# Part III Major Policies Relating to Immigration Control Administration in FY 2012

## ☐ Introduction of a new residency management 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, which had previously formed the foundation of the alien registration system, was abolished. The amendment of the Immigration Control Act meant that all functions of residency management came to be governed by the Immigration Control Act, which led to the introduction of a new residency management system whereby the Minister of Justice would be able to accurately and continuously maintain necessary information in managing the residence of those foreign nationals residing in Japan for a mid to long-term with a legitimate status of residence (enforced on July 9, 2012).

- The Immigration Bureau implemented proactive public relations activities in preparation for the July 9, 2012 enforcement.

## ○ Implementation of a points-based system offering preferential immigration treatment to highly-skilled foreign professionals

For the purpose of facilitating the acceptance of highly-skilled foreign professionals who are extremely qualified, talented and are expected to bring innovation and economic growth to Japan, a notice was issued by the Ministry of Justice following which a points-based system offering preferential immigration treatment to highly-skilled foreign professionals was adopted (enforced on May 7, 2012).

- The system provides for three categories of activities, namely: “advanced academic research activities,” “advanced specialized/technical activities” and “advanced business management activities” with points being awarded according to the characteristics of the particular category for such items as “academic background,” “professional career” and “annual salary”. Foreign nationals whose total number of points is equal to or greater than the prescribed number of points are recognized as “highly skilled foreign professionals” and are granted the status of residence of “Designated Activities”, thereby enjoying preferential immigration treatment.

## ☐ Smooth and strict implementation of immigration examinations at the port of entry

• Government-wide efforts are currently underway in Japan toward achieving a tourism-oriented country, and for its part, in order to further promote smoother immigration examinations, the Immigration Bureau has introduced secondary immigration examinations, installed or increased the number of automated gates and streamlined the immigration examinations for cruise ship passengers.

- In order to protect people’s lives and public safety, it is of vital importance to unfailingly prevent the entry into the country of terrorists disguising themselves as tourists. Therefore, the Immigration Bureau continues to implement strict immigration examinations at the ports of entry through the utilization of such measures as biometrics data, ICPO’s data on lost and stolen passports and the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).

## ○ Measures against illegal and imposter foreign residents in Japan

- There has been a steady decline in the number of foreign nationals illegally staying beyond their authorized period of stay. This decline appears to be the result of past measures which have been taken over the years. However, it is estimated that there are still some 62,000 illegal foreign residents (as of January 1, 2013) in Japan, and therefore efforts to further reduce the number of foreign nationals illegally staying beyond their authorized period of stay are being promoted through strengthened detection, reinforced collection and analysis of information on illegal foreign residents, and the promotion of voluntary appearances.

• “Imposter residents” refers to foreign nationals who illegally work or reside in Japan having falsified their identity or the purpose of their activities by means of a fake marriage or by pretending to be a student or through the use of counterfeit or altered documents or fraudulent documents and, having received permission for residence, pretend to be lawful residents. The presence of imposter residents in Japan who illegally use a status of residence cannot be overlooked, and therefore, the Immigration Bureau is striving to strengthen the detection of imposter residents.