Immigration Control 2011

2011
Immigration Control
JAPAN
Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice
Introduction
Introduction
Publication of the2011 Immigration Control
Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport)

(2010:Photo credit, Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation)
This year
s version of the report is the 17th version ofImmigration Control, rst
published in 1959. Prior to the 2003 version,Immigration Controlmerely reported
ve-year trends in immigration control administration. However, given the accelerated
pace of the changes in conditions surrounding Japan
s immigration control policy, it
was recognized that immigration control administration needs to be swifter and more
accurate in responding to those changes. Accordingly, since 2004, a summary of the
one-year trend of immigration control administration has been given annually.
The2011 Immigration Controlintroduces the trend of immigration control
administration during the past ve years from 2006 to 2010 rst, and then summarizes
the current circumstances affecting immigration control administration and major
policies mostly implemented during FY 2010. It also describes that Immigration
Bureau
s efforts to achieve a tourism-oriented country by welcoming more foreign
tourists to visit Japan, efforts for promotion of admission of skilled foreign workers
in professional or technical elds including highly-skilled foreign professionals, eorts
for reduction in the number of illegal or false foreign residents with tightened law
enforcement, eorts for strict prevention of entry of possible terrorists at the ports of
entry, and eorts for urgent and prompt response to the unprecedented devastating
damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred in FY 2010.
Part 1, titledImmigration Control in Recent Years, describes that Foreign
Introduction
Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan (Chapter 1), Deportation Procedures for
Foreign Nationals (Chapter 2), Recognition of Refugee Status (Chapter 3), Promotion of
Measures against Tracking in Persons and Proper Protection of Foreign DV Victims
(Chapter 4) and Alien Registration Process (Chapter 5) based on statistics.
Part 2, titledPrimary Measures Related to Immigration Control Administration in
FY 2010, describes that Response toNew Growth Strategy(Chapter 1), Efforts
toward Smooth Introduction of the New System for Residence Management (Chapter
2), Smooth and Strict Implementation of Immigration Examination (Chapter 3), Launch
of the New Technical Intern Training Program (Chapter 4), Proper and Smooth
Acceptance of Foreign College Students (Chapter 5), Special Exceptions to the Period
of Stay for Foreign Resident Applicants for Permission to Extend the Period of Stay
(Chapter 6), Efforts by the Immigration Bureau concerning the Great East Japan
Earthquake (Chapter 7), Measures against Illegal or False Foreign Residents in Japan
(Chapter 8), Proper Operation of Special Permission to Stay (Chapter 9), Promotion
of Appropriate and Prompt Refugee Protection (Chapter 10), Addressing the Global
Community (Chapter 11), and Improvements in Public Relations and Administrative
Services (Chapter 12).
Furthermore, the Data Section features major developments concerning immigration
control administration in FY 2010.
We hope this report helps you feel immigration control administration closer to you.
November, 2011
Shigeru Takaya
Director-General of the Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Japan
Points
Points on2011 Immigration Control

Composition of2011 Immigration Control
This report is composed of Immigration Control in Recent Years (Part 1), Primary Measures (Part 2),
and following data section.
Part 1 overviews the five-year trends from 2006 to 2010, and describes the circumstances
surrounding Japan
s immigration control policy in 2010.
Part 2 describes major immigration control policies in FY 2010.
Part 1 Immigration Control in Recent Years

Number of foreign nationals entering Japan in 2010
The number of foreign nationals entering Japan (including those who re-entered Japan) in 2010 was 9,443,696,
up by 1,862,366 (24.6%) from the previous year, and the number of new foreign nationals excluding those who re-
entered was 7,919,726, up by 1,800,332 (29.4%).
Number of alien registrations as of the end of the year 2010
The number of alien registrations as of the end of 2010 was 2,134,151, down by 2.4% compared to the end of 2009.
However, it has increased by about 1.3 times compared to the end of 2000 and continued to be on the rise in the
long term.
The percentage of registered foreign nationals in the total population of Japan is 1.67%, down by a basis point
(0.04%) compared to the end of 2009.
Number of illegal overstayers
The number of illegally overstaying foreign nationals as of January 1, 2011 was 78,488, which is drastically
reduced compare to the same figure in 1993. This was achieved by comprehensive measures against illegal
residents such as stricter immigration examination and detection of foreign nationals violating the Immigration
Control and Refugee Recognition Act (theImmigration Control Act) in close coordination with relevant
organizations. This represents a constant decrease from 298,646 on May 1, 1993, when the number stood at the
highest record.
Part 2 Major Policies Related to Immigration Control

Administration in FY 2010
Addressing New Growth Strategyetc.: Smooth acceptance of foreign nationals in order to
revitalize Japanese economy and society
Public Notice on Designated Activitieswas partially amended so that foreign national
patients who are to stay in Japan for a long period to receive medical treatment in a hospital
etc. are given a status of residence allowing a longer stay in this country.
Criteria for Landing Permission(ministerial ordinance) was partially amended to abolish a
restriction on working years etc. established for foreign dentists and nurses holding a national
license issued by Japan.
The adoption of a preferential system utilizing points-based system in immigration control for
highly-skilled foreign professionals was taken into consideration with relevant ministries.
In order to promote further acceptance of international students in post-secondary education
programs/institutions,Criteria for Landing Permission(ministerial ordinance) on the status of
residence such asEngineer,Specialist in Humanities/International Serviceswas amended
Points
so that vocational/technical school graduates given diploma calledSenmonshiwhich is

usually considered as almost equivalent to collegiate degrees are able to satisfy requirements
regarding educational attainment criteria in theCriteria for Landing Permission(ministerial
ordinance).
Eorts for smooth introduction of the new system of residence management
The amendedImmigration Control Actenacted in July, 2009 led to the introduction of the
new system of residence managementthat enabled the Minister of Justice to continuously
keep information necessary for residence management of foreign nationals residing in Japan
with proper status of residence for a medium to long term.
In accordance with the law, foreign nationals residing in Japan with proper status of residence
for a medium to long term became subject to the Basic ResidentsRegistration Act, and
each municipality started to register foreign residents in the basic resident register from the
enforcement date of the amendedImmigration Control Actto issue resident cards in each
municipality.
Taking into consideration the enforcement of thenew system of residence management in
July, 2012, the Immigration Bureau studies the ministerial ordinance and the operation of the
bureau, discusses how the bureau should coordinate with relevant ministries and municipalities
under the new system, prepares for system development and also enhances public relations
activities including holding brieng sessions for embassies in Tokyo.
Smooth and strict implementation of immigration examination, etc.
At present, Japanese government eorts are being made to make Japan a tourism-oriented
country, and smooth implementation of immigration examination is being promoted by
introducing secondary immigration examination, and installation or addition of automatic gates.
In order to protect people s lives and public safety, it is very important to unfailingly prevent
the entry of terrorists disguised as tourists into the country. Therefore, strict immigration
examination continues to be implemented through the use of personal identication information,
the ICPO s Database on Lost and Stolen Passports, the Advance Passenger Information System
(APIS), etc.
Launch of new technical intern training programs
For the purpose of strengthening protection for trainees and technical interns by applying
legal protection of labor relations law from the beginning, new training and technical intern
training programs were initiated on July 1, 2010. Thus, eorts to ensure the proper programs
have been promoted.
Under the provisions of the ministerial ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, the Immigration
Bureau may identifymisconductwith regard to organizations that have acted inappropriately
regarding training and technical intern training and suspend such organizations from accepting
trainees and technical interns for one, three or ve years according to the type ofmisconduct .
163 organizations were recognized to engage inmisconductduring the year 2010.
More appropriate and smoother admission of international students
New Growth Strategyapproved by the Cabinet in June, 2010 aims toaccept 300,000
talented international students into Japan. In order to achieve the policy goal, the Immigration
Bureau is promoting more appropriate and smoother admission of international students in
post-secondary education programs/institutions by simplifying documents for applications to be
submitted from colleges etc. that properly manage student enrollment.
As new measures, two types of status of residence,College StudentandPre-college
Student, were integrated into a single status of residence. In addition to the simplification,
permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence was
Points
abolished for international students as long as they intend to work as a teaching assistant with
in the college they belong to..
Establishment of a special exception to the period of stay for foreign nationals applying for
permission to extend period of stay.
In case an application of permission for extending the period of stay or for changing the
status of residence is made by the expiration date of the period of stay, but procedures are not
completed by the expiration date, the foreign national is allowed by the amendedImmigration
Control Actto stay with the status of residence either until the procedure is completed or
for two months after the expiration date of the period of stay even after the period of stay is
expired whichever comes earlier (implemented in July, 2010).
Eorts of the Immigration Bureau concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake
Due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, foreign nationals subject to notification by the
Ministry of Justice, based on Paragraph 2 of Article 3 of the Act on special measures for
preservation of rights and interests of victims of specied disasters, are all allowed to postpone
the expiration date of the period of stay until August 31, 2011 without taking any particular
measures. Further, the Immigration Bureau swiftly accepted rescue teams of about 1,100
members from other countries and implemented quick procedures so that foreign nationals
wishing to leave Japan due to the earthquake would be permitted to later re-enter Japan as
well as follow the procedures to leave Japan. Along with that, the Immigration Bureau also
implemented procedures so that college students, trainees and technical interns who returned
home in the middle of their studies or training due to the earthquake are able to smoothly re-
enter Japan.
To conrm the safety of foreign nationals who might have fallen victim to the earthquake,
the Immigration Bureau, based on requests from municipalities and foreign diplomatic oces
in Japan, provided information on registered foreign nationals in the devastated area. The
Immigration Bureau also referred to inquiries from families and relatives of foreign nationals
and Japanese nationals in the devastated area about any existence of evidence of their leaving
Japan.
The Immigration Bureau implemented procedures so that foreign nationals who resided in
the devastated area are able to request the issue of a certicate of registered matters in the
municipalities to which they evacuated. Along with that, in order to support such municipalities
which have diculties in registering foreign nationals, the Immigration Bureau acted for such
municipalities by carrying out the registration.
The Immigration Bureau set up a specic phone number to conduct telephone counseling also
on holidays so that foreign nationals who were aected by the earthquake can be provided with
information.
Implementation of measures against illegal and false foreign residents
There has been a steady decrease in the number of illegal overstayers. The decrease seems to
be the outcome of past eorts over the years. However, it is estimated that still there are some
100,000 potentially illegal foreign residents, and eorts to further decrease the number of illegal
foreign residents have been promoted by strengthening detection, reinforcing collection and
analysis of information on illegal foreign residents, and promoting voluntary appearance.
False residentsstands for foreign nationals who disguise themselves as legal residents by
falsifying their status of residence and purpose of stay by means of fake marriage, pretending
to be students, etc. and work without legal status in Japan by misusing forging or alternating
documents or abusing fraudulent documents. Since they actually appear to be legal residents,
precise data on their actual number has not been obtained. The existence of false residents
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abusing the system of status of residence cannot be overlooked, because such potentially
illegal foreign nationals undermine the rule of the Immigration Control Act and are likely to
have negative impact on Japanese society. Therefore, the Immigration Bureau is striving to
strengthen the detection of those who engage in activities other than those permitted, and
reinforce collection and analysis of information.
Eorts toward proper treatment of detainees
In July 2010, theImmigration Detention Facilities Visiting Committee consisting of
intellectuals from outside the Immigration Bureau was established with the aim of ensuring
further transparency in security treatment, and improving and enhancing operations of
immigration detention centers, etc.
For detainees detained for a certain period of time after a written deportation order is issued,
the Immigration Bureau is to hereafter examine and discuss periodically the necessity and
reason for a provisional release of such detainees and flexibly utilize the provisional release
while taking individual situations into account to implement further appropriate deportation
procedures.
The Immigration Bureau is to hold a discussion with Japan Federation of Bar Associations
(JFBA) in September, 2010, on measures to achieve a better state of aairs over issues regarding
detainment in immigration control administration. Along with that, as part of the measures, the
Immigration Bureau and JFBA agreed to together promote efforts toward legal consultation
etc. by lawyers for detainees. The Immigration Bureau and JFBA are hereafter to continuously
discuss how to achieve a better state of aairs over issues regarding detainment.
Appropriate operation of special permission to stay
Various measures, including formulation and announcement of theGuidelines on Special
Permission to stay in Japanand publication of theCases where Special Permission to Stay
was granted and the Cases where Special Permission to Stay was denied, have beentaken to
enhance the transparency and predictability of the special permission to stay. These Guidelines
on Special Permission to Stay in Japanprovides more details concerning matters to be
considered in judging whether to grant special permission to stay or not. It also presents the
concept for judgment. The guideline, therefore, is to be applied to judge whether to grant
special permission to stay or not.
Promotion of appropriate and prompt refugee protection
For early stabilization of legal status of people to be recognized as refugees etc.the Immigration
Bureau set six months as the standard processing period for protracted examination for
application for refugee status in July, 2010, and further to officially announce the average
processing (examination) period for application for refugee status quarterly on the website of
the Ministry of Justice. There were 612 backlog cases which were not processed even after
six months after ling, at the end of June, 2010. But the number of backlog cases drastically
decreased down to 35 at the end of March, 2011.
Based onConcerning the Implementation of Pilot Case relating to the Acceptance of Refugees
by Resettlement to a Third Country(approved by the Cabinet on December 16, 2008), and the
Detailed Measures for Implementing Pilot Case relating to the Acceptance of Refugees by
Resettlement to a Third Country(Decision by the Liaison and Coordination Conference for
Countermeasures for Refugees on December 19, 2008), a program to accept Myanmar refugees
staying in the Mera Camp in Thailand and to oer support for resettlement as a pilot case will
be launched from FY 2010. 27 Myanmar refugees from ve families entered Japan in the rst
group in FY 2010.
Points
Addressing the global community

Based onBasic policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships, theResearch Association
on the International Migration of Peopleled by the Minister of State for National Policy was
established and the Immigration Bureau also participated in the research. On March 11, 2011,
Extension of period of stay of Indonesian/Filipino candidates for nurses and certified care
workers based on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)was decided by the Cabinet.
The Immigration Bureau has actively participated in negotiations for concluding the Economic
Partnership Agreement (EPA) with various countries.
The bureau attended international conferences, including G8 meetings and the Asia-Europe
Meeting (ASEM) to develop cooperative ties and share information through discussion and
exchange of opinions with other countries.
The bureau invited responsible ocials of immigration control administration authorities of
19 Southeast Asian countries, including Pacific Rim countries and regions to the Seminar on
Immigration Control held in December 2010 and exchanged views onthe developments over
the past year in the immigration control administration of each participating country (region),
effective utilization of various information for appropriate border inspection and residence
examination, andcountermeasures against illegal residents. The seminar contributed to
effective planning and implementation of immigration control policies in each participating
country.
Improvement of public relations and administrative services
The Immigration Bureau has made efforts to accelerate procedures, and improve
administrative services by taking measures such as establishment of priority lanes for elderly
persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and others.
The bureau is tackling the Comfortable Administrative Services Campaign for the purpose
of creating a friendly and caring administration. Regional immigration bureaus have also
made consistent efforts to improve the attitude of staff toward administrative services, and
improve their reception manner by holding seminars to cultivate a humanitarian approach, and
upgrading the environment of the reception counter or using ingenuity in providing various
kinds of guide services in order to become more customer friendly immigration authority.
For creating better and inexpensive administrative services, operation of Immigration
Information Centers and reception work for immigration and residential procedures to be
implemented at regional immigration oces etc. have been subcontracted to private enterprises
starting from April 1, 2011 at immigration authorities which were subject to the Market Testing.
2011 Immigration Control
Introduction-Publication of the2011 Immigration Control
Point on2011 Immigration Control
Contents
Part 1. Immigration Control in Recent Years
Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

Section . Foreign Nationals Entering and Leaving Japan 2
Changes in the Number of Foreign Nationals Entering and
Leaving Japan 2
Foreign Nationals Entering Japan 2
The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan 2
The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Nationality (Place of Origin) 3
The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Gender and Age 4
The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Purpose of Entry (Status of
Residence) 5
Temporary Visitors 5
Foreign Nationals Entering Japan for the Purpose of Employment in Specic
and Technical Fields 8
College Student and Pre-college Student 11
Trainee and Technical Intern Trainee 13
Foreign Nationals Entering Japan with the Status of Residence of Resident
Activities Based on Civil Status or Position 14
Special Cases of Landing(except for Landing Permission for Temporary Refuge) 15
Foreign Nationals Leaving Japan 17
Judgment for Landing 17
Receipt and Findings of Hearings for Landing and Filing of Objections 17
Foreign Nationals Who Fall under Any of the Reasons for Denial of Landing 20
Special Permission for Landing 21
Pre-entry Examination 22
Advance Consultation for Issuance of Visas 22
Certicate of Eligibility 22
Section Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan 23
The Number of Registered Foreign Nationals Residing in
Japan 23
The Total Number of Registered Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan 23
The Number of Registered Foreign Nationals by Nationality (Place of Origin) 24
The Number of Registered Foreign Nationals by Purpose (Status of Residence) 25
i
Permanent ResidentandSpecial Permanent Resident 25
Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan for the Purpose of Employment in Specic and
Technical Fields 27
College Student 28
Trainee,Technical Intern Training (1) 28
Designated Activities (Technical Intern Training)and
Technical Intern Training (2) 29
Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan with the Status of Residence for Resident
Activities Based on Civil Status or Position 30
Status of Residence Examinations 30
Permission for Extension of Period of Stay 31
Permission for Change of Status of Residence 31
Change of Status of Residence from the Status of Student for
Employment Purposes 32
Permission to Change Status of Residence in order to Participate in
Technical Intern Training (2) 33
Permission for Acquisition of Status of Residence 34
Re-entry Permission 35
Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of
Residence Previously Granted 35
Permission for Permanent Residence 35
Section . Japanese Nationals Leaving and Returning to Japan 36
The Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan 36
The Total Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan 36
The Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan by Gender and Age 36
The Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan by Airport and Seaport 37
The Number of Japanese Nationals Returning to Japan 38
Chapter . Deportation Procedures for Foreign Nationals

Section . Overstayers 39
The Number of Overstayers by Nationality (Place of Origin) 39
The Number of Overstayers by Status of Residence 40
Section . Cases of Violation of the Immigration Control Act for
Which Deportation Procedures Were Carried Out 41
The Number of Cases of Violation of the Immigration
Control Act by Grounds for Deportation 41
Illegal Entry 43
Illegal Landing 44
Overstay 44
Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence
Previously Granted 45
ii
Illegal Workers 46
Summary 46
The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Nationality (Place of Origin) 46
The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Gender 47
The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Type of Work 47
The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Place of Work 48
Outline of Judgments of Violations 49
Receipt and the Findings of Cases of Violation 49
Issuance of a Written Deportation Order 51
Provisional Release 52
Special Permission to Stay in Japan 52
Outline of Deportation of Foreign Nationals 53
Deportation at the Expense of the Government 54
Deportation at the Expense of the Foreign National (Voluntary Departure) 54
Deportation at the Expense of and under the Responsibility of Carriers 55
Departure Orders 56
Outline 56
Investigation into Violations 56
The Number of Foreign Nationals Ordered to Depart by Nationality
(Place of Origin) 56
The Number of Foreign Nationals Ordered to Depart by Applied Article 56
Examination 57
Receipt and Findings of Cases 57
Issuance of a Written Departure Order 57
Conrmation of Departure 57
Chapter . Recognition of Refugee Status

Section . Application for Refugee Status and Findings 58
Application for Refugee Status 58
Findings of Applications for Refugee Status 59
Implementation of the System for Permission for Provisional
Stay 60
Section . Filing of Objections 61
Filing of Objections 61
Finding of Objections 61
Section . Purpose of the Refugee Examination Counselors
System and its Implementation 61
Section . Landing Permission for Temporary Refuge 62
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Chapter . Promotion of Measures against Tracking in Persons and
Proper Protection of Foreign DV Victims
Section . Promotion of Measures against Tracking in Persons 63
Protection of Victims of Tracking in Persons 63
Foreign Nationals Deported for Committing Tracking in
Persons 64
Section . Proper Protection of Foreign DV Victims 64
Outline 64
Number of Recognized Foreign DV Victims 65
Chapter . Alien Registration Process

Section . Initial Registration and Closing of Registration 66
Section . Registration of Changes in Registered Matters 67
Section . Issuance of Registration Certicate for Renewal
(conrmation of registered matters) 67
Section . Local Autonomous Body and Alien Registration 68
iv
Part . Major Policies Related to Immigration Control
Administration in FY 2009
Chapter . Addressing the New Growth Strategy
Smooth Acceptance of Foreign Nationals in order to Revitalize
Japanese Economy and Society
Section . Promotion of International Medical Interaction 70

Introduction of the Status of Residence for Promotion of
International Medical Interaction 70
Process and Background of Amendment 70
Contents of the Amendment 71
Introduction of the Status of Residence for Foreign Patients and their
Caretakers 71
Improvement of Provisions Concerning Proxies for a Certicate of Eligibility 71
Review of Employment Restrictions for Foreign Medical
Professionals including Dentists and Nurses 71
Section . Introduction of a Preferential System Utilizing Points-
Based System for Highly - Skilled Foreign
Professionals 72
Section . Promotion of Admission of the International Students
in Post-Secondary Educational Programs/Institutions
through Employment Assistance for Graduates of
Vocational/Technical Schools 72
Chapter . Eorts for Smooth Introduction of the New System of

Residence Management
Section . Outline of the System 74
New System of Residence Management 74
Process and Background of Introduction 74
Measures to be Introduced under the New System of Residence Management 75
Measures for Special Permanent Residents 76
Basic ResidentsRegister System for Foreign Residents 77
Issuance of Residence Cards for Foreign Nationals 77
Matters Contained in Residence Cards for Foreign Residents 77
Notications Regarding Foreign Residents 77
Notice from the Minister of Justice 77
v
Section . Progress in Eorts toward Introduction of the
System 77
Smooth Transition to the New System of Residence
Management 77
Smooth Transition to the Basic ResidentsRegister System for
Foreign Residents 78
Cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Aairs and Communications and Local
Governments, and Provision of Information to Them 78
Measures to Ensure Accurate Registration 78
Chapter . Smooth and Strict Implementation of Immigration

Examination
Section . Eorts for Promoting a Tourism-Oriented Country 80
Eorts to Reduce the Waiting Time for Examination 80
Automatic Gates 80
Section . Strengthened Countermeasures at the Border 81
Implementation of Immigration Examination through the Use of
Personal Identication Information 81
Use of the ICPO's Database on Lost and Stolen Passports 82
Immigration Examination through the Use of APIS 82
Section . Other Eorts 83
Special Cases for Denial of Landing 83
Requirements for Foreign Nationals with Landing Permission of
Crewmembers to Carry and Present Crewmember's Pocket-
ledgers 83
Response to the APEC 84
Chapter . The Launch of the New Technical Intern Training Programs

Section . Outline of the System 85
Section . Response to Cases of Inappropriate Acceptance 85

Chapter . More Appropriate and Smoother Admission of
International Students
Section . More Appropriate and Smoother Implementation of
Immigration and Residence Examination of International
Students 87
Section . State of Implementation of Measures on Acceptance of
College Students 87
vi
Integration of the Two Categories of Status of Residence,
College StudentandPre-college Student 87
Review of Permission to Engage in Activity Other than That
Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted 88
Chapter . Establishment of an Special Exception to the Period of

Stay for Foreign Nationals Applying for Permission to
Extend period of Stay etc. 89
Chapter . Eorts of the Immigration Bureau Concerning the

Great East Japan Earthquake
Section . Measures concerning the Procedures of Immigration and
Residence Associated with Disaster Occurrence 90
Extension of Period of Stay Based on the Act on Special
Measures Concerning Preservation of Rights and Interests of
Victims of Specied Disaster 90
Implementation of Prompt Acceptance of Rescue Teams from
Foreign Countries, Regions, and International Organizations 91
Implementation of Prompt Embarkation Procedure for Foreign
Nationals Who Desire to Leave Japan due to the Earthquake 91
Re-entry Permission 91
Embarkation Procedure (including embarkation after re-entry permission) 91
Measures for Re-entry to Japan of International Students
and Training and Technical Interns Who left Japan without Re-
entry Permission due to the Earthquake 91
Section . Cooperation for Safety Conrmation of Foreign Nationals
Who Might Have Aected by the 3.11 Earthquake 92
Providing Reports Concerning Foreign Reports in Aected
Regions 92
Response on Embarkation for the Purpose of Safety
Conrmation 92
Section . Cooperation for Alien Registration 93
Section . Providing Information for Foreign Nationals in
Aected by the Earthquake 93
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Chapter . Measures against Illegal or False Foreign Residents in
Japan
Section . Implementation of Measures against Illegal Foreign
Residents 95
Past Eorts to Reduce the Number of Illegal Residents 95
Eorts to Further Reduce the Number of Illegal Residents 95
Strengthened Detection 95
Improvement of Environment for Voluntary Appearance 96
Section . Implementation of Measures against False Foreign
Residents 96
Countermeasures against False Foreign Residents, etc. 96
Crackdown on False Residents, etc. 97
Reinforcement of Collection and Analysis of Information 97
Strengthened Detection of Those Engaged in Activities Other than Those Permitted /
Strict Response to those falling under the Category of Revocation of the Statuses of
Residence of False Residents 97
Addition of Grounds for Deportation to Correctly Deal with the
Furtherance of Illegal Work etc. 97
Section . Eorts toward Proper Treatment of Detainees 98
Activities, etc., of the Immigration Detention Facilities Visiting
Committee 98
Verication Regarding Provisional Release of Foreign
Nationals to be Detained in Accordance with Deportation
Order 98
The Agreement with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations
Concerning Immigration Control Administration 99
Chapter . Appropriate Operation of Special Permission to stay in

Japan
Section . Application of Special Permission Based on the
Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japan 100
Section . Enhancement of theCases where Special Permission to
Stay in Japan was Granted and Cases where Special
Permission to Stay in Japan was Denied 100
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Chapter10. Promotion of Appropriate and Prompt Refugee Protection
Section . The Establishment and Publication of Targets for the
Handling Period of Refugee Recognition Examinations 101
Section . Publication of Refugees' Countries of Origins 101
Section . Acceptance of Refugees through Resettlement to a
Third Country 101
Chapter11. Addressing the Global Community

Section . Treaties and International Conventions 103
Negotiations on Treaties 103
AddressingBasic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships 103
Major Actions for Negotiations on Conclusion of EPAs with other Countries 103
Reports and Examinations in Accordance with Human Rights
Treaties/Covenants 104
International Conventions 104
G8 Rome/Lyon Group Migration Experts Sub-Group Meeting 104
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Conference of Director-Generals Immigration 104
Other International Conventions 105
Section . Holding of Seminar on Immigration Control 105
Chapter12. Improvement Public Relations and Administrative Services

