### E. Application for Reissuance of a Special Permanent Resident Certificate Due to Damage or Soiling

If the special permanent resident certificate has been substantially damaged or soiled, or the data in the IC chip of the special permanent resident certificate have been damaged, the special permanent resident may submit an application for reissuance of the special permanent resident certificate to the Minister of Justice at the counter of the office of municipality with jurisdiction over the residential place.

If the special permanent resident receives an order on an application for reissuance of the special permanent resident certificate from the Minister of Justice owing to the special permanent resident certificate being substantially damaged or soiled, or the data in the IC chip of the special permanent resident certificate being damaged, he or she is required to submit an application for reissuance of the special permanent resident certificate to the Minister of Justice at the counter of the municipality with jurisdiction over the residential place within 14 days of receiving such order.

Moreover, if the special permanent resident wishes to exchange the special permanent resident certificate, he or she may submit an application for re-issuance even if the special permanent resident certificate has not been damaged or otherwise soiled. The payment of a fee of 1,300 yen is required, in this case, for issuance of the special permanent resident certificate (Article 14 of the Special Act on Immigration Control).

## ③ Information Coordination Between the Ministry of Justice and the Municipalities

On July 9, 2012, the Alien Registration Act was abolished and, at the same time, the Act for Partial Amendment (Act No. 77 of 2009) of the Residential Basic Book Act (Act No. 81 of 1967; hereinafter referred to as "Residential Basic Book Act") entered into force. Correspondingly, the Residential Basic Book Act came to be applied to foreign residents, and residence certificates are to be prepared for the foreign residents in the same manner as for Japanese residents by the municipality with jurisdiction over the residence of the foreign resident.

Through this amendment, the information which the Minister of Justice keeps track of that should be shared with the municipalities shall be shared through information coordination using a dedicated terminal between the Ministry of Justice and the municipalities.

Specifically, if a change arises or an error comes to light in the prescribed items such as the matters of identification or status of residence with regard to a foreign resident, the Ministry of Justice notifies the mayor of the municipality which is keeping the Residential Basic Books in which the foreign resident is registered to such effect without delay, and if an entry, deletion or revision of a described matter is made in the residential certificate pertaining to the foreign resident, the municipality immediately notifies the Minister of Justice to such effect.

Through such information coordination between the Ministry of Justice and the municipalities, the Ministry of Justice continuously keeps track of the information necessary for fair residence management and ensures the accuracy of the Residential Basic Books kept by the municipalities.