### Chapter 1. Introduction of a New Residency Management System

## Section 1 ☐ Outline of the System

In accordance with the Act to Amend the Immigration Control Act and Other Related Acts, which was enacted in July 2009, the Alien Registration Act forming the basis of the alien registration system was abolished. Through the amendment of the Immigration Control Act, all residency management functions were to be governed by the Immigration Control Act, which led to the introduction of a "new residency management system". The system was established in order to enable the Minister of Justice to accurately and continuously keep necessary information for the residence management of mid to long-term residents.

The new residency management system was inaugurated on July 9, 2012. The process and background of introduction, and the summary of measures introduced under this system are as described below.

## 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 or applied for alien registration, foreign nationals, so-called newcomers, have increased and their nationalities have become more diverse. However, there are an increasing number of newcomers who have not established a stable basis for living in Japan. Many of them have failed to submit the correct application for alien registration, frequently transfer without submitting any application, or have returned to their own countries with re-entry permission but without indicating their intention to re-enter.

Due to structural changes in the numbers of foreign nationals and changes in their way of living in Japan, it became more difficult for the immigration administration to accurately ascertain the actual residence of the foreign nationals under the dual information collection system of the Immigration Control Act and the Alien Registration Act. This situation has also caused problems in ensuring immigration control administration and proper public services for foreign nationals.

Consequently, based on the proposals from the Immigration Policy Discussion Panel, which is one of the private advisory groups of the Minister of Justice, it was concluded that the residence management system, including the alien registration system, should be radically streamlined. Subsequently, the "Bill 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", which incorporated the establishment of a new residency management system, was submitted to the 171st Diet session in 2009. The bill was approved, enacted and promulgated after partial amendments were made in the process of the Diet deliberations.

## ② Measures to Be Introduced under the New Residency Management System

The new residency management system is expected to facilitate: (i) the issuance of a residence card after obtaining such permission as landing permission, permission for extension of the period of stay, and permission for changes to the status of residence; (ii) reports of changes by foreign nationals to the Minister of Justice during the period of their stay; and (iii) the provision of information on foreign nationals to the Minister of Justice from the organizations of affiliation such as the school at which they study.