Section . Promotion of Public Relations 106
Section . Improvement of Administrative Services 107
Facilitating the Landing Examination Procedures 107
Information Services for Foreign Nationals 108
Immigration Bureau Website 109
The introduction of Market Testing 110
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Data Section
Data Section . Major Developments after April 1,2010 112
Data Section . Statistics

Changes in the Number of New Arrivals and Alien Registration of Main Status of
Residence by Nationality (Place of Origin) 114
Investor/Business Manager, Engineer, Specialist in Humanities/International Services,
Intra-company Transferee, Entertainer, Skilled Labor, Technical Intern Training (1),
Technical Intern Training (2), College Student, Pre-college Student, Trainee, Designated
activities (technical intern training), Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Japanese
National, Long-Term Resident
Changes in the Number of New Arrivals and Alien Registration of Main Nationalities
(Place of Origin) by Status of Residence 121
Korea, China, Philippines, Brazil
The Status of Implementation of Immigration Examination Using Personal Identication
Information 125
Changes in the Number of Cases of Detection of Forged or Altered Documents 125
Data Section . Outline of New System of Residence Management 126
Data Section . Litigation Relating to Immigration Control

Section . Summary 128
Section . Major Court Cases 129
Data Section . Organizational and Personnel Expansion

Section . Organizations 134
Outline of the Organization of the Immigration
Control Authority 134
Review on the organizational structure of the Immigration
Control Oces 136
Section . Sta of the Immigration Bureau 137
Immigration Control Sta 137
Personnel Reinforcement 138
Strengthened Immigration Control of the Regional Immigration Bureaus such as the
Haneda Airport District Immigration Oce 140
Strengthened Residence Management System of the Regional Immigration Bureaus such
as the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau 140
Strengthened Refugee Adjudication System of the Regional Immigration Bureaus such as
the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau 141
x
Sta Training 141
Data Section . Budget

Section . Budgets 143
Section . Facilities 144
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Charts
Chart 1 : Changes in the number of foreign nationals entering Japan 2

Chart 2 : Changes in the number of foreign nationals entering Japan by major nationality (place of
origin) 3
Chart 3 : Number of foreign nationals entering Japan by gender and age (2010) 4
Chart 4 : Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofTemporary
Visitorby purpose of entry 7
Chart 5 : Number of new arrivals for the purpose of sightseeing by nationality
(place of origin) (2010) 7
Chart 6 : Changes in the number of new arrivals by the status of residence for employment in
specic and technical elds 8
Chart 7 : Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofCollege Student
by major nationality (place of origin) 12
Chart 8 : Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofPre-college
Studentby major nationality (place of origin) 12
Chart 9 : Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofTraineeby
major nationality (place of origin) 14
Chart 10: Changes in the number of new arrivals by the status of residence categories for activities
based on civil status or position 15
Chart 11: Flow of landing examination 18
Chart 12: Changes in the number of foreign nationals who were denied landing by major
nationality(place of origin) 21
Chart 13: Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals and its percentage of the total
population in Japan 24
Chart 14: Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by major nationality (place of
origin) 25
Chart 15: Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by the status of residence for
employment in specic and technical elds 27
Chart 16: Changes in the number of Japanese nationals leaving Japan 36
Chart 17: Number of Japanese nationals leaving Japan by gender and age (2010) 37
Chart 18: Changes in the estimated number of overstayers by major nationality
(place of origin) 39
Chart 19: Flow of deportation procedure and departure order 42
Chart 20: Changes in the number and percentage of requests for a hearing 51
Chart 21: Changes in the number of issuance of written deportation orders by nationality
Chart 22: Patterns and procedures for application for recognition of refugee status 60
Chart 23: Changes in the number and percentage of overstayers who entered Japan with the status
of residence ofCollege StudentandPre-college Student 88
Chart 24: Immigration Bureau organizational chart 134
Chart 25: Responsibilities of the Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice 135
Chart 26: Changes in the number of immigration control oce personnel 139
Chart 27: Changes in the budget for immigration control administration 143
Chart 28: Changes in the major computer-related budget amount 144
xii
Tables
Table 1 : Changes in the number of new arrivals by status of residence 5

Table 2 : Changes in the number of cases of permission for special cases of landing 16
Table 3 : Changes in the number of foreign nationals leaving Japan re-entry nonreserving by
period of stay 17
Table 4 : Changes in the number of new cases for the hearing for landing
by conditions for landing 19
Table 5 : Changes in the prosessing of the hearing for landing 20
Table 6 : Changes in the number of lings of objections and decisions
by the Minister of Justice 22
Table 7 : Changes in the number of cases of pre-entry examination 22
Table 8 : Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by status of residence 26
Table 9 : Changes in the number of cases of permission in status of residence examinations 31
Table 10: Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of status of residence for
employment from college student or pre-college student by nationality
Table 11: Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of status of residence for
employment from college student or pre-college student by status of
residence permitted 33
Table 12: Changes in the number of trainees who switch to the Technical Intern Training Program
by nationality 34
Table 13: Changes in the number of trainees who switch to the Technical Intern Training Program
by job type 34
Table 14: Changes in the number of permanent residence permits by nationality
Table 15: Changes in the number of Japanese nationals returning to Japan by period of stay 38
Table 16: Changes in the estimated number of overstayers by major nationality
Table 17: Changes in the estimated number of overstayers by major status of residence 41
Table 18: Changes in the number of cases of violation of the Immigration Control Act by
grounds for deportation 42
Table 19: Changes in the number of cases of violation of the Immigration Control Act by
nationality (place of origin) 42
Table 20: Changes in the number of cases of illegal entry by nationality (place of origin) 43
Table 21: Changes in the number of cases of illegal entry by airplane by nationality
Table 22: Changes in the number of cases of illegal entry by ship by nationality
Table 23: Changes in the number of cases of illegal landing by nationality (place of origin) 44
Table 24: Changes in the number of cases of overstay by nationality (place of origin) 45
Table 25: Changes in the number of cases of activity other than that permitted under the status of
residence previously granted by nationality (place of origin) 45
Table 26: Changes in the number of cases of illegal work by nationality (place of origin) 47
xiii
Table 27: Changes in the number of cases of illegal work by type of work 48
Table 28: Changes in the number of cases of illegal foreign workers by place of work 49
Table 29: Changes in the number of cases of receipt and ndings of violation examinations by
immigration inspectors, hearings by special inquiry ocers and decisions of
the Minister of Justice 50
Table 30: Changes in the number of issuance of written deportation orders by grounds for
deportation 51
Table 31: Changes in the number of cases of provisional release permission 52
Table 32: Changes in the number of cases of special permission to stay in Japan by grounds for
deportation 53
Table 33: Changes in the number of cases of special permission to stay in Japan by nationality (place
of origin) 53
Table 34: Changes in the number of deportees by nationality (place of origin) 53
Table 35: Changes in the number of deportees by means of deportation 54
Table 36: Changes in the number of deportees by voluntary departure by nationality
Table 37: Number of foreign nationals handed over under a departure order by nationality (place of
origin) (2010) 56
Table 38: Changes in the number of issuance of written departure orders by nationality
Table 39: Changes in the number of refugee applicants 58
Table 40: Changes in the number of refugee ndings 59
Table 41: Changes in the number of protected refugees 59
Table 42: Changes in the number of lings of objections and decisions of
the Minister of Justice 61
Table 43: Number of victims of tracking in persons (2010) 64
Table 44: Changes in the number of victims of tracking in persons 64
Table 45: Number of recognized foreign DV victims(2010) 65
Table 46: Changes in the number of initial registration and closed registration by division 66
Table 47: Changes in the number of registrations of changes in registered matters 67
Table 48: Changes in the number of conrmation of registered matters 68
Table 49: Changes in the number of organizations subject to a nding of misconduct by type of
receiving arrangement 86
Table 50: Number of ndings of misconduct by category (2010) 86
Table 51: Changes in the number and percentage of overstayers who entered Japan with
the status of residence ofCollege StudentandPre-college Student 88
Table 52: Trend in the number of led cases of Immigration Litigation (the merit of case) 129
Table 53: Reorganization,abolition or establishment of branch oces of regional immigration
bureaus 137
Table 54: Changes in the number of immigration control oce personnel 139
Table 55: Changes in the capacity for detention 144
xiv
Photo
Photograph 1: Haneda Airport Introduction

Photograph 2: On-board search 16
Photograph 3: Hearing for landing 17
Photograph 4: Residence examination 30
Photograph 5: Airport landing examination 38
Photograph 6: Investigation of violation 39
Photograph 7: Detection 41
Photograph 8: Illegal workers detection 48
Photograph 9: Judgment of violations 49
Photograph 10: Deportation 54
Photograph 11: Refugee Travel Document 58
Photograph 12: Alien registration certicate 67
Photograph 13: Automatic Gates 80
Photograph 14: Immigration Examination through the Use of Personal Identication
Information 82
Photograph 15: Countermeasures against forging or alteration of documents 82
Photograph 16: Front page of the leaet for the Illegal Work Prevention Campaign 106
Photograph 17: Scene from the Illegal Work Prevention Campaign 106
Photograph 18: Request for employers' associations to take countermeasures against illegal
foreign workers by the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Justice,
and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare 106
Photograph 19: Indication of waiting time for examination 108
Photograph 20: Priority lanes 108
Photograph 21: The Immigration Information Center (Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau) 108
Photograph 22: Immigration Control Sta 137
Photograph 23: Training 141
xv
Part 1
Immigration Control in Recent Years
Part 1.
Chapter 1 Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in

Japan
Section 1 Foreign Nationals Entering and Leaving Japan
Changes in the Number of Foreign Nationals Entering and

Leaving Japan
(1) Foreign Nationals Entering Japan
A. The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan
The number of foreign nationals entering Japan was just 18,000 in 1950 when the statistics
relating to immigration control began to be recorded. As a result of the enforcement of the
Peace Treaty with Japan(Treaty No. 5 of 1952) on April 28, 1952, Japan recorded complete
sovereignty and secured the authority to decide whether or not to grant permission of
entry based on the immigration control order. Subsequently, the number of foreign nationals
entering Japan was on an almost ever-increasing trend, due to a growing sense of inexpensive
and convenient overseas travel due to improvements in international transportation such as
the use of larger jet aircraft, and topped 1 million in 1978, 2 million in 1984, 3 million in 1990, 4
million in 1996, 5 million in 2000, and 9 million in 2007. In 2010, it was 9,443,696, an increase of
1,862,366 (24.6%) from 7,581,330 in 2009, to the highest number to date.
Among 9,443,696 foreign nationals entering Japan in 2010, the number ofnew entrieswas
7,919,726, an increase of 1,800,332 (29.4%) from 6,119,394 in 2009, and the number ofre-entries
Chart 1: Changes in the number of foreign nationals entering Japan
(people)

8,107,963

7,581,330

There are no separate categories for arrivals in 1955 and 1960.
2
Part 1.

was 1,523,970, an increase of 62,034 (4.2%) from 1,461,936 in 2009.
The primary factor as to why the number of foreign nationals entering Japan and new
entrants is signicantly up is considered to be, in addition to the economic recovery in Asia,
the easing of regulations for issuing visas to Chinese citizens to help increase tourists from
that country. (Chart 1)
B. The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Nationality (Place of Origin)

The statistics for the number of foreign nationals entering Japan in 2010, by nationality
(place of origin) show that the largest number of foreign nationals came from the Republic of
Korea (R.O. Korea). 2,686,867 South Koreans entered Japan, accounting for 28.5% of the total
number of foreign nationals coming to Japan. R.O. Korea was followed by China, China (Taiwan),
the US, China (Hong Kong), and Thailand*. More than half of the foreign nationals entering
Japan came from Japan
s three neighboring countries (regions): R.O. Korea, China, and China
(Taiwan). Their total accounted for 59.9% of the total number of foreign nationals entering
Japan. The top ve countries (regions) accounted for 73.1% of the total. Among them, R.O.
Korea surpassed the US in 1988 to become the top country and has maintained its position
since then. Also, overseas trips were de-regulated, and in March 2006, visa-exemption for an
unspecied period of time was introduced for the people of R. O. Korea whose purpose of
visit wasTemporary Visitor. This is one of the various measures to increase the exchange
Chart 2: Changes in the number of foreign nationals entering Japan by major nationality (place of origin)

*(Note) In the immigration-related statistics, mainland China and Taiwan are described asChinaandChina (Taiwan)respectively.
With respect to Hong Kong, persons of Chinese nationality having a SAR (Special Administrative Region) passport (including
persons of Chinese nationality having a certicate of identity within the period of validity issued by the former Hong Kong
Government) are described asChina (Hong Kong), and persons having the right of residence in Hong Kong and having
a BNO (British National Overseas) passport (British passport issued only to residents in Hong Kong) (including persons who
have a British (Hong Kong) passport issued by the former Hong Kong Government and entered within its period of validity
(prior to June 30, 1997), are described asUK (Hong Kong). Further, BNO passports are restricted in respect of renewal,
and gradually transition to SAR passports.
On the other hand, in statistics relating to alien registration, persons from mainland China are described asChinawithout
distinguishing their place of origin, and BNO passport holders are included inUK.
Further, for the purpose of statistics on the number of alien registrations, persons of R.O. Korea and P.R. Korea are collected
jointly asR.O. Korea and P.R. Korea.
3
Part 1.
of persons between the two countries, and is considered to have contributed to the increase
in Korean visitors. The number of visitors from China has been increasing year after year
because it became easier to take sightseeing trips to Japan due to the easing of regulations
for issuing visas, and China remained in second place from the preceding year. (Chart 2)
According to a comparison between the number of foreign nationals entering Japan in 2009
and 2010 by nationality (place of origin) of the top five countries, visitors from R.O. Korea
increased by 851,490 (46.4%), followed by China, which increased by 424,972 (34.4%), China
(Taiwan), which increased by 243,918 (22.9%), the US, which increased by 29,508 (4.0%), and
China (Hong Kong), which increased by 61,113 (14.5%).
Further, visitors from Thailand increased by 37,221 (18.7%), followed by Australia, which
increased by 14,734 (6.8%) and the UK, which increased by 3,444 (1.8%).
C. The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Gender and Age
Slightly more foreign males came to Japan than females. The numbers of foreign males and
females entering Japan in 2010 were 4,755,944 and 4,687,752 respectively. The percentages of
males and females were 50.4% and 49.6%, respectively.
According to statistics by age in 2010, foreign nationals in their thirties represented the
largest age group, accounting for 24.1% of the total number of foreign nationals entering
Japan. The ratio of males was higher in the thirties and over age groups, while the ratio of
females was higher in the twenties and under age groups. (Chart 3)
Chart 3: Number of foreign nationals entering Japan by gender and age (2010)
4
Part 1.

D. The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Purpose of Entry (Status
of Residence)
The number of foreign nationals newly entering Japan in 2010 was 7,919,726. Looking at
this gure by purpose of entry (status of residence), the most common status of residence
wasTemporary Visitorstanding at 7,632,536 and accounting for 96.4% of the total foreign
nationals newly entering Japan, followed byTrainee51,725 (0.7%),College Student48,706
(0.6%), andEntertainer28,612 (0.4%). (Table 1)
Table 1: Changes in the number of new arrivals by status of residence
(People)
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 6,733,585 7,721,258 7,711,828 6,119,394 7,919,726
Diplomat 8,682 9,205 12,029 10,183 11,167
Ocial 13,136 14,519 24,358 22,229 27,000
Professor 2,380 2,365 2,456 2,639 2,639
Artist 223 239 222 226 256
Religious Activities 897 985 828 771 713
Journalist 92 119 226 170 136
Investor/Business Manager 777 918 919 857 896
Legal/Accounting Services 3 8 2 4 3
Medical Services 3 6 1 6 2
Researcher 555 559 563 592 528
Instructor 3,070 2,951 2,930 2,499 2,339
Engineer 7,715 10,959 9,212 3,363 2,852
Specialist in Humanities/International
7,614 7,426 5,690 4,167 4,113
Services
Intra-company Transferee 5,564 7,170 7,307 5,245 5,826
Entertainer 48,249 38,855 34,994 31,170 28,612
Skilled Labor 4,239 5,315 6,799 5,384 3,588
Technical Intern Training 1-(a) 2,282
Technical Intern Training 1-(b) 23,720
Cultural Activities 3,670 3,454 3,378 3,557 3,159
Temporary Visitor 6,407,833 7,384,510 7,367,277 5,822,719 7,632,536
College Student 26,637 28,779 34,005 37,871 48,706
Pre-college Student 19,135 19,160 24,111 28,278 14,772
Trainee 92,846 102,018 101,879 80,480 51,725
Dependent 17,412 20,268 22,167 20,540 19,486
Designated Activities 7,446 8,009 8,413 9,863 11,972
Spouse or Child of Japanese National 26,087 24,421 19,975 14,951 11,452
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident 1,319 1,710 1,964 1,684 1,068
Long-Term Resident 28,001 27,326 20,123 9,946 8,178
Temporary Refuge - 4 - - -
(*1) The number ofPre-college Studentwas counted until June 30, 2010.
(*2) The numbers corresponding to the people falling under Technical Intern Training Items 1-(a) and 1-(b) have been
counted from July 1, 2010.
The number of foreign nationals newly entering Japan may be considered as aflow
showing the flow of foreign nationals to Japan, while the number of registered foreign
residents in Japan as mentioned below represents astockwhich shows the number of
foreign nationals staying in Japan at a certain point of time.
(A) Temporary Visitors

Looking more closely at the number of foreign nationals newly entering Japan with
the status of residence ofTemporary Visitorin 2010, the number of foreign visitors
5
Part 1.
for sightseeing purposes was 5,680,340, accounting for 71.7% of the total foreign nationals
newly entering Japan, followed by foreign visitors for business-related purposes standing
at 1,295,404 (16.4%). In particular, since the trend of tourists is comparatively easily aected
by factors in Japan, such as the holding of specic events, changes in exchange rates and
the implementation of various measures to attract tourists, it is consequently assumed that
the changes in numbers of foreign nationals newly entering Japan, of which such temporary
visitors make up the majority, reect the social circumstances in Japan and the trends both
at home and abroad at the time.
Foreigners residing in Japan having this status of residence cannot change their status
to another status of residence in principle as they cannot engage in employment activities,
and are allowed to enter through relatively simplied procedures (Article 19 and 20 of the
Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (hereinafter referred asImmigration
Control Act)).
According to the statistics on newly entering foreign nationals for the purpose of
sightseeing by nationality (place of origin), R. O. Korea occupied the largest number at 1,805,876,
accounting for 31.8% of the total number of foreign nationals entering Japan for the purpose
of sightseeing. R.O. Korea was followed by China (Taiwan) (1,104,904, accounting for 19.5% of
the total), China (749,716, accounting for 13.2%) and China (Hong Kong) (444,083, accounting
for 7.8%). As South Koreans, Chinese (Taiwanese), and Chinese (People
s Republic of China)
account for over 60% of the overall number of sightseeing visitors to Japan, it is expected that
measures to attract tourists from these countries and regions will be implemented actively in
the future as well. (Charts 4 and 5)
6
Part 1.

Chart 4: Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofTemporary Visitorby purpose of entry

Others

Chart 5: Number of new arrivals for the purpose of sightseeing by nationality (place of origin) (2010)
7
Part 1.
(B) Foreign Nationals Entering Japan for the Purpose of Employment in Specic
and Technical Fields
The number of newly entering foreign nationals under the status of residence for
employment in specic and technical elds (excluding the status of residence ofDiplomat,
OcialandTechnical Intern Trainingfrom Charts 1-1 and 1-2 in the appendix to the
Immigration Control Act) in 2010 was 52,503, a decrease of 4,590 (8.0%) from the year 2009.
(Chart 6)
Chart 6: Changes in the number of new arrivals by the status of residence for employment in specic and technical elds
8
Part 1.

The number of newly entering foreign nationals under the statuses of residence for
employment in specic and technical elds in Japan accounted for 0.7% of the total number of
newly entering foreign nationals in 2010.
The statuses of residence ofSpouse or Child of Japanese NationalandLong-term
Resident, which are not included in the status of residence for employment purposes in
specific and technical fields, have no restrictions on activities during their stay in Japan.
Foreign nationals who fall under any of the following categories are also allowed to work
within the limit permitted: those whose status of residence is basically for travel but permits
work to cover travel expenses under the working holiday system, international students in
post-secondary education in internship programs which enable them to gain work experience
in a Japanese company as part of their college education, and international students who
are permitted to conduct an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence
previously granted. Therefore, it is assumed that the ratio of foreign nationals permitted to
work in Japan could even increase.
The characteristic categories of foreign nationals entering Japan for the purpose of
employment are as follows.
a.Engineer,Specialist in Humanities/International Services,Intra-company

Transferee(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 2-1, 3-1, 4-1)
The total number of foreign nationals newly entering Japan with a status of residence
designed for foreign employees working for a Japanese company was 12,791 in 2010,
consisting of three types of categories according to their status of residence: 2,852 with
Engineerstatus, 4,113 withSpecialist in Humanities/International Servicesstatus, and
5,826 withIntra-company Transfereestatus. The number of foreign employees with the
status of residenceEngineerdecreased by 511 (15.2%), those with the status ofSpecialist
in Humanities/International Servicesdecreased by 54 (1.3%), and those with the status
ofIntra-company Transfereeincreased by 581 (11.1%) from 2009, respectively. The total
number of foreign workers with these statuses of residence increased by 16 (0.1%).
As described in Section 2, 1 (3) B below, the number of registered foreign nationals in
Japan had been steadily increasing for all three of these types of status of residence in recent
years. However, as of the end of December 2010, the number of registered foreign nationals
is on a decreasing trend and decreased to 131,199 in total (a decrease of 5,475 (4.0%) from
2009) consisting of 46,592 with the status of residence ofEngineer, 68,467 with the status of
residence ofSpecialist in Humanities/International Services, and 16,140 with the status of
residence ofIntra-company Transferee.
According to the statistics on the status of residence ofEngineerby nationality (place of
origin), the largest number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence
ofEngineercame from China (983, or 34.5%), followed by India (384, or 13.5%), R.O. Korea
(302, or 10.6%), the Philippines (226, or 7.9%). The number of newly entering foreign nationals
from those four countries accounts for 66.4% of the total number of newly entering foreign
9
Part 1.
nationals with the residence status ofEngineer. In addition to the decreasing trend in 2008,
the aftereects of the global economic recession in 2009 signicantly decreased the number
of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofEngineer, leading to a
continuous decreasing trend.
Regarding the number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence of
Specialist in Humanities/International Services, statistics by nationality (place of origin)
show that the largest number came from the US (986, or 24.0%), followed by China (592,
or 14.4%), R.O. Korea (552, or 13.4%) and the UK (286, or 7.0%). These top four countries
accounted for just below 60% of the total number of newly entering foreign nationals with
this status of residence.
With regard to newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofIntra-
company Transferee, statistics by nationality (place of origin) show that the largest number
came from China (1,937, or 33.2%), followed by the US (528, or 9.1%), India (520, or 8.9%) and
R.O. Korea (505, or 8.7%), and these top four countries accounted for about 60% of the total
number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofIntra-company
Transferee.
b.Skilled Labor(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 6-1)

The number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofSkilled
Laboras master craftsmen unique to each foreign country has been on the decrease since
2001, but the gure increased in 2004. In 2010, the number of such foreign nationals decreased
to 3,588 by 1,796 (33.4%) from the previous year, showing a decreasing trend since 2009.
The number of registered foreign nationals in Japan with the status of residence ofSkilled
Laborhas been increasing every year since 2001, reaching 30,142 as of the end of December,
2010. This suggests that foreign nationals who work in Japan using their skills are increasing.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of newly entering
foreign nationals with the status of residence ofSkilled Laborcame from China (1,924, or
53.6%), followed by Nepal (563, or 15.7%), India (451, or 12.6%) and Thailand (134, or 3.7%) in
2010. This was due in part to the fact that most of the foreign nationals with this status of
residence were chefs of foreign cuisine, and these top four countries accounted for 85.6% of
the total number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofSkilled
Labor.
c.Entertainer(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 5-1)

Although the number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence
ofEntertainerhas been steadily increasing since 2001, it decreased after 2005. In 2010,
it decreased by 2,558 (8.2%) from 2009 to 28,612. The decreasing trend is due to stricter
implementation of landing and residence examination by reviewing the landing permission
criteria (ministerial ordinance) relating to the status of residence ofEntertainerin 2006.
However, this group still represents the largest ratio of total foreign nationals with a status of
residence for employment in specic and technical elds.
10
Part 1.

