Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## (6) Permission for bringing parents under certain conditions

In usual cases, foreign nationals who stay in Japan for employment are not allowed to bring their parents into the country as foreign residents. However, parents of HSFPs or their spouses are allowed to enter and stay in Japan for the purpose of assisting HSFP by giving care for children aged three or younger of the HSFP or their spouses $ ^{*} $ .

## (7) Permission for bringing domestic workers under certain conditions

Normally, only some of the foreign nationals who stay in Japan with the status of residence “Investor/Business Manager” or “Legal/Accounting Services” are allowed to bring domestic workers. However, under the system, HSFP are allowed to bring domestic workers they had hired at their home countries or to hire domestic workers from outside Japan on the grounds that they have children aged 13 or younger $ ^{**} $ .
## Chapter 3 Efforts for Smooth Introduction of the New Residency Management System

## Section 1 ☐ Outline of the System

## 1 New Residency Management System

In accordance with the Act to Amend the Immigration Control Act, etc. which was enacted in July 2009, the Alien Registration Act forming the basis of the alien registration system was abolished. By the amendment of the Immigration Control Act all residency management functions were about to be governed by the Immigration Control Act, which led to the introduction of a "new residency management system". The system was supported to enable the Minister of Justice to continuously keep information necessary for residence management of foreign nationals residing in Japan with proper status of residence for a mid to long term.

## (1) Process and Background of Introduction

In recent years, with the progress of globalization in Japan and the rapid increase in the number of foreign nationals who newly entered the country or applied for alien registration, foreign nationals called “newcomers” have increased and their nationalities have diversified. There are an increasing number of newcomers who have not established a stable basis for living in Japan. Not a little of them fail to submit the correct application for alien registration, frequently transfer without submitting any application, or leave the country without indicating their intention to re-enter after obtaining a re-entry permit and returning to their own country.

Due to structural changes in the numbers of foreign nationals and changes in their way of living in Japan, it has been more difficult for immigration to accurately grasp the actual residence under the dualistic information collection system based on the Immigration Control Act and the Alien Registration Act. This situation has also caused problems in ensuring immigration control administration and proper public services for foreign nationals.

Consequently, based on the proposals, from the Immigration Policy Discussion Panel, which is one of the privative consulting group of the Minister of Justice, it was concluded that the residence management system, including the alien registration system, should be drastically streamlined. Then, the “Draft 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”, incorporating the establishment of a new residency management system, was submitted to the 171st Diet session. The draft law was approved, enacted and promulgated after partial amendments were made in the process of Diet deliberations.

## (2) Measures to be introduced under the New Residency Management System

The new residency management system is expected to facilitate the following processes for
foreign nationals residing in Japan for a mid to long term: (i) issuance of a residence card after obtaining a permit, such as landing permission, permission for extension of period of stay, and permission for changes of status of residence; (ii) report of changes by foreign nationals to the Minister of Justice during the period of their stay; and (iii) provision of information about foreign nationals to the Minister of Justice from organizations, to which they belong such as a school at which they study. This will enable the Minister of Justice to precisely and continuously keep information related to the residence conditions of foreign nationals. Information about the situation of foreign nationals residing in Japan for a mid to long term will be precisely kept under the system and will be reflected in the Basic Resident Registration for Foreign Nationals in municipalities, which will be newly established in accordance with the Act for Partial Amendment of the Residential Basic Book Act. As a result, foreign residents will be able to receive better public services.

Along with the introduction of the system to keep precise information necessary for residency management, provisions to enhance convenience, including extension of the maximum period of stay and review of the re-entry permit system, will be established. The detailed provisions are as shown below (enforced on July 9,2012).

Residence card

### A. Measures for Establishing a System that Enables the Minister of Justice to Keep Necessary Information Continuously

(A) The Minister of Justice shall grant a residence card certifying basic matters for identification, status of residence, period of stay, etc., to foreign nationals residing in Japan with the status of residence under the Immigration Control Act as mid to long-term residents (hereinafter referred to as “mid to long-term residents”). Mid to long term residents are defined as the foreign nationals in Japan except those who fall under any of the following: (i) those whose period of stay for three months or less has been approved; (ii) those whose status of residence as “Temporary Visitor” has been approved; (iii) those whose status of residence as “Diplomat” or “Official” has been approved; or (iv) those who are stipulated as equivalent to the above foreign nationals by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(B) Mid to long-term residents shall report the Minister of Justice of the addresses of the main residence in Japan where they decide to reside after landing via the head of the municipality where they live, within a certain period of time (The place of residence will be included on their residence cards).

