# Points on “2010 Immigration Control”

## Organization of “2010 Immigration Control”

This booklet is organized into immigration control in recent years (Part 1), primary measures (Part 2), and a data section.

☐ Part 1 overviews the developments during the five years from 2005 until 2009, and describes the situation in 2009.

☐ Part 2 describes primary measures in FY 2009.

## Part 1 Immigration Control in Recent Years

## ☐ Number of foreign nationals entering Japan in 2009

The number of foreign nationals entering Japan (including those who re-entered Japan) in 2009 was about 7.58 million, down by about 1.56 million (about 17.1%) from the previous year, and the number of new foreign nationals excluding those who re-entered was about 6.12 million, down by about 1.59 million (about 20.6%).

## ☐ Number of alien registrations as of the end of the year 2009

The number of alien registrations as of the end of 2009 was 2,186,121, down by 1.4% compared to the end of 2008, when the number hit a record high. However, it increased by 40.5% compared to the end of 1999 and continued to be on the rise in the long term.

The percentage of registered foreign nationals in the total population of Japan is 1.71%, down by 0.03% compared to the end of 2008.

## ☐ Number of overstayers

The number of overstayers as of January 1, 2010 was 91,778, falling below 100,000 for the first time in 21 years, by virtue of comprehensive measures against illegal residents such as strict immigration examination and detection of foreign nationals violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (the "Immigration Control Act") in close coordination with relevant organizations. This represents a constant decrease from 298,646 in May 1, 1993, when the number stood at a record high.

## Part 2 Primary Measures Related to Immigration Control Administration in FY 2009

Formulation of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control (4th edition)

• Toward the implementation of proper and smooth immigration control administration, the Minister of Justice shall formulate the Basic Plan for Immigration Control, which aims to clarify the situation of foreign nationals who enter and reside in Japan, and stipulates the guidelines for management of immigration and residence of foreign nationals and other necessary matters on related measures.

- The fourth edition of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control was formulated on March 30, 2010. Its aim is to present fundamental concepts for immigration control administration measures both at home and abroad, and to provide proper responses under the changing circumstances affecting immigration control. The said measures include facilitation of acceptance of foreign nationals who will revitalize our society, promotion of measures against illegal foreign residents toward realization of a safe and secure society, smooth introduction of the new system for residence management and expansion of immigration control administration based on the system, and efforts to promote appropriate and prompt refugee protection.

## ☐ Efforts for smooth introduction of the 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 the “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.

Concurrently, the Law for Partial Amendment to the Basic Residents' Registration Act was approved, enacted and promulgated (Law No. 77 of 2009). In accordance with the law, foreign nationals residing in Japan with proper status of residence for a medium to long term became subject to the Basic Residents' Registration Act, and each municipality started to register foreign residents in the basic resident register.

- In order to ensure a smooth transition to the new system of residence management, etc., the Immigration Bureau is working with related government ministries and agencies to examine how to develop a computer system and how to conduct joint operations with municipal governments.

☐ Smooth and strict implementation of immigration examination, etc.

• At present, Japanese government efforts are being made to make Japan a tourism-oriented country, and smooth and strict implementation