## 4 Basic Plan for Immigration Control (3nd Edition)

### I. Introduction

Since the Basic Plan for Immigration Control (2nd Edition) was formulated in March 2000, changes in the existing conditions related to immigration control administration have been seen in many areas. There is now a need for the immigration control administration to take measures to establish Japan as a country built on tourism by encouraging foreign travelers to visit Japan. We are also called on to more openly accept those foreign nationals who are welcome in Japan, such as highly-skilled foreign workers in professional or technical fields. In addition, Japan's productive population has begun to decrease and its total population is expected to peak in 2006 and then start to fall. The time has come to decide what the role of Japanese administration of immigration control should be in this age of population decline.

At the same time, the number of illegal foreign residents in Japan has remained high, causing social and security problems. The immigration control administration urgently needs to take the toughest measures ever to halve the number of illegal foreign residents by the year 2008, which is the target that has been set by the Japanese government. Since the terrorist attacks on the United States in September 2001, it has become even more important for Japan and other countries to effectively block the international movement of terrorists and the like.

In response to these changes, at a time when five years have passed since the establishment of the 2nd Basic Plan for Immigration Control, it has been decided that a third plan should be formulated in order to specify basic immigration control measures at home and abroad and to implement them appropriately.

The Basic Plan for Immigration Control (3rd Edition) has been designed for the coming five years. In response to future changes in the situation regarding immigration control administration, however, we will review the plan as needed even within the five-year period.

### I II. Major Issues and Guidelines on Immigration Control Administration Services

1. Open Acceptance of Foreign Nationals Needed in Japanese Society

(1) Promoting Acceptance of Foreign Workers in Professional or Technical Fields

A. Basic Measures on Acceptance of Foreign Workers in Professional or Technical Fields

Foreign workers in professional or technical fields have been openly accepted from the standpoint that they have special knowledge and technical skills and help vitalize Japan's economy and society. The immigration control administration will vigorously promote acceptance of those foreign workers who are valued in professional or technical fields although failing to meet requirements for existing statuses of residence or landing permission by developing new statuses of residence or landing permission conditions in accordance with changes in the economy and society, while also giving consideration to factors such as the effects on Japan's industry and public welfare.

For instance, the immigration control administration will consider a status of residence for new types of business activities such as long business trips which are required in the course of more vigorous international business activities, taking into consideration their consistency