(C) Mid to long-term residents shall report the Minister of Justice of any change in not only the matters contained in their residence cards (change of place of residence will be informed through the municipal head), but also the organizations to which they belong and their personal
status or position, according to their status of residence.

(D) The Minister of Justice shall be allowed to obtain information about mid to long-term residents from the organizations to which they belong.

(E) The Minister of Justice shall be allowed to investigate to confirm matters notified, if necessary, in order to keep the information updated about mid to long-term residents.

(F) Registration of a false place of residence and failure to continue to engage in activities as a spouse while residing in Japan for six months or more in spite of residing under the status of residence as a spouse without rational reason, shall be added to the causes for revocation of status of residence.

(G) With regard to forgery of residence cards, penal provisions and grounds for deportation shall be established. Penalty related to illegal employment shall be revised.

B. Measures for Improving Convenience of Foreign Nationals with Lawful Status Legally Residing in Japan

(A) The maximum period of stay shall be extended from three years to five years.

(B) The validity period of re-entry permits shall be extended. In principle, foreign nationals who have valid passports and residence cards and who re-enter Japan within one year from their departure shall not need to apply for re-entry permits.

## (3) Measures for Special Permanent Residents

Along with the introduction of the new residency management system, the special permanent resident system was reviewed.

As there has been no particular problem with the special permanent resident system, the system was overhauled to enhance convenience, practically maintaining the status quo, as follows (the overhauled system was enforced on July 9, 2012, as was the new residency management system):

A. The Minister of Justice shall grant a special permanent resident certificate that certifies legal status as a special permanent resident.

B. Special permanent residents shall be allowed to extend the valid period of re-entry. In principle, special permanent residents who have valid passports and special permanent resident certificates and who re-enter Japan within two years from their departure shall not need to apply for re-entry permits.

## 2 Basic Resident Registration System for Foreign Residents

Under the new residency management system, the Alien Registration Act was abolished, while
foreign residents became subject to the Residential Basic Book Act and other related regulations. The date when the amended Residential Basic Book Act was enforced was the same as the date when the amended Immigration Control Act and relevant regulations were put into effect.

## (1) Issuance of Resident Records for Foreign Nationals

Resident records will be issued for foreign nationals with proper status of residence for mid to long-term residents and special permanent residents designated by the Special Act on Immigration Control, provided that both categories of foreign nationals shall continuously reside in the addresses in the relevant municipalities.

## (2) Matters Contained in Resident Records for Foreign Residents

Resident records for foreign residents include the description of not only basic matters for identification, including name and address, as with Japanese nationals, but also matters concerning national health insurance and national pension as insured persons, and matters specific to foreign residents, such as nationality/region, status of residence, and period of stay.

## (3) Notifications Regarding Foreign Residents

Foreign residents who change their address shall submit notifications on moving in/out in accordance with the Residential Basic Book Act, as with Japanese nationals. Although the provisions of the amended Immigration Control Act stipulate that foreign nationals should submit notifications of their address to the Minister of Justice, they shall be considered to have submitted their residence card or special permanent resident certificate to the heads of their municipalities.

## (4) Notice from the Minister of Justice

When a foreign resident submits a notification of change of name, etc., to a regional immigration bureau, or obtains permission for change of status of residence, extension of period of stay, etc., the description in his/her resident record needs to be modified according to the changes. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice shall notify such changes to the municipality exercising jurisdiction over the place of the foreign resident's address, and the municipality shall modify the description in the resident record based on the notification. This process aims to alleviate the notification burden on foreign residents and ensure the accuracy of records.

## Section 2 ☐ Progress in Efforts toward Introduction of The System

## 1 Smooth Transition to the New Residency Management System (1) Enactment of Cabinet Orders and Ministerial Ordinances

The Act to Amend the Immigration Control Act, etc., amended the Immigration Control Act and Special Act on Immigration Control, and duties to be undertaken by municipalities, which had not been specified, came to be clearly specified. Concretely, such duties include those concerning notifications that mid to long-term residents and special permanent residents are to make to
the Minister of Justice via the municipal head of the municipality where they are living, and those for reporting matters contained in resident records for foreign residents to the Minister of Justice.

