moreover, engaging in or attempting to engage in other activities.

In addition, as well as the immigration inspectors, it has also become possible for immigration control officers to conduct inquiry into the facts relating to revocation of the status of residence (effective from January 1, 2017).

## ☐ Establishment of the Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and Protection of Technical Intern Trainees

At the same time as the amendment of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, the “Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and Protection of Technical Intern Trainees” (Act No. 89 of 2016), was established and promulgated, and an outline of which is given below.

• In order to reinforce the system of management and supervision, a system of accreditation of the technical intern training plans was introduced and skill evaluation at each stage of the training became mandatory in order to ensure that technical intern training is being implemented in line with the intent of the system, which is to promote international cooperation through skill transfer, etc. to developing regions, etc. In addition, a licensing system was introduced for supervising organizations (effective from November 1, 2017).

• Provisions on prohibition and penalties for such acts by an implementing organization or a supervising organization as those confiscating passports or residence cards of technical intern trainees and such acts by a supervising organization as those stipulating contract breaching penalties were established in order to protect the technical intern trainees (effective from November 1, 2017).

• The Organization for Technical Intern Training was established as a legal entity responsible for the administrative affairs relating to accreditation of the technical intern training plans and the licenses for the supervising organizations, on-site inspections of the implementing organizations and supervising organizations, and consultations for the technical intern trainees, etc. (enforced on November 28, 2016, and established on January 25, 2017).

## ☐ Promotion of the Acceptance of Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals

• Measures are being taken to give preferential treatment in terms of immigration control through the “points-based system for highly-skilled professionals” implemented from May 2012 to foreign nationals who have advanced capabilities and qualities and are expected to contribute to the economic growth etc. of Japan.

• The “Japan Revitalization Strategy 2016” (approved by the Cabinet decision of June 2, 2016) proposed the establishment of the world’s fastest “Japanese Green Card for Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals” greatly reducing the current five-year period of stay required for the application for permanent residence for highly-skilled foreign professionals as one of the “considerations of an entry and residence management system further inviting highly-skilled foreign professionals to Japan”, and the requirements were also reviewed and further promotion of publicity for the system conducted from the perspective of making the points-based system for highly-skilled professionals more accessible.

- Based on the above, the residence period required in the applications for permanent residence of highly-skilled foreign professionals was reduced from the previous five years to three years (to one year for those human resources with specially outstanding abilities (where the total number of points is 80 points or more)), and additional point categories were added, and these measures have been implemented since April 2017.

## ☐ Acceptance of Foreign Nationals in National Strategic Special Zones

• Special measures on the “Project to Accept Foreigners Conducting Agricultural Works in National Strategic Special Zones” and the “Project to Promote Activities Supporting Foreigners