According to the statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of new
arrivals with the status of residence ofEntertainercame from the US, followed by the UK,
the Philippines and R.O. Korea in 2010. Entering Philippine entertainers were 1,506, consisting
mostly of singers and dancers, showing a decrease of 367 (19.6%) from the previous year.
(C) College Student and Pre-college Student (Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 9-1, 10)
The number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofCollege
Studentincreased by 10,835 (28.6%) from a year earlier to 48,706 in 2010. Meanwhile, the
number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofPre-college
Studentdecreased by 13,506 (47.8%) from a year earlier to 14,772 in 2010, following the
integration of the status of residence ofPre-college studentintoCollege Studentfrom
July, 2010.
According to statistics by region in 2010, most of the newly entering foreign nationals
with the status of residence ofCollege StudentorPre-college Studentcame from Asia,
accounting for 81.4% of the total number of foreign students with the status of residence of
College Studentand 94.4% with the status of residence ofPre-college Student.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), China occupied the largest number of
newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofCollege Student, standing
at 22,752 (46.7% of the total), followed by R.O. Korea (7,271, or 14.9%). The number of Chinese
college students increased by 5,913 (35.1%) from the previous year, and that of South Korean
college students increased by 1,784 (32.5%).
As for the number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofPre-
college students, China accounted for the largest number of students with 8,819 (59.7% of the
total) followed by R.O. Korea with 2,774 (18.8%). The number of Chinese pre-college students
decreased by 9,234 (51.1%) from the previous year, and that of South Korean pre-college
students decreased by 1,742 (38.6%). (Charts 7 and 8)
11
Part 1.
Chart 7: Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofCollege Studentby major nationality (place

of origin)

The two categories of status of residence,College Student and Pre-college Studentwere integrated into one

category,College Studenton July 1, 2010

Chart 8: Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofPre-college Studentby major nationality
(place of origin)

315

12
Part 1.

(D) Trainee and Technical Intern Trainee (Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 7-1, 11-1)
The number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence ofTrainee
decreased by 28,755 (35.7%) from a year earlier to 51,725 in 2010. The decrease is considered
to be due to a new training/technical intern training program that started on July 1,
2010, followingthe Law of Partial Amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee
Recognition Act and the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, Inter Alia, Those who
have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan(hereinafter,
referred to asamended Immigration Control Act.) enacted in July, 2009, along with which
the status of residence ofTraineeis to be issued only for those engaged in a training not
related to a practical business or an official training. Those engaged in the acquisition of
knowledge through lectures or the acquisition of skills through employment are issued the
status of residence ofTechnical Intern Training (1)(activities designated in (1) at the bottom
in theTechnical Intern Trainingsection in the appendix to theImmigration Control Act.)
According to statistics by region, the number of Asian trainees reached 46,161 in 2010
and accounted for 89.2% of the total. This is because Asian nations, particularly Japan
s
neighboring countries, are very eager to send their students to Japan as trainees. This
upward trend is expected to continue on account of the close relations between Asian
countries and Japan in various elds. In addition to Asia, Africa sent 2,206 trainees (4.3% of
the total) to Japan, while Latin America also dispatched 1,200 trainees (2.3%) to Japan.
foreign nationals with the status of residence ofTraineecame from China at 28,964 in 2010,
accounting for 56.0% of the total. China was followed by the Philippines (3,211, or 6.2%), Viet
Nam (3,150, or 6.1%), and Indonesia (2,970, or 5.7%). (Chart 9)
The number of newly entering foreign nationals with the newly established status of
residence ofTechnical Intern Training (1)in 2010 reached 26,002.
foreign nationals with the status of residence ofTechnical Intern Training (1)came from
China at 20,133, accounting for 77.4% of the total. China was followed by Viet Nam (2,184, or
8.4%), Indonesia (1,454, or 5.6%), and the Philippines (1,212, or 4.7%).
The total number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of residence of
Traineeand those ofTechnical Intern Training (1)in 2010 was 77,727, which decreased
by 2,753 (3.4%) from the number of newly entering foreign nationals with the status of
residence ofTraineein 2009.
13
Part 1.
Chart 9: Changes in the number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofTraineeby major nationality (place of origin)

(*) Since July 1, 2010 the status of residence,Trainee , is referred to as foreign nationals who have entered
Japan to receive public training or non-practical training not involving internship.
(E) Foreign Nationals Entering Japan with the Status of Residence of Resident
Activities Based on Civil Status or Position (Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 14-1,
15-1)
When foreign nationals enter Japan for resident activities based on civil status or position,
one of three types of statuses of residence namelySpouse or Child of Japanese National,
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident
, orLong-Term Residentwill be given. (No foreign
nationals newly entering Japan can obtain the status of residence ofPermanent Resident
because that status is granted only to foreign nationals who have lived in Japan for a certain
period of time (Article 7, Paragraph (1) (ii) of the Immigration Control Act).).
The number of new arrivals with the status of residence ofSpouse or Child of Japanese
Nationalreached 11,452 in 2010, while that of new arrivals with the status of residence of
Spouse or Child of Permanent Residentreached 1,068. In 2010, the number forSpouse
or Child of Japanese Nationaldecreased by 3,499 (23.4%) from a year earlier, while that for
Spouse or Child of Permanent Residentdecreased by 616 (36.6%) from a year earlier.
The number of new arrivals underLong-Term Residentdecreased by 1,768 (17.8%) from
a year earlier to 8,178 in 2010. According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), Brazil
occupied the largest number of such new arrivals, standing at 2,246 (27.5%), followed by the
Philippines at 2,195 (26.8%), and China at 2,097 (25.6%). (Chart 10)
14
Part 1.

Chart 10: Changes in the number of new arrivals by the status of residence categories for activities based on civil status or
position

(2) Special Cases of Landing (except for Landing Permission for

Temporary Refuge)
The number of persons who received permission for special cases of landing in 2010 was
1,972,090, an increase of 83,386 (4.4%) from 2009.
Among those, the number of persons who received landing permission for crew members in
2010 reached 1,946,807, which accounts for 98.7% of the total number of permission for special
cases of landing and occupies the largest percentage, followed by the number of persons who
15
Part 1.
received permission for landing at a port of call of 24,355 (1.2%). (Table 2)

Table 2: Changes in the number of cases of permission for special cases of landing
Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Total 2,092,527 2,089,456 2,079,981 1,888,704 1,972,090
Permission for Landing at a Port of Call 51,338 41,680 31,908 34,658 24,355
Permission for Landing in Transit 277 371 451 394 458
Landing Permission for Crew Members 2,040,436 2,047,033 2,047,221 1,853,267 1,946,807
Permission for Emergency Landing 274 300 314 368 381
Landing Permission Due to Distress 202 72 87 17 89
The following are permission for special cases of landing by category.
APermission for landing at a port of call

The number of foreign nationals who received permission for landing at a port of call in 2010
was 24,355, a decrease of 10,303 (29.7%) from 2009.
BPermission for landing in transit

The number of foreign nationals who received permission for landing in transit in 2010 was
458, an increase of 64 (16.2%) from 2009.
CLanding permission for crew members

The number of foreign nationals who received landing permission for crew members in
2010 was 1,946,807, an increase of 93,540 (5.0%) from 2009. It is probably because air carriers
reassessed the routes and the number of ights due to global economic recovery and then the
number of aircraft ying into Japan increased.
DPermission for emergency landing

The number of foreign nationals who received permission for emergency landing in 2010 was
381, an increase of 13 (3.5%) from 2009.
ELanding permission due to distress

The number of foreign nationals who
received landing permission due to distress
in 2010 was 89, an increase of 72 (423.5%)
from 2009.
On-board search
16
Part 1.

(3)Foreign Nationals Leaving Japan
The number of so-calledleaving Japan re-entry no reservingforeign nationals excluding
those who depart with re-entry permission reached 7,865,081, a new record high exceeding the
previous record of 7,592,261 in 2008.
Among them, the number of persons leaving Japan with a period of stay shorter than 15 days
was 7,229,477, which accounts for 91.9% of the total or almost all. Further, the number of persons
leaving Japan with a period of stay shorter than 3 months was 7,683,429, which accounts for
97.7% of the total. (Table 3)
Table 3: Changes in the number of foreign nationals leaving Japan re-entry nonreserving by period of stay
People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Period of Stay
Total 6,580,241 7,552,966 7,592,261 6,046,150 7,865,081
Within 15 days 5,939,544 6,922,329 6,958,485 5,423,103 7,229,477
More than 15 days to 1 month 228,664 240,710 252,854 237,515 266,227
More than 1 month to 3 months 235,324 223,473 207,055 179,882 187,725
More than 3 months to 6 months 45,536 36,924 34,243 30,638 29,777
More than 6 months to 1 year 60,486 49,978 49,009 48,709 43,085
More than 1 year to 3 years 50,814 59,554 68,933 85,253 80,770
More than 3 years 17,519 17,630 18,618 35,945 24,976
Unknown 2,354 2,368 3,064 5,105 3,044
Judgment for Landing

(1)Receipt and Findings of Hearings for Landing and Filing of
Objections
The procedure for the landing examination
consists of three steps: landing examination
by an immigration inspector, hearing for
landing by a special inquiry officer, and
decision by the Minister of Justice. The
second and third step, namely the hearing
for landing and the decision of the Minister
of Justice, are jointly called thejudgment
for landing. Any foreign national who
is found not to meet the conditions for
landing in Japan in the landing examination Hearing for landing
conducted by an immigration inspector will be handed over to a special inquiry officer, who
will conduct a hearing for landing (Article 7, Paragraph (4) and Article 9, Paragraph (5) of the
Immigration Control Act)* . (Chart 11)
*(Note 1)Landing examinationby the immigration inspector andlanding judgmentafter the hearing are jointly called the
landing examination procedure in the wide sense of the term.
Further, the procedure of decision by the Minister of Justice is not applicable to those who fail to provide information for
personal identication.
17
Part 1.

Chart 11: Flow of landing examination
Foreign Nationals Who Desire to Enter Japan
Landing examination by immigration inspectors
Provision of personal identification information or that No provision of personal identification

falling under any items in Article 6 paragraph(3) information
Conforming to the Hearing for landing by special inquiry officers (examination

Not Conforming to the of conformity with any items in Article 6 paragraph(3))
conditions for
conditions for landing
landing
Provision of personal identification No provision of personal

information or that falling under any identification information
items in Article 6 paragraph(3) no conformity with any
items in Article 6
paragraph(3)
Hearing for landing by special inquiry officers
(Examination of conformity with the conditions for
landing)
Not Conforming to the conditions

Conforming to the for landing
conditions for landing
Objection No objection
Decision by the Minister of Justice
(or by Director-General of the Regional Immigration
Bureau
With reasons Without reasons
With reasons to permit Without reasons to

special landing permit special landing
Special landing
Landing permission Exclusion Order
permission
The number of new cases for the hearing for landing (the number of cases which are assigned
to a special inquiry officer on account of a foreign national not having been granted landing
permission by an immigration inspector) in 2010 was 7,365, the smallest in the past ve years.
The most common cases were those in which foreign nationals were required to undergo
a hearing for landing on suspicion of having submitted a false landing application, such as
claiming to be a tourist or a similar status while their real purpose of entry was illegal work or
other illegal activities (not meeting the conditions provided for in Article 7, Paragraph (1) (ii) of
the Immigration Control Act). Such cases numbered 5,105, a decrease of 2,365 (31.7%) from 2009
and accounted for 69.3% of the total of new cases in 2010. This was followed by cases which
were assigned on account of foreign nationals who were suspected of not having valid passports
or visas, such as trying to enter Japan using a forged or altered passport (not meeting the
conditions provided for in Article 7, Paragraph (1) (i) of the Act). Such cases numbered 1,116,
18
Part 1.

a decrease of 184 (14.2%) from 2009 and accounted for 15.2% of the total number of new cases.
Furthermore, cases which were assigned to special inquiry ocers on suspicion of falling under
one of the reasons for denial of landing (not meeting the conditions provided for in Article 7,
Paragraph (1) (iv) of the Act) numbered 1,137, a decrease of 23 (2.0%) from 2009, accounting
for 15.4% of the total of new cases in 2010. No persons were handed over to special inquiry
ocers for refusing to provide information for personal identication, which became obligatory
for passengers to provide on and after November 20, 2007 (those who fall under Article 7,
Paragraph (4) of the Act) in 2009, while one person was handed over in 2010.
Reasons for decrease in the number of new cases for the hearing for landing include a
decrease of foreign nationals visiting Japan with illegal purposes because Japan
s strict
landing examination at the front gate, such as the procedure utilizing information for personal
identication, became widely known to foreign countries. (Table 4)
Table 4: Changes in the number of new cases for the hearing for landing by conditions for landing
(Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Conditions for landing
Total 18,258 18,473 12,660 9,930 7,365
Using fake passports or visas

(Not conforming to Article 7-(1)- 2,267 2,041 1,365 1,300 1,116
( ))
False landing application

(Not conforming to Article 7-(1)- 14,313 13,798 9,722 7,470 5,105
( ))
Not meeting the period of stay

(Not conforming to Article 7-(1)- 2 4 7 0 6
( ))
Falling under the reasons for
denial of landing 1,676 2,628 1,563 1,160 1,137
(Not conforming to Article 7-(1)-
( ))
Not providing personal
identication information 2 3 0 1
(Not conforming to Article 7-(4))
Looking at the processing of the hearing for landing in 2010 **, the number of cases where
landing was permitted as it was known that conditions for landing were met as the result of the
hearing for landing, decreased to 2,903 cases (20.8%) from 2009.
Also, cases in which foreign nationals were ordered to leave Japan because they were found
not to meet the conditions for landing at the hearing for landing by a special inquiry ocer and
**(Note 2) In some cases, the total number of new cases for the hearing for landing by conditions for landing (Table 4), is not the
same as that of the changes in the processing of the hearing for landing (Table 5). This is because a case may be assigned by
the immigration inspector to the special inquiry ocer at the end of the year, or the hearing may be prolonged, and it may
be the next year after the case is assigned by the immigration inspector to the special inquiry ocer when the hearing for
landing is processed.
19
Part 1.
who later consented to the ndings numbered 2,662, a decrease of 28.7% from 2009.
Cases in which foreign nationals led objections with the Minister of Justice because they
were not satisfied with the finding by a special inquiry officer that they did not meet the
conditions for landing numbered 1,319, a decrease of 34.5% from 2,014 in 2009. (Table 5)
Table Changes in the prosessing of the hearing for landing
(Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Total 18,240 18,496 12,661 9,938 7,304
Landing permission 6,155 6,003 4,405 3,664 2,903
Expulsion order 9,126 8,326 5,537 3,731 2,662
Filing of objection 1,706 3,097 1,967 2,014 1,319

Withdrawal landing
application 308 307 368 249 231
Others 945 763 384 280 189
*
Othersincludes cases where the jurisdiction has changed or the application has been withdrawn owing to
the departure, escape or death of the applicant during the hearing for landing by the special inquiry ocer.
(2) Foreign Nationals Who Fall under Any of the Reasons for Denial of
Landing
In principle, foreign nationals denied permission for landing are those who (1) are ordered to
leave Japan after a hearing for landing or (2) are ordered to leave Japan after the results of ling
an objection with the Minister of Justice.
The number of foreign nationals denied permission for landing in 2010 was 3,489, a 27.0%
decrease from 4,780 in 2009.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of foreign nationals
denied permission for landing came consistently from R.O. Korea standing at 1,340, (38.4% of the
total), followed by China standing at 348 (10.0%) and China (Taiwan) standing at 325 (9.3%). The
top three countries accounted for about 58% of the total. (Chart 12)
20
Part 1.

Chart 12: Changes in the number of foreign nationals who were denied landing by major nationality (place of origin)
(3) Special Permission for Landing

The Minister of Justice may, even if he/she nds that the objection led is without reason,
grant special permission for landing if the applicant (1) has received re-entry permission, or (2)
has entered Japan under the control of another person due to human tracking, or (3) if the
Minister of Justice nds special circumstances which warrant granting special permission for
landing. (Article 12, Paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Act)
Cases in which the Minister of Justice granted special landing permission to foreign nationals
denied permission as a result of filing an objection in 2010 numbered 975. This was a 40.1%
decrease from 1,629 in 2009. (Table 6)
21
Part 1.
Table Changes in the number of lings of objections and decisions by the Minister of Justice
(Cases)
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Filing of Objection () 1,707 3,103 1,973 2,022 1,326
With reason 23 16 10 5 18
Decisions
Without reason (Order to

288 513 492 361 291
leave Japan)
Special Permission for
1,379 2,492 1,421 1,629 975
Landing
Withdrawal 11 76 42 20 21
Outstanding 6 6 8 7 21
(*)Filing of objectionsincludes the number of outstanding cases of the previous year.
Pre-entry Examination
(1) Advance Consultation for Issuance of Visas
The Ministry of Foreign Aairs, which is in charge of visa administration, coordinates with
the Ministry of Justice, which is in charge of immigration administration, with regard to the
entry of foreign nationals. The Minister of Foreign Aairs consults with the Minister of Justice
as the need arises, on whether a visa should be issued to a certain foreign national. This is called
advance consultation for issuance of visas.
The number of cases of advance consultation for visa issuance was 4,615 in 2010, showing a
decrease of 1,890 from 6,505 in 2009 (29.1%).
(2) Certicate of Eligibility

The system of the certificate of eligibility was introduced by the amended Immigration
Control Act which entered into force in 1990, with the aim of allowing foreign nationals who
intend to work, study or live with someone over the medium to long term or their agents (e.g.
accepting organizations) to undergo examination in advance on some of landing requirements,
including eligibility for status of residence and to receive a certificate from a regional
immigration bureau if they qualify. This system enables any foreign national who presents or
submits a certicate of eligibility to obtain a visa and permission for landing quickly.
In 2010, the number of cases of applications for a certificate of eligibility was 248,523, a
decrease of 25,466 (9.3%) from 2009.
Further, the advance consultation for issuance of visas and the examination of certicate of
eligibility are jointly called pre-entry examination. In recent years, the number of processed
cases of application for issuing a certicate of eligibility has steadily occupied the total number
of processed cases of pre-entry examination. (Table 7)
Table Changes in the number of cases of pre-entry examination
(Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Advance consultation for issuance 4,716 6,721 6,661 6,505 4,615
of a visa
Application for Certicate of 359,910 353,270 329,032 273,989 248,523
Eligibility
22
Part 1.

Section 2 Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan
The Number of Registered Foreign Nationals Residing in

Japan
While the number of registered foreign nationals residing in Japan indicates the state of thestock
,
which shows how many foreign nationals live in Japan for a certain period and what is their purpose,
the statistics of foreign nationals on entry and departure from Japan show theflowof foreign
nationals to and from Japan.
In principle, every foreign national who has entered Japan must apply for registration to the
mayor or head of the city, town, or village in which his/her residence is located, in accordance with
the Alien Registration Act (hereinafter referred to as theRegistration Act), within 90 days of the
date of his/her landing (Article 3 of the Registration Act). However, most foreign nationals who have
entered Japan with the status of residence ofTemporary Visitor, accounting for more than 90% of
the total number of foreign entrants, leave Japan without registering.
Therefore, the registered number of foreign nationals with the status of residence ofTemporary
Visitoris small (accounting for only 1.4% of the total number of registered foreign nationals as of the
end of 2010). As a result, the statistics on the foreign nationals registered in Japan can be considered
as the data mainly for foreign nationals who stay in Japan for a relatively long period of time for
such purposes as employment, study or cohabitation, living asettled lifein the local community.
Further, the following persons are not the subject of alien registration: persons with permission
for provisional landing, persons with special cases of landing (excluding those who received landing
permission for temporary refuge), diplomats, etc. having the status of residence ofDiplomat,
tourists on ocial purposes for a foreign government having the status of residence ofOcialand
military personnel, and civilian employees and their family members who fall under the Agreement
under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of
America, regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan and
other agreements.
(1) The Total Number of Registered Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan

A number of foreign nationals newly entering Japan each year remain and live in Japan for
a medium or long period of time. As a result, the total number of registered foreign nationals
residing in Japan has been increasing every year. However, the number of foreign nationals
newly entering Japan is on a decreasing trend since 2009. As of the end of 2010, the number
of registered foreign nationals was 2,134,151, decreased by 51,970 (2.4%) from the end of 2009.
However, the number increased by about 1.3 times compared to the end of 2000, ten years ago,
which means that it has been on the rise over the long run.
Registered foreign nationals accounted for 1.67% of the total Japanese population as of the
end of 2010, when the total population of Japan was 128,056,000 people. The ratio decreased by
a basis point 0.04% from 1.71% at the end of 2009. However, it increased by a basis point 0.34%
from the end of 2000, which means that it has been on the rise over the long run. (Chart 13)
23
Part 1.
Chart 13: Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals and its percentage of the total population in Japan
(2) The Number of Registered Foreign Nationals by Nationality (Place of

Origin)
According to the statistics of the number of registered foreign nationals by nationality (place
of origin) as of the end of 2010, China marked the largest number at 687,156, accounting for
32.2% of the total. This was followed by North and South Koreas (565,989 accounting for 26.5%),
Brazil (230,552 accounting for 10.8%), the Philippines (210,181 accounting for 9.8%), and Peru (54,636
accounting for 2.6%).
Looking at yearly changes, we nd that the number of registered foreign nationals from China
has been continuously increasing and still continued to increase, after exceeding North and
South Koreas in 2007. Meanwhile, the number of registered foreign nationals from North and
South Koreas has been continuously decreasing and decreased by 12,506 (2.2%) as of the end of
2010, as compared to the end of 2009. The number of registered foreign nationals from Brazil,
which has been decreasing, after peaking in the end of 2007, decreased by 86,415 (27.3%) from
2007. While the number of registered foreign nationals from the Philippines showed a decrease
at the end of 2005, it was on an increasing trend. However, by the end of 2010, it had decreased
by 1,535 (0.7%) compared with the end of 2009. (Chart 14)
24
Part 1.

Chart 14: Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by major nationality (place of origin)
(3) The Number of Registered Foreign Nationals by Purpose (Status of

Residence)
A.Permanent ResidentandSpecial Permanent Resident(Data Section 2,
Statistics (1) 13)
According to the statistics of the number of registered foreign nationals by status of
residence, those with the status ofPermanent Resident(excluding Special Permanent
Resident) were the largest group as of the end of 2010. The number of permanent residents was
565,089, an increase of 31,617 (5.9%) from the end of 2009, accounting for 26.5% of the total. (Table
8)
25
Part 1.
Table Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by status of residence

People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 2,084,919 2,152,973 2,217,426 2,186,121 2,134,151
Professor 8,525 8,436 8,333 8,295 8,050
Artist 462 448 461 490 480
Religious Activities 4,654 4,732 4,601 4,448 4,232
Journalist 273 279 281 271 248
Investor/Business Manager 7,342 7,916 8,895 9,840 10,908
Researcher 2,332 2,276 2,285 2,372 2,266
Instructor 9,511 9,832 10,070 10,129 10,012
Engineer 35,135 44,684 52,273 50,493 46,592
Specialist in Humanities/International Services 57,323 61,763 67,291 69,395 68,467
Entertainer 21,062 15,728 13,031 10,966 9,247
Skilled Labor 17,869 21,261 25,863 29,030 30,142
Cultural Activities 3,025 3,014 2,795 2,780 2,637
Temporary Visitor 56,449 49,787 40,407 33,378 29,093
College Student 131,789 132,460 138,514 145,909 201,511
Pre-college Student 36,721 38,130 41,313 46,759
Trainee 70,519 88,086 86,826 65,209 9,343
Dependent 91,344 98,167 107,641 115,081 118,865
Permanent Resident 394,477 439,757 492,056 533,472 565,089
Special Permanent Resident 443,044 430,229 420,305 409,565 399,106
Without Acquiring Status of Residence 17,415 13,960 13,510 12,376 9,874
Temporary Refuge 30 30 30 30 30
Others 21,161 20,131 18,797 14,766 7,893
*Status of Residencemeaning the status of residence provided for by the Immigration Control Act or the status of
special permanent residentwhich allows residence)
Looking at changes in the number of permanent residents which has steadily increased
during the period between the end of 2006 and the end of 2010, it increased by 170,612 (43.3%) at
the end of 2010 from 394,477 as of the end of 2006.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of permanent
residents came from China. The number of Chinese permanent residents was 169,484 as of the
end of 2010, followed by Brazil, the Philippines, North and South Koreas and Peru. Further, the
numbers of permanent residents from China, Brazil, the Philippines, North and South Korea
and Peru increased by about 1.4 times, 1.5 times, 1.5 times, 1.2 times, and 1.3 times, respectively,
compared to the end of 2006.
On the other hand, the number of registered foreign nationals who wereSpecial Permanent
Residentthat occupied the largest percentage until 2006 is decreasing year by year, while the
26
Part 1.

percentage occupying the total number of registered foreign nationals is decreasing accordingly.
Looking at changes over a longer period, the percentage of foreign nationals equivalent to the
status ofSpecial Permanent Residentoccupied approximately 90% from the time just after
the war until 1955. However, the decrease in the number ofSpecial Permanent Resident
itself and the increase of foreign nationals newly visiting Japan with various purposes (so-called
newcomers) are both driving the tendency ofSpecial Permanent Residentto decrease, which
vividly shows the change in the situation in Japan surrounding resident foreign nationals.
BForeign Nationals Residing in Japan for the Purpose of Employment in Specic

and Technical Fields (Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 1-2 through 6-2)
The number of registered foreign nationals residing in Japan for the purpose of employment
in specic and technical elds decreased by 5,669 (2.7%) from the end of 2009 to 207,227 as of the
end of 2010, accounting for 9.7% of the total. Looking at changes in this number from the end
of 2006 to the end of 2010, although we nd that the number of registered persons was on an
increasing trend from the end of 2007, it has decreased since the end of 2010 and the number of
those with the status of residence other thanSkilled Labordecreased from the previous year.
(Chart 15)
Chart 15: Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by the status of residence for employment in specic and
technical elds
27
Part 1.
According to statistics by category of the status of residence, the number of registered

foreign nationals with the status of residence ofResearcherhas recently been decreasing.
One of the factors for this trend is considered to be that the status of residence ofDesignated
Activitiescame to be granted to those who intended to engage in research activities if they
met the requirements for preferential measures under the Act on Special Zones for Structural
Reform initiated since April 2003. Further, the number of those with the status of residence of
Entertainerdecreased by 1,719 (15.7%) at the end of 2010 from the end of the previous year,
showing a continuous decrease. This is caused by the decrease of new entrants with the status
of residence ofEntertainer.
The numbers of registered foreign nationals with such statuses of residence asEngineer,
Specialist in Humanities/International ServicesandIntra-company Transfereewhich
were basically designed for foreign employees working at companies, were 46,592, 68,467,
16,140 respectively, as of the end of 2010, decreased by 3,901 (7.7%), 928 (1.3%) and 646 (3.8%)
respectively, from the end of 2009.
At the end of 2010, the percentage of the number of registered foreign nationals with such
status of residence asEngineer,Specialist in Humanities/International ServicesandIntra-
company Transfereeagainst the total number of registered foreign nationals residing in
Japan for the purpose of employment in specific and technical fields was 22.5%, 33.0%, 7.8%
respectively.
C.College Student(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 9-2)

The number of registered foreign nationals with the status of residence ofCollege Student
signicantly increased to 201,511*, increasing by 55,602 (38.1%) from the end of 2009, partially
due to integration of the status of residence ofPre-College StudentintoCollege Student
since July, 2010, and exceeded 200,000 for the rst time at the end of 2010. On a nationality (place
of origin) basis, the number of Chinese college students was 134,483, accounting for 66.7% of the
total, followed by North and South Koreans (27,066 accounting for 13.4%).
Looking at changes in the total number from the end of 2006 until the end of 2010, the
number as of the end of 2010 was about 1.5 times** that as of the end of 2006.
D.Trainee,Technical Intern Training (1)(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 7-2, 11-2)

The number of registered foreign nationals with the status of residence ofTraineewas 9,343
as of the end of 2010 with a decrease of 55,866 (85.7%) compared with the end of 2009, marking
a signicant decrease from the previous year. According to statistics by nationality (place of
origin), the number of those from China was 5,602, accounting for 60.0% of the total, followed by
Indonesia (743 accounting for 8.0%) and the Philippines (730 accounting for 7.8%).
In addition, looking at the change from the end of 2006 until the end of 2010 by nationality (place
*(Note 1) The number increased by 8,843 (4.6%) compared to the total number 192,668 of the statuses of residence ofCollege
StudentandPre-college Studentat the end of 2009.
**(Note 2) The comparison was made with the total number of the statuses of residence ofCollege StudentandPre-college
Student.
28
Part 1.

