Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
thereby promoting international tourism. To this end, the Diet passed the lawmaker-initiated “Law on Facilitating Foreign Tourists’ Visits to the 2005 EXPO, Aichi, Japan” on February 9, 2005. According to Article 5 of this law, foreign nationals are allowed to enter Japan without a visa if they meet all of the following requirements: their passport has been issued by the competent authority in a foreign region; the said foreign region is designated in Japan’s Cabinet Ordinance under the Immigration Control Act; and the foreign nationals satisfy the requirements in Japan’s Cabinet Ordinance. On March 9, 2005, in accordance with the aforementioned legislation, the Japanese government passed a decision to accept Taiwanese residents without visas from March 11 to September 25, 2005 (the final day of EXPO 2005), if they had passports issued by the competent Taiwanese authority and intended to carry out the activities permitted under the status of residence of “Temporary Visitor”.

Aiming at advancing the bilateral relationship between Japan and Korea, encouraging human exchange, and contributing to a successful EXPO 2005, the government passed a decision to accept South Korean citizens without visas during the EXPO 2005 from March 1 to September 30, 2005.

## Section 2 — Simplifying the Entry and Departure Procedures of Foreign Nationals

## 1 Enforcement of the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

The APEC business travel card (ABTC) is a special card issued and validated by the governments of the member countries and regions to a business person who frequently travels across the APEC zone. When entering member countries and regions that have validated the ABTC in advance, the business person can pass through immigration simply by possessing a valid passport and the ABTC. When he is permitted to land, he can stay in the country or region for at least two months or a maximum of three months. At present, 17 countries and regions participate in the ABTC program. $ ^{*} $
Japan started to use the ABTC on April 1, 2003. When an ABTC holder applies for landing in Japan for a temporary visit on business, he is not required to show his visa, and if the immigration inspector finds the person conforms to the conditions for landing, the inspector will grant him permission for landing as a “Temporary Visitor” (90 days).

Upon commencement of the use of the ABTC, in order to achieve smooth examination for landing of ABTC holders, special lanes for ABTC holders have been established in the Narita Airport District Immigration Office of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau and the Kansai Airport District Immigration Office of the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau. This type of special lane has also been established in the Chubu Airport District Immigration Office of the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau, which commenced operations in February 2005. The Immigration Bureau is making efforts to establish ABTC special lanes in other airports as much as possible.

## 2 Operation of the Landing Permission for Crewmembers Support System

On July 23, 2003, utilizing the landing permission for crewmembers' support system which commenced operations in July 2003, applications for landing permission for crewmembers filed by carriers are received in electronic form, and operations such as the crosschecking of foreign nationals against a list of suspect persons and preparation of landing permission for crewmembers are conducted systematically. This system has made it possible to computerize records on the entry and departure of crewmembers and has improved the accuracy and convenience of the immigration control system.

The Japanese government has the ultimate goal of providing “one stop” service by accepting all application forms in an electronic format. At the moment, applicants in Japan now face inconvenience in that they must submit similar application forms to several different ministries if they want to utilize port-related civil services. Aiming at establishing a single window that comprehensively accepts both port-related and crewmember-related application forms, the Permission for Crewmembers Support System is designed to have
interoperability with Sea-NACCS (Ministry of Finance) and the EDI System (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan Coast Guard, and port managers). If applicants send their data to one of these systems, the data will automatically arrive at multiple ministries.

In FY 2004, the ministries in charge of marine affairs reexamined their systems, with an eye to future ratification of the FAL Treaty, which aims at smoother vessel operations by standardizing port departure and arrival procedures. In this process, these ministries now provide more user-friendly application procedures by narrowing down the data input entries and unifying their application forms.

## 3 Efforts Relating to the Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake and Subsequent Tidal Waves

The Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake of December 26, 2004 and its subsequent tidal waves caused devastating damage to vast areas. In this connection, the Immigration Bureau decided to provide preferential but temporary immigration procedures to foreign nationals as long as they satisfy the following conditions: they obtained a re-entry permit from the Japanese government while staying in the affected areas of the said earthquake; and they lost either the passport that carried their re-entry permit or other documents obtained from the Japanese government. Their preferential immigration procedures are as follows:

(1) Foreign nationals who lost their passport carrying the re-entry permit (except for the foreign nationals falling under (2) below)

If a foreign national has lost the passport that carried his re-entry permit due to the earthquake, and reports such fact in the immigration procedures, the Immigration Bureau will grant a re-entry permit again and affix a landing permit stamp after checking the passport's date of issuance and computer data.

