## 4 Special Landing Permission (*)

In addition to being in possession of a passport and visa, in principle, the foreign national must meet the conditions for landing for the status of residence, and must have his or her status of residence determined by the Japanese government before being able to land in Japan. The following cases are the exceptions to this principle, and allow foreign crew members and passengers of vessels and aircraft to land temporarily through simple procedures provided that they meet particular requirements. The exceptions are intended to simplify the landing procedures for foreign nationals who intend to stay in Japan for a short term (or for a short time), but in order to secure their appropriate stay through these simple procedures, there are some restrictions, such as on the period of stay and area of movement.

## (1) Permission for Landing at a Port of Call

This permission reduces the burden imposed on foreign passengers changing vessels in Japan to get to other countries. It allows a foreign national who is to proceed via Japan to an area outside Japan to stay for a maximum of 72 hours in order to land temporarily for the purpose of making purchases or resting at a place in the vicinity of the port of call (airport or harbor). However, this permission will not be granted when Japan is the final destination and the vessel is not proceeding to a destination outside Japan (Article 14 of the Immigration Control Act).

## (2) Landing Permission for Cruise Ship Tourists

This landing permission for cruise ship tourists is intended to offer increased convenience to foreign passengers onboard cruise ships designated by the Minister of Justice (designated passenger ships).

If a foreign national onboard a designated passenger ship wishes to land for the purpose of sightseeing, he or she will be granted landing permission within a period not exceeding seven days or 30 days until the time of departure on the condition that such foreign national returns to the ship before the designated passenger ship leaves the port (Article 14-2 of the Immigration Control Act).

## (3) Permission for Landing in Transit

This permission improves convenience for foreign passengers aboard a vessel and aircraft. It allows a foreign national aboard a vessel calling at two or more ports of entry and departure to land temporarily for sightseeing purposes while the vessel is in Japan and to return to the vessel at another port of entry and departure at which the vessel is scheduled to call within 15 days, or allows a foreign national on board a vessel or aircraft who plans to proceed to an area outside Japan via Japan to make a transit stop and leave Japan from another port of entry and departure in the vicinity of the port at which he or she entered, within three days of his or her entry into Japan (Article 15 of the Immigration Control Act).

## (4) Landing Permission for Crew Members

This permission improves convenience for foreign crew members. It allows a foreign crew member aboard a vessel and aircraft to land temporarily at a port of call for the purpose of transferring to another vessel, making purchases or taking a rest within a limit of seven or 15 days.

For foreign crew members who frequently land at a Japanese port of entry and departure, there is also a system of multiple landing permission for crew members (Article 16 of the Immigration Control Act).