Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
nurses, health workers and midwives holding professional qualifications authorized by the Japanese government, based on length of service, in accordance with the existing landing permission criteria.

With regard to acceptance of foreign workers in nursing care services, it is appropriate to give consideration to acceptance of those who have graduated from a Japanese university, etc., and have obtained qualifications authorized by the Japanese government that require a certain degree of expertise, such as certified careworkers, in the light of the current employment situation of certified careworkers accepted under the Economic Partnership Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "EPA").

### B. Efforts toward the realization of a society that generates no illegal residents, etc

## (A) Promotion of measures against illegal and false residents

To strengthen countermeasures against illegal entry at the border is very important and effective in preventing undesirable foreign nationals, such as illegal and false residents, terrorists and criminals, from entering the country, and in ensuring security in the country and safety of the people. In addition to the existing measures, the Ministry of Justice needs to take appropriate action, including landing examination using information on personal identification, and strengthened countermeasures against illegal entry at the border using information obtained through collaboration with related organizations.

In order to promote efficient and effective detection of illegal residents and to clarify the actual situation of false residents and further reduce the number of such residents, the Ministry of Justice needs to take appropriate measures, including prompt detection and reinforcement of collection and analysis of information on illegal and false residents, in addition to the existing measures, while respecting the human rights of foreign nationals.

## (B) Treatment of offenders against the law in consideration of their circumstances

In terms of fair immigration control, strict responses should be made to illegal residents in principle, while at the same time those under exceptional circumstances should be treated in consideration of such circumstances. The Ministry of Justice needs to properly maintain a special permission to stay system and to make further efforts to improve the transparency of the system as in the past.

### C. Development of immigration control administration based on a new system of residence management

## (A) Realization of proper residence management

Establishing a system to continuously keep precise basic information on foreign nationals, including status of residence and residence forms, is essential in making smooth and proper responses to the policy issues described above. It is necessary to give special attention to the handling of personal information on foreign nationals, and ensure proper residence management for foreign nationals by analyzing such information promptly and appropriately and making effective use of such information for immigration control administration, including detection of illegal and false residents.
(B) Building a foundation to realize a society where Japanese and foreign nationals can live together in harmony

In view of introduction of the new system of residence management, it is necessary to steadily promote various measures to ensure that foreign nationals legally residing in Japan can more stably engage in activities in Japan, as well as to continuously and actively give support for improvement in administrative services in cooperation with related administrative agencies, including municipalities.

## 2 Request for Public Comments

In the process of formulating the fourth edition of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control, public comments on the plan (draft) were requested on the front page of the electronic government (e-Gov) website from February 15 to March 5 in 2010. A total of 25 comments on 149 issues regarding overall immigration control administration, including acceptance of highly-qualified human resources and measures against illegal residents, were sent from groups and individuals. Received comments are made available on the same website.

## Section 2 ♦ Basic principles for Basic Plan for Immigration Control (4th Edition)

## 1 Basic Concepts

The objective of immigration control administration is to ensure the equitable control of the entry and departure of all persons. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to promote proper and smooth acceptance of foreign nationals, as well as to prevent the entry or stay of foreign nationals who may threaten our national security, such as terrorists and criminals, thereby contributing to revitalization of our society, sound development of internationalization, and ensuring the safe and secure livelihood of the people.

Concrete measures to be implemented toward the above goals should be planned in response to the situation of foreign nationals entering and residing in Japan and the changes in social circumstances surrounding immigration control administration. There, the fourth edition of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control defines the basic principles for efforts in immigration control administration with consideration for the changes in the situation after the formulation of the third edition of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control in 2005. The municipalities therefore need to develop a register system for foreign residents who stay in Japan legally to keep correct records, by referring to the Basic Residents' Registration System.

## 2 Four Basic Principles for Future Immigration Control Administration

Amid the serious decline in the population owing to the declining the birthrate and the ageing of society, Japan is facing a serious decline in the total population, especially the productive-age population. Our country experienced drastic changes in economic conditions after the emergence of the bubble economy, and has been affected by a serious economic slump due to the global financial crisis since late 2008. Under such circumstances,
the government should work together to take various measures toward the resolution of those problems. As the immigration control authority, the Immigration Bureau needs to contribute to realization of a society in which Japanese and foreign nationals can live together in harmony by preserving the safety and security of the people, and ensuring that the vitality of our society and people’s lives are maintained and improved.

As stated above, the Basic Plan for Immigration Control (fourth edition) stipulated these four basic principles on efforts for immigration control administration from the standpoint of creating a “vibrant, prosperous society”, “safe and secure society”, and “harmonious society coexisting with foreign nationals” in the next five years.