Therefore, for the purpose of developing provisions concerning details of these duties and methods for processing them, related Cabinet Orders and Ministerial Ordinances were amended or enacted and were promulgated on December 26, 2011.

### A. Cabinet Orders and Ministerial Ordinances concerning the introduction of the new residency management system

The Act to Amend the Immigration Control Act, etc. abolished the Alien Registration Act and introduced the new residency management system, under which the Minister of Justice continuously obtains information necessary for proper residence management, targeting foreign nationals who reside in Japan for mid to long terms.

Accompanying this, related Cabinet Orders were developed to specify affairs to be undertaken by municipal heads under the new system, and at the same time, the Cabinet Order for the development and transitional measures was enacted for the purpose of establishing necessary transitional measures. Furthermore, the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and other Ministerial Ordinances related to the Ministry of Justice were developed and the Ministerial Ordinance for the development and transitional measures was enacted for the purpose of establishing necessary transitional measures.

## (A) Cabinet Order on the Development of Related Cabinet Orders and Transitional Measures

a. The Cabinet Order to Stipulate Regions Set forth in Article 2, Item (V), Sub-item(b). of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act was made into the Order for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the clerical duties to be undertaken by municipalities were specified as follows: (i) when the municipal head has received a notification of residence from a mid to long-term resident, he/she shall transmit certain matters in relation to the notification to the Minister of Justice by a certain method; (ii) when the municipal head has recorded matters in a resident record for a foreign resident, he/she shall report certain matters in relation to the record to the Minister of Justice by a certain method.

b. The Cabinet Order on Ranks of Immigration Control Officers, the Cabinet Order on Fees Relating to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, and the Cabinet Order to Stipulate Departments of the Ministry of Justice Set Forth in Article 61-8, Paragraph (l) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act were abolished and matters specified by these Cabinet Orders were newly specified by the Order for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

c. The Order for Enforcement of the Alien Registration Act was abolished.

## (B) Ministerial Ordinances on the Development of Related Cabinet Orders and Transitional Measures

The Ministerial Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee
Recognition Act were amended for the purpose of developing provisions concerning the procedures for various notification and application systems that are to be introduced under the new residency management system. Transitional measures to be applied at the time of introducing the new system were also established.

### B. Cabinet Orders and Ministerial Ordinances concerning the review of the system for special permanent residents

Under the Act to Amend the Immigration Control Act, etc., the system for special permanent residents was decided to be reviewed. In response, the Cabinet Order for Enforcement of the Special Act on the Immigration Control was newly enacted for the purpose of specifying clerical duties to be undertaken by municipal heads under the new system. Furthermore, the provisions of the Ministerial Ordinance for Enforcement of the Special Act on the Immigration Control were developed.

## (A) Cabinet Order for Enforcement of the Special Act on the Immigration Control

The Order for Enforcement of the Special Act on the Immigration Control was newly enacted and duties to be undertaken by municipal heads were specified, such as that when the municipal head has received a notification of residence from a special permanent resident, he/she shall transmit certain matters in relation to said notification to the Minister of Justice by a certain method.

## (B) Ministerial Ordinance for Enforcement of the Special Act on the Immigration Control

Provisions concerning the procedures for various notification and application systems that are to be newly introduced were developed. Transitional measures to be applied at the time of introducing the new system were also established.

## (2) Public Relations Activities

Toward the smooth introduction of the new residency management system, which started on July 9, 2012, the Immigration Bureau prepared and distributed leaflets and posters, opened a special website, and uploaded introduction videos to the Japanese government's Internet TV site. Furthermore, the Immigration Bureau held briefing sessions for embassies in Tokyo, municipalities, airline companies, and other related organizations so as to widely spread the information on the new system.