of origin), China showed a decrease of 47,299 (89.4%) and Indonesia showed a decrease of 3,664
(83.1%).
The number of registered foreign nationals with the status of residence ofTechnical Intern
Training (1), a newly established status of residence along with the revised Immigration Law
enacted on July 1, 2010 was 50,423 at the end of 2010.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the number of those from China was
39,341, accounting for 78.0% of the total, followed by Viet Nam at 4,096 (8.1%), the Philippines at
2,773 (5.5%) and Indonesia at 2,568 (5.1%).
Further, the total number of registered foreign nationals with the statuses ofTraineeand
Technical Intern Training (1)was 59,766 at the end of 2010, a decrease by 5,443 (8.3%) from
the number of registered foreign nationals with the status ofTraineeat the end of 2009.
E.Designated Activities (Technical Intern Training),Technical Intern Training (2)

(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 8, 12)
The number of registered foreign nationals with the status of residence ofDesignated
Activities (Technical Intern Training)was 50,080 as of the end of 2010 with a decrease of
59,713 (54.4%) compared to the end of 2009. This decrease is considered to be caused by the fact
that, due to the launch of the new training/technical intern training program, when a registered
foreign national needs to apply for a change of the status of residence toDesignated Activities
(Technical Intern Training)issued under the previous system or to continue the status of
residence after July 1, 2010, the status of residence is changed intoTechnical Intern Training
(2)(Activities designated in (2) at the bottom in theTechnical Intern Trainingsection in the
appendix 1 to theImmigration Control Act.)
38,616, accounting for 77.1% of the total, followed by Viet Nam at 4,292 (8.6%), Indonesia at 2,891
(5.8%) and the Philippines at 2,814 (5.6%).
In addition, looking at the change from the end of 2006 until the end of 2010 by nationality (place
of origin), China decreased by 20,074 (34.2%) and Indonesia by 2,646 (47.8%) respectively, showing
a signicant decrease.
The number of registered foreign nationals with the status of residence ofTechnical Intern
Training (2)newly established along with the amended Immigration Control Act in July 1, 2010
was 49,585.
38,983, accounting for 78.6% of the total, followed by Viet Nam at 3,826 (7.7%), the Philippines at
2,827 (5.7%) and Indonesia at 2,775 (5.6%).
Furthermore, the total number of registered foreign nationals with the statuses ofDesignated
Activities (Technical Intern Training)andTechnical Intern Training (2)was 99,665 at the
end of 2010, a decrease by 10,128 (9.2%) from the number of registered foreign nationals with the
status ofDesignated Activities (Technical Intern Training)at the end of 2009.
29
Part 1.
F. Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan with the Status of Residence for Resident
Activities Based on Civil Status or Position (Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 14-2,
15-2)
As of the end of 2010, the number of registered foreign nationals with the status of residence
ofSpouse or Child of Japanese Nationalwas 196,248. Looking at the change from the end of
2006 until the end of 2010,Spouse or Child of Japanese Nationalwas on an increasing trend
until the end of 2006, however, it turned into a decreasing trend after the end of 2007, and the
number as of the end of 2010 decreased by 25,675 (11.6%) from the end of 2009.
According to statistics by nationality, as of the end of 2010, the number of registered foreign
nationals with the status of residence ofSpouse or Child of Japanese Nationalfrom China was
53,697, accounting for 27.4% of the total, followed by the Philippines (41,255 accounting for 21.0%)
and Brazil (30,003 accounting for 15.3%). Looking at the change from the end of 2006 until the
end of 2010 by nationality (place of origin), China took rst place, surpassing Brazil, while Brazil
is decreasing each year and its number as of the end of 2010 decreased to less than half from
the end of 2006.
The number of registered foreign nationals with the status of residence ofLong-Term
Residentwas 194,602 as of the end of 2010 accounting for 9.1% of the total. Looking at the
change from the end of 2006 until the end of 2010, the number was, similarly to the case of
Spouse or Child of Japanese National, on an increasing trend until the end of 2006, however,
it turned into a decreasing trend after the end of 2007 and the number as of the end of 2010
decreased by 27,169 (12.3%) as compared with the end of 2009.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the number of such foreign nationals
from Brazil was 77,359, accounting for 39.8%, followed by the Philippines (37,870 accounting for
19.5%) and China (32,048 accounting for 16.5%) at the end of 2010. Looking at the change from
the end of 2006 until the end of 2010, the Philippines, which ranked in third place until the end
of 2007 continuously increased and reached second place at the end of 2008 surpassing China,
continued to increase steadily.
Residence Examinations
If any foreign national in Japan desires to
stay longer than the period of stay originally
permitted to him/her, or desires to change his/
her status of residence in order to pursue a new
purpose differing from the purpose for which
the original status of residence was granted,
the foreign national must file an application in
accordance with the Immigration Control Act
and obtain required permission from the Minister
of Justice or the Director-General of the regional
immigration bureau. There is such permission
for extension of period of stay, change of status Residence examination
30
Part 1.

of residence, acquisition of status of residence, re-entry, permanent residence, permission to engage
in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted, and so
forth. The decision as to whether or not to grant permission is made through the status of residence
examination.
Although the total number of cases of status of residence examinations and so forth in which
permission was granted was on an increasing trend in recent years, it decreased by 27,545 (2.0%)
from 2009 to 1,375,705 in 2010. One of the reasons for the decrease in the number of registered
foreign nationals is considered to be the fact that an increasing number of foreign nationals returned
to their home countries due to the global economic recession triggered by the so-called Lehman
s fall
in September, 2008, leading to a decrease of foreign nationals staying in Japan and, along with that,
the number of foreign nationals ling an application for extension of period of stay decreased in 2010.
(Table 9)
Table 9: Changes in the number of cases of permission in status of residence examinations
Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Total 1,327,185 1,351,961 1,361,844 1,403,250 1,375,705
Permission to engage in an activity other than those 107,158 119,145 133,513 147,528 163,654
permitted by the status of residence previously granted
Permission for change of status of residence 123,381 138,427 149,214 149,046 188,178
Permission for extension of period of stay 466,304 436,630 434,307 444,330 389,439
Permission for permanent residence 51,538 60,509 57,806 53,960 48,003
Permission for special permanent residence 112 131 114 139 105
Permission for acquisition of status of residence 8,013 8,680 8,957 8,303 7,531
Re-entry permission 570,679 588,439 577,933 599,944 578,795

*1Permission for permanent residenceis the permission provided for in Article 22 of the Immigration Control Act.
*2Permission for acquisition of status of residenceincludes permission for permanent residence described in Article 22-2
in the Immigration Control Act.
*3Permission for Special Permanent Residenceis the number of permissions of special permanent residence provided
for in Article 5 of the Special Law on Immigration Control of Inter Alios, Those Who Have Lost Japanese Nationality on
the Basis of the Treaty of Peace with Japan.
(1) Permission for Extension of Period of Stay

(Article 21 of the Immigration Control Act)
Any foreign national in Japan who desires to stay longer than the period of stay originally
permitted without changing his/her status of residence must obtain permission for an extension
of the period of stay.
The number of foreign nationals who obtained such permission in 2010 was 389,439, a
decrease by 54,891 (12.4%) as compared with 2009*.
(2) Permission for Change of Status of Residence

(Article 20 of the Immigration Control Act)
Any foreign national in Japan who desires to change the status of residence originally
permitted to him/her must obtain permission for change of status of residence for the new
purpose.
31
Part 1.
In 2010, the number of foreign nationals who obtained such permission was 188,178, an
increase by 39,132 (26.3%) as compared with 2009*.
Among these, the major cases of applying for permission for change of status of residence
were as follows:
A. Change of Status of Residence from the Status of Student for Employment

Purposes
The foreign nationals studying at Japanese universities or vocational/technical schools have
the status of residence ofStudent.Many of them wish to stay in Japan to work for a Japanese
company or some another organization in Japan after graduating from these schools.
The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission for change of status of residence for
employment was 7,831 in 2010, a decrease by 1,753(18.3 %) from a year earlier. Although it had
consistently demonstrated an upward trend since 2003, it took a downward turn due to global
economic downturn. (Table 10)
Table 10: Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of status of residence for employment from college
student or pre-college student by nationality (place of origin)
Cases
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 8,272 10,262 11,040 9,584 7,831
China 6,000 7,539 7,651 6,333 4,874
R.O. Korea 944 1,109 1,360 1,368 1,205
China (Taiwan) 200 282 303 285 279
Viet Nam 92 131 189 161 167
Nepal 45 63 161 173 141
Sri Lanka 55 81 160 141 120
Thailand 67 87 97 101 119
Bangladesh 119 138 164 125 107
Indonesia 53 73 74 97 79
Malaysia 118 120 134 105 65
Others 579 639 747 695 675
*Chinadoes not include Taiwan, Hong Kong or others.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the number of foreign nationals who
obtained such permission from China was 4,874, accounting for 62.2% of the total, followed by
R.O.Korea (1,205, accounting for 15.4%) and China (Taiwan) (279, accounting for 3.6%).
According to statistics by status of residence, foreign nationals who obtained permission
to change their statuses toSpecialist in Humanities/International Servicesrepresented the
largest ratio, totaling 5,422 and accounting for 69.2%, a decrease by 1,255(18.8%) from 2009.
In addition, 1,390 foreign nationals (17.7%) obtained permission to change their statuses to
Engineerin 2010, and these two statuses of residence account for 87.0% of the total. (Table 11)
*(Note) It is considered to be that the number of foreign nationals applying for permission for change of status of residence increased
while the number of foreign nationals applying for extension of period of stay decreased contributed to that, along with the
starting of the new training and technical intern training programs from July, 2010, those who were to apply for extension
of period of stay from the second year to the third year of the program applied not for extension of period of stay with the
status of residence ofDesignated Activities (Technical Intern Training)but for change of status of residence fromDesignated
Activities (Technical Intern Training)toTechnical Intern Training (2).
32
Part 1.

Table 11: Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of status of residence for employment from college
student or pre-college student by status of residence permitted
Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 8,272 10,262 11,040 9,584 7,831
Specialist in Humanities/Internaional Services 5,938 7,304 7,863 6,677 5,422
Engineer 1,720 2,314 2,414 2,154 1,390
Professor 401 416 430 444 512
Researcher 104 87 111 97 93
Instructor 20 23 29 31 46
Skilled Labor 5 6 3 4 11
Artist 6 6 2 8 5
Entertainer 3 3 5 2 3
Others 12 14 20 12 8
BPermission to Change Status of Residence in order to Participate inTechnical

Intern Training (2)
The Technical intern training program was a system 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 international
contributions. On July 1, 2010, new training and technical intern training programs started to be
operated and it is necessary for any foreign national who wishes to acquire prociency of the
skills obtained with the status of residence ofTechnical Intern Training (1)or to be engaged
in an operation which requires the obtained skills needs to take part in the program to obtain
permission for change of status of residence toTechnical Intern Training (2).
Technical Intern Training (2)covers skills that are publicly evaluated in Japan and also
in demand in the home countries of the trainees. These skills were categorized into 66 types
of work in total as of April 1, 2011. 54 types, including form panel setting and machining, are
evaluated based on the National Skills Test under the Occupation Skills Development Promotion
Law for Basic Grade 1 and Basic Grade 2. The remaining 12 types, including welding and
operation of spinning machines, are publicly evaluated, although not by national examinations,
according to a system established by the Japan International Training Cooperation Organization.
Foreign trainees who applied for the shift of the status of residence toTechnical Intern
Training (2)in 2010 decreased by 13,041 (21.0%) from a year earlier to 49,166. However, in
total, more than 430,000 trainees took part in the program after nishing their training from
establishment of the technical intern training program in 1993 up to the end of 2010*.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of trainees who
obtained permission for the shift of status of residence toTechnical Intern Training (2)in 2010
was from China (39,616), followed by Viet Nam (3,349), the Philippines (2,806), Indonesia (2,272),
and Thailand (691). The most popular types of work were women/children
s apparel production,
welding and plastic molding in descending order. (Tables 12 and 13)
*(Note) The number in 2010 is the total number of foreign nationals who shifted the status of residence toDesignated Activities
(Technical Intern Training)in the old system and those who changed the status of residence toTechnical Intern Training (2)
in the current system.
33
Part 1.
Table 12: Changes in the number of trainees who switch to the Technical Intern Training Program by nationality
People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Nationality
Total 41,000 53,999 62,520 62,207 49,166
China 34,817 42,871 49,566 49,032 39,616
Viet Nam 2,221 4,155 4,885 4,972 3,349
Indonesia 1,924 3,274 3,393 3,467 2,272
Philippines 1,482 2,407 3,000 3,127 2,806
Thailand 342 783 1,079 1,082 691
Others 214 509 597 527 432
*1Chinadoes not include Taiwan, Hong Kong or others.
*2The training and technical intern training programs herein is referred to as those reviewed in accordance with the
revised Immigration Control Act on July 15, 2009 and enforced in July 2010. TheDesignated Activities (Technical
Intern Training)in the former system correspond to the Technical Intern Training, Items 1-(a) and 1-(b) in the
current system.
*3The numbers corresponding to the years from 2006 to 2009 were those of the foreign nationals who switched their
status of residence toDesignated Activities (Technical Intern Training). The number corresponding to 2010 was
a total number of the foreign nationals who switched their status of residence toDesignated Activities (Technical
Intern Training)in the former system and who switched their status of residence to theTechnical Intern Training,
Item (2)in the current system.
Table 13: Changes in the number of trainees who switch to the Technical Intern Training Program by job type
People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Job Type
Total 41,000 53,999 62,520 62,207 49,166
Women/Children s apparel production 10,750 11,697 12,707 11,428 10,252
Mold construction 526 800 1,012 877 604
Men s apparel production 741 658 637 631 681
Welding 2,817 3,882 5,457 5,569 4,040
Steel reinforcement construction 409 610 889 987 709
Machining 1,918 2,960 3,539 3,203 1,490
Metal press work 1,768 2,505 3,150 2,769 1,625
Plumbing 88 119 163 215 146
Painting 1,070 1,255 1,644 1,766 1,128
Furniture production 260 392 364 435 259
Casting 811 1,167 1,062 977 752
Steeplejack 610 702 1,125 993 819
Plastic molding 2,686 4,769 4,270 4,454 2,987
Carpenter 350 441 356 402 376
Construction machinery production 77 147 172 179 171
Others 16,119 21,895 25,973 27,322 23,127
*1The training and technical intern training programs herein is referred to as those reviewed in accordance with the
revised Immigration Control Act on July 15, 2009 and enforced in July 2010. TheDesignated Activities (Technical
Intern Training)in the former system correspond to the Technical Intern Training, Items 1-(a) and 1-(b) in the
current system.
*2The numbers corresponding to the years from 2006 to 2009 were those of the foreign nationals who switched their
status of residence toDesignated Activities (Technical Intern Training). The number corresponding to 2010 was
a total number of the foreign nationals who switched their status of residence toDesignated Activities (Technical
Intern Training)in the former system and who switched their status of residence to theTechnical Intern Training,
Item (2)in the current system.
(3) Permission for Acquisition of Status of Residence (Article 22-2 of

the Immigration Control Act)
If a foreign national who was born in Japan, an individual who became a foreign national after
renouncing Japanese nationality or the United States of America military personnel member
stipulated in the Status of Forces Agreement Japan-US who lost the status wishes to continue
living in Japan, he/she must acquire a status of residence.
The number of such foreign nationals who obtained, permission for acquisition of status of
34
Part 1.

residence was 7,531 in 2010, a decrease by 772 (9.3%) from 2009. (Table 9)
(4) Re-entry Permission (Article 26 of the Immigration Control Act)

If a foreign national who resides in Japan wishes to temporarily depart and re-enter Japan,
he/she may reenter and land in Japan using his/her current status of residence and period of
stay without re-applying for a visa by receiving re-entry permission before leaving Japan.
In 2010, the number of such foreign nationals who obtained re-entry permission was 578,795, a
decrease by 21,149 (3.5%) from 2009. (Table 9)
(5) Permission to Engage in an Activity Other than That Permitted

under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (Article 19(2) of
the Immigration Control Act)
A foreign national who is granted a status of residence according to the activities in which
he/she is engaged in Japan must receive permission to engage in an activity other than that
permitted under the status of residence previously granted if the foreign national wishes to
become engaged inactivities related to the management of a business involving income or
activities for which he/she receives remunerationwhich are not included in those activities
under his/her category of status of residence. A typical example is that of an international
student who wishes to have a part-time job. The Minister of Justice will give permission to the
extent that the extra activity does not interfere with the activity that is the original purpose of
residence.
The number of foreign nationals who obtained such permission in 2010 was 163,654, an
increase by 16,126 (10.9%) from 2009. (Table 9)
(6) Permission for Permanent Residence (Article 22 of the Immigration

Control Act)
The status of permanent residence is granted when certain conditions have been satised by
foreign nationals who reside in Japan under another status of residence and who have applied
for change of status of residence to permanent residence or by those who have applied to
acquire status of residence due to birth or renouncement of Japanese nationality.
With respect to permission for permanent residence, the Immigration Bureau established
on March 31, 2005 theGuidelines for Contribution to Japan, and publicly announced it on
its website. Also, the Immigration Bureau posts cases where the contribution was recognized
and permission for permanent residence was granted, and where permission was not granted,
on its website and updates it from time to time. On March 31, 2006, the Immigration Bureau
established theGuideline for Permission for Permanent Residenceto publicly announce
general requirements relating to permission for permanent residence, and the standard for the
number of years of residence, and partially amended theGuidelines for Contribution to Japan.
The number of foreign nationals who were granted permission for permanent residence in
35
Part 1.
2007 was a record high of 60,509. However, the number has been on a decrease since then to
53,818 in 2009 and 47,898 in 2010. (Table 14)
Table 14Changes in the number of permanent residence permits by nationality (place of origin)
Cases
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 51,538 60,509 57,806 53,818 47,898
China 13,744 15,875 16,140 16,957 16,714
Philippines 7,554 8,723 8,982 9,248 9,157
Brazil 16,055 19,793 16,824 11,430 7,549
Korea 3,368 3,788 3,914 4,060 3,760
Peru 2,878 3,241 2,783 2,389 1,756
Others 7,939 9,089 9,163 9,734 8,962
*Chinaincludes Taiwan, Hong Kong or others.
Section 3 Japanese Nationals Leaving and Returning to

Japan
The Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan

(1) The Total Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan
The total number of Japanese nationals leaving Japan in 2010 was 16,637,224, an increase by
1,191,540 (7.7%) from 2009. (Chart 16)
Chart 16: Changes in the number of Japanese nationals leaving Japan

15,445,684

(2) The Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan by Gender and

Age
According to statistics by gender, the number of Japanese nationals leaving Japan in 2010
consists of 9,087,029 males and 7,550,195 females: males account for 54.6% of the total and females
account for 45.4%. This percentage of male and female has not changed drastically from 2001,
and the percentage accounted for by males exceeds that by females.
36
Part 1.

According to statistics by age, the number of Japanese nationals leaving Japan in 2010
consists of 3,336,316 persons in their 30s, which accounts for 20.1% of the total, followed by
3,321,846 in their 60s or older (20.0%), 3,168,430 in their 40s (19.0%), 2,819,226 in their 50s (16.9%),
and 2,695,444 in their 20s (16.2%).
The percentage of males and females by age shows that the percentage of females younger
than 20 and in their 20s exceeds that of males, and in particular, in respect of those in their 20s,
females account for 63.7%, a particularly high percentage. Figures for those older than their 20s
show that the percentage of males leaving Japan exceeds that of females. (Chart 17)
Chart 17: Number of Japanese nationals leaving Japan by gender and age (2010)
(3) The Number of Japanese Nationals Leaving Japan by Airport and

Seaport
According to statistics of Japanese nationals leaving Japan in 2010 by airport and seaport of
departure, the number of persons using airports to leave Japan was 1,645,005 accounting for
98.9% of the total. As compared with foreign nationals entering Japan (persons using airports
account for 92.6%), the percentage of airport users is much higher.
Among persons in 2010 using airports to leave Japan, the number of users of Narita Airport
was 8,713,493, which accounts for 53.0% of the total number of persons using airports to leave
Japan, and those using Kansai Airport was 3,349,189, which accounts for 20.4%. This means that
73.3% of the total number of persons leaving from airports uses these two airports. Other than
Narita and Kansai airports, the order was Chubu Airport, 1,639,549 (10.0%) and Haneda Airport,
1,193,742(7.3%).
On the other hand, among persons using seaports to leave Japan in 2010, the number of
persons using Hakata Port where scheduled passenger ships are operated to/from R.O. Korea
was 133,970, which accounts for 71.6% of the total number of persons leaving from seaports,
and the number using Shimonoseki Port was 17,563, which accounts for 9.4% of the total. This
means that 80.9% of the total number of persons leaving from seaports used these two seaports.
Other than these two seaports, the order was Yokohama Port, 9,040 (4.8%) and Osaka Port, 7,567
(4.0%).
37
Part 1.
The Number of Japanese Nationals Returning to Japan

The total number of returning Japanese
nationals in 2010 was 16,611,884. By period of
stay in foreign countries after departure, the
number of persons returning within one month
after departure was 15,252,248, which accounts
for 91.8% of the total. Among those, the number
returning within ten days was 13,906,924, which
accounts for 83.7% of the total.
This is because most Japanese tourists going
abroad depart for purposes requiring a relatively
short period such as sightseeing and business
return promptly. This trend has continued in Airport landing examination
recent years and no major change is observed. (Table 15)
Table 15: Changes in the number of Japanese nationals returning to Japan by period of stay
People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Period of Stay
Total 17,457,286 17,199,310 15,905,433 15,432,549 16,611,884
Within 5 days 10,223,891 10,125,098 9,344,449 9,341,903 9,904,585
More than 5 days to 10 days 4,480,153 4,370,202 3,935,729 3,613,776 4,002,339
More than 10 days to 20 days 1,098,627 1,066,490 1,007,021 897,894 998,258
More than 20 days to 1 month 379,317 356,190 342,367 298,834 347,066
More than 1 month to 3 months 563,278 566,805 560,726 529,070 542,196
More than 3 months to 6 months 311,045 316,000 319,749 324,165 314,762
More than 6 months to 1 year 267,240 268,808 270,411 290,320 258,013
More than 1 year to 3 years 114,578 113,569 111,398 124,015 124,335
More than 3 years 12,965 10,323 8,354 7,479 8,567
Unknown 6,192 5,825 5,229 5,093 111,763
38
Part 1.

Chapter 2 Deportation Procedures for Foreign
Nationals
Section 1 Overstayers
Based on the computer statistics of the
Immigration Bureau, the estimated number of
overstayers (those who illegally stay in Japan
beyond the permitted period of stay) was 78,488
as of January 1, 2011. This number has been
steadily decreasing, down by 13,290 (14.5%) from
91,778 on January 1, 2010, in other words, down
by 220,158 (73.7%) from a record high of 298,646
on May 1, 1993.
This decrease was attributable to the eects of
Investigation into violation
comprehensive measures against illegal residents,
including implementation of strict immigration examinations, and efforts for close cooperation
with other related agencies to detect violators of the Immigration Control Act and active publicity
activities to prevent illegal employment.
If the above-mentioned number of overstayers and estimated number of foreign nationals who
may have illegally entered Japan are combined, the number of illegal foreign residents would still be
about 90,000 to 100,000.
The Number of Overstayers by Nationality (Place of Origin)

According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of overstayers was from
R.O. Korea (19,271 accounting for 24.6% of the total) as of January 1, 2011. This was followed by
China (10,337 accounting for 13.2%), the Philippines (9,329 accounting for 11.9%), China (Taiwan) (4,774
accounting for 6.1%), Thailand (4,264 accounting for 5.4%), Malaysia (2,442 accounting for 3.1%), and
Peru (1,794 accounting for 2.3%). (Chart 18, Table 16)
Chart 18: Changes in the estimated number of overstayers by major nationality (place of origin)
39
Part 1.
Table 16: Changes in the estimated number of overstayers by major nationality (place of origin)
People
Date
May 1 May 1 May 1 May 1 May 1 May1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1
Nationality 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
(Place of Origin)
Total 159,828 278,892 298,646 293,800 286,704 284,500 282,986 276,810 271,048 251,697 232,121 224,067 220,552 219,418 207,299 193,745 170,839 149,785 113,072 91,778 78,488
R.O. Korea 25,848 35,687 39,455 43,369 47,544 51,580 52,387 52,123 62,577 60,693 56,023 55,164 49,874 46,425 43,151 40,203 36,321 31,758 24,198 21,660 19,271
China 17,535 25,737 33,312 39,738 39,511 39,140 38,296 37,590 34,800 32,896 30,975 27,582 29,676 33,522 32,683 31,074 27,698 25,057 18,385 12,933 10,337
Philippines 27,228 31,974 35,392 37,544 39,763 41,997 42,547 42,608 40,420 36,379 31,666 29,649 30,100 31,428 30,619 30,777 28,491 24,741 17,287 12,842 9,329
China (Taiwan) 5,241 6,729 7,457 7,871 7,974 8,502 9,409 9,430 9,437 9,243 8,849 8,990 9,126 7,611 6,760 6,696 6,347 6,031 4,950 4,889 4,774
Thailand 19,093 44,354 55,383 49,992 44,794 41,280 39,513 37,046 30,065 23,503 19,500 16,925 15,693 14,334 12,787 10,352 8,460 7,314 6,023 4,836 4,264
Malaysia 14,413 38,529 30,840 20,313 14,511 11,525 10,390 10,141 9,989 9,701 9,651 10,097 9,442 8,476 7,431 6,822 6,397 4,804 2,986 2,661 2,442
Peru 487 2,783 9,038 12,918 15,301 13,836 12,942 11,606 10,320 9,158 8,502 7,744 7,322 7,230 6,624 5,997 5,283 4,481 3,396 2,402 1,794
Singapore 1,435 1,712 1,914 2,342 2,600 2,850 2,946 3,027 3,084 3,178 3,302 3,494 3,556 3,216 3,075 3,587 2,241 2,207 2,128 2,107 1,789
Brazil 944 2,703 2,210 2,603 3,104 3,763 5,026 4,334 3,288 3,266 3,578 3,697 3,865 4,728 4,905 2,762 2,286 2,297 1,939 1,645 1,536
Sri Lanka 2,281 3,217 3,763 3,395 2,980 2,783 2,751 3,071 3,734 3,907 3,489 3,730 3,909 4,242 4,209 4,590 4,042 3,615 2,796 1,952 1,498
Others 45,323 85,467 79,882 73,715 68,622 67,244 66,779 65,834 63,334 59,773 56,586 56,995 57,989 58,206 55,055 50,885 43,273 37,480 28,984 23,851 21,454
Looking at changes after May 1, 1993, when the highest number of overstayers was recorded,
the country (place of origin) of the largest number of overstayers as of May 1, 1993 was Thailand,
followed by R.O. Korea, the Philippines, China, and Malaysia. In the ranking as of January 1, 2011, R.O.
Korea was top followed by China, the Philippines, China (Taiwan), and Thailand.
The changes in the number of overstayers by nationality (place of origin) were as follows.
Although new entries have increased drastically since visa-exemption measures have been
implemented for those who intend to engage in activities that can be performed under the status of
residence ofTemporary Visitor, the number of overstayers from R.O. Korea has been consistently
decreasing since January 1, 1999. The number of those from Thailand has steadily decreased since
May 1, 1993.
The number of those from Malaysia and Peru has also seen a decrease due to a measure to
promote the acquisition of visas, which was taken on June 1, 1993 and on July 15, 1995 respectively.
The number of those from China continued to decrease from 1994 until 2002. Then, it started to
increase in 2003 and further increased in 2004, but it has also shown a decreasing trend since 2005.
The number of overstayers from the Philippines has been decreasing since 1998, but fluctuated
between increasing and decreasing from 2003 to 2006, decreasing after 2007.
The Number of Overstayers by Status of Residence

Statistics for the estimated number of overstayers by status of residence immediately before
their status of residence had expired showed the following: the largest number of overstayers had
the status of residence ofTemporary Visitor(54,220) accounting for 69.1% of the total. This was
followed byCollege Student(4,322 accounting for 5.5%),Entertainer(3,425 accounting for 4.4%)
andTrainee(1,192 accounting for 1.5%). Compared with the same period of the previous year, the
number of those who were granted theTemporary Visitorstatus decreased by 8,949 (14.2%), the
College Studentstatus decreased by 1,520 (26.0%), theEntertainerstatus decreased by 695 (16.9%),
and theTraineestatus decreased by 429 (26.5%), respectively. The number of overstayers with the
status of residence ofTemporary Visitorhas been on the decline since May 1, 1993, while those
with the status of residence ofEntertainerstarted to rise on January 1, 2002 and kept increasing,
but has been decreasing since January 2005. On the other hand, the number of foreign residents
with the status of residence ofCollege Studentcontinued to increase from January 1, 2001, but has
been decreasing since January 2006. (Table 17)
40
Part 1.