## Section 3 ♦ Key Issues of Basic Plan for Immigration Control (4th Edition)

The fourth edition of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control consists of two parts, “circumstances surrounding entry and residence of foreign nationals”, and “key issues on immigration control administration and future policies”. The second part presents measures to be implemented for the next five years in accordance with the basic principles set forth in the previous section, as shown below:

## 1 Smooth Acceptance of Foreign Nationals Vitalizing Japanese Society

In order to powerfully attract foreign nationals who will revitalize our society, such as highly-qualified human resources, students and tourists from foreign countries, including Asian countries, the following measures will be promoted.

## (1) Acceptance of Human Resources Who Meet the Needs of Society Such as

## through Contributing to Economic Growth

Among foreign nationals who intend to work in Japan, it is generally recognized that foreign workers in professional or technical fields should be actively accepted because they are expected to contribute to revitalization of the economic society in our country. As measures to promote acceptance of highly-qualified human resources who will bring new energy into our economic society and significantly contribute to enhancement of competitiveness, the introduction of a preferential system utilizing points-based system on immigration control for highly-qualified human resources will be discussed.

In recent years, against the backdrop of the rapid advance of the falling birthrate and the aging population in Japan, the discussion on how we should accept foreign workers in medical care and nursing care services has become more heated. Consequently, the review of landing permission criteria for those who have obtained professional qualifications authorized by the Japanese government, such as dentists and nurses, will also be discussed.

With regard to acceptance of foreign workers in nursing care field, in the light of the employment situation of foreign care workers accepted under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), consideration of how to decide the acceptance of those who have graduated from a Japanese university, etc. and have obtained
qualifications authorized by the Japanese government that require a certain degree of expertise, such as a certified careworker, will be advanced.

## (2) Acceptance of Foreign Nationals of Japanese Descent

Since the second half of 2008, economic conditions have been deteriorating, and problems concerning foreign nationals of Japanese descent who are in unstable employment as temporary or contract-based workers, including employment, living conditions and education of their children, have become more serious. With the aim of enabling foreign nationals of Japanese descent to exercise their duties as a member of our society and live a stable life in Japan, the review of requirements of entry and stay will be discussed so as not to place an excessive burden on foreign nationals of Japanese descent who wish to enter and stay in Japan, especially those who are now residing in the country.

For sound development of children of foreign nationals of Japanese descent, if the examination of application for extension of period of stay reveals that the person has a school-age child who does not go to school, action to encourage him/her to put his/her child into school will be taken in cooperation with related organizations.

## (3) Further Promotion of International Exchanges

Realization of a tourism-oriented country is significant in various aspects, including realization of an affluent life of the people through revitalization of regional economy and deepening of international mutual understanding. Efforts to further decrease the waiting time for examination at the airport will be promoted by making effective use of the Advance Passenger Information System (hereinafter referred to as “APIS”), introducing a “secondary examination” system, ensuring flexible allocation of immigration inspectors, and installing displays of the waiting time, with the aim of improving administrative services.

## (4) Efforts to Ensure Appropriate Training and Technical Internship Programs

Training and technical internship programs are designed to make international contributions by supporting cultivation of human resources in developing countries. The programs have been used steadily, mainly in small-and-medium-sized enterprises, while some accepting organizations have treated trainees and technical interns improperly as if they were low-wage laborers. Such problems have become obvious mainly in acceptance under the association-supervised scheme. Therefore, it is a pressing issue to make efforts for proper implementation of the programs.

In line with revisions to the Immigration Control Act in 2009, measures to strengthen protection of trainees and technical interns have been taken. Efforts for proper implementation of training and technical internship programs will be promoted through measures to protect technical interns, strict response to organizations that engage in misconduct, and proper selection of dispatching organizations.
## Promotion of Measures against Illegal Foreign Residents Aiming for the Realization of a Safe and Secure Society

In order to maintain our country’s security and the safety of the people, we will strive to prevent foreign nationals who intend to engage in illegal employment and illicit activities in Japan, such as terrorists, from entering the country at the border, and to rightly and promptly displace illegal or false residents who are hiding in the country. In addition to the above, the following measures will be promoted.

## (1) Efforts to Further Improve the Treatment of Detainees

Through activities of the “Immigration Detention Facilities Visiting Committee” consisting of outside intellectuals, which was newly established in accordance with the revision to the Immigration Control Act in 2009, efforts to increase transparency and ensure proper treatment will be made based on the opinions of outsiders.