The leaflets, website, and videos mentioned above are partially available in multiple languages (in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese). Efforts have thus been made for multilingualization to make as many foreign nations as possible know the new system.
Briefing session on the new residency management system

Briefing session for embassies in Tokyo

## 2 Smooth Transition to the Basic Resident Registration System for Foreign Residents

## (1) Cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Provision of Information to Them

Since FY2009, the Immigration Bureau has sent staff including the Director of the Registration Division to meetings of the “Study Group on Transition to the Basic Resident Registration System for Foreign Residents” (http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/kenkyu/daityo_ikou/index.html) organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) to discuss various practical issues on the law looking toward its enforcement. In FY 2011, the Immigration Bureau reviewed issues concerning duties undertaken by municipalities, such as whether it is possible to integrally manage procedural guidance to allow foreign residents to simultaneously make the notifications required under the Residential Basic Book Act and the Immigration Control Act when they change their address in Japan. The Immigration Bureau also provides relevant information through its website and other means to municipalities. In addition, the bureau has prepared for the transition to the new system in cooperation with the MIC and governments by, for example, providing information on the transition to the new system at training and briefing sessions local governments’ staffs.

## (2) Measures to Ensure Accurate Registration

In preparation for implementation of the Basic Resident Registration System for foreign residents, provisional resident records shall be made for foreign nationals who have been registered in registration cards and who are anticipated to fall under foreign residents residing in the relevant municipalities on the reference date before implementation, and such provisional resident records shall be used as authoritative resident records on the implementation date. Because these provisional resident records are prepared based on information including matters contained in registration cards, it is important to enhance the accuracy of the registration cards under the foreign registration system in order to ensure a smooth transition. Therefore, the Immigration Bureau has taken a series of measures since FY2007.
In FY2011, the Immigration Bureau provided thorough guidance on the procedures for foreign registration at municipalities, targeting foreign nationals who have been permitted the extension of the period of stay, so as to ensure accurate registration. Furthermore, from the perspective of supporting the preparation of provisional resident records, the Immigration Bureau provided all data maintained by the Ministry of Justice (name, date of birth, gender, nationality, residence, etc.) to municipalities so that they could crosscheck their data, and thereby eliminated inconsistencies between data on both sides and tried to further enhance the accuracy of foreign registration.
## Chapter 4 Smooth and Strict Implementation of Immigration Examination at the port of entry

It is necessary to promote smooth immigration examination at the port of entry for the great majority of unproblematic foreign nationals who come to Japan, while ensuring strict immigration examination for any foreign national who have illegal intent. In order to increase the number of foreign nationals visiting Japan as a part of efforts to achieve a tourism-oriented country, it is very important to prevent terrorists who are disguised as tourists from entering the country at the border. It is also necessary to satisfy two seemingly contradictory objectives: smooth but strict implementation of immigration examination in an appropriate manner.

The Immigration Bureau is making efforts to implement flexible examination on a case-by-case basis to achieve such objectives.

## Section 1 ◆ Efforts for Promoting a Tourism-Oriented Country

## 1 Efforts to Reduce the Waiting Time for Examination

Japan is now making government-wide efforts for promoting a tourism-oriented country, and needs to enhance international exchange that will contribute to realization of a tourism-oriented country through smooth immigration examination at the port of entry.

The Immigration Bureau has already been making efforts to ensure smooth landing examination procedures at each airport and seaport, and now is promoting the secondary examination system introduced in FY 2005. The Bureau also set up an examination support team in the Chitose-Tomakomai Branch Office and the Haneda Airport Branch Office (at that time) in FY 2006, and in the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau in FY 2009, for the purpose of providing more efficient examination support to local ports, etc.

In addition, the bureau arranges immigration booth concierges to guide foreign passengers to a vacant immigration inspection booth as well as confirm ED cards, instruct how to fulfill the cards, and assist them proceeding the in biometrics registration, in order to prevent operations from being stagnated and confused around immigration examination counters and to achieve smoother immigration examination procedures by utilizing the limited capacity of each counter as efficiently as possible.

## 2 Automated Gates

Smooth and strict examinations have been further assisted by installation of automated gates, which allow Japanese nationals who have registered themselves as a user of automated gates, or foreign nationals who meet certain requirements such as having been issued with a re-entry permit, to go through immigration procedures without undergoing immigration examination at an ordinary immigration booth in person. Specifically, new automated gates were installed at Narita Airport in November 2007. In September 2009, new gates were installed at Chubu Airport and Kansai Airport.