Ratio
26.9％
17.7％
15.0％
8.9％
8.8％
3.2％
2.3％
2.2％
2.1％
1.3％

The number of foreign residents in Kochi Prefecture was on the increase until the end of 2019. However,it declined in 2020 due to restrictions on new arrivals from abroad as part of the border control measuresagainst Covid-19. From the Spring of 2022, entry restrictions were relaxed and the number of foreign
residents in the prefecture reached 5,038 at the end of June 2022.

Kocoforre does not only hold general consultations at its main center,but also holds on-site consultations at various municipalities, andlegal consultations with the cooperation of the Kochi Bar Association.
Kocoforre also participates in various international events by setting
up a consultation space where foreigners and Japanese people whoare involved with foreigners can freely ask for advice.

Highlights of
Kocoforre's activities(Apr 2022 - Dec 2022)

Consultations Held
On-site consultations were held atShimanto City on the 5th of August,and at Nankoku City on the 13th ofNovember. These consultations weremainly on status of residence and were handled by specialists
from the regional immigration services bureau. For foreigners
to live in Japan, they require a residence permit called“statusof residence”. However, there are many different types of“status of residence” and the procedures for renewing orchanging them can be complicated. At the consultations,the bureau staff answered questions asked by consultors,
explaining in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner.

On-siteConsultations

Events Participated

LegalConsultations

From September 12th to the17th, Kocoforre held a freelegal consultation week forforeigners where foreign
nationals and Japanesepeople who were involved withforeigners consulted a lawyer
for free. Lawyers kindly
listened to the problems thatthe consultors faced andexplained how to deal withthem accurately from a legal
perspective.

27th November
Kochi-Vietnam Exchange Event 2022

International
16th October
Fureai Hiroba 2022

Orgaznied by: Kochi-Vietnam Exchange Association

Organized by: Kochi International Association

Various international exchange
and cooperative organizations
sold international cuisines andfolk crafts, and introduced theiractivities.

Entertainment such as
Vietnamese folk music
and dance, talk shows,and quiz contests were
held on a speciallymade stage.

Kocoforre also set up
a booth to give out
information in variouslanguages and shareabout their activities.

The stage program waslined up with performancesof international musician
instruments, a talk show byCIRs, and more.

Announcements from Kocoforre
Kocoforre is now a designatedconsultation branch of Houterasu,
a Japan Legal Support Center.

Long queues formedat shops selling
Vietnamese foodand products.

Thanks to this, consultors wanting to consult with Houterasu,
can do so at Kocoforre. In addition, consultors are able
to receive support from Kocoforre interpreters and use
a telephone interpretation service that is available in 21
languages.
In addition to legal advice, Kocoforre is also able to assist withother areas, such as daily life. For more information, please
see the Kocoforre website.

Upcoming Consultation Sessions with Specialists
Details will be posted on the Kocoforre website as soon as they are finalized

18th February 2023 (Sat)27th February 2023 (Mon)- 4th March 2023 (Sat)

Tosa City On-site
Consultation

Bureau staff from the regional immigration services bureau will begiving consultations. Consultors can ask for detailed explanations
regarding status of residence. Other than that, consultors canconsult Kocoforre consultees about any matters in daily life.

Free Legal Consultation
Week for Foreigners

Lawyers will be giving consultations. Consultations are available
for foreigners, as well as Japanese nationals who are involved
with foreigners. However, corporations are not eligible.

Seminars and Workshops
26th February 2023
(Sun)

Course for Volunteer
Community Interpreters■WebsiteVenue: K ochi City - Kochi Jinken
Keihatsu Center's Hall (6F)■Instagram
Available inJapanese,
English, Chinese,Korean,Indonesian, andVietnamese.

Usefulinformation onliving in Japanis posted
up in simple
Japanese.

Content: Mental attitude and ethics
when assisting foreigners

Published by: Kochi International Association
Kochi Consultation Center for Foreign Residents
Address: 4-1-37 Marunouchi Building 1F Honmachi, Kochi CityTel: 088-821-6440 Fax: 088-821-6441
E-mail: consultation@kccfr.jp
Website: https://kccfr.jp
Printed: January 2023