Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## 3 Special Permission for Landing

The number of cases in which the Minister of Justice granted special permission for landing to foreign nationals in 2015 was 1,946, an increase of 200 (11.5%) from 2014 (Reference 16).

Reference 16 Changes in the number of objections filed and decisions by the Minister of Justice

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Division
Filing of Objection (*)	5,754	3,910	1,871	2,179	2,386
Decisions	With reason (Landing Permission)	18	22	21	22	15
Without reason	Order to leave Japan	303	333	340	366	348
Special Permission for Landing	5,416	3,440	1,442	1,746	1,946
Withdrawal	8	63	50	33	59
Outstanding	9	52	18	12	18

$ ^{*} $ “Filing of Objection” includes the number of outstanding cases of the previous year.

## Section 3 ☐ Pre-entry Examination

## 1 Advance Consultation for Visa Issuance

The number of cases of advance consultation for visa issuance was 6,307 in 2015, showing an increase of 1,566 (33.0%) from 2014.

## ② Certificate of Eligibility

The number of cases of applications for certificates of eligibility was 384,582 in 2015, a significant increase of 94,463 (32.6%) from 2014.

The advance consultation for visa issuance and the examination of certificates of eligibility are jointly called pre-entry examinations. In recent years, the number of processed cases of applications for the issuance of a certificate of eligibility has steadily accounted for most of the total number of processed cases of pre-entry examinations (Reference 17).

Reference 17 Changes in the number of cases of pre-entry examinations

(Cases)

Year Division	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Advance consultation for visa issuance	4,403	4,910	4,635	4,741	6,307
Application for a certificate of eligibility	238,270	266,273	282,428	290,119	384,582

(*) Please note that the figures (number of cases) shown in “Advance consultation for issuance of a visa” in the 2011 and 2012 versions of Immigration Control Report were incorrect and should be changed to read as follows:

(Correct) 2010: 4,882, 2011: 4,403

(Incorrect) 2010: 4,615, 2011: 6,325
### Chapter 2. Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan

## Section 1 ☐ Number of Foreign Residents in Japan

## Number of Foreign Residents in Japan

While the number of foreign nationals entering Japan shows the “flow” of foreign nationals, the number of foreign nationals residing in Japan comprises the statistics on “stock” to show how many foreign nationals reside in Japan at a certain point in time.

At the end of 2015, the number of mid to long-term residents (see Data Section 1, Section 4, Subsection ①) in Japan was 1,883,563, and the number of special permanent residents was 348,626. Adding these two numbers together, the total number of foreign residents was 2,232,189, an increase of 110,358 (5.2%) compared to the end of 2014.

In addition, at the end of 2015, the percentage of foreign residents to the total population of Japan (127,110,000) was 1.76%, which was a 0.09 point higher than the 1.67% at the end of 2014 (Reference 18).

Reference 18 Changes in the number of foreign residents, and changes in the number of foreign residents as a percentage of the total population of Japan

$ ^{*1} $ These numbers are based on the statistics as at the end of December each year.

$ ^{*2} $ The numbers until 1985 represent the number of alien registrations, the numbers between 1990 and 2011 represent the sum of the number of alien registrations who stayed in Japan with the status of residence eligible for mid to long-term residents and the number of special permanent residents, and the numbers from 2012 onwards represent the number of foreign residents adding together mid to long-term residents and special permanent residents.

(*3) The “percentage of the total population of Japan” is calculated based on the population as of October 1 each year taken from the “Population Estimates” and the “Population Census” of the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

## ② Number of Foreign Residents by Nationality/Region

According to the statistics of the number of foreign residents by nationality/region at the end of 2015, China marked the largest number at 665,847, accounting for 29.8% of the total. China was followed by R.O.Korea at 457,772 (20.5%), the Philippines at 229,595 (10.3%), Brazil at 173,437 (7.8%), and Viet Nam at 146,956 (6.6%).