Table 17: Changes in the estimated number of overstayers by major status of residence
People
Date
January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1
Status of 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Residence
Total 193,745 170,839 149,785 113,072 91,778 78,488
Temporary Visitor 134,374 117,289 102,069 76,651 63,169 54,220
College Student 14,935 12,729 10,978 8,276 5,842 4,322
Entertainer 10,052 8,162 6,624 5,015 4,120 3,425
Trainee 3,393 3,333 3,136 2,561 1,621 1,192
Others 30,991 29,326 26,978 20,569 17,026 15,329
(*)The number of overstayers with the status of residence,College Studentincludes the number of foreign nationals
whose status of residence wasPre-college Studentunder the previous Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition
Act, which had been enforced before July 1, 2010, at the time when they became considered overstayers.
Section 2 Cases of Violation of the Immigration Control

Act for Which Deportation Procedures Were
Carried Out
The Number of Cases of Violation of the Immigration

Control Act by Grounds for Deportation
In 2010, the number of foreign nationals for
whom deportation procedures were carried out
on account of violating the Immigration Control
Act was 24,213, a decrease of 8,448 from 2009.
Of these, 5,181 were handed over to immigration
inspectors as those subject to the departure order
system. (Chart 19)
According to the statistics of the number of
foreign nationals by grounds for deportation,
the largest number of foreign nationals were
deported for overstaying (18,578 accounting for
Detection
76.7%), followed by illegal entry (3,867 accounting
for 16.0%), and then activities detection other than that permitted under the status of residence
previously granted (751 accounting for 3.1%). Overstayers continued to occupy a predominant
percentage.
According to the statistics of the number of cases of violation of the Immigration Control Act
according to nationality (place of origin), the largest number of such foreign nationals was from China
for eight consecutive years (7,294 accounting for 30.1%), followed by the Philippines (5,058 accounting
for 20.9%), and R.O. Korea (3,215 accounting for 13.3%). These top three countries made up over 60%
of the total. (Tables 18 and 19)
Among the foreign nationals violating the Act against whom deportation procedures were carried
out in 2010, the number of those who illegally worked in Japan was 18,490, accounting for 76.4% of
the total.
41
Part 1.
Chart 19: Flow of deportation procedure and departure order procedure
Foreign nationalswho may have grounds for deportation
Investigation into violation by immigration control officers
Possibly subject to the Not suspected Suspected

departure order system
Send to immigration inspectors
Detention
Send to immigration Send back to

inspectors immigration control Delivery to immigration inspectors
officers
Investigation of violation by Investigation into violation by immigration inspectors

immigration inspectors
Identified as those Possibly subject to

Possibly not subject subject to the
Identified as those Identified as those the deportation
to the deportation departure order
subject to the not subject to the
departure order departure order
Right to
Hearing requested by suspect
hearing
waived by the
Hearing for deportation by special suspect
inquiry officers
no Detention
Found that there is an error Found that there is no
in the findings error in the findings Right to file
objection
Identified as waived by
Identified as
Objection filed by the suspect the suspect
those not subject those subject to
to the departure the departure
d
Decision by the Minister of Justice
With reasons
Without reasons
Identified as those not
Identified as those subject to the
subject to the departure
Notification to departure order
order
supervising
immigration inspectors
With reasons to Without reasons to
permit special stay permit special stay in
in Japan Japan
Issuance of written departure order
Special permission Issuance of written deportation order

Departure Release (continuous stay) to stay in Japan d
Deportation
Table 18: Changes in the number of cases of violation of the Immigration Control Act by grounds for deportation
People
Year
Grounds 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
for Deportation
Total 56,410 45,502 39,382 32,661 24,213
Illegal entry 10,441 7,454 6,136 5,373 3,867
Illegal landing 506 342 253 186 134
Activity other than those
1,736 1,409 1,153 810 751
permitted
Overstay 42,829 35,417 31,045 25,503 18,578
Criminal oenses etc. 898 880 795 789 883
Illegal work 45,929 36,982 32,471 26,545 18,490
Table 19: Changes in the number of cases of violation of the Immigration Control Act by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 56,410 45,502 39,382 32,661 24,213
China 16,269 11,981 10,963 9,522 7,294
Philippines 10,420 9,185 7,847 6,370 5,058
R.O. Korea 8,128 6,560 4,993 3,934 3,215
Thailand 3,294 2,467 2,020 1,832 1,475
Viet Nam 1,407 1,571 1,708 1,373 887
Peru 1,306 1,068 1,064 1,216 742
Indonesia 2,443 2,153 2,284 1,632 735
Sri Lanka 1,624 1,449 1,432 1,171 624
Brazil 661 663 537 536 581
Nepal 896 647 588 500 319
Others 9,962 7,758 5,946 4,575 3,283
42
Part 1.

Specic details for the cases are given below with respect to each of the grounds for deportation.
(1) Illegal Entry

Among the foreign nationals against whom deportation procedures were carried out for
violating the Act in 2010, the number of illegal entrants* was 3,867, a decrease of 1,506 (28.0%)
from 2009, which accounts for 16.0% of the total number of foreign nationals violating the Act.
Looking at the past history, the number was increasing after 2003, however, it turned into a
decrease after 2006. As the percentage of illegally entering persons against the total number of
foreign nationals violating the Act is decreasing, it is considered that the eects of measures to
exclude them at the border have begun to materialize.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number was from China (1,212
accounting for 31.3% of the total), followed by the Philippines (1,065 accounting for 27.5%), and
South Korea (327 accounting for 8.5%), and no movement has been seen in the order of these top
two countries since 2002.
According to statistics by means of transportation, the number of foreign nationals against
whom deportation procedures were carried out for illegal entry by airplane in 2010 was 2,849, a
decrease of 1,031 (26.6%) from 2009. This accounts for 73.7% of all illegally entering persons, and
illegal entry using airplane occupies a high percentage as in the past. Meanwhile, the number of
foreign nationals against whom deportation procedures were carried out for illegal entry by ship
decreased by 475 (31.8%) from 2009 to 1,018 in 2010. (Tables 20, 21 and 22)
Table 20: Changes in the number of cases of illegal entry by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 10,441 7,454 6,136 5,373 3,867
China 3,999 2,410 2,020 1,648 1,212
Philippines 2,059 1,624 1,376 1,237 1,065
R.O. Korea 767 619 478 427 327
Thailand 988 680 503 416 303
Peru 299 243 261 377 189
Iran 432 382 248 174 133
Indonesia 232 281 260 269 132
Sri Lanka 181 151 165 130 82
Bangladesh 486 349 263 160 79
Pakistan 261 141 82 69 53
Others 737 574 480 466 292
*(Note) An illegal entrant means a person who enters Japan in violation of the provisions of Paragraph 1, Article 3 of the Immigration
Control Act. The provisions in the said paragraph stipulate that any foreign national who falls under any of the following
items shall not enter Japan: a person who does not possess a valid passport (except for a crew member possessing a valid
crew member s pocket-ledger) (Item 1); and a person who intends to land in Japan without receiving a seal of verication for
landing or undergoing the recording of the prescribed data pursuant to the provision of Article 9, paragraph (4), or without
obtaining authorized permission for landing from an immigration inspector (Item 2). Any foreign national who violates the
provisions is considered as an illegal entrant. In other words, even if a person possesses a valid passport or crew member s
pocket-ledger, the person shall be considered as an illegal entrant if he/she falls under the Item 2 shown above.
43
Part 1.
Table 21: Changes in the number of cases of illegal entry by airplane by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 7,549 5,448 4,462 3,880 2,849
Philippines 1,956 1,519 1,301 1,153 1,006
China 2,088 1,215 942 698 533
Thailand 934 633 471 387 284
Peru 298 241 261 377 188
R.O.Korea 415 318 224 165 141
Others 1,858 1,522 1,263 1,100 697
Table 22: Changes in the number of cases of illegal entry by ship by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 2,892 2,006 1,674 1,493 1,018
China 1,911 1,195 1,078 950 679
R.O. Korea 352 301 254 262 186
Philippines 103 105 75 84 59
Bangladesh 232 194 127 78 23
Iran 63 59 46 33 20
Others 231 152 94 86 51
(2) Illegal Landing

violating the Act in 2010, the number of those who illegally landed in Japan without obtaining
permission for landing and so forth from an immigration inspector was 134, a decrease of 52
(28.0%) from 2009. This accounted for 0.6% of the total number of foreign nationals violating the
Act, and the ratio has maintained a similar level since 2002. (Table 23)
Table 23: Changes in the number of cases of illegal landing by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 506 342 253 186 134
Turkey 45 19 39 17 27
China 231 137 58 50 25
R.O. Korea 22 15 17 10 11
Philippines 10 26 14 14 9
China(Taiwan) 8 8 4 6 8
Sri Lanka 33 38 27 4 8
Thailand 21 11 9 18 7
Russia 10 15 7 4 7
Myanmar 31 16 25 11 5
Indonesia 12 7 11 1 3
Others 83 50 42 51 24
(3) Overstay
violating the Act in 2010, the number of those who had stayed beyond the authorized period of
stay decreased by 6,925 (27.2%) from 2009 to 18,578. This accounts for 76.7% of the total number
of foreign nationals violating the Act.
44
Part 1.

According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of such foreign
nationals was from China (5,494 accounting for 29.6%), followed by the Philippines (3,797
accounting for 20.4%), R.O. Korea (2,582 accounting for 13.9%), Thailand (1,130 accounting for 6.1%),
and Viet Nam (783 accounting for 4.2%). (Table 24)
Table 24: Changes in the number of cases of overstay by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 42,829 35,417 31,045 25,503 18,578
China 11,295 8,811 8,326 7,342 5,494
Philippines 7,879 7,136 6,188 4,960 3,797
R.O. Korea 6,847 5,484 4,147 3,104 2,582
Thailand 2,232 1,728 1,444 1,347 1,130
Viet Nam 1,300 1,435 1,570 1,268 783
Indonesia 2,074 1,837 1,978 1,350 590
Peru 971 792 779 812 529
Sri Lanka 1,391 1,244 1,216 1,026 515
Brazil 482 434 346 375 434
Mongolia 600 506 449 330 239
Others 7,758 6,010 4,602 3,589 2,485
(4) Activity Other Than That Permitted under the Status of Residence
Previously Granted
If a foreign national residing in Japan exclusively engages in work or engages in activity
other than that permitted for his/her status of residence previously granted without obtaining
the required permission, deportation procedures will be carried out by reason of engaging
in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted. The
number of such foreign nationals had decreased by 59 (7.3%) from 2009 to 751 in 2010. This
accounts for 3.1% of the total number of foreign nationals against whom deportation procedures
were carried out for violating the Act.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number was from China
(291 accounting for 38.7% of the total), followed by R.O. Korea (207 accounting for 27.6%), and the
Philippines (57 accounting for 7.6%), and these three top countries account for 73.9% of the total.
(Table 25)
Table 25: Changes in the number of cases of activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously
granted by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 1,736 1,409 1,153 810 751
China 469 395 369 266 291
R.O. Korea 412 380 275 306 207
Philippines 399 297 189 85 57
Nepal 18 21 35 10 45
Viet Nam 32 49 56 15 36
China (Taiwan) 34 48 48 25 29
Bangladesh 13 13 26 18 23
India 4 27 23 8 19
Sri Lanka 14 8 16 9 15
Thailand 14 14 14 14 6
Others 327 157 102 54 23
45
Part 1.
Illegal Workers
(1) Summary
violating the Act in 2010, the number of those who were considered to have been illegally
working was 18,490, accounting for 76.4% of the total number of foreign nationals violating the
Act. This indicates that most illegal foreign residents work illegally.
It has been pointed out that illegal foreign workers, working for substandard wages, take
away employment opportunities from Japanese workers in the present severe employment
climate, and prevent the realization of a fair labor market. Furthermore, there have been human
rights violations against illegal foreign workers. For example, brokers arrange for illegal workers
to come to Japan and gain a huge unfair prot by exploiting the wages that should be earned
by the foreign workers. Foreign workers in these conditions are also unable to receive sucient
compensation in the event of an industrial accident.
(2) The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Nationality (Place of

Origin)
Illegal workers came from 89 countries (place of origin), mainly neighboring Asian countries,
indicating that the trend toward increasing diversity in the nationalities of illegal foreign
workers is continuing.
According to the statistics of the number by nationality (place of origin), illegal workers from
China made up the largest number at 6,039, accounting for 32.7% of the total, followed by the
Philippines (3,573 accounting for 19.3%), R.O. Korea (2,590 accounting for 14.0%), Thailand (1,171
accounting for 6.3%), and Viet Nam (722 accounting for 3.9). These top ve countries represented
76.2% of the total. As a recent trend, the number of Chinese illegal workers has accounted for a
large ratio. (Table 26)
46
Part 1.

Table 26: Changes in the number of cases of illegal work by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 45,929 36,982 32,471 26,545 18,490
Male 24,759 20,926 19,270 16,522 10,943
Female 21,170 16,056 13,201 10,023 7,547
China 13,750 10,223 9,583 8,205 6,039
Male 7,614 5,910 5,950 5,343 3,887
Female 6,136 4,313 3,633 2,862 2,152
Philippines 7,978 7,075 6,083 4,845 3,573
Male 2,887 2,815 2,559 2,250 1,491
Female 5,091 4,260 3,524 2,595 2,082
R.O. Korea 6,696 5,315 4,077 3,241 2,590
Male 2,232 1,977 1,555 1,306 985
Female 4,464 3,338 2,522 1,935 1,605
Thailand 2,650 2,013 1,694 1,512 1,171
Male 1,159 985 903 822 645
Female 1,491 1,028 791 690 526
Viet Nam 1,189 1,318 1,473 1,152 722
Male 630 756 887 741 483
Female 559 562 586 411 239
Indonesia 2,286 2,034 2,162 1,557 675
Male 1,521 1,438 1,568 1,230 518
Female 765 596 594 327 157
Sri Lanka 1,440 1,264 1,278 1,042 554
Male 1,270 1,117 1,150 946 507
Female 170 147 128 96 47
Peru 927 785 786 932 487
Male 609 518 532 652 311
Female 318 267 254 280 176
Nepal 830 610 535 456 277
Male 568 431 364 340 215
Female 262 179 171 116 62
Bangladesh 1,176 907 702 490 264
Male 1,114 873 670 473 254
Female 62 34 32 17 10
Others 7,007 5,438 4,098 3,113 2,138
Male 5,155 4,106 3,132 2,419 1,647
Female 1,852 1,332 966 694 491
(3) The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Gender

The numbers of male and female illegal foreign workers against whom deportation procedures
were taken was 10,943 (accounting for 59.2% of the total) and 7,547 (accounting for 40.8% of the
total), respectively. The percentage of females is increasing compared to the previous year.
(4) The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Type of Work

According to statistics by type of work, the largest number of illegal foreign workers were
factory workers (4,168 accounting for 22.5% of the total), followed by attendants such as bar
hostesses (2,679 accounting for 14.5%), and construction workers (2,383 accounting for 12.9%).
According to statistics by gender, the largest number of males
occupation was factory
workers, followed by construction workers and other labor workers on the other hand. The
largest number of females
occupation was attendants such as bar hostesses, followed by factory
workers, waitresses and bartenders. (Table 27)
47
Part 1.
Table 27: Changes in the number of cases of illegal work by type of work
People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Job Categories
Total 45,929 36,982 32,471 26,545 18,490
Male 24,759 20,926 19,270 16,522 10,943
Female 21,170 16,056 13,201 10,023 7,547
Factory worker 12,986 11,572 11,366 8,220 4,168
Male 8,892 7,898 7,670 5,687 2,846
Female 4,094 3,674 3,696 2,533 1,322
Attendants such as bar hostess 7,701 5,809 4,452 3,323 2,679
Male 356 400 429 331 240
Female 7,345 5,409 4,023 2,992 2,439
Construction worker 5,425 4,458 3,831 3,938 2,383
Male 5,378 4,401 3,792 3,890 2,358
Female 47 57 39 48 25
Other labor worker 3,307 2,792 3,092 2,461 1,715
Male 2,502 2,190 2,342 1,899 1,347
Female 805 602 750 562 368
Waitress and bartender 4,008 3,073 2,149 1,487 1,265
Male 1,336 1,190 807 596 464
Female 2,672 1,883 1,342 891 801
Other service worker 2,815 1,953 1,483 1,312 1,166
Male 1,026 739 598 533 490
Female 1,789 1,214 885 779 676
Others 9,687 7,325 6,098 5,804 5,114
Male 5,269 4,108 3,632 3,586 3,198
Female 4,418 3,217 2,466 2,218 1,916
(5) The Number of Illegal Foreign Workers by Place of Work

According to statistics by place of work
by prefecture, the largest number is found
in Tokyo Metropolis (3,462 accounting for
18.7% of the total), followed by Kanagawa
Prefecture (2,594 accounting for 14.0%), Chiba
Prefecture (2,316 accounting for 12.5%), Aichi
Prefecture (2,188 accounting for 11.8%) and
Ibaraki Prefecture (1,805 accounting for 9.8%),
which shows that illegal foreign workers
are concentrated in the Tokyo Metropolitan
District concentrating in the Pacific coast
Illegal workers detection
area from Kanto to Kinki districts. Thus,
one metropolis and six prefectures (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, Gunma and
Tochigi) account for 69.4% of the total number of illegal foreign workers, nine prefectures in the
central district (Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Shizuoka, Gifu and Aichi)
account for 19.3% of the total number of illegal foreign workers, together accounting for a large
ratio, while the existence of illegal foreign workers is recognized in 46 prefectures of the entire
nation. (Table 28)
48
Part 1.

Table 28: Changes in the number of cases of illegal foreign workers by place of work
People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Prefecture
Total 45,929 36,982 32,471 26,545 18,490
Tokyo 14,447 8,940 5,862 4,618 3,462
Kanagawa 4,673 4,499 4,497 3,522 2,594
Chiba 3,773 3,021 2,824 2,784 2,316
Aichi 4,597 4,724 4,801 3,924 2,188
Ibaraki 2,198 2,243 2,465 2,448 1,805
Saitama 3,762 3,183 2,784 2,215 1,528
Osaka 1,677 1,548 1,439 1,060 894
Gunma 2,359 1,961 1,980 1,375 717
Shizuoka 1,255 1,243 1,092 800 439
Tochigi 1,345 1,103 1,097 776 401
Others 5,843 4,517 3,630 3,023 2,146
Outline of Judgments of Violations

(1) Receipt and the Findings of Cases of Violation
Any foreign national who is suspect to
fall under any of the reasons for deportation
shall be handed over to an immigration
inspector to take procedures for examination
of violations after investigation by an
immigration control ocer. Those procedures
consist of three steps: examination of
violations by an immigration inspector,
hearing by a special inquiry officer, and
decision by the Minister of Justice.
The number of cases received examination
Judgment of violations
of violations in 2010 was 25,731, decreasing
consecutively since 2006. (Table 29)
49
Part 1.
Table 29: Changes in the number of cases of receipt and ndings of violation examinations by immigration
inspectors, hearings by special inquiry ocers and decisions of the Minister of Justice
Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Violation examination by immigration
57,017 48,647 43,073 34,247 25,731

Receipt
(488) (2,918) (3,274) (1,234) (1,375)
Found not to fall under one of the
3 3 4 2 10
reasons for deportation
Issuance of written deportation
inspector
Finished
31,393 26,215 22,179 16,312 11,386

order
Request for hearing 11,471 9,205 10,639 7,071 8,164
Issuance of written departure order 11,100 9,691 8,477 9,041 5,186
Not nished, others 3,050 3,533 1,774 1,821 985
12,221 10,101 11,247 7,607 8,777

Receipt
Hearing by special inquiry ocer
(711) (846) (562) (506) (587)
Error in the ndings - - 2 - 1
Issuance of written deportation

Finished
126 134 166 104 112

order
Filing an objection 11,196 9,361 10,515 6,876 7,949
Issuance of written departure order - - - - -
Not nished, others 899 606 564 627 715
11,757 10,037 11,280 7,456 8,756

Receipt
Decision of the Minister of
(552) (639) (682) (561) (712)
Objection with reason 3 6 3 1 0

Finished
Justice
Objection without reason 11,018 9,245 10,593 6,630 8,107
Issuance of written departure order - - - - -
Not nished, others 736 786 684 825 649
*The numbers indicated in ( ) are carry-over cases from a previous year and are included in each of the upper numbers.
The number of requests for hearings conducted after examination of violations in 2010 was
8,164 accounting for 31.7% of the total cases received as examination of violations, increased
from 2009. (Chart 20)
50
Part 1.

Chart 20: Changes in the number and percentage of requests for a hearing
The number of objections, which a foreign national unsatised with the decision made by the
special inquiry ocer at the hearing may le with the Minister of Justice, increased to 7,949 in
2010. (Table 29)
(2) Issuance of a Written Deportation Order

The number of written deportation orders issued in 2010 was 13,277. According to statistics
by grounds for their deportation, cases of overstay numbered 8,665 and they accounted for
65.3% of the total. On the other hand, the percentage of cases of illegal entry was 22.3%, both of
which show approximately the same ratio as the previous year. (Table 30)
Table 30: Changes in the number of issuance of written deportation orders by grounds for deportation
Cases
Year
Grounds 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
for Deportation
Total 33,202 28,225 24,442 18,436 13,277
Overstay 22,136 19,403 16,966 12,130 8,665
Illegal entry 7,880 6,188 5,125 4,473 2,956
Illegal landing 443 334 241 173 113
Activity other than those permitted 1,726 1,367 1,137 813 735
Others 186 195 168 206 331
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin) in 2010, as well, the largest number of
foreign nationals who were issued written deportation orders came from China (4,110 accounting
for 31.0%), followed by the Philippines (2,380 accounting for 17.9%), and North and South Koreas
(1,700 accounting for 12.8%). (Chart 21)
51
Part 1.
Chart 21: Changes in the number of issuance of written deportation orders by nationality (place of origin)

(3) Provisional Release

In 2010, the number of foreign nationals detained under written detention orders who were
accorded provisional release decreased by 170 compared with a year earlier, reaching 2,095. On
the other hand, the number of foreign nationals detained under written deportation orders who
were accorded provisional release increased by 175 compared with a year earlier, reaching 1,012.
(Table 31)
Table 31: Changes in the number of cases of provisional release permission
Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Kind of Order
By written detention order 3,658 3,883 1,918 2,265 2,095
By written deportation order 671 938 819 837 1,012
(4) Special Permission to Stay in Japan

The number of foreign nationals who received special permission to stay in Japan from the
Minister of Justice was 6,359 in 2010, an increase by 1,716 from 2009.
Most of the foreign nationals who received special permission to stay in Japan had established
close relationships such as marriage with Japanese nationals and had, in fact, settled down in
Japan in many respects.
Among the number of the special permission to stay in Japan despite reasons for deportation,
the largest number in 2010 was overstay (4,939 accounting for 77.7%), followed by illegal entry
and illegal landing, accounting for 16.4%. Overstay, illegal entry and illegal landing accounted for
94.1% of the total.Table 32)
52
Part 1.