## (2) Foreign nationals who lost their re-entry permit certificate

If a foreign national has an alien registration card, but lost his re-entry permit certificate as a result of the earthquake, and reports such fact in the immigration procedures, the Immigration Bureau will grant a re-entry permit certificate again and affix a landing permit stamp after checking the computer data.

If a foreign national does not have the alien registration card, lost his re-entry permit certificate as a result of the earthquake, and reports such fact in the immigration
procedures, the Immigration Bureau will request his agent (a person acting on his behalf) to send the alien registration card data certificate by fax, grant a re-entry permit certificate again, and affix a landing permit stamp after checking the computer data.

## Section 3 — Smooth Acceptance of Foreign Workers Needed in Japanese Society

## 1 Expanding Acceptance of IT Engineers from Abroad

In recent years, IT-related technology has seen remarkable developments, and the need for IT engineers has also been increasing. In March 2001, the IT Strategy Headquarters drew up the “e-Japan Priority Policy Program”. According to this program, the Immigration Bureau should identify problems in the present immigration control system, such as the landing permit criteria applicable to IT engineers, and also take necessary action to secure high-quality technical professionals and experts in Japanese society by further accepting IT engineers and other technical experts from foreign countries.

In this respect, the Ministry of Justice stated, in the Basic Plan for Immigration Control (2nd edition) formulated on March 2000, that “smooth acceptance of foreigners in response to new domestic and international social needs” is one of the critical issues, and “as telecommunications development is largely contributing to development of other industries, the immigration control administration shall also contribute to assertive securing and exchange of human resources in such fields”. In accordance with this policy, with a view to responding to the need for more IT engineers, the Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for Criteria pursuant to the “Engineer” status of residence was partially amended in December 2001 to ease the standards for accepting IT engineers from abroad. Namely, foreign nationals who have passed foreign examinations or obtained qualifications on information processing skills, which are mutually certified by Japanese IT-related examinations or qualifications and designated by the Minister of Justice in the Official Gazette, may enter Japan irrespective of whether or not they satisfy the criteria for landing permission regarding the status of “Engineer”, i.e., “having graduated from or completed a course at a college or acquired equivalent education, or having at least 10 years’ work experience”.

Foreign examinations and qualifications which are mutually certified in Japan and designated by the Ministry of Justice in the Official Gazette are examinations and qualifications implemented and granted in Singapore (as of December 28, 2001), R.O. Korea
(as of July 19, 2002), China (as of July 19, 2002), the Philippines (as of May 30, 2003), and Viet Nam (as of May 30, 2003). On August 27, 2004, the Ministry of Justice revised the Minister's notice to additionally certify the examinations implemented in Myanmar and Taiwan.

The Three-Year Program for Promoting Regulatory Reform formulated at the end of FY 2003 also states that the government will review the system relating to the acceptance of foreign nationals, including the criteria for landing permission for IT engineers, and continue to take necessary measures. In the future, the countries covered by mutual certification of foreign examinations and qualifications will be expanded.

## 2 Applying the Preferential Regulatory Measures of Special Rules for the Immigration Control Act in Accordance with the Law on the Special Zones for Structural Reform Nationwide

On December 11, 2002, the Diet passed the Law on the Special Zones for Structural Reform (hereinafter referred to as “Special Rules”), which became effective on April 1, 2003. The Japanese central government implemented preferential measures as exceptions to the existing regulations after hearing proposals from the local governments. In this relation, the government implemented the project to further accept foreign researchers to Japan as an exception to the Immigration Control Act. In this project, if foreign researchers intend to engage in research activities and also business activities using the research results of research facilities in the special zones, they can engage in both activities without changing their status of residence or without obtaining permission for engaging in activities other than those authorized under the status of residence previously granted. In addition, these researchers may stay in Japan for five years without renewing their period of stay. Furthermore, for the foreign researchers described above and for those who only engage in research activities at universities or other research facilities in the special zones (including family members of both types of researchers), the maximum period of stay granted without extension has been extended from three years to five years. In addition, the amendment to the Special Rules became effective on October 1, 2003.

