The Immigration Bureau intends to continue with its endeavors to enhance its publicity measures relating to the system for highly-skilled professionals with the cooperation of the relevant ministries and agencies.

## Section 2 ♦ Acceptance of Foreign Nationals in the National Strategic Special Zones

## 1 Entrepreneurs

The “Project for Facilitation of Acceptance of Foreign Entrepreneurs in the National Strategic Special Zones” was stipulated in the “Bill for Partial Amendment of the Act on National Strategic Special Zones and the Act on Special Zones for Structural Reform” (Act No. 56 of 2015) as a special measure in order to strengthen the international competitiveness of industries and to form an international economic activities hub in such zones by promoting the acceptance of foreign entrepreneurs in the national strategic special zones.

In this project, the Council on National Strategic Special Zones specifies the business in the special zone plan, and once the plan has been approved by the Prime Minister, the local government pertaining to the national strategic special zone examines the feasibility of the business start-up plan for foreign nationals who intend to enter Japan with the status of residence of “Business Manager”, and if it confirms that the requirements pertaining to the stability and sustainability of the business have been fulfilled, the entry is permitted on condition that the requirements pertaining to the status of residence of “Business Manager” which are normally required at the time of landing examination are to be met within six months of landing, and the activities to start up a business in the national strategic special zone are specially permitted.

As of July 2016, operations for the project have commenced in the Tokyo Area National Strategic Special Zone, the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu National Strategic Special Zone, the Niigata National Strategic Special Zone, and the Hiroshima-Imabari National Strategic Special Zone.

## ② Foreigners Conducting Housekeeping Services

In accordance with the “Act for Partial Amendment of the Act on National Strategic Special Zones and the Act on Special Zones for Structural Reform” (Act No. 56 of 2015), the activities of domestic workers in the national strategic special zones are deemed to come under the public notice on the status of residence of “Designated Activities”, and the “Project to Accept Foreigner Conducting Housekeeping Services in the National Strategic Special Zones” was stipulated as a special measure.

This project is a special measure where a special zone plan which the Council on National Strategic Special Zones includes the project receives approval from the Prime Minister, domestic workers (foreigner conducting housekeeping services) who have entered into an employment contract with a specified organization are able to engage in general domestic work such as cooking, washing, cleaning and shopping in the household using the domestic services, under a framework where a third party management council composed of the local government of the zone implementing the project and the relevant ministries (Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) is involved in ensuring appropriate acceptance.

As of July 2016, operations for the project have commenced in the Tokyo Area National Strategic Special Zone (project implementation area: all of Kanagawa prefecture) and the Kansai Area National Strategic Special Zone (all of Osaka city).