Date	Developments	Contents
Jul. 15	Promulgation of the Law for Partial Amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, Inter Alia, those who have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan (Law No.79 of 2009) (hereinafter referred to as the “revised Immigration Control Act”)	The revised Immigration Control Act was promulgated in 2009. It contained provisions to establish a new system of residence management that enables the Minister of Justice to continuously obtain information necessary for residence management, and improves convenience, including extension of the maximum period of stay and alleviation of the re-entry permit system, with regard to foreign nationals residing in Japan for a medium and long-term period with legal residence status.
Oct. 5 to Oct. 23	Establishment of a period for stepped-up landing examination	Strict landing examination was promoted by establishing a period for stepped-up landing examination at airports and seaports nationwide.
Dec. 14 to Dec. 15	Holding of the 23rd “Immigration Control Seminar”	The Ministry of Justice held the “Immigration Control Seminar”, inviting officials from 16 countries and 2 regions in the Pacific Rim area and 3 international organizations to exchange information and views on immigration control administration.
Dec. 25	Promulgation of the “Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for Criteria Pursuant to Article 7, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act” and other ordinances regarding new training and technical internship programs	With regard to training and technical internship programs reviewed in accordance with the partial enforcement of the revised Immigration Control Act of 2009, the related ordinances of the Ministry of Justice were revised and enacted, and other required revisions were made.
Jan. 1, 2010	Implementation of the working holiday program in accordance with exchanged note verbal with the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region	In accordance with exchanged verbal notes with the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, working holiday visas that allow Hong Kong residents to stay in Japan for one year started to be issued to those aged 18 to 30 who meet certain requirements.
Jan. 19	Partial enforcement of the revised Immigration Control Act of 2009	The following provisions of the revised Immigration Control Act of 2009 were put into effect: (i) those who have obtained landing permission for crew members were required to carry and present their passports or crew member's pocket-ledgers; (ii) the certificate for resident eligibility with the residence status of “Technical Intern Training (i)” was allowed to be issued.
Jan. 25	Report entitled the “Ideal Future for Immigration Control Administration” was submitted to the Minister of Justice	The report entitled the “Ideal Future for Immigration Control Administration”, which was compiled in a discussion meeting on Immigration Control Policy, a private consultative group for the Minister of Justice, was submitted to the Minister of Justice.
Feb. 1 to Feb. 19	Partial enforcement of amendments to visa statuses listed in the right-hand column of “Long-term Residents” in Annex Table II in accordance with Article 7, Paragraph (1), Item (ii) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act	As a pilot case for acceptance of refugees through the third country resettlement, it became possible to accept Myanmar refugees who have been granted temporary asylum in Thailand and have satisfied certain requirements as “long-term residents”.