According to the changes in the number of foreign residents by year, the number of foreign residents from China has been on an upward trend, with an increase of 11,070 (1.7%) at the end of 2015 when compared to the end of 2014. The number of foreign residents from R.O.Korea has been declining with a decrease of 7,705 (1.7%) at the end of 2015 compared to the end of 2014. As for other countries, the number of foreign residents from the Philippines increased by 12,010 (5.5%) at the end of 2015 compared to 2014, Brazil has been decreasing since its peak at the end of 2007, a decline of 1,973 (1.1%) at the end of 2015 compared to the end of 2014, and Viet Nam has continued to increase since 2010, and had increased substantially by 47,091 (47.2%) at the end of 2015 compared to the end of 2014 (Reference 19).
Reference 19 Changes in the number of foreign residents by major nationality/region

$ ^{*1} $ The numbers until 2011 represent the number of foreign nationals with alien registrations who stayed in Japan with a status of residence eligible for mid to long-term residents and the number of special permanent residents, and the numbers from 2012 onwards represent the number of foreign nationals adding together mid to long-term residents and special permanent residents.

$ ^{*2} $ “China” until 2011 includes Taiwan, and “China” from 2012 onwards excludes those who were issued with residence cards and special permanent resident certificates with “Taiwan” listed in the “nationality/region” box.

$ ^{*3} $ Up until the end of 2011, R.O.Korea and Korea used to be calculated jointly as “Korea”, but from the end of 2012, they are calculated separately as “R.O.Korea” and “Korea”, for the purpose of the statistics.

## ③ Number of Foreign Residents by Purpose (Status of Residence)

## (1) “Permanent Resident” and “Special Permanent Resident” (Data Section 4, Statistics (1) 11)

According to the statistics for the number of foreign residents by status of residence at the end of 2015, those with the status of “Permanent Resident” (excluding special permanent residents) comprised the largest group. The number of permanent residents was 700,500, an increase of 23,481 (3.5%) from the end of 2014, accounting for 31.4% of the total (Reference 20).
Reference 20 Changes in the number of foreign residents by status

(People)

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Status
Total	(①)	2,047,349	2,033,656	2,066,445	2,121,831
Status of residence eligible for a mid to long-term resident	Professor	7,859	7,787	7,735	7,565
Artist	461	438	432	409
Religious Activities	4,106	4,051	4,570	4,528
Journalist	227	223	219	225
Highly-Skilled Professional (i)-(a)	297
Highly-Skilled Professional (i)-(b)	1,144
Highly-Skilled Professional (i)-(c)	51
Highly-Skilled Professional (ii)	16
Business Manager	11,778	12,609	13,439	15,184
Legal/Accounting Services	169	159	149	143
Medical Services	322	412	534	695
Researcher	2,103	1,970	1,910	1,841
Instructor	10,106	10,121	10,076	10,141
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services	137,706
Engineer	42,634	42,273	43,038	45,892
Specialist in Humanities/International Services	67,854	69,721	72,319	76,902
Intra-company Transferee	14,636	14,867	15,218	15,378
Entertainer	6,265	1,646	1,662	1,967
Skilled Labor	31,751	33,863	33,425	33,374
Technical Intern Training (i)-(a)	3,991	4,121	3,683	4,371
Technical Intern Training (i)-(b)	57,187	59,160	57,997	73,145
Technical Intern Training (ii)-(a)	2,726	2,869	2,788	2,553
Technical Intern Training (ii)-(b)	78,090	85,327	90,738	87,557
Cultural Activities	2,209	2,320	2,379	2,614
Student	188,605	180,919	193,073	214,525
Trainee	3,388	1,804	1,501	1,427
Dependent	119,359	120,693	122,155	125,992
Designated Activities	22,751	20,159	22,673	28,001
Permanent Resident	598,440	624,501	655,315	677,019
Spouse or Child of Japanese National	181,617	162,332	151,156	145,312
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	21,647	22,946	24,649	27,066
Long-Term Resident	177,983	165,001	160,391	159,596
Special Permanent Resident	389,085	381,364	373,221	358,409
Status of residence not eligible for a mid to long-term resident (②)	31,159
Temporary Visitor	23,978
Without Acquiring Status of Residence	3,506
Temporary Refuge	29
Others	3,646
The number of registered foreign nationals (①+②)	2,078,508

$ ^{*1} $ The numbers from 2012 onwards represent the number of foreign residents adding together the mid to and long-term residents and special permanent residents.

$ ^{*2} $ In accordance with the amendment Act, from April 1, 2015, the status of residence of “Investor/Business Manager” was changed to “Business Manager” and the statuses of residence of “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” were combined into “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”.
Looking at changes in the number of foreign nationals with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident” between the end of 2011 and the end of 2015, there has been a steady increase, and the number had increased by 102,060 (17.1%) at the end of 2015 from 598,440 at the end of 2011.