Table 32: Changes in the number of cases of special permission to stay in Japan by grounds for deportation
Cases
Year
Grounds 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
for Deportation
Total 9,360 7,388 8,522 4,643 6,359
Overstay 7,096 5,586 6,521 3,508 4,939
Illegal entry / Illegal landing 1,915 1,457 1,640 897 1,044
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin) in 2010, the largest number of foreign
nationals who were granted special permission to stay in Japan came from China (1,098
accounting for 17.3%), followed by North and South Koreas (815 accounting for 12.8%). (Table 33)
Table 33: Changes in the number of cases of special permission to stay in Japan by nationality (place of origin)
Cases
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 9,360 7,388 8,522 4,643 6,359
China 1,827 1,304 1,669 857 1,098
Korea 1,523 1,106 1,416 663 815
Others 6,010 4,978 5,437 3,123 4,446
Outline of Deportation of Foreign Nationals

The number of foreign nationals deported decreased by 5,017 (27.5%) from 2009 to 13,224 in 2010.
According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number was from China (4,266
accounting for 32.3% of the total), followed by the Philippines (2,439 accounting for 18.4%), R.O. Korea
(1,715 accounting for 13.0%), Thailand (726 accounting for 5.5%), and Viet Nam (569 accounting for
4.3%). (Table 34)
Table 34: Changes in the number of deportees by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 33,018 27,913 23,931 18,241 13,224
China 10,251 7,516 6,805 5,475 4,266
Philippines 5,453 5,128 4,385 3,194 2,439
R.O. Korea 4,193 3,798 2,873 2,423 1,715
Thailand 1,845 1,553 1,260 1,113 726
Viet Nam 864 1,018 1,023 709 569
Indonesia 1,672 1,452 1,596 885 502
Sri Lanka 1,139 1,090 1,046 684 419
Peru 655 518 495 674 384
Brazil 217 307 268 307 226
Bangladesh 1,076 847 627 380 223
Others 5,653 4,686 3,553 2,397 1,755
According to statistics by means of deportation, 96.9% of foreign nationals who had been issued a
deportation order were deported at their own expense voluntary
( departure), while the number of
foreign nationals who needed to be individually deported at national expense because of having no
money etc. was 291 in 2010. (Table 35)
53
Part 1.
Table 35: Changes in the number of deportees by means of deportation

People
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Measure of Deportation
Total 33,018 27,913 23,931 18,241 13,224
Voluntary departure 31,911 26,818 23,093 17,569 12,812
Deportation in accordance with Article 59 852 690 407 200 106
Deportation individually at the expense of the government 239 361 383 438 291
Deportation in group at the expense of the government 0 0 0 0 0
Others 0 0 0 0 0
Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons 16 44 48 34 15
(*1Deportation in groups at the expence of the government includes cases where both the Japanese government and
the deportee
s homeland government bore the expenses.
(*2Othersare cases of deportation at the expence of the government of each deportees.
(1) Deportation at the Expense of the Government

As foreign nationals violating the Act stay
longer and have more diverse lifestyles, an
increasing number of foreign nationals who
have been issued with a deportation order
suffer from illness, refuse deportation for
various reasons, or remain in detention for
a long period of time because they cannot
afford travel expenses. Of these foreign
nationals, the number of those deported
at national expense in consideration of
individual circumstances decreased by 147
Deportation
(33.6%) from 438 in 2009 to 291 in 2010.
In addition, Chinese illegal immigrants detected at the border as collective stowaways were
deported as a group in the past. However, collective deportation has not been conducted since
2004 due to a signicant decrease in the number of collective stowaways detected.
(2) Deportation at the Expense of the Foreign National (Voluntary

Departure)
Deportees who were deported at their own expense decreased by 4,757 (27.1%) from 2009 to
12,812 in 2010.
Around 95% of the deported foreign nationals are deported at their own expense every
year as soon as requirements for deportation such as possessing a passport, an airplane ticket,
and enough money for travel costs are fullled. For those who do not fulll requirements for
deportation, the Immigration Bureau not only carries out deportation procedures but also
instructs the foreign nationals to make contact with relevant people in Japan or in their home
countries in order to obtain an airplane ticket or money for travel costs. In cases where a
foreign national does not possess a passport, the Immigration Bureau makes an application for
the early issue of a passport to the relevant foreign mission in Japan. (Table 36)
54
Part 1.

Table 36: Changes in the number of deportees by voluntary departure by nationality (place of origin)
People
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 31,911 26,818 23,093 17,569 12,812
China 9,831 7,274 6,686 5,390 4,232
Philippines 5,340 4,988 4,242 3,096 2,368
R.O. Korea 4,155 3,763 2,836 2,402 1,704
Thailand 1,766 1,503 1,214 1,084 717
Viet Nam 861 1,011 1,008 695 564
Indonesia 1,663 1,438 1,549 878 496
Sri Lanka 1,089 1,021 986 667 404
Peru 629 482 460 617 328
Bangladesh 1,068 831 610 368 218
Napal 618 492 408 274 210
Others 4,891 4,015 3,094 2,098 1,571
(3) Deportation at the Expense of and under the Responsibility of

Carriers
Any carrier that transported a foreign national who is issued with a deportation order must
send him/her back at their own expense and under their own responsibility (the deportation
specied in Article 59 of the Immigration Control Act) under certain conditions*. The number
of foreign nationals deported in this way in 2010 was 106, having decreased by 94 (47.0%) from
2009. (Table 35)
*(Note) Carriers are, similarly to captains of ships, in a position to govern their crew and passengers, and imposed the prescribed
responsibilities and duties under the Immigration Control Act. Among these duties, they are obligated to send foreign
nationals falling under certain requirements to the area outside Japan promptly under their own responsibility and at their
own expense (Article 59 of the Act).
For example, persons who are denied landing and issued with a deportation order but fail to leave, or who have landed
with special permission for landing but stay longer than the authorized period of stay, fall under the foregoing category.
55
Part 1.
Departure Orders
(1) Outline
The departure order system was newly established by the amended Immigration Control Act
of 2004 for the purpose of encouraging illegal foreign residents to appear at immigration oces
voluntarily. It entered into force on December 2 of the same year. Under the system, if an
overstayer who appears at an immigration oce voluntarily satises certain requirements, he/
she may depart from Japan without being detained in accordance with simple procedures. (Chart
19) The landing denial period for overstayers who are deported in accordance with deportation
procedures is ve years or ten years, while the landing denial period for those who depart from
Japan under a departure order is shortened to one year to encourage quick departure.
(2) Investigation into Violations

The number of foreign nationals who were handed over from immigration control ocers to
immigration inspectors through the departure order procedures was 5,181 in 2010, accounting
for 21.4% of the total number of foreign nationals violating the Immigration Control Act.
A. The Number of Foreign Nationals Ordered to Depart by Nationality (Place of Origin)
(2,221 accounting for 42.9% of the total), followed by the Philippines (749 accounting for
14.5%), R.O. Korea (727 accounting for 14.0%), Thailand (230 accounting for 4.4%), and Viet
Nam (189 accounting for 3.6%), and these top ve countries account for 79.4% of the total.
(Table 37)
Table 37: Number of foreign nationals handed over under a departure order by nationality (place of origin) (2010)
People
Article
Nationality Total 24-( )-3 24-( )-(b) 24-( ) 24-( )-2 24-( )
(Place of Origin)
Total 5,181 5 4,938 85 0 153
China 2,221 5 2,182 20 0 14
Philippines 749 0 664 21 0 64
R.O. Korea 727 0 718 1 0 8
Thailand 230 0 196 20 0 14
Viet Nam 189 0 182 0 0 7
Indonesia 183 0 170 7 0 6
Sri Lanka 151 0 145 2 0 4
Peru 93 0 79 0 0 14
Mongolia 81 0 77 4 0 0
Malaysia 67 0 67 0 0 0
Others 490 0 458 10 0 22
B. The Number of Foreign Nationals Ordered to Depart by Applied Articles

According to statistics by applied articles, the number of suspects violating Article 24,
(4) (b) of the Immigration Control Act was the largest at 4,938, accounting for 95.3% of the
total. This was followed by 153 suspects violating Article 24, (7) of said Act, and 85 suspects
violating Article 24, (6) of said Act.
56
Part 1.

(3) Examination
A. Receipt and Findings of Cases
The number of cases of departure orders received in 2010 was 5,181, accounting for
20.1% of the total number of violations received. As those subject to a departure order and
wishing to depart from Japan voluntarily appear at a regional immigration bureau, they are
promptly processed after being handed over by immigration control ocers.
B. Issuance of a Written Departure Order

The number of foreign nationals who were recognized as subject to a departure order
and to whom a written departure order was issued was 5,186 in 2010.
(2,220 accounting for 42.8% of the total), followed by the Philippines (754 accounting for
14.5%), North and South Koreas (728 accounting for 14.0%), Thailand (229 accounting for 4.4%)
and Viet Nam (189 accounting for 3.6%) and the top ve countries account for 79.4% of the
total. (Table 38)
Table 38: Changes in the number of issuance of written departure orders by nationality (place of origin)
Cases
Year
Nationality 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
(Place of Origin)
Total 11,100 9,691 8,477 9,041 5,186
China 3,516 3,153 3,136 3,200 2,220
Philippines 1,582 1,486 1,141 1,329 754
Korea 1,992 1,616 1,142 885 728
Thailand 429 313 222 288 229
Viet Nam 343 359 472 603 189
Indonesia 701 623 590 707 183
Sri Lanka 349 312 238 327 151
Peru 250 239 212 367 93
Mongolia 240 210 153 126 82
Malaysia 214 196 123 139 67
Others 1,484 1,184 1,048 1,070 490
(4) Conrmation of Departure

Foreign nationals who are recognized as subject to a departure order are required, similarly
to foreign nationals departing within the period of stay, to submit one copy of an embarkation/
disembarkation (ED) card to the immigration inspector to receive a seal of departure, and to
submit their own written departure order.
57
Part 1.
Chapter 3 Recognition of Refugee Status
Due to the recognition that it is important for Japan to fulll

its obligations in the international community by accepting
refugees, Japan became a signatory to the Convention Relating
to the Status of Refugees in 1981 Convention
( ) and the
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees in 1982 (Protocol),
(hereinafter, Convention and Protocol are referred to
together asConvention etc.) and as a result, also established
a system for recognition of refugee status*. In recent years,
however, the number of foreign nationals seeking refugee status
from Japan has been increasing, as the world is rapidly changing
due to regional conflicts occurring around the world and the
instability of a number of countries. Today, Japanese people pay
more attention to refugee-related issues than before.
In light of these circumstances, Japan intends to review the
refugee recognition system from the perspective of proper and Refugee Travel Document)
prompt protection of refugees through fairer procedures. The
amended Immigration Control Act was enforced on May 16, 2005, which included establishment of
the system for permitting provisional stay and the refugee examination counselors system. The Act
has been in force since May 16, 2005.
The Immigration Bureau has further improved and strengthened its organizational structure and
investigation system, as well as properly implementing the new refugee recognition system, in order
to handle applications for refugee status quickly and appropriately.
Section 1 Application for Refugee Status and Findings
Application for Refugee Status

The total number of those who applied for recognition of refugee status in 2010 was 1,202, a
decrease by 186 from 2009, though it remained at previous year
s high level. (Table 39)
Table 39: Changes in the number of refugee applicants
People
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Applied 954 816 1,599 1,388 1,202
*(Note) Japan became a signatory to the Convention on October 3, 1981 and to the Protocol on January 1, 1982. The Convention and
the Protocol came into eect in Japan on January 1, 1982.
58
Part 1.

The number of nationalities of applicants was 51, and the country from which the largest number
of applicants came was Myanmar (342 persons), followed by Sri Lanka (171 persons), Turkey (126
persons), Nepal (109 persons), and India (91 persons).
Applicants consisted of 668 legal residents (55.6%) and 534 illegal residents (44.4%) at the time
of submitting their applications. Those illegal residents consisted of those who appeared at an
immigration oce voluntarily to submit their application, standing at 148 persons (27.7%) and those
who applied after a detention order or deportation order was issued, standing at 386 persons (72.3%).
About 20% of the total applicants, standing at 223 persons, had applied for recognition of refugee
status in the past.
Findings of Applications for Refugee Status

The total number of those whose application for recognition of refugee status was processed in
2010 was 1,455, a decrease by 393 (21.3%) from the previous year. The number of applicants who
were recognized as refugees was 26, while the number of applicants who were not recognized was
1,336. The number of those who withdrew their applications and others was 93. (Table 40)
Table 40: Changes in the number of refugee ndings
People
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Findings 459 544 918 1,848 1,455
Further, the immigration administration should be allowed to make exceptional arrangements

within its authority for applicants who have special extenuating circumstances, even if they have not
been recognized as refugees who fall under the denitions of refugees specied in the Convention
and the Protocol. For example, if an applicant, who is denied recognition of refugee status, is unable
to return to his/her home country due to situational problems in his/her country or has some other
special reason requiring that he/she stay in Japan, special arrangements may be made exibly on
a case-by-case basis, taking the situation into consideration within the Japanese immigration control
framework. In 2010, 363 applicants were allowed to stay in Japan. (Table 41)
Table 41: Changes in the number of protected refugees
People
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Recognized as a refugee 34 41 57 30 39
Humanitarian permission to stay 53 88 360 501 363
Total 87 129 417 531 402
* The number of recognized persons includes those who were rejected to be recognized as refugees, but were
recognized as the result of ling of an objection.
59
Part 1.
Implementation of the System of Permission for

Provisional Stay
The number of those who were granted permission for provisional stay* was 65, decreased by 7
from the previous year.
The number of those who were examined whether to be granted permission for provisional stay
was 558. Major reasons for decisions not to grant permission are as follows**:
Applicants applied for recognition of refugee status after six months from the date of landing
in Japan (in the case of those for whom grounds for being a refugee have arisen during their
stay in Japan, the date such fact became known to them): 374 persons
Applicants had received a deportation order in the past: 246 persons
Chart 22: Patterns and procedures for application for recognition of refugee status

Patterns and procedures for application for recognition of refugee status
Illegal residents Legitimate residents

Submission after Submission to the Submission to the

detention reception window reception window
The applicant changes the

Refusal of permission Permission fo existing status of residence to The applicant keeps the
for provisional stay provisional stay the designated activities and existing status of residence
(continuation of (Suspension of deportation continues to stay in Japan while procedures for
deportation procedures) procedures) while procedures for recognition of refugee status
recognition of refugee status are put forward.
are put forward.
Detention Provisional release
Recognition of refugee
Refusal of refugee status
status
With Without Petition for objection Legitimate residents

Permission to obtain a
consideration of consideration of Permission to change
status of residence of
humanitarian humanitarian to a status of residence
long-term resident
of long-term resident
Decision of the
Minister of Justice

Deportation

There is no probable cause to suspect that the applicant falls under any of the reasons for deportation.
(2) The applicant has applied for permission within six months from the date of landing in Japan (if any event that makes a
foreign resident a refugee occurs during stay in Japan, the date when the resident knows the fact).
(3) The applicant came to Japan directly from a region where there is a fear of persecution.
(4) The applicant has never been sentenced to imprisonment with or without work for a certain criminal offense under the
criminal law, etc. after entering Japan.
(5) A deportation order has not been issued against the applicant.
(6) There is no probable cause to suspect that the applicant may flee from the country.
*(Note 1):Permission for provisional stayaims to ensure that the legal status of illegal residents who are taking application
procedures for recognition of refugee status is stabilized promptly. This system aims to give permission for provisional stay
in Japan to foreign nationals who do not have any status of residence, including those illegal residents, if they apply for
recognition of refugee status, except those who fall under the requirements specied in Paragraph 1, Article 61-2-4 of the
Immigration Control Act.
**(Note 2): If one applicant falls under several reasons for refusal of permission, all reasons are included. (Chart 22)
60
Part 1.

Section 2 Filing of Objections
Filing of Objections
The total number of objections led by applicants who were denied refugee status (hereinafter,
referred to asDenial of Recognition of Refugee Status) was 859, decreased by 297 from a year
earlier. (Table 42)
Table 42: Changes in the number of lings of objections and decisions of the Minister of Justice
People
Year 1982
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total
Division 2005
Not recognized as a refugee 2,773 389 446 791 1,703 1,336 7,438
Filing of objection 1,862 340 362 429 1,156 859 5,008
With reason 32 12 4 17 8 13 86
Decision
Without reason 1,425 127 183 300 230 325 2,590

Withdrawn 295 33 34 34 70 113 579
(*) As the procedure ofling of an objectionwas established by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,
as amended, that was implemented on May 16, 2005, the application of objection made prior to the implementation of
said Act was deemed to be replaced byling of an objectionafter the implementation.
Finding of Objections
Among the objections led by applicants who failed to obtain refugee status, 451 of them were
handled in 2010, having increased by 143 (approximately 1.5 times more) from a year earlier.
According to the statistics, 13 objections were found to be with reasonable grounds (8 cases a year
earlier), 325 objections were found without reasonable grounds (230 cases a year earlier), and 113
objections were withdrawn by the foreign nationals who led objections (70 cases a year earlier).
(Table 42)
Section 3 Purpose of the Refugee Examination Counselors

System and its Implementation
The Refugee Examination Counselors System was started in May 2005 in order to ensure the
equity and neutrality of objection filing procedures. This procedure made it mandatory for the
Minister of Justice to hear the opinions of refugee examination counselors when making decisions on
objections led against denial of refugee status.
The Act provides that refugee examination counselors shall be appointed from among persons of
reputable character who are capable of making fair judgments on the objection led in connection
with denial of refugee status and who have an academic background in law or current international
aairs. They are appointed by the Minister of Justice on recommendations from the Oce of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Japan Federation of Bar Associations,
Refugee Assistance Headquarters, etc.
The Act provides that the Minister of Justice must hear the opinions of refugee examination
counselors on all the cases in which an objection has been led. Prior to this process, a process of
oral statement of opinions by a petitioner, etc. in which a petitioner, etc. states his/her opinions, or
61
Part 1.
a process of questions in which a refugee inquirer or a refugee examination counselor questions the
petitioner, is implemented.
In 2010, the number of oral statements of opinion and processes of questions was 541.
After the oral statement of opinions and the process of questions, refugee examination counselors
exchange opinions with the other refugee examination counselors, then draw up a written opinion
and submit it to the Minister of Justice.
Cases in which written opinions were presented by refugee examination counselors numbered 533
in 2010.
There have been no cases in which the Minister of Justice has made a disposition not in
conformity with the opinions of the refugee examination counselors (should they dier in opinion,
then the opinions of the majority of the counselors prevail).
Section 4 Landing Permission for Temporary Refuge
Landing permission for temporary refuge is granted by the immigration inspector under the
prescribed procedures when it is considered that foreign nationals on board a ship, etc. may possibly
fall under the category of refugees, and that it is reasonable to permit them to land temporarily.
Looking at applications made by persons other than boat people, 110 applications were made in the
past ve years (from 2006 until 2010), and 4 applications were granted such permission.
62
Part 1.
Chapter . Promotion of Measures against Tracking in Persons and Proper Protection of Foreign DV Victims
Chapter 4 Promotion of Measures against
Tracking in Persons and Proper
Protection of Foreign DV Victims
Section 1 Promotion of Measures against Tracking in

Persons
Protection of Victims of Tracking in Persons

Tracking in persons is a grave abuse of human rights and a prompt and accurate response is
called for from a humane perspective. This is because tracking in persons causes serious spiritual
and bodily pain to its victims, particularly to women and children, and the damage it causes is
dicult to repair. The authorities concerned address this issue through theJapan
s Action Plan of
Measures to Combat Tracking in Personsdecided in December 2004 andJapan
s Action Plan of
Measures to Combat Tracking in Persons 2009decided in December 2009.
The number of foreign nationals who took procedures for protection as victims of tracking in
persons (including support for returning their home countries) was 29 in 2010 (20 in the previous
year). According to nationality, the Philippines had 26 victims (10 in the previous year), followed by
Thailand with 1 victim (8 in the previous year), China with 1 victim (1 in the previous year), and R.O.
Korea with 1 victim (none in the previous year).
Of the 29 victims, 23 were legal residents (9 in the previous year) and 6 were those who had
violated the Immigration Control Act such as overstayers (11 in the previous year). Special
permission to stay in Japan was issued to all the victims who had violated the Immigration Control
Act. (Table 43)
The number of victims has significantly decreased since 2005, when the Immigration Bureau
started the survey and protected 115 victims, and the number is hovering around 20 to 30 in recent
years. It is considered that the reason for such a decrease is due to the fact that the Government as
a whole is taking overall and comprehensive countermeasures against tracking in persons based
on theAction Plan for Countermeasures against Tracking in Personsand that countermeasures
for preventing tracking in persons, including reviewing the landing permission criteria (ministerial
ordinance) relating to the status of residence ofEntertainer, implementation of strict landing
examination, have achieved a certain eect. (Table 44)
In recent years, in many cases, foreign nationals entered Japan with the status of residence
with no limit of activities such asSpouse or Child of Japanese Nationaletc. by a marriage with a
Japanese national and are victimized afterward.
63
Part 1.
Table 43: Number of victims of tracking in persons (2010)

People
Recognized as a victim of tracking in persons
Breakdown Violators of the Total
Nationality Legal resident Immigration Control Act
(Special Permission to Stay in Japan)
Philippines 22 44 26
Thailand 0 11 1
China 0 11 1
R.O. Korea 1 00 1
Total 23 66 29
(*1)Chinadoes not include Taiwan, Hong Kong or others.
(*2)The status of residence of 23 legitimate residents consists of 11 persons who areSpouse or Child of Japanese
National, 6 persons who areLong-Term Resident , 5 persons who areEntertainer, 1 persons who areTemporary
Visitor.
The manner of violation of 6 persons with special permission to stay in Japan consists of 5 persons who made Illegal
Entry, and 1 persons with Overstay (Overstay fromTemporary Visitor).
Table 44: Changes in the number of victims of tracking in persons
People
Year
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Breakdown
Total 115 47 40 28 20 29
Legal resident 68 20 27 11 9 23
Violators of the Immigration Control Act

4747 2727 1313 1717 1111 66
(Special permission to stay in Japan)
Foreign Nationals Deported for Committing Tracking in

Persons
Persons who were deported as those committing tracking in persons* in 2010 were 4 (6 in the
previous year), and their countries of origin were Thailand (2) and China (Taiwan) (1), and Indonesia (1).
Countries of origin of those who were deported were Thailand (3), and China (Taiwan) (3) in 2009.
Section 2 Proper Protection of Foreign DV Victims
Outline
Violence by a spouse (DV) is a serious infringement against human rights that include an act that
may constitute a crime. Similarly to cases of tracking in persons, a prompt and accurate response
is required from a humanitarian point of view.
The Immigration Bureau considers that DV is a serious infringement against human rights and
responds to foreign nationals who are DV victims properly by ensuring their physical protection
through coordination with concerned agencies, by, if application for extension of the period of stay
due to an enforcement of separation or impossibility of preparation for documents to be submitted,
or for change of status of residence due to domestic violence is made by victims, permitting such
*(Note) By the amendment to the Immigration Control Act in 2005, aperson who committed, suggested or assisted tracking in
personswas made a subject of deportation (Article 24, item (4), (c)).
64
Part 1.
Chapter . Promotion of Measures against Tracking in Persons and Proper Protection of Foreign DV Victims
applications or by, if they are overstaying on account of DV, giving special permission of residence.
Also, based on the act of partial amendment to theAct for Prevention of Violence from Spouse
and Protection of Victimsthat was enforced in January 2008 and theBasic Policy concerning
Measures for Violence from Spouse and Protection of Victimsthat was prepared in line with the
enforcement of said Act, a manual for specifying treatment, etc., in case of recognizing foreign
nationals suering from DV was prepared to promote further protection of victims and distributed
to regional immigration bureaus, and notication was made to the eect that bureaus should make a
prompt report if they recognized a case of DV.
Number of Recognized Foreign DV Victims

The Immigration Bureau puts an emphasis on the protection of victims and treats them properly
from a humanitarian point of view by ensuring coordination with concerned agencies, and, in the
process of residence examination or deportation procedure, by giving due and careful consideration
to the will and position of the victims and by considering individual circumstances. The number of
foreign DV victims who were recognized in the process of application for extension of period of stay
or deportation procedure during 2010 was 77.
The Immigration Bureau took individual situations of the victims into account and permitted in
most of the cases to extend the period of stay or to change the status of residence. However, 5 of
them, such as those with which the Immigration Bureau lost contact in the midst of the procedure
and those victimized after violating the Immigration Control Act, therefore did not have any reason
for special permission to stay in Japan were not permitted to apply for an extension of stay or
deported. (Table 45)
Table 45: Number of recognized foreign DV victims (2010)
People
Division Permission for
extension of period of Deportation Procedures Consult Total
Nationality stay and so forth
Philippines 36 6 5 47
China 7 1 2 10
R.O. Korea 4 0 0 4
Russia 3 0 0 3
Thailand 1 1 0 2
Brazil 1 1 0 2
Afghanistan 0 0 1 1
Cambodia 0 0 1 1
Colombia 1 0 0 1
Congo 1 0 0 1
Viet nam 1 0 0 1
Peru 1 0 0 1
Mongolia 0 1 0 1
Romania 1 0 0 1
Stateless 1 0 0 1
Total 58 10 9 77
65
Part 1.
Chapter 5 Alien Registration Process
Section 1 Initial Registration and Closing of Registration
Alien registration starts with the registration application (initial registration) made by each
foreign national who enters Japan or was born in Japan and ends with the termination of the alien
registration card
( registration card)* due to the foreign national
s departure from Japan, death or
other circumstances warranting termination of residence in Japan.
The total number of cases for initial registration in 2010 was 254,577, decreased by 16,436 from
271,013 in 2009.
Looking at the percentage of reasons for the number of cases for initial registration in 2010, the
number of entries is 242,169 (accounting for 95.1% of the total), followed by birth (4.7%), renunciation
or loss of Japanese nationality (0.04%). (Table 46)
Table 46: Changes in the number of initial registration and closed registration by division
Cases
Year
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Total 364,868 376,272 377,510 336,684 337,684 324,775 271,013 254,577

Initial registration
Entry 352,983 364,068 365,725 324,259 324,330 310,755 258,492 242,169
Birth 11,177 11,464 11,122 11,844 12,902 13,524 12,127 11,986
Renunciation or loss of 60 111 74 98 89 75 77 93

Japanese nationality
Other 648 629 589 483 363 421 317 329
Total 286,370 317,334 302,685 312,655 263,495 262,999 305,575 296,289

Closed registration
Departure 261,259 292,474 279,919 290,352 240,680 241,936 282,083 274,271
Acquisition of 18,566 17,728 16,053 15,376 15,634 13,909 16,266 13,932

Japanese nationality
Death 5,712 5,742 6,039 5,938 6,168 6,115 6,188 6,686
Other 833 1,390 674 989 1,013 1,039 1,038 1,400
The total number of cases of termination of registration card decreased to 296,289 by 9,286 in 2010
from 305,575 in 2009.
Looking at the percentage for the number of cases of termination of registration card by reasons
in 2010, the number of departures is 274,271 (accounting for 92.6% of the total), followed by acquiring
Japanese nationality (4.7%) and death (2.3%).
*(Note) The registration card is an original register under the Alien Registration Act that states the residence and status of foreign
nationals residing in Japan.
66
Part 1.
Chapter . Alien Registration Process

