Immigration Control Administration
O Against the backdrop of an era of a serious population decline, from the perspective of maintaining the vitality of our society as well as supporting sustainable development and incorporating the vitality of the Asian region into Japan , promotion of the policy of actively accepting foreign nationals
O In order to maintain social order in Japan and to protect public security and the safety of the people, assured prevention at the border of terrorists and criminals who attempt to enter the country and, in addition to strong promotion of measures against the illegal foreign residents already making up large numbers in the country and the imposter residents whom it is feared will increase in number in the future, appropriate handling of cases taking into account the situation of those foreign nationals who have violated the law
O Appropriate operation of the new system of residence management which is to be introduced for the purpose of accurately monitoring the residence and stay of foreign nationals and, in addition to appropriate residence management utilizing information, the provision of information necessary in facilitating the implementation of the administrative services offered by the local authorities and in striving for enhanced convenience for foreign nationals in order to respond to the increase in the number of foreign residents and the diversification of their activities
O Promotion of the appropriate and prompt protection of refugees, as a member of the international community
Concrete Strategies
Smooth Acceptance of Foreign Nationals Vitalizing Japanese Society
1 Acceptance of Human Resources Who Meet the Needs of Society Such as through Contributing to
Economic Growth
O Introduction of a points-based system offering preferential immigration treatment to highly-skilled professionals
O Review of the status of residence of foreign nationals employed by corporations in order to respond to the
diverse utilization of human resources in the corporations
O Promotion of the acceptance of foreign nationals whose expertise and technical skills are assured through their qualifications
O Further improvement to simplify the documents to be submitted in the application for issuance of a certificate of eligibility of foreign nationals employed by corporations and acceleration of the examination process
O Review of the restrictions on years of work for foreign nationals qualified as dentists, nurses and other medical professionals
O Consideration of the acceptance of foreign nationals who have graduated from a Japanese college and have acquired national qualifications in light of the status of employment of care workers accepted through EPAs
2 Acceptance of Foreign Nationals of Japanese Descent
O Consideration for review of the requirements for entry of foreign nationals of Japanese descent from the perspective of leading an independent and stable social life in the local community
O Confirmation of school attendance in the examination for renewal of the period of stay to ensure the healthy development of the children of foreign nationals of Japanese descent
3 Further Promotion of International Exchange
O Promotion of efforts aiming for a tourism-oriented country
O Expansion of youth exchange through the working holiday program
O Consideration of smooth immigration procedures aiming for further activation of exchanges between business people
4 Promotion of the Appropriate Acceptance of International Students
O Implementation of appropriate and smooth immigration and residence examinations aiming to reach the target of the Plan for 300,000 International Students
O Promotion to facilitate the procedures for changes to the status of residence of those foreign nationals wishing to work for Japanese corporations
5 Efforts to Ensure Appropriate Training and Technical Internship Programs
O Ensuring protection of technical interns in close cooperation with the Labor Standards Office
O Ensuring appropriate operation by the supervising associations and organizations implementing training based on thorough investigations into the actual state of affairs
O Reinforcement of examinations aimed at ensuring the propriety of the sending organizations and reinforcement to work on the sending countries
6 Activation of a National Debate on the Acceptance of Foreign Nationals
O Active participation in consideration of policies in the midst of national debates and consideration by the government as a whole of strategies with regard to the acceptance of foreign nationals in an era of a population decline
Promotion of Measures against Illegal Foreign Residents Aiming for the Realization of a Safe and Secure Society
1 Implementation of Border Measures for Strict Immigration Inspections
O Promotion of landing examinations utilizing personal identification information
O Reinforcement of border measures utilizing information in coordination with domestic and international relevant agencies
O Strengthening of measures against foreign nationals illegally entering using vessels through patrols of ports and harbors
2 Promotion of Measures against Persons Staying Illegally in Japan or under the Guise of Legitimate Residency
O Improvement of the system for the collection and analysis of information pertaining to illegal foreign residents and imposter residents
O Implementation of aggressive detection to deal with the spreading out of the workplaces of illegal foreign residents
O Revocation of the statuses of residence of imposter residents and enhanced coordination with the police and other law enforcement agencies
O Implementation of efforts aimed at prompt deportation
3 Efforts to Further Improve the Treatment of Detainees
O Ensuring transparency and appropriateness of treatment through the activities of the Immigration Detention Facilities
Visiting Committee
4 Proper Operation of Special Permission to Stay
O Promotion of measures to improve the transparency of special permission to stay
O Stabilization of the legal status of persons who are eligible for permission quickly through proper operation of special permission to stay
Smooth Introduction of a New System of Residence Management and Expansion of Immigration Control Administration Based on the System
1 Actualization of Appropriate Residence Management Utilizing Information
O Actualization of appropriate residence management through prompt and accurate analysis of the state of residence
2 Efforts for the Realization of a Harmonious Society Coexisting with Foreign Nationals
O Improvement of the various administrative services provided by the municipality for foreign residents through the provision of appropriate information to the prefecture
O Promotion of simplification of the application procedures for residence from the perspective of reducing the burden on foreign residents
Promotion of Appropriate and Prompt Refugee Protection
1 Efforts for Appropriate and Prompt Refugee Recognition
O Early stabilization of the legal status of refugees and ensuring the fairness and neutrality of the refugee recognition system
2 Acceptance of Refugees through Resettlement to a Third Country
O Smooth implementation of a pilot case and consideration for future acceptance
Other Items
O Development of the immigration control system
O Consideration for the victims of trafficking in persons
O Proper operation of the alien registration system and a smooth transition to the new system
Other Items
O Development of the immigration control system
O Consideration for the victims of trafficking in persons
O Proper operation of the alien registration system and a smooth transition to the new system

Chart 6 Outline of the Basic Plan for Immigration Control (4th edition)