According to the statistics by nationality/region, the largest number of foreign nationals with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident” came from China totaling 225,605 at the end of 2015, followed by the Philippines, Brazil, R.O.Korea, and Peru.

On the other hand, the number of special permanent residents which used to account for the largest percentage until 2006 has been decreasing year by year, and therefore its percentage to the total number of foreign residents has also been decreasing accordingly. Looking at the changes over a longer period, the percentage of foreign nationals equivalent to the status of “Special Permanent Resident” accounted for approximately 90% for two decades just after World War II. However, the decline in the number of “Special Permanent Residents” itself and the increase in the number of foreign nationals newly visiting Japan for various purposes (so-called “newcomers”) are both driving the percentage of “Special Permanent Residents” down, which clearly shows the changes in the situation of foreign residents in Japan.

## (2) Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan for the Purpose of Employment in Professional or Technical Fields (Data Section 4, Statistics (1) 1-2 through 5-2)

At the end of 2015, the number of mid to long-term residents with a status of residence for the purpose of employment in a professional or technical field (except for “Diplomat”, “Official” and “Technical Intern Training” out of the statuses of residence given in Appended Table I (1) and (2) of the Immigration Control Act) was 236,534 accounting for 10.6% of the total, an increase of 22,290 (10.4%) compared to the end of 2014, and an upward trend has been continuing since 2013 (Reference 21).
Reference 21 Changes in the number of mid to long-term residents by status of residence for employment in professional or technical fields

(*1) The numbers in 2011 represent the number of alien registrations, and the numbers from 2012 onwards represent the number of mid to long-term residents.

(*2) Excludes “Diplomat”, “Official” and “Technical Intern Training” of the Appended Tables I (1) and I (2) of Immigration Control Act.

$ ^{*3} $ In accordance with the amendment Act, from April 1, 2015, the status of residence of “Investor/Business Manager” was changed to “Business Manager” and the statuses of residence of “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” were combined into “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services”.

(*4) For the years from 2011 to 2014, the numbers for “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” are the number combining “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” respectively.
The number of mid to long-term residents with the status of residence of “Long-Term Resident” at the end of 2015 was 161,532, accounting for 7.2% of the total number of foreign residents, and although there was a declining trend from the end of 2011 to the end of 2014, the end of 2015 saw an increase of 1,936 (1.2%) when compared to the end of 2014.

According to the statistics by nationality/region, the number of those from the Philippines accounted for 45,680 (28.3%), followed by Brazil at 44,827 (27.8%), and China at 26,626 (16.5%).

## Section 2 ☐ Examination of Statuses of Residence

The total number of applications related to residence examinations was 954,004 in 2015, an increase of 86,244 (9.9%) when compared to 2014 (Reference 22).

Reference 22 Changes in the number of permission examined in status of residence examinations

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Division
Total	1,358,896	999,184	834,024	867,760	954,004
Permission for change of status of residence	132,834	124,192	135,289	142,700	159,235
Permission for extension of period of stay	377,645	407,570	426,016	443,703	487,440
Permission for permanent residence	41,327	42,029	45,066	35,697	39,820
Permission for special permanent residence	102	147	113	103	98
Permission for acquisition of status of residence	6,528	8,235	8,724	9,866	9,862
Re-entry permission	664,010	270,091	54,182	48,225	37,835
Permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted	136,450	146,920	164,634	187,466	219,714

$ ^{*1} $ “Permission for permanent residence” is the permission provided for in Article 22 of the Immigration Control Act.

$ ^{*2} $ “Permission for special permanent residence” is the permission for special permanent residence provided for in Article 5 of the Special Act on the Immigration Control of Inter Alia, Those Who Have Lost Japanese Nationality on the Basis of the Treaty of Peace with Japan.

(*3) “Permission for acquisition of status of residence” includes the permission for permanent residence provided for in Article 22-2 of the Immigration Control Act.

Residence examination counter
## 1 Permission for Change in the Status of Residence

In 2015, the number of foreign nationals who obtained permission for a change in the status of residence was 159,235, an increase of 16,535 (11.6%) when compared to 2014.