Section 2 Registration of Changes in Registered Matters
Some matters registered in the registration card change

as foreign residents change their address, status of residence,
period of stay or occupation after the initial registration.
In order to ensure the registration card and the alien
registration certificate reflect up-to-date facts, any foreign
national who undergoes a change in any of the registered
matters is obliged to submit an application for registration of
the change within the prescribed period of time. Alien registration certicate
In addition, in cases where the description in the

registration card is no longer accurate due to the abolishment, establishment, separation or
unication of municipalities or prefectures, or change of boundaries or names thereof, the heads of
municipalities shall register the relevant changes ex ocio.
In 2010, the total number of applications for registration of changes was 2,226,733, representing
a decrease by 53,238 from 2,279,971 in 2009. All of the numbers of registrations of address changes,
registrations of changes due to the abolition, establishment, separation or unication of municipalities
and registrations of changes other than address decreased from a year earlier. (Table 47)
Table 47: Changes in the number of registration of changes in registered matters
Cases
Division Changes Changes other Division Changes Changes other
in place of than place of Total in place of than place of Total
Year residence residence Year residence residence
1960 174,637 100,834 275,471 2002 411,268 1,208,054 1,619,322
1965 154,922 198,419 353,341 2003 453,489 1,347,221 1,800,710
1970 148,578 266,792 415,370 2004 480,309 1,426,824 1,907,133
1975 137,195 346,942 484,137 2005 569,793 1,448,000 2,017,793
1980 164,026 374,366 538,392 2006 566,549 1,612,858 2,179,407
1985 141,276 445,040 586,316 2007 572,062 1,734,259 2,306,321
1990 216,713 883,814 1,100,527 2008 519,887 1,750,955 2,270,842
1995 317,807 980,901 1,298,708 2009 531,933 1,748,038 2,279,971
2000 388,279 1,175,414 1,563,693 2010 505,150 1,721,583 2,226,733
2001 411,405 1,090,251 1,501,656
*1Calculations were for each scal year until 1995, but for each calender year from 2000.
*2The number of registrations ofChanges in place of residenceincludes registrations of changes due to the
abolishment, establishment, separation or unication of municipalities.
Section 3 Issuance of Registration Certicate for Renewal

(conrmation of registered matters)
For the purpose of maintaining the accuracy of registration after the initial registration, registered
foreign nationals are obligated, for each prescribed period, to apply forconrmationon whether
the statement on the registration card conforms with facts to the heads of municipalities. If they
receive prescribed confirmation, by the head of the municipality in question, a new registration
certicate is issued.
The number of applications for conrmation of registered matters (re-issuance) in 2010 was 229,529,
slightly increased from the previous year. (Table 48)
67
Part 1.
Table 48: Changes in the number of conrmation of registered matters

Cases
Division Conrmation Division Conrmation Division Conrmation Division Conrmation
of registered of registered of registered of registered
Year matters Year matters Year matters Year matters
1965 485,439 1990 337,760 2003 213,549 2008 230,384
1970 77,341 1995 260,014 2004 269,735 2009 227,385
1975 117,087 2000 290,095 2005 230,220 2010 229,529
1980 422,568 2001 220,069 2006 200,793
1985 338,522 2002 215,815 2007 274,369
*1is renewal scal year of registration certicate.
*2Calculations were for each scal year until 1995, but for each calender year from 2000.
Further, it is specied in the amendment to the Alien Registration Act in 1980 that conrmation
of registration must also be made in the procedure of exchange issuance when the registration
certicate is noticeably damaged or spoiled, and in the procedure of re-issuance when the registration
certicate is lost by loss, theft or destruction. In the amendment to the said Act in 1987, it is specied
that the period of application for conrmation, which was every ve years, must be made on each
fth birthday, and it is specied in the amendment to said Act in 1999 that, if the foreign national in
question is a permanent resident or special permanent resident, conrmation must be made on each
seventh birthday.
Section 4 Local Autonomous Body and Alien Registration
Registration records collected for clarifying residency and status of foreign nationals residing
in Japan are widely used not only in various administrative areas of the Government including
immigration control of foreign nationals, but also in local municipal bodies, that is to say, in resident
administration by municipalities or particularly in their closely related administrative areas. In this
sense, it can be said that it is inseparable from the ocial work of municipalities.
Also, resident foreign nationals or their agents, and Government agencies, need the material to
certify or grasp residency and status of the foreign national in question in an official or private
capacity. Based on application from such foreign nationals, etc., the heads of municipalities issue, as
administrative certication services, a copy of the alien registration card or a certicate of registered
matters, and the number of such issuances in 2010 was 1,553,726.
Further, as alien registration services need to be implemented in a uniform manner across the
nation, the Immigration Bureau holds central seminars for sta of municipalities engaging in alien
registration to provide them with information on alien registration laws and regulations, and ensure
proper and efficient operation of alien registration business. The Bureau also dispatches its staff
to seminars implemented by each prefecture as lecturers to fully disseminate proper treatment of
residence management.
68
Part 2
Major Policies Related to
Immigration Control Administration
in FY 2010
Part 2.
Chapter 1 Addressing the

New Growth Strategy
Smooth Acceptance of Foreign Nationals in order
to Revitalize Japanese Economy and Society
Section 1 Promotion of International Medical Interaction
Introduction of the Status of Residence for aiming

Promotion of International Medical Interaction
On December 17, 2010, the Immigration Bureau partially amended thePublic Notice on
Designated Activitiesso that foreign national patients who are to stay in Japan for a long period
to receive medical treatment in a hospital etc. are given a status of residence allowing a long stay
in this country. This amendment created a new provision in the public notice from the Ministry of
Justice concerning foreign patients who are to stay in Japan for a long period to receive medical
treatment in a hospital etc. where they are admitted, as well as a provision concerning their
caretakers, clarifying that these foreign nationals may enter and reside in Japan under the status of
residence ofDesignated Activities.
(1) Process and Background of Amendment

The New Growth Strategy (Basic Policies), the Cabinet decision on December 30, 2009, holds
up theHealth Power Strategy through Life Innovationas one ofthe growth areas driven by
Japanese Strength. The cabinet set thepromotion of expansion of medical, nursing care, and
other health-related industries to Asian and other overseasas one of principal measures in this
new strategy, becauseThe medical, nursing care, and other health related industries are also
projected to post high growth in other Asian nations as they become ageing societies. It also
stated thatwe will promote overseas sales of pharmaceuticals, as well as medical diagnosis, and
related services for wealthy Asians linked together with tourism
..
In this context, it was usual that foreign nationals, who intended to obtain medical care in
Japan, should acquireshort stay visasbefore their trip, and then enter Japan under the
status of residence ofTemporary Visitor. There were, therefore, issues including obscureness
of entry into Japan because of no visas for medical treatment as well as insucient days for
long-term medical treatment. The Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, established under the
Government Revitalization Unit of the Cabinet Office, expressed its basic view in its report
in June 15, 2010 saying thatvisas clearly intended for medical care should be created for
transparency, whilenew creation of medical visa per se would also help call attention to the
fact that Japan positively accepts foreign patients.
In response to such thinking, theNew Growth Strategy, which was decided by the Cabinet
on June 18, 2010, included the establishment of amedical-care visa, clarifying the handling of
the visa requirements and the status of residence and taking exible measures in terms of the
number of trips, the period of stay and other aspects as a part of eorts to promote international
70
Part 2.

medical interaction while providing Japan
s advanced medical technologies to address the needs
for medical care that are rapidly growing in Asia and the rest of the world.
Based on this New Growth Strategy, the recent amendment of the public notice is intended
to take measures to allow foreign patients who wish to be admitted to a medical institution
in Japan for medical treatment, and their caretakers to enter and reside in Japan under the
status of residence ofDesignated Activities. In combination with the establishment ofVisa
for Medical Stayconducted by the Ministry of Foreign Aairs, this amendment is to meet to
address foregoing requests.
(2) Contents of the Amendment

A. Introduction of the Status of Residence for Foreign Patients and their Caretakers
(Amendment of the Public Notice onDesignated Activities
)
The Ministry of Justice amended its public notice concerning the Status of Residence of
Designated Activities(The Public Notice on Activities Listed in the Right Hand Column
of Appended Table 5(limited to the part pertaining to d.)of the Immigration Control
and Refugee Recognition Act, under the Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for Criteria
Pursuant to Article 7, paragraph (1), item () of the Same Act: Public Notice of the Ministry
of Justice No.131 of 1990) to create new provisions concerning foreign patients and their
caretakers in the public notice, and have claried that they may enter and reside in Japan
under the residence of status ofDesignated Activities. These provisions are aimed at
foreign patients who are to reside in Japan for a long while in order to be hospitalized and
take medical treatment in hospitals and other medical facilities, and their caretaker. The
period of stay, in principle, is six months. Foreign nationals, who wish to obtain short-term
medical treatment, shall enter Japan under the status of residence ofTemporary Visitor
as in the past.
B. Improvement of Provisions Concerning Proxies for a Certificate of Eligibility (including

Amendment of Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act)
The improved provisions have permitted foreign patients
relatives or sta members in
medical facilities including hospitals to apply for a certicate of eligibility to be acquired
before entry in Japan under the Status of Residence ofDesignated Activities, on behalf of
foreign patients or their caretakers.
Review of Employment Restrictions for Foreign Medical

Professionals including Dentists and Nurses
It is pointed out that there is no need to put restrictions on those who have obtained professional
qualications authorized by the Japanese government, such as dentists and nurses, based on length
of their service. The existing landing permission criteria (Ministerial Ordinance) concerning the
number of years of work for foreign dentists and nurses holding professional, national license issued
by Japan, therefore, were decided to be reviewed in accordance with theBasic Plan for Immigration
Control (4th edition)decided in March 2010.
71
Part 2.
Based on this decision, the landing permission criteria (Ministerial Ordinance) concerning the
Status of Residence ofMedical Serviceswere amended as follows in November 2010.
A. In the Case that Foreign Nationals Desire to Be Engaged as Dentists
The following restrictions were eliminated: restriction of business activity which permitted
relevant national people to work as trainees, restriction on working years (within six years
after acquisition of dental qualications in Japan), and restriction of regions to work.
B. In the Case that Foreign Nationals Desire to Be Engaged as Public Health Nurses,
Midwives, or Nurses
The following restrictions were eliminated: restriction of business activity which permitted
relevant national people to work as trainees and restriction on working years (within four
years after acquisition of qualications for public health nurses and midwives or within seven
years after acquisition of nursing qualications in Japan).
Section 2 Introduction of a Preferential System Utilizing

Points-Based System for Highly-Skilled Foreign
Professionals
As measures to promote acceptance of highly-skilled foreign professionals are likely to bring quite
positive socio-economic impacts on our society. They are also likely to contribute to enhancement of
competitiveness. Therefore, the introduction of a preferential system utilizing points-based system
for our conventional immigration control policy targeting highly-skilled foreign professionals is
expected to be launched in accordance with the Basic Plan for Immigration Control (4th edition),
which was formulated by the Ministry of Justice in March 2010. After the formulation of the Plan,
the point-based system has been positioned as a policy which is deemed to be particularly benecial
to economic growth in Japan or which is one of the policy for regulatory/systemic reforms having a
high demand/employment eect, in theNew Growth Strategy (decided by the Cabinet on June 18,
2010)andEconomic measures in three stages toward the realization of the New Growth Strategy
(decided by the Cabinet on September 10).
In response to these government decisions, the Immigration Bureau has considered the
introduction of a Preferential System Utilizing Points-Based System for Highly-Skilled Foreign
Professionals and pursued consultations on it with relevant government ministries.
Section 3 Promotion of admission of the International

Students in Post-Secondary Educational
Programs/Institutions through Employment
Assistance for Graduates of Vocational/
Technical Schools
When international students who graduated from vocational/technical schools in Japan and hold
Senmonshiwhich is generally considered as almost equivalent to college degree, get job oers in
Japan, they are able to change their status of residence fromStudentto the statuses which allows
72
Part 2.

to work. However, on the other hand, prior to the amendment of related Ministerial Ordinance, if the
international students holdingSenmonshionce returned to their home countries, they were not
permitted to change their status from student to working visa status, however they desire to work
in Japan. This was because the landing permission criteria (Ministerial Ordinance) required them to
have the educational qualication equivalent to college graduates.
As a part ofEconomic measures in three stages toward the realization of the New Growth
Strategy (decided by the Cabinet on September 10, 2010), this problem was decided to be
reconsidered to draw a conclusion by the end of FY 2010 as to whether the international students,
who graduated from vocational/technical schools in Japan and returned to their home countries,
should be permitted to apply for working visas under the existing title ofSenmonshifor the
purpose of support of employment of international students in post-secondary education, in terms
of promotion of acceptance of international students through measures including support for
employment.
As a result, taking into consideration the fact that there are a number of graduates of vocational
schools who have desired to get jobs in Japan but could not any job oer, the landing permission
criteria (Ministerial Ordinance) involved in the statuses of residence* ofEngineerandSpecialist in
Humanities/International Serviceswere amended so that international students withSenmonshi
are able to meet the requirements of educational qualifications set forth in the criteria, for the
purpose of further support for employment of international students in post-secondary education.
*(Note) Applicable statuses of residence includeInstructorandDesignated Activitiesin addition toEngineerandSpecialist in

Humanities/International Services
73
Part 2.
Chapter 2 Eorts for Smooth Introduction

of the New System of Residence
Management
Section 1 Outline of the System
New System of Residence Management

In accordance with the revised Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act
established in July 2009, the Alien Registration Act forming the basis of the alien registration system
was abolished, and all residence management functions were governed integrally by the Immigration
Control Act, which led to the introduction of anew system of residence managementthat enabled
the Minister of Justice to continuously keep information necessary for residence management of
foreign nationals residing in Japan with proper status of residence for a medium to long term.
(1) Process and Background of Introduction

In recent years, with the progress of globalization in Japan and the rapid increase in the
number of foreign nationals who newly entered the country or applied for alien registration,
foreign nationals callednewcomershave increased and their nationalities have diversified.
There are an increasing number of newcomers who have not established a stable basis for
living in Japan. Not a little of them fail to submit the correct application for alien registration,
frequently transfer without submitting any application, or disappear without indicating their
intention to re-enter after obtaining a re-entry permit and returning to their own country.
Due to structural changes in the numbers of foreign nationals and changes in their behavior
patterns along with those changes, it has been more difficult to accurately grasp the actual
residence situation of those foreign nationals under the existing dualistic information collection
system based on the Immigration Control Act and the Alien Registration Act. This situation has
also caused problems in ensuring immigration control administration and proper administrative
services for foreign nationals.
Consequently, based on the proposal, etc., from the Policy Discussion Meeting, which was
a privative consulting group of the Minister of Justice, it was concluded that the residence
management system, including the alien registration system, should be drastically re-examined.
Then, the Draft Law for Partial Amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee
Recognition Act and the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, Inter Alia, those who
have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan, incorporating
the establishment of a new system of residence management, was submitted to the 171st Diet
session. The draft law was approved, enacted and promulgated after partial amendments were
made in the process of Diet deliberations.
74
Part 2.
Chapter . Eorts for Smooth Introduction of the New System of Residence Management
(2) Measures to be introduced under the New System of
Residence Management
The new system of residence management is expected to facilitate the following processes for
foreign nationals residing in Japan for a medium to long term: (i) issuance of a residence card
after obtaining a permit, such as landing permission, permission for extension of period of stay,
and permission for changes of status of residence; (ii) report of changes by foreign nationals to
the Minister of Justice during the period of their stay; and (iii) provision of information about
foreign nationals to the Minister of Justice from organizations, to which they belong such as a
school at which they study. This will enable the Minister of Justice to precisely and continuously
keep information related to the residence conditions of foreign nationals. Information about the
situation of foreign nationals residing in Japan for a medium to long term will be precisely kept
under the system and will be reected in the Basic Residents
Registration for Foreign Nationals
in municipalities, which will be newly established in accordance with the Act for Partial
Amendment of the Basic Residents
Registration Act. As a result, foreign residents will be able to
receive enhanced administrative services.
Along with the introduction of the system to keep precise information necessary for residence
management, provisions to enhance convenience, including extension of the maximum period of
stay and review of the re-entry permit system, will be established.
The detailed provisions are as shown below. Measures under the new system of residence
management shall be implemented from the date designated by the cabinet order within three
years from the date of promulgation (specically, it is expected to be enforced in July 2012).
A. Measures for Establishing a System that Enables the Minister of Justice to Keep Necessary
Information Continuously
(A) The Minister of Justice shall grant a residence card specifying basic matters for
identication, status of residence, period of stay, etc., to foreign nationals residing in Japan
with the status of residence under the Immigration Control Act as medium to long-term
residents (hereinafter referred to asmedium to long-term residents
), except those who fall
under any of the following: (i) those whose period of stay for three months or less has been
approved; (ii) those whose status of residence asTemporary Visitorhas been approved;
(iii) those whose status of residence asDiplomatorOcialhas been approved; or (iv)
those who are stipulated as equivalent to the above foreign nationals by the Ordinance of
the Ministry of Justice.
(B) Medium to long-term residents shall inform the Minister of Justice of the addresses of the
main residence in Japan where they decide to reside after landing through the head of the
municipality where they live, within a certain period of time (The place of residence will be
included on their residence cards).
(C) Medium to long-term residents shall inform the Minister of Justice of any change in not
only the matters contained in their residence cards (change of place of residence will be
75
Part 2.
informed through the municipal head), but also the organizations to which they belong and
their personal status or position, according to their status of residence.
(D) The Minister of Justice shall be allowed to obtain information about medium to long-term
residents from the organizations to which they belong.
(E) The Minister of Justice shall be allowed to conduct surveys to conrm matters notied, if
necessary, in order to continuously keep information about medium to long-term residents.
(F) Registration of a false place of residence and failure to continue to engage in activities as a
spouse while residing in Japan for six months or more in spite of residing under the status
of residence as a spouse without due reason, shall be added to the causes for revocation of
status of residence.
(G) With regard to forgery of residence cards, penal provisions and reasons for deportation
shall be established. Penalty related to illegal employment shall be revised.
B. Measures for Enhancing Convenience of Foreign Nationals Legally Residing in Japan

(A) The maximum period of stay shall be extended from three years to ve years.
(B) The validity period of re-entry permits shall be extended. In principle, foreign nationals
who have valid passports and residence cards and who re-enter Japan within one year from
their departure shall not need to apply for re-entry permits.
(3) Measures for Special Permanent Residents

Along with the introduction of the new system of residence management, the special
permanent resident system was reviewed.
As there has been no particular problem with the special permanent resident system, the
system was overhauled to enhance convenience, practically maintaining the status quo, as
follows (the overhauled system is expected to be enforced in July 2012, as is the new system of
residence management):
A. The Minister of Justice shall grant a special permanent resident certicate that certies legal
status as a special permanent resident.
B. Special permanent residents shall be allowed to extend the valid period of re-entry. In
principle, special permanent residents who have valid passports and special permanent
resident certicates and who re-enter Japan within two years from their departure shall not
need to apply for re-entry permits.
76
Part 2.
Basic Residents
Register System for Foreign Residents
Under the new system of residence management, the Alien Registration Act was eliminated, while
foreign residents became subject to the Basic Residents
Registration Act and other appropriate
regulations. The date when the amended Basic Residents
Registration Act was enforced was the
same as the date when the amended Immigration Control Act and relevant regulations were
enforced.
(1) Issuance of Residence Cards for Foreign Nationals

Residence cards will be issued for foreign nationals with proper status of residence for
medium to long-term residents and special permanent residents designated by the Special Act
on Immigration Control, provided that both categories of foreign nationals shall continuously
reside in the addresses in the relevant municipalities.
(2) Matters Contained in Residence Cards for Foreign Residents

Residence cards for foreign residents include the description of not only basic matters
for identification, including name and address, as with Japanese nationals, but also matters
concerning national health insurance and national pension as insured persons, and matters
specic to foreign residents, such as nationality or region, status of residence, and period of stay.
(3) Notications Regarding Foreign Residents

Foreign residents who change their address shall submit notifications on moving in/out in
accordance with the Basic Residents
Registration Act, as with Japanese nationals. Although
the provisions of the amended Immigration Control Act stipulate that foreign nationals should
submit notications of their address to the Minister of Justice, they shall be considered to have
submitted the relevant notications to the heads of their municipalities.
(4) Notice from the Minister of Justice

When a foreign resident submits a notification of change of name, etc., to a regional
immigration bureau, or obtains permission for change of status of residence, extension of period
of stay, etc., the description in his/her residence card needs to be modified. Therefore, the
Ministry of Justice shall notify such changes to the municipality exercising jurisdiction over the
place of the relevant foreign resident
s address, and the municipality shall modify the description
in the residence card based on the notication. This process aims to alleviate the notication
burden on foreign residents and ensure the accuracy of records.
Section 2 Progress in Eorts toward Introduction of

The System
Smooth Transition to the New System of Residence

Management
The revised provision involved in the new system of residence management shall be enforced
77
Part 2.
from the date designated by the cabinet order within three years from the date of promulgation.
Remembering such provisions will be enforced in July 2012, the Immigration Bureau requested
public comments on the specications of residence cards etc. in July 2010. And now, the bureau is
advancing the consideration on issues including details of necessary governmental and ministerial
ordinances and how to perform operations. In line with the advance of review, the bureau has also
discussed with relevant ministries and local governments on how to associate with each other under
the new system, while preparing system development.
The Immigration Bureau has also prepared and distributed leaets to introduce the details of the
revised Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act. Additionally, the bureau has
provided further information on the revised contents on its website and updated the contents to
t to the current circumstance in concert with the progress of preparation of enforcement of those
provisions. In addition, after the promulgation of the revised Immigration Control Act, the bureau
held briefing sessions for embassies in Tokyo. Moreover the Immigration Bureau will strive to
implement aggressive campaigns until the provisions are enforced.
Smooth Transition to the Basic Residents

Register
System for Foreign Residents
(1) Cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Aairs and
Communications and Local Government, and Provision of
Information to Them
The bureau sends sta including the Director of the Registration Division to meetings of the
Study Group on Transition to the Basic Residents
Registration System for Foreign Residents
(http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/kenkyu/daityo_ikou/index. html) organized by the
Ministry of Internal Aairs and Communications to discuss various practical issues on the law
which are supposed to be enforced within three years from the date of promulgation. In FY 2010,
the Immigration Bureau reviewed issues including system-coordinated interface specications
to promote information linkage between the Ministry of Justice and municipalities as well as
clerical duties occurring in municipalities on issuance of special permanent resident certicates.
The bureau also provides relevant information through its website and other means. In addition,
the bureau has prepared for the transition to the new system in cooperation with the Ministry
of Internal Aairs and Communications and governments by, for example, providing information
transition to the new system at meetings including in the Municipal Representative Conference
on Foreign Registration Services.
(2) Measures to Ensure Accurate Registration

In preparation for implementation of the Basic Residents
Registration System for foreign
residents, provisional residence cards shall be made for foreign nationals who have been
registered in registration cards and who are anticipated to fall under foreign residents residing
in the relevant municipalities on the reference date before implementation, and such provisional
resident cards shall be used as authoritative resident cards on the implementation date. Because
these provisional resident cards are prepared based on information including matters contained
78
Part 2.
in registration cards, it is important to enhance the accuracy of the registration cards under the
existing system in order to ensure a smooth transition. Therefore, the Immigration Bureau is
taking a series of measures.
Specifically, in FY 2007, posters in various languages were posted at the counters, etc., of
municipal oces and regional immigration oces all over the country, to call on foreign residents
to apply for registration with accurate details. Further, the Team for Enhancement of Accuracy
and Improvement of Operations was set up in the Registration Division of the Immigration
Bureau in April 2008. This team instructs municipalities on operations including regular
inspection of registration cards. If any registration card is to be terminated due to some reasons
including departure from Japan, the bureau actively promotes the relevant municipalities to
conrm that the relevant registration card is terminated. In addition, as a trial, ahead of data
provision to every municipality, supposed to be implemented approximately six months before
the enforcement of the amended Immigration Control Act, the bureau implemented a model
operation in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka and Suginami-ku in Tokyo in 2010. Based on the result of
the operation, the bureau intends to improve the accuracy of data provision.
79
Part 2.
Chapter 3 Smooth and Strict Implementation

of Immigration Examination
It is necessary to promote smooth immigration examination for the great majority of trouble-
free foreign nationals who come to Japan, while ensuring strict immigration examination for foreign
nationals who intend to work illegally in order to prevent them, without fail, from entering Japan.
In order to increase the number of foreign nationals visiting Japan as a part of eorts to achieve
a tourism-oriented country, it is very important to prevent terrorists who are disguised as tourists
from entering the country at the border. It is also necessary to satisfy two seemingly contradictory
objectives: smooth but strict implementation of immigration examination.
The Immigration Bureau is making eorts to implement exible examination on a case-by-case
basis to achieve such objectives.
Section 1 Eorts for Promoting a Tourism-Oriented

Country
Eorts to Reduce the Waiting Time for Examination

Japan is now making government-wide eorts for promoting a tourism-oriented country, and needs
to enhance international cooperation and exchange that will contribute to realization of a tourism-
oriented country through smooth immigration examination.
The Immigration Bureau has already been making eorts to ensure smooth landing examination
procedures at each airport and seaport, and now is promoting the secondary examination system
introduced in FY 2005. The Bureau also set up an examination support team in the Chitose-
Tomakomai Branch Oce and the Haneda Airport Branch Oce (at that time) in FY 2006, and in
the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau in FY 2009, for the purpose of providing more ecient
examination support to local ports, etc.
In addition, the bureau arranges booth concierges to guide passengers to a vacant booth as well as
conrm ED cards, instruct how to enter the cards, and instruct/assist in the procedure of biological
terminals, in order to prevent operations from being stagnated and confused around immigration
examination counters and to realize smoother
immigration examination procedures by utilizing
the limited capacity of each counter as eciently
as possible.
Automatic Gates
Smooth and strict examinations have been
further assisted by installation of automatic
gates, which allow Japanese nationals who have
registered themselves as a user of automatic
gates, or foreign nationals who meet certain
requirements such as having been issued with a Automatic Gates
80
Part 2.
Chapter . Smooth and Strict Implementation of Immigration Examination

re-entry permit, to go through immigration procedures without undergoing immigration examination
at an ordinary immigration booth. Specically, new automatic gates were installed at Narita Airport
in November 2007. In September 2009, new gates were installed at Chubu Airport and Kansai
Airport. Additional gates were installed at Haneda Airport in October 2010.
Applications for user registration of automatic gates were rst accepted at the Tokyo Regional
Immigration Bureau and the Narita Airport District Immigration Oce in November 2007, followed
by the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau, the Chubu Airport District Immigration Office,
the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau and the Kansai Airport District Immigration Office in
September 2009, the Haneda Airport District Immigration Oce of the Tokyo Regional Immigration
Bureau in October 2010, and the Takamatsu Regional Immigration Bureau in March 2011.
[Topic: Promotion of eorts for realizing a tourism-oriented country]

