Enforcement of the Act of 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” (Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice No. 42 of 2011) was enacted, and the “Ordinance for Enforcement of the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, Inter Alia, Those who have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan” (Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice No. 27 of 1991) was fully amended.
Mar. 30 2012	Enactment, etc. of the “Public Notice to Stipulate the Activities Listed in the Right-hand Column of Appended Table 1-5 (limited to the parts involved in (d)) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in Relation to Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals Pursuant to the Provisions of Article 7, Paragraph (1), Item (ii) of said Act”	In order to promote the acceptance of foreign nationals with advanced abilities and qualities (highly skilled professionals) who are expected to contribute to economic growth and the creation of new demand and employment under the current framework for accepting foreign nationals, a new points-based system is to be introduced, under which points are given for each item, such as academic background, business career, and annual income, and those who obtain total points over a certain level are recognized as highly skilled foreign professionals and are provided preferential immigration treatment. For the purpose of introducing such system, the “Public Notice to Stipulate the Activities Listed in the Right-hand Column of Appended Table 1-5 (limited to the parts involved in (d)) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in Relation to Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals Pursuant to the Provisions of Article 7, Paragraph (1), Item (ii) of said Act” (Public Notice of the Ministry of Justice No. 126 of 2012) and the “Public Notice to Stipulate Guidelines for the Handling of Procedures for Residence for Those who Stay in Japan for the Designated Activities Listed in the Right-hand Column of the Table of Article 2 of the Public Notice to Stipulate the Activities Listed in the Right-hand Column of the Appended Table 1-5 (limited to the parts involved in (d)) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in Relation to Highly Skilled Foreign Professionals Pursuant to the Provisions of Article 7, Paragraph (1), Item (ii) of said Act” (Public Notice of the Ministry of Justice No. 127) were enacted, and provisions were developed as necessary.
Apr. 6 2012	Additional establishment of the Investigation Department in the Kansai Airport District Immigration Office, Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau	Upon the opening of the terminal exclusively for LCC in FY2012, the Investigation Department was additionally established in the Kansai Airport District Immigration Office, Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau.
Jul. 9 2012	Introduction of a new residency management system	The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act amended by the Act to Amend the Immigration Control Act, etc. 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 were enforced and the Alien Registration Act was abolished. A new residency management system (see Part 2, Chapter 3) was introduced.
Jul. 9 2012	Establishment of the posts of the Director of the Immigration Control Information Division in the Immigration Bureau of Japan and the Director of the Residency Management Office in the Entry and Status Division, and new establishment of the Residence Management Information Department in the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau	In order to respond to a new residency management system upon the enforcement of the amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, the posts of the Immigration Control Information Division in the Immigration Bureau of Japan and the Residency Management Office in the Entry and Status Division were established (the post of the Director of the Registration Division and the Data Processing System Development Office of the General Affairs Division were abolished). The Residence Management Information Department was newly established in the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.