## (1) Change of Status of Residence from the Status of Residence of “Student” to a Status for Employment Purposes

Foreign nationals studying at Japanese universities or vocational/technical schools have the status of residence of “Student”. Not a few of them wish to stay in Japan to work for a company or some other organization in Japan even after finishing their studies at school.

The number of foreign nationals who were granted permission to change their status of residence to a status of residence for the purpose of employment was 15,657 in 2015, an increase of 2,699 (20.8%) when compared to 2014.

The number of these foreign nationals had been steadily increasing since 2003, but owing to the impact of the global recession, reached a peak in 2008 and started to decline, but subsequently started seeing signs of recovery with a record high reached in 2015.

According to the statistics by status of residence, foreign nationals who obtained permission to change their status to that of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” made up the largest number, totaling 13,791 (88.1%), and when this number is compared to the combined numbers for “Engineer” and “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” in 2014, there has been an increase of 2,285 (19.9%) (Reference 23) (*).

Reference 23 Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of the status of residence from student, etc. to a status for employment by status of residence

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Status of Residence
Total	8,586	10,969	11,647	12,958	15,657
Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services	13,791
Specialist in Humanities/International Services	6,006	7,565	7,962	8,758
Engineer	1,670	2,227	2,428	2,748
Professor	419	588	634	704	684
Business Manager	291	356	321	383	682
Researcher	78	119	107	124	102
Medical Services	34	29	90	114	234
Instructor	46	41	51	59	73
Religious Activities	12	9	16	8	20
Artist	5	3	4	6	18
Skilled Labor	11	4	4	5	7
Official	10	10	1	5	3
Others	4	18	29	44	43
According to the statistics by nationality/region, the largest number of foreign nationals who obtained permission to change their status to that of “Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services” was from China at 9,847, accounting for 62.9%, followed by R.O.Korea at 1,288(8.2%) and Viet Nam at 1,153 (7.4%) (Reference 24).

Reference 24 Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of the status of residence from student, etc. to a status for employment by nationality/region

YearNationality/Region	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Total	8,586	10,969	11,647	12,958	15,657
China	5,344	7,032	7,637	8,347	9,847
R.O.Korea	1,209	1,417	1,227	1,234	1,288
Viet Nam	242	302	424	611	1,153
Taiwan	302	352	360	514	649
Nepal	149	224	293	278	503
Thailand	109	170	167	171	200
United States of America	107	130	131	164	147
Malaysia	71	116	124	161	176
Myanmar	89	106	122	129	160
Indonesia	84	107	111	124	147
Others	880	1,013	1,051	1,225	1,387

$ ^{*} $ “China” does not include Taiwan, China (Hong Kong) or China (others).

## (2) Permission to Change Status of Residence in Order to Participate in “Technical Intern Training (ii)”

The technical intern training system was established in 1993 to enable foreign nationals to acquire skills through on-the-job training while in employment, thereby contributing to effective technology transfer and human resources development as part of Japan's international contributions. Since July 1, 2010, current technical intern training system has commenced, and it has been necessary for foreign nationals, who wish to acquire further proficiency in the skills obtained with the status of residence of "Technical Intern Training (i)" and to engage in work requiring the skills already obtained in the program to get permission to change their status of residence to "Technical Intern Training (ii)".

The skills in the “Technical Intern Training (ii)” are ones that are publicly evaluated in Japan and also meet demand in the countries sending the trainees. As of April 1, 2016, there are 74 types of work in total comprising 54 types, including formwork and machining, which are publicly evaluated based on Basic Grade 1 and Basic Grade 2 of the National Trade Skills Test, and 20 types, including welding and operation of spinning machines, which are publicly evaluated, although not by national examinations, but according to a system certified by the Human Resources Development Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The number of foreign trainees who were permitted to change their status of residence to “Technical Intern Training (ii)” in 2015 had increased by 12,273 (24.8%) from 2014 to 61,809. In total, more than 680,000 foreign trainees have gone on to this training as of the end of 2015 since the system of technical intern training was first established in 1993.

According to the statistics by nationality/region, the largest number of trainees who obtained permission to change their status of residence to “Technical Intern Training (ii)” in 2015 came from China at 31,055 (50.2%), followed by Viet Nam at 16,968 (27.5%), the Philippines at 5,216 (8.4%),
Indonesia at 4,997 (8.1%), and Thailand at 1,741 (2.8%). The largest number of trainees by occupation was trainees in the area of women/children's apparel production, followed by crop farming, and welding (References 25, 26).

