# Section 3 ☐ Other Efforts

## 1 Special Cases of Denial of Landing

If a foreign national was not permitted to land due to a certain reason corresponding to one of the reasons for denial of landing in Japan set forth in Article 5, Paragraph (1) of the conventional Immigration Control Act, the foreign national did not satisfy the conditions stipulated in Article 7, Paragraph (1) (iv). The relevant person, therefore, was not permitted to land in Japan unless he/she was specially permitted to land there through the procedure including hearing by special inquiry officer and decision by the Minister of Justice. New provisions for special cases of denial of landing, however, were established in the revised Immigration Control Act promulgated in 2009. Landing of such applicants became possible when the Minister of Justice permits him/her to land in Japan, without such procedure, but through permission by immigration inspectors (this measure was enforced on July 1, 2010).

The new provisions cover the foreign nationals who have been imprisoned or confined for at least one year (Article 5, Paragraph (l) (iv) of the Immigration Control Act), punished because of drug-related crime (Article 5, Paragraph (l) (v) of the same act), engaged in prostitution-related business (Article 5, Paragraph (l) (vii)), or have been in the refusal of re-entry period (Article 5, Paragraph (l) (ix) and (ix-2)), provided that the relevant national has resided in Japan under the status of residence, and also provided if he or she has been permitted to re-enter Japan or has obtained a refugee travel document. The new provisions cover the relevant nationals who have obtained certificates of status of residence or a visa at the Japanese Consulate etc.

## 2 Requirements for Foreign Nationals with Landing Permission of Crewmembers to Carry and Present Crewmember’s Pocket-ledgers

Although the foreign nationals, who were permitted to land in Japan as crewmembers, were required to carry and present their passports or crewmember's landing permission cards, there was a problem that such passports were not able to prove the identities of passport owners because photographs of the faces to be identified were not attached (except those having multiple-use crewmember's landing permission cards). As a part of strengthened countermeasures at the border, during the process of "Action Plan for the Realization of a Society Resistant to Crime in 2008" finalized in December 2008, requirements of passports or crewmember's pocket-ledgers were decided to be "discussed for the purpose of more precise identification of the people who has been permitted to land in Japan as crewmembers of airplanes and vessels".

On the basis of the decision, the foreign nationals, who hold crewmember’s pocket-ledgers, have been required to carry and present not only crewmember’s landing permission cards but also their passports or crewmember’s pocket-ledgers, for the purpose of prompt confirmation whether the foreign nationals having crewmember’s permission cards are identified as the people who have been permitted to land in Japan as crewmembers, in accordance with the revised Immigration Control Act promulgated in July 2009(enforced on January 1, 2010).