With regard to the data processing industry, which is the key industry for pioneering industries (e.g., robotics, biotechnology, the environment) that will create new business through the development of new technologies and services and will play an important role in industrial development, the maximum period of stay applicable to data processing specialists who are expected to be employed in this industry at places of business located in the special zones has been extended from three years to five years.
These preferential regulatory measures in the special zones are evaluated by the Evaluation Committee of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Special Zones for Structural Reform (HPSZSR). If the Evaluation Committee finds that there are no problems with a preferential measure, the government will immediately apply it nationwide. In the first half of 2004, the Evaluation Committee assessed the project for further acceptance of foreign researchers. As a result, the committee found that there were no problems with this project. On September 10, 2004, the HPSZSR decided to apply the project nationwide within FY 2005.

In addition, the Evaluation Committee also assessed the project for further attracting foreign data processing specialists to Japan. As a result, the committee found that there were no problems with this project, and subsequently, on February 9, 2005 the HPSZSR decided to apply the preferential project nationwide within FY 2005.

## 3 Guidelines on Granting the Status of “Permanent Resident”

Foreign nationals will be granted the status of “Permanent Resident”, if they contribute to Japanese society, stay in Japan for five years or longer, and satisfy other requirements as stipulated in applicable law. The Basic Plan for Immigration Control (3rd Edition) also calls for clearer and more transparent requirements for granting the status of “Permanent Resident”. In this relation, the Immigration Bureau has decided to disclose cases in which the “contribution to Japanese society” of the status of “Permanent Resident” is clearly shown. After preparing the guidelines on evaluation factors such as award-winning history and past records in diplomatic, economic/industrial, cultural, and fine art categories on March 31, 2005, the bureau disclosed the guidelines on its website.

After listening to opinions from various fields, the Immigration Bureau will revise the guidelines, if necessary, and clearly articulate or refine the applicable criteria.

## 4 Granting the Status of Residence of “Temporary Visitor” to Foreign College Students Who Seek Jobs in Japan after Graduation

Foreign students who seek jobs in Japan after graduation from college may change their status of residence from “College Student” to “Temporary Visitor” and extend their period of stay if the college they graduated from recommends them as eligible candidates to change their status of residence for the purpose of seeking jobs in Japan. Such students may stay in
Japan for a maximum period of 180 days.

As most Japanese firms employ new graduates in April, some experts have pointed out that foreign students will not be able to stay in Japan if they graduate from college and are due to start working for a company in April of the following year. To address this problem, foreign students may stay in Japan until they start work if they submit a document describing their employment information (e.g., start of employment, the valid period of the contract, and the activities) The Immigration Bureau is planning to take necessary actions in FY 2005.

## 5 Granting the Status of Residence to Foreign Nationals Who Seek Jobs in Japan after Graduating from Special Training Colleges

In addition to university graduates, a foreign national who seeks a job may stay in Japan if he completes a specialized course at the specialized training college level, and has the degree of Associate of Vocational Arts. The Immigration Bureau is planning to take necessary actions in FY 2005.

## 6 Easing Employment Restrictions to Accept Foreign Doctors and Nurses

On December 24, 2004, the Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform submitted the “First Report on the Promotion of Regulatory Reform and the Opening Up of Government-Driven Markets for Entry into the Private Sector.” According to this report, foreign doctors with Japanese state qualifications should be able to perform their work on the same terms as Japanese doctors, and the employment restrictions on these foreign doctors should be removed, so that they will be able to have an authorized employment status similar to other foreign workers, rather than performing their tasks as a trainee.

When removing the employment restrictions on foreign doctors, policymakers should consider the ensuing impacts on the domestic labor market or its positive impacts on rationalizing Japan’s medical care services. Policymakers should also consider the feasibility of setting up a quota or other necessary measures on foreign doctors if there is a sudden extreme influx of foreign doctors.

The report also mentions foreign nurses with Japanese state qualifications. According to the report, foreign nurses with Japanese state qualifications should be able to perform
their work on the same terms as Japanese nurses. The policymakers should quickly make a decision to eliminate applicable employment restrictions on them or extend their period of stay. In this process, policymakers should consider the ensuing impacts on the domestic labor market or its positive impacts on rationalizing Japan's medical care services. Policymakers should also consider the feasibility of setting up a quota or other necessary measures on foreign nurses if there is a sudden extreme influx of foreign nurses.

As a result, the government will make a decision by the end of FY 2005 on how to eliminate the employment restrictions on doctors, while drawing a conclusion by the end of FY 2005 on how to ease the employment restrictions on nurses.