Reference 25 Changes in the number of trainees who changed to “Technical Intern Training (ii)” by nationality/region

(People)

YearNationality/Region	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Total	45,013	48,752	48,792	49,536	61,809
China	35,209	36,448	35,463	31,822	31,055
Viet Nam	3,658	5,520	5,861	8,664	16,968
Philippines	2,464	2,550	2,937	3,380	5,216
Indonesia	2,496	2,689	2,979	3,440	4,997
Thailand	794	913	925	1,411	1,741
Others	392	632	627	819	1,832

$ ^{*} $ “China” does not include Taiwan, China (Hong Kong) or China (others).

Reference 26 Changes in the number of trainees who changed to “Technical Intern Training (ii)” by occupation

(People)

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Occupation
Total	45,013	48,752	48,792	49,536	61,809
Women/Children's apparel production	7,840	8,095	8,141	7,349	7,292
Crop farming	4,043	4,998	5,510	5,537	6,325
Welding	3,568	4,053	3,824	3,951	6,224
Plastic molding	3,661	3,255	3,135	3,330	4,073
Machining	2,136	2,526	2,245	2,310	2,929
Unheated fishery processing products manufacturing	2,253	2,271	2,540	2,406	2,792
Metal press work	1,719	1,928	1,759	1,685	2,140
Heated fishery processing products manufacturing	1,553	1,650	1,840	1,862	2,122
Steeplejack	614	866	994	1,274	2,073
Electronics assembly	2,272	2,310	1,884	1,294	2,056
Painting	1,320	1,379	1,297	1,357	1,808
Steel reinforcement construction	470	812	856	1,128	1,640
Livestock agriculture	979	1,143	1,231	1,268	1,460
Mold construction	392	532	739	886	1,451
Poultry processing	575	680	786	720	1,038
Others	11,618	12,254	12,011	13,179	16,386

## 2 Permission for Extension of the Period of Stay

The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission for extension of their period of stay in 2015 was 487,440, an increase of 43,737 (9.9%) from 2014.
## 3 Permission for Permanent Residence

The number of foreign nationals who were granted permission for permanent residence in 2015 was 39,726. This number has been fluctuating after reaching a record high of 60,509 in 2007, with an increase of 4,029 (11.3%) in 2015 when compared to 2014 (Reference 27).

Reference 27 Changes in the number of cases of permission for permanent residence by nationality/region (Cases)

YearNationality/Region	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Total	41,327	42,029	45,066	35,697	39,726
China	16,436	17,471	19,799	15,670	16,635
Philippines	7,210	7,373	6,385	4,769	5,455
Brazil	5,172	4,867	4,572	4,030	4,822
Korea	3,221	2,902	3,378	2,697
R.O.Korea	2,978
Peru	1,335	1,116	1,158	779	972
Others	7,953	8,300	9,774	7,752	8,864

$ ^{*1} $ “China” in 2011 includes Taiwan, China (Hong Kong) and China (others).

$ ^{*2} $ “China” from 2012 onwards includes China (Hong Kong) and China (others).

$ ^{*3} $ From 2015, “R.O.Korea” and “Korea” are calculated separately.

## 4 Permission for Acquisition of a Status of Residence

The number of foreign nationals who were granted permission for acquisition of a status of residence in 2015 was 9,862, a decline of 4 when compared to 2014.

## 5 Re-entry Permission

The number of foreign nationals who were granted re-entry permission in 2015 was 37,835, marking a decrease of 10,390 (21.5%) when compared to 2014.

The number of foreign nationals who were granted re-entry permission has been declining since reaching a peak in 2011, but this decline is due to the fact that, owing to the implementation of the system of special re-entry permission in accordance with the amended Immigration Control Act, which entered into force in July 2012, a foreign national in possession of a valid passport and residence card who intends, at the time of departure, to re-enter Japan to continue with his or her activities in Japan within one year of his or her departure (within two years for special permanent residents) is not required, in principle, to obtain re-entry permission.

In addition, the number of foreign nationals who departed from Japan having obtained special re-entry permission in 2015, was 1,832,258 accounting for 93.2% of the total number of 1,966,888 foreign nationals who departed from Japan through re-entry permission.

## ⑨ Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than Those Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted

The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted in 2015 was 219,714, an increase of 32,248 (17.2%) from 2014.