## (2) Proper Operation of Special Permission to Stay

So far, various measures, including formulation and announcement of the “Guidelines for Special Permission to Stay” (formulated in October 2006, revised in July 2009), have been taken to enhance the transparency and predictability of the special permission to stay. The Immigration Bureau will make further efforts to increase transparency by encouraging those who may obtain special permission to stay to appear voluntarily at an immigration office, granting appropriate permission to those who are considered eligible, and enabling them to secure stable legal status as soon as possible.

## 3 Smooth Introduction of a New System of Residence Management and Expansion of Immigration Control Administration Based on the System

In view of the circumstances where it is increasingly important to accept foreign nationals, the following measures will be promoted through fair residence management toward realization of a safe and secure society in which Japanese and foreign nationals can live together.

## (1) Actualization of Appropriate Residence Management Utilizing Information

We will try to ensure proper residence management of foreign nationals by reinforcing the mechanism to promptly and precisely analyze information obtained under the new system of residence management, and by making effective use of such information for immigration control administration, including measures against illegal and disguised residents.

## (2) Efforts for the Realization of a Harmonious Society Coexisting with Foreign Nationals

We will provide support to municipal governments by providing them with precise information on basic matters for identification of foreign nationals obtained under the new system of residence management, so
that they can smoothly offer foreign nationals administration services, including insurance, pension and child allowances.

In addition, the Immigration Bureau will make efforts to reduce the number of documents to be submitted for application of permission for extension of period of stay, permission for change of status of residence, etc., and simplify procedures in order to ease burdens on foreign residents.

## 4 Promotion of Appropriate and Prompt Refugee Protection

In keeping with the changes in the international situation, the following measures will be promoted to ensure proper and prompt offer of asylum to refugees.

## (1) Efforts for Appropriate and Prompt Refugee Recognition

In cooperation with the UNHCR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), the Immigration Bureau will make efforts to maintain basic data on the international situation, to foster personnel with expertise, and to enhance the refugee examination counselors system. Through such efforts, the Bureau aims to enable those who should be recognized as refugees to ensure stable legal status, and to protect them through strengthened collaboration with related organizations.

## (2) Acceptance of Refugees through Resettlement to a Third Country

In line with the program to accept Myanmar refugees who have been protected temporarily in Thailand launched as a pilot case from FY 2010, the Bureau will work together with concerned administrative agencies to ensure smooth acceptance, and will promote discussion on the future direction of acceptance, based on the results of research and verification on how accepted refugees have settled in our country.
# Efforts for Smooth Introduction of the New System of Residence Management

# Section 1 ♦ Outline of the System

## 1 New System of Residence Management

The “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” was approved and enacted at the 171st Diet session on July 8, 2009, and was promulgated on July 15 in the same year (Law No. 79 of 2009). In accordance with the law, the Alien Registration Act forming the basis of the alien registration system was abolished, and all residence management functions were governed integrally by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, which led to the introduction of a “new system of residence management” that enabled 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 medium 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 were an increasing number of newcomers who have not established a stable basis for living in Japan. Many of them failed to submit the correct application for alien registration, frequently transfer without submitting any application, or disappear 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 behavior patterns along with those changes, it has been more difficult to accurately grasp the actual residence situation of those foreign nationals under the existing 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 administrative services for foreign nationals.

Consequently, based on the proposal, etc., from the Policy Discussion Meeting, which was a privative consulting group of the Minister of Justice, it was concluded that the residence management system, including the alien registration system, should be drastically re-examined. 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 system of residence management, 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.
from the organizations to which they belong.

(E) The Minister of Justice shall be allowed to conduct surveys to confirm matters notified, if necessary, in order to continuously keep information about medium 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 due reason, shall be added to the causes for revocation of status of residence.

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

### B. Measures for enhancing convenience of foreign nationals 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 system of residence management, 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 is expected to be enforced around July 2012, as is the new system of residence management):

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 residence cards and who re-enter Japan within two years from their departure shall not need to apply for re-entry permits.

## 2 Basic Residents' Register System for Foreign Residents

## (1) Establishment of the Residents' Register System for Foreign Nationals

Municipalities virtually treated foreign nationals who have applied for alien registration as their residents, and used such information as a basis for providing various administrative services. However, a difference in idea and purpose between the Alien registration System and the Basic Residents' Registration System caused serious problems in provision of administrative services. Therefore, there was a need to establish a registration system for legal foreign residents based on the Basic Residents' Registration System.

The “Three-Year Plan for Promotion of Regulatory Reform (revised)”, which was decided by the Cabinet on March 25, 2008, stipulated that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of