## 7 Status of Incubation Offices in the Application Procedures for the Status of Residence of “Investor/Business Manager”

According to the applicable Criteria Ordinance, a foreign national may start his own business in trading or another business category under the status of residence of “Investor/Business Manager,” if he has his business office in Japan. In this relation, some foreign business owners may receive assistance from an incubator (i.e., an organization that provides advice on business affairs or other business-related services necessary for business operations). In this case, if the business owner submits the incubator’s written consent that authorizes him to use the incubator’s office, he will be regarded as having satisfied the requirement of “having his business office in Japan,” as long as he temporarily rents a business office at JETRO Investment Japan Business Support Center (JETRO IBCS) or other incubation offices in order to start his own business. The Immigration Bureau started to apply this new rule from July 2004.
# Section 4 — Appropriate and Smooth Promotion and Further Enrichment of Training and Technical Internship Programs

## 1 Projects for Promoting Human Resource Development through Acceptance of Foreign Trainees

In some geographical areas, small and medium-sized enterprises possess major technological skills in specific industries. On October 1, 2003, as part of the special measures for the special zones for structural reforms, the Ministry of Justice designated measures for the special rules to partially ease the limit on the number of trainees to be accepted, when the industry in the special zone has a close economic relationship with the country that sends trainees.

## 2 Association Managed Training

Problems have been pointed out with regard to the acceptance of trainees in the training programs under the so-called scheme of association managed training, and in particular, the organizational training of cross-industry associations. As a result of a survey on the actual conditions of the acceptance of trainees, 210 accepting entities were judged to have committed improper conduct.

With regard to the trade associations (so-called primary accepting entities), examples of improper conduct such as providing false information in the application forms submitted to the Immigration Bureau was seen. Namely, the audit reports on member firms (the secondary accepting entities) provided information differing from the actual situation or information on non-existent group training sessions.

Further, as to trade association’s member firms (so-called secondary accepting entities), these member firms had trainees engage in overtime work, sent their trainees to other firms suffering from labor shortages, employed illegal workers, or employed foreign workers in a way which violated the labor laws.
## 3 Expanding the Number of Job Categories and Tasks Eligible for the Technical Internship Program

Shortly after the Technical Internship Program was established in 1993, foreign trainees could stay in Japan for “two years, including the training period” and engage in 17 job categories and 34 types of tasks. In 1997, their period of stay was extended to “three years, including the training period”. The number of job categories and tasks eligible for technical training programs has been gradually increasing, reaching 62 job categories and 113 tasks in 2003. After hearing opinions from the trainees’ home countries, accepting entities and the industrial community, the ministries concerned held policy dialogues on April 1, 2005, and decided to add “textile/knit dip-dying” work to eligible tasks, leading to a total of 62 job categories and 114 types of tasks.

## 4 Review of Training and the Technical Internship Programs

To properly and smoothly operate and improve the training and technical internship programs, it is necessary to review the program operations while closely cooperating with the other ministries concerned. As pointed out in the Basic Plan for Immigration Control (3rd Edition) dated March 29, 2005, the Immigration Bureau will examine the establishment of a new status of residence for technical internship trainees and also review the current frameworks such as protective measures for trainees, while paying due attention to encouraging proper and smooth technical transfers.
# Section 5 — Promoting Academic, Cultural and Youth Exchange, and Smooth and Appropriate Acceptance of Foreign Students

1 Ensuring More Proper Examination of Applicants for the Status of Residence of “College Student” and of “Pre-college Student”

Since 1983, following the 100,000 Foreign Students Plan, the Japanese government has been actively promoting the acceptance of students from abroad as its basic policy.

However, the number of foreign students overstaying in Japan has been increasing in recent years (Chart 27, Table 47), and crimes committed by foreign students have become a serious social problem. Furthermore, illegal workers are entering Japan pretending to be a student, and many foreign students are engaging in activities not permitted by their status of residence. Due to such changes in circumstances concerning foreign students, in November 2003, the Immigration Bureau started to give consideration, as an important issue for examination, to whether or not applicants for the status of “College Student” or the status of “Pre-college Student” have the intention or ability to study and the capability to pay the expenses required for study, and has been aiming at examining applicants much more stringently.

Chart27 Changes in the percentage of overstayers who entered with “College Student” and “Pre-college Student”