TheNew Growth Strategy(decided by the Cabinet on June 18, 2010),
presenting a strategy to bring about astrong economy, stipulates that the number
of foreign visitors should be increased to 25 million by the beginning of the year
2020 and to 30 million people in the not-so-distant future. The Immigration Bureau
is working on further shortening of the time required for immigration examination
procedures
Section 2 Strengthened Countermeasures at the Border
To protect the lives and safety of the general public, it is extremely important to unfailingly
prevent terrorists, etc., who are disguised as tourists, from entering the country. Since the terrorist
attacks on the United States in 2001, the Immigration Bureau has been continuously implementing
strict immigration examination in order to turn back such terrorists as they attempt to enter the
country.
Implementation of Immigration Examination through the

Use of Personal Identication Information
Since November 20, 2007, foreign nationals who intend to enter Japan have been required to
submit personal identication information (ngerprints and a facial photograph). This enables us to
accurately and promptly conrm that an applicant for landing permission is identical to the passport
holder, and to check the applicant against the blacklist maintained by the Immigration Bureau. In
addition, it has become possible to detect, without fail, those who have previously been displaced
and again try to enter the country illegally using forged or altered passports or others
passports by
checking them against data on ngerprints and facial photographs of those displaced in the past,
which is maintained by the Immigration Bureau.
On the other hand, after the implementation of immigration examination through the use of
personal identification information, there have been many cases of illegal immigrants who try to
81
Part 2.
enter the country illegally with fake fingerprints by damaging them directly or going through a
surgical procedure, or with altered passports, in order to avoid detection of their displacement in the
past. If such fake ngerprint cases occur, the Immigration Bureau should not only adopt procedures
for displacement, but also cause them to be subject to strict punishment, including criminal
punishment. Therefore, the bureau makes a report and accusation of illegal entry to investigative
authorities, and is striving to detect fake ngerprints by upgrading devices
Immigration Examination through the Use of Personal Countermeasures against forging or alteration of documents
Identication Information
Use of the ICPO

s Database on Lost and Stolen Passports
TheAction Plan for the Prevention of the Terrorism(decided by the Headquarters for the
Promotion of Measures against Transnational Organized Crime (TOC), Other Related Issues and
International Terrorism on December 10, 2004) stipulated that a system to use the ICPO
s Database
on Lost and Stolen Passports in the process of immigration examination should be introduced and
operated asPreventive Measures to be Taken Immediately to Fight Terrorism. To that end, it
was decided that examination procedures using the said database were put into eect in August
2009.
Immigration Examination through the Use of APIS

The Immigration Bureau is working to track international terrorists, etc., and collect information
related to them in close cooperation with relevant organizations to prevent them from entering
Japan and committing terrorist acts. In the process of landing examination, the bureau is trying to
detect terrorists, etc., by unfailingly checking foreign nationals against the blacklist based on such
information.
Since February 1, 2007, all vessels and aircrafts calling at a port in Japan have been required to
submit, in advance, a list of passengers containing their identication data. Since February 21, 2010,
it became possible to receive advance passenger information about aircraft calling at an airport
through the Air-NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System) operated by
the Nippon Automated Cargo And Port Consolidated System, Inc., and a new air cargo advance
passenger information system was launched.
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Part 2.
Chapter . Smooth and Strict Implementation of Immigration Examination

Section 3 Other Eorts
Special Cases of Denial of Landing

If a foreign national was not permitted to land due to a certain reason corresponding to one of
the reasons for denial of landing in Japan set forth in Article 5, Paragraph (1) of the conventional
Immigration Control Act, the foreign national did not satisfy the conditions stipulated in Article 7,
Paragraph (1) (iv). The relevant person, therefore, was not permitted to land in Japan unless he/she
was specially permitted to land there through the procedure including hearing by special inquiry
ocer and decision by the Minister of Justice. New provisions for special cases of denial of landing,
however, were established in the revised Immigration Control Act promulgated in 2009. Landing
of such applicants became possible when the Minister of Justice permits him/her to land in Japan,
without such procedure, but through permission by immigration inspectors (this measure was
enforced on July 1, 2010).
The new provisions cover the foreign nationals who have been imprisoned or conned for at least
one year (Article 5, Paragraph (1) (iv) of the Immigration Control Act), punished because of drug-
related crime (Article 5, Paragraph (1) (v) of the same act), engaged in prostitution-related business
(Article 5, Paragraph (1) (vii)), or have been in the refusal of re-entry period (Article 5, Paragraph
(1) ( ) and ( -2)), provided that the relevant national has resided in Japan under the status of
residence, and also provided if he or she has been permitted to re-enter Japan or has obtained
a refugee travel document. The new provisions cover the relevant nationals who have obtained
certicates of status of residence or a visa at the Japanese Consulate etc.
Requirements for Foreign Nationals with Landing

Permission of Crewmembers to Carry and Present
Crewmember s Pocket-ledgers
Although the foreign nationals, who were permitted to land in Japan as crewmembers, were
required to carry and present their passports or crewmember
s landing permission cards, there
was a problem that such passports were not able to prove the identities of passport owners
because photographs of the faces to be identied were not attached (except those having multiple-
use crewmember
s landing permission cards). As a part of strengthened countermeasures at the
border, during the process ofAction Plan for the Realization of a Society Resistant to Crime in
2008nalized in December 2008, requirements of passports or crewmember
s pocket-ledgers were
decided to bediscussed for the purpose of more precise identication of the people who has been
permitted to land in Japan as crewmembers of airplanes and vessels
.
On the basis of the decision, the foreign nationals, who hold crewmember
s pocket-ledgers, have
been required to carry and present not only crewmember
s landing permission cards but also their
passports or crewmember
s pocket-ledgers, for the purpose of prompt confirmation whether the
foreign nationals having crewmember
s permission cards are identied as the people who have been
permitted to land in Japan as crewmembers, in accordance with the revised Immigration Control
Act promulgated in July 2009(enforced on January 1, 2010).
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Part 2.
Responses to the APEC

Regarding the Japan APEC Meetings in 2010, of which the host country is Japan, the Immigration
Bureau established a system to implement the prompt immigration procedure for APEC officials
by setting up preparatory oces for Japan APEC Meetings in the Ministry of Justice and regional
immigration bureaus. On the other hand, the Immigration Bureau implemented strict immigration
examination in order to eliminate domestic activities by terrorists and overseas anti-globalize groups,
by utilizing personal identification information, in close cooperation with relevant organizations.
There were no outstanding obstructive actions against smooth proceedings of meetings during the
meeting period until the summit held in November 14, 2010, and Japan APEC Meetings in 2010
ended up without any problems.
84
Part 2.
Chapter . The Launch of the New Technical Intern Training Programs

Chapter 4 The Launch of the New Technical
Intern Training Programs
Section 1 Outline of the System
Training and intern training programs are intended to develop human resources who are
responsible for economic development of their countries of origin through the transfer of technology
and skills to technical interns etc. However, recently, an increasing number of accepting organizations
that do not understand the objectives of the programs treat the trainees and interns improperly and
pay them low wages. In addition, it has been pointed out that some accepting organizations do not
provide adequate guidance and supervision for their umbrella organizations, and there are brokers
who obtain unfair prots from intermediary services for trainees.
In order to respond to the present situation, the new technical intern training programs were
launched in July 2010. As a result, intern training are required to involve activities to acquire skills
under the contract of employment, in principle, so that interns can be protected in accordance
with the relevant Labor Standards Act and other labor-related laws and regulations, including the
Minimum Wage Act. In the case of acceptance under the supervision of organizations, accepting
organizations had previously supervised technical internships only in the first year. After the
revision, such organizations are required to implement technical intern training in the second year or
later under their responsibility and supervision.
The new programs require accepting organizations to receive lectures on information necessary
for legal protection of technical interns, which will be given by an expert. In order to reinforce
the instruction, supervision and support system of supervising organizations, it also stipulates the
requirements of supervising organizations as follows: (i) the sta of supervising organizations shall
visit the facility where programs are conducted at least once a month to confirm the situation
of technical intern training programs and give directions; (ii) board members of supervising
organizations shall conduct an audit at least once every three months, and report the results to the
relevant regional immigration bureau; (iii) supervising organizations shall provide counseling staff
who give advice to technical interns.
Section 2 Response to Cases of Inappropriate Acceptance
Under the provisions including the ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, the Immigration Bureau
may make a nding ofmisconductwith regard to organizations that have acted inappropriately
regarding training and technical intern training programs and suspend such organizations
from accepting trainees and technical interns for one, three or five years depending on types
of misconduct, as the ministerial ordinance stipulates. The number of organizations that were
recognized to engage inmisconductduring the year 2010 was 163.
According to the type of receiving arrangement, there were three organizations (1.8%) accepting
trainees under the company-arranged scheme and 160 organizations (98.2%) accepting trainees under
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Part 2.
the association-supervised scheme.

According to the type of receiving organization, there were 17 organizations (10.6%) as primary
receiving organizations (entities like cooperative associations), and 143 organization (89.4%) as
secondary receiving organizations (entities like membership companies). (Table 49)
Three major categories of misconduct in descending order areviolation against labor-related
regulationscommitted by organizations which have technical interns work in violation of labor-
related regulations, including unpaid wages,work in excess of statutory working hourscommitted
by organizations which have trainees work other than training hours or holidays when they are
prohibited to work, andname lendingcommitted by organizations which allow other organizations
that had not applied for acceptance to accept trainees and technical interns. These three categories
account for 71.7% of all misconduct. (Table 50)
Table 49: Changes in the number of organizations subject to a nding of misconduct by type of receiving arrangement
Organizations subject to a nding

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Type of receiving arrangement
Company-arranged sheme 11 9 7 2 3
Association- Primary receiving organization 28 36 29 34 17
supervised sheme Secondary receiving organization 190 404 416 324 143
Total 229 449 452 360 163
Table 50: Number of ndings of misconduct by category (2010)

Cases
Association-supervised sheme
Findings Company-arranged Total
Category sheme3organizations Primary Secondary 163organizations
17organizations 143organizations
1st
Category Dual contract 0 1 0 1
Variance compared with Trainee

and Technical Intern Training plan 1 5 12 18
Name lending 0 1 30 31
In addition to the foregoing,

preparation and use of fraudulent 0 8 3 11
documents
2nd Work in excess of ststutory working
Category hours 2 2 44 48
3rd Malicious acts of infringement of

Category human rights, etc. 3 4 18 25
4th
Category Failure to report serious cases, etc. 0 0 0 0
5th Employment of illegal foreign

Category workers 1 1 3 5
Violation against labor-related 0 1 77 78

regulations
6th
Category Recurrence of similar acts 0 2 0 2
Total 7 25 187 219
(*1) If one accepting organization is recognized as having committedmisconductof more than one category,it is listed
for the respective categories, and as such,the number of accepting organizations is not identical to the number of
recognized cases by category.
(*2) Since July 2010, illegal actions have been identied in accordance with ministerial ordinances concerning landing
criteria. The numbers of illegal actions are calculated in tunewith the types categorized in the Guidelines Concerning
Entry and Residence Management of Technical Intern Trainees (revised in 2007).
86
Part 2.
Chapter . More Appropriate and Smoother Admission of International Students

Chapter 5 More Appropriate and Smoother
Admission of International Students
Section 1 More Appropriate and Smoother

Implementation of Immigration and Residence
Examination of International Students
Admission of international students in post-secondary education is meaningful in many aspects,

such as strengthening of international goodwill, deepening of mutual understanding and friendship
by creation of a human network, international contributions through human resource development,
creation of an international campus environment in universities, and acceptance of human resources
who will play a part in economic activities in Japan. TheNew Growth Strategy, decided by the
Cabinet in June 18, 2010, also set aplan to accept 300,000 foreign talented students into Japan , and
the whole government is making an eort to realize the goal.
For the purpose of realizing the plan, immigration control authorities continue eorts to ensure
proper residence management in cooperation with educational institutions, and to promote
more appropriate and smoother admission of international students in post-secondary education.
Specically, with respect to applications made by educational institutions that do not give rise to
overstayers or illegal workers by proper enrollment control, the documents to be submitted should
be drastically simplified. On the other hand, with respect to applications made by educational
institutions that give rise to large numbers of overstayers or illegal workers, strict examination
needs to be carried out as in the past.
Section 2 State of Implementation of Measures on

Acceptance of College Students
The Immigration Bureau has implemented proper and smooth implementation of immigration and
residence examination as described above, while taking the following measures on acceptance of
foreign students in 2010.
Integration of the Two Categories of Status of Residence,

College StudentandPre-college Student
In recent years, the number of overstayers with the status of residence ofPre-college Student
has been on a downward trend, and the characterization of the status of residence ofPre-college
Studentas a preparatory step to the status of residence ofCollege Studenthas become commonly
accepted. In view of such circumstances, it was decided to integrate the two categories of status of
residence to be granted to foreign nationals who receive education withStudent. Such integration
was contained in the revised Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act, which was
promulgated in July 2009 and enforced on July 1, 2010. (Chart 23 and Table 51)
87
Part 2.
Chart23: Changes in the number and percentage of overstayers who entered Japan with the status of
residence ofCollege StudentandPre-college Student

(*) Since July 1, 2010, a part of the revised Immigration Control Act has been enforced. In association with the integration
of the two categories of status of residence,College StudentandPre-college Studentinto the one categoryCollege
Student , the number of overstayers with the new status of residence,College Student , in January 2011 corresponds to
the total number of overstayers with the conventional statuses of residence,College StudentandPre-college Student .
In order to understand the composition ratio of overstayers with the status of residence ofCollege Studentfrom 2006
compared to the ratio of the new status, the numbers of overstayers with the status of residence ofCollege Student
andPre-college Studentin each year from January 2006 to January 2010 were respectively summed up.
Table 51: Changes in the number and percentage of overstayers who entered Japan with the status of
residence ofCollege StudentandPre-college Student
People
Date January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1 January 1
Division 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Total number of overstayers 193,745 170,839 149,785 113,072 91,778 78,488
College Student 14,935 12,729 10,978 8,276 5,842 4,322
Percentage of total ( ) 7.7 7.5 7.3 7.3 6.4 5.5
(*) The number of overstayers with the status of residence,College Studentincludes the number of foreign nationals
whose status of residence wasPre-college Studentunder the previous Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition
Act, which had been enforced before July 1, 2010, at the time when they became considered overstayers.
Review of Permission to Engage in Activity Other than

That Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously
Granted
Along with the integration of two categories of status of residence, it was decided to
comprehensively permit international students to engage in the activity other than that permitted
under the status of residence previously granted up to 28 hours a week, in principle.
The Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act was revised to stipulate that
permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously
granted shall not be required for activities as a teaching assistant or research assistant in a
university, etc., in receipt of remuneration. The revised ordinance was enforced on July 1, 2010.
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Part 2.
Chapter . Establishment of an Special Exception to the Period of Stay for Foreign Nationals Applying for Permission to Extend period of Stay etc.
Chapter 6 Establishment of a Special
Exception to the Period of Stay
for Foreign Nationals Applying for
Permission to Extend period of
Stay etc.
In case an application of permission for extending period of stay or for changing status of
residence is made by the expiration date of period of stay, but procedures are not completed by the
expiration date, the foreign national is allowed by the amended Immigration Control Act to stay with
the status of residence either until the procedure is completed or for two months after the expiration
date of period of stay even after the period of stay is expired, whichever comes earlier (implemented
on July 1, 2010).
In addition, if a foreign national desires to re-enter Japan within the relevant period, he or she is
permitted to enter, provided that he or she apply for permission of re-entry.
89
Part 2.
Chapter 7 Eorts of the Immigration Bureau

Concerning the Great East Japan
Earthquake
The Great East Japan Earthquake (the3.11 Earthquake), which occurred on March 11, 2011, was
one the largest earthquakes ever recorded in Japan. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis (huge
tidal waves) and accidents in a nuclear power plant caused an unprecedented catastrophe all over
eastern Japan around the Pacic Coast in the Tohoku area.
The Immigration Bureau took the following measures for protecting rights and benets of foreign
national victims aected by the earthquake.
Section 1 Measures concerning the Procedures of

Immigration and Residence Associated with
Disaster Occurrence
Extension of Period of Stay Based on the Act on Special

Measures concerning Preservation of Rights and Interests
of Victims of Specied Disaster
The Immigration Bureau took measures for foreign nationals subject to notication by the Ministry
of Justice, based on Article 3, Paragraph (2) of the law regarding special measures for protecting
rights and benets of victims of specied disasters (hereinafter called the Act on Special Measures),
are all allowed to postpone the expiry date of the period of stay until August 31, 2011 without taking
any particular measures.
(Foreign Nationals Subject to the Notication)
The foreign nationals who fall under the following categories:
(1) The foreign nationals whose period of stay will be terminated by August 30, 2011 due to
administrative measures (including landing permission) taken before the occurrence of the 3.11
Earthquake.
(2) The foreign nationalsresiding in districts in Aomori Prefecture, districts in Iwate Prefecture,
districts in Miyagi Prefecture, districts in Fukushima Prefecture, or districts in Ibaraki
Prefecture (hereinafter called designated districts), orthose residing in the designated
districts as registered in their alien registration cards approved in accordance with the
provisions of Article 4, Paragraph (1) of the Alien Registration Act
.
Even if foreign nationals are not covered by the Notification, the Immigration Bureau took
measures for extension of the expiration date of stay until August 31, to the people who have
been aected by the 3.11 Earthquake and have the expiration date of period of stay by August 30,
provided that they shall be covered under Article 3 of the Special Measures Act.
Additionally, the bureau took measures for extension of the relevant expiration date under Article 3,
Paragraph (3) of the Special Measures Act, in line with individual cases, if foreign nationals were not
able to leave Japan or apply permission due to the 3.11 Earthquake
90
Part 2.
Chapter . Eorts of the Immigration Bureau Concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake
Implementation of Prompt Acceptance of Rescue Teams
from Foreign Countries, Regions, and International
Organizations
From March 12 to May 30, rescue teams of approximately 1,100 people from 21 countries and
regions including the U.S., Russia, France, and South Korea entered Japan from Narita Airport,
Haneda Airport, Misawa Air Base, and Yokota Air Base. For the purpose of landing examination of
rescue teams, the Immigration Bureau used simple and prompt methods, including no requirement of
landing permission stamp on their passports by issuing temporal landing permission cards prepared
by immigration inspectors in advance.
Implementation of Prompt Embarkation Procedure for

Foreign Nationals Who Desire to Leave Japan due to the
Earthquake
(1) Re-entry Permission
After the 3.11 Earthquake, the peak number of applications of re-entry permission to the
Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau (including branches and local oces) in a peak day reached
approximately 20,000, which is approximately 12 times as much as in an average day. Under
such a high number of applications, immigration inspectors of all examination divisions handled
the work in respective oces. Meanwhile, even immigration control ocers formed applicants
waiting for procedures into lines and guided them. Thus the entire bureau responded to various
aairs from early morning to the middle of the night, while promptly handling the application
procedure by simplifying description to application forms as much as possible in order to further
reduce the processing time.
(2) Embarkation Procedure (including embarkation after re-entry

permission)
In Narita Airport, the peak number of the foreign nationals who took the embarkation
procedure in a day reached approximately 20,000, which was twice as many as that in the same
time last year. With this in mind, the Immigration Bureau dispatched the sta members from
the head oce of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau and the Higashi-Nihon Immigration
Center to Narita, Haneda, Niigata Airports for the purpose of conducting embarkation
examinations in the airports during the three consecutive holidays from March 19 to March 21.
The examination procedure was handled without any confusion.
Measures for Re-entry to Japan of International Students

and Training and Technical Interns Who left Japan without
Re-entry Permission due to the Earthquake
If the foreigners, who have left Japan, re-enter Japan without re-entry permission, certificates
of eligibility are usually required, but the Immigration Bureau simplified the re-entry permission
procedure as an exception for international students, who left Japan promptly after the earthquake
without re-entry permission, after consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that such
91
Part 2.
students might obtain visas at Japanese Embassies and Consulates as short a time as possible.
The Immigration Bureau also took measures for the trainees and technical interns who left Japan
promptly after the earthquake without re-entry permission to obtain visas at Japanese Embassies
and Consulates, if they desired to continue the training and technical intern training, which they
had obtained, after re-entry to Japan, provided that the conditions of the environment to implement
relevant training and internship were met, and they were specially permitted to enter Japan
provided that the continuity of their activities were recognized in landing examination.
Section 2 Cooperation for Safety Conrmation of Foreign

Nationals Who Might Have Affected by the 3.11
Earthquake
Providing Reports Concerning Foreign Reports in Aected

Regions
The Immigration Bureau provided information on registered foreign nationals* in aected regions**,
who might have aected by the 3.11 Earthquake, for the purpose of the safety conrmation of foreign
nationals who might have aected by the 3.11 earthquake, on the request of local governments and
foreign diplomatic missions in Japan.
As of May 9, 2011, the Immigration Bureau provided information on 58 cases concerning 76,762
registered foreign nationals. The organizations, which the relevant information was provided, were
local governments of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures and foreign diplomatic missions in
Japan. Relevant information on a total of 32,411 registered foreign nationals was notied each of three
prefectures, while relevant information on a total of 44,350 registered foreign nationals was sent to
the 54 missions for countries and areas.
If such local governments or foreign diplomatic missions requested to know the information on
whether such registered people had left Japan or not, the Immigration Bureau responded on it.
Response on Embarkation for the Purpose of Safety

Conrmation
The Immigration Bureau responded to inquiries for embarkation for Japanese people and
registered foreign nationals in the municipalities under the Disaster Relief Act in Aomori, Iwate,
Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki Prefectures, for the safety conrmation of relevant people, if their
family, relatives, and other related people requested inquiry.
As of May 9, 2011, the Immigration Bureau responded to 52 cases of inquiries for embarkation
concerning a total of 287 people.
*(Note 1) The termaected regionis referred to as any municipalities subject to the Disaster Relief Act based onapplication of
the Disaster Relief Act concerning the Great East Earthquake (the 11th Report)issued by the Ministry of Health, Welfare,
and Labour on March 24, 2011.
**(Note 2) Relevant information on registered foreign nationals included identities (name, date of birth, nationality, gender), alien
identication number, address, household, port of entry, entry date, organization (place of employment or training, name of
education body, etc.).
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Part 2.
Chapter . Eorts of the Immigration Bureau Concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake
Section 3 Cooperation for Alien Registration
The Immigration Bureau cooperated with relevant organizations for following alien registration.
At first, the Immigration Bureau notified all municipalities throughout Japan on measures that
if foreign nationals had resided in aected areas, and if they requested for relevant municipalities
to issue certificates of registered matters of alien registration records at evacuation centers, the
municipalities, where such foreign nationals stayed, were permitted to issue provisional cards
instead of relevant certificates as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau prepared
alien registration records for all registered foreign nationals in relevant municipalities based on
the data from the Ministry of Justice, for the purpose of support of reproduction of municipal alien
registration records by municipalities that lost alien registration records, as well as support of safety
conrmation of aected people, and the bureau provided relevant records for relevant municipalities,
if they requested them.
For the purpose of support of municipalities which had significant difficulty in usual activities
in alien registration due to the damage caused by the disaster, the Immigration Bureau decided
to cover a part of tasks concerning alien registration usually conducted by such municipalities for
a certain period. If any municipality requested for the bureau to cover it, the bureau immediately
carried out the tasks *.
In addition, the Immigration Bureau made an eort to notify and promote municipalities not to
hesitate to ask and consult with the bureau about wide range of issues, so that such municipalities
could consult with the bureau at ease even if no person in charge of alien registration was able to
respond to foreign nationals due to the disaster.
Section 4 Providing Information for Foreign Nationals

Aeted by the Earthquake
The Immigration Bureau implemented more positive public relations activities, based on the
recognition that it was important to promptly provide necessary information for foreign nationals
aected by the 3.11 Earthquake particularly from a standpoint of supporting such victims.
In particular, for the purpose of responding to consultations on various procedures including re-
entry permission, the Immigration Bureau established inquiry counters exclusively used for aairs
concerning the 3.11 Earthquake at all regional immigration bureaus in Japan. The bureau also
established telephone consultation services with exclusive lines, responding to inquiries on the phone
at weekends as well.
The Immigration Bureau also established a website titledImmigration Bureau Great East Japan
Earthquake Special Homepageand posted information on measures of support for aected people
in multiple languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese), including extension
of period of stay for foreign nationals living in aected areas and inquiries on embarkation of foreign
*(Note) The Immigration Bureau covers a part of tasks concerning alien registration for ve municipalities in Iwate, Miyagi, and
Fukushima.
93
Part 2.
nationals who had resided in aected areas and information on various types of support for foreign
embassies in Japan and local governments.
Furthermore, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration(IOM), the
Immigration Bureau provided necessary information. For example, the staff members of the
Immigration Bureau went to the affected areas with the IOM staff and provided information, by
distributing leaets concerning measures of support for aected people taken by the bureau.
94
Part 2.
Chapter . Measures against Illegal or False Foreign Residents in Japan

Chapter 8 Measures against Illegal or False
Foreign Residents in Japan
Section 1 Implementation of Measures against Illegal

Foreign Residents
Past Eorts to Reduce the Number of Illegal Residents

Based on theFive-Year Plan for Halving the Number of Illegal Residentslaunched in 2004, each
regional immigration bureau has actively promoted various measures, including strict implementation
of landing/residence examination, aggressive public relations activities regarding illegal employment,
strengthened detection by detection officer units, etc., wider application of custody transfer in
accordance with Article 65 of the Immigration Control Act, and encouragement of appearance of
illegal residents under the departure order system. As a result, the number of illegal residents, which
was about 250,000 at the start of the plan, decreased to about 130,000 as of January 2009, and its goal
was almost accomplished.
Based on theAction Plan 2008 for the Realization of a Society Resistant to Crimeaiming tocreate
a society that generates no illegal residents, etc. under the new system of residence management,
the Immigration Bureau has continued efforts to further reduce the number of illegal residents,
which decreased to approximately 90,000 - 100,000 as of January 1, 2011.
Eorts to Further Reduce the Number of Illegal Residents

The Immigration Bureau thinks that the number of illegal residents in Japan has steadily
decreased due to past efforts. However, it is estimated that there are still approximately 90,000 -
100,000 illegal residents in hiding, so the bureau is making the following eorts to further reduce the
number of illegal residents.
(1) Strengthened Detection

The Immigration Bureau has establisheddetection ocer unitsthat are to engage full-time
in detecting oenders of the Immigration Control Act in the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau
(six units), Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau (two units), Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau
(two units) and Yokohama District Immigration Oce(one unit), which are located in large city
areas with many offenders. In addition, the Immigration Bureau has improved the ability to
detect illegal residents, and is promoting joint detection by strengthening cooperation with the
police.
However, it has become obvious that illegal residents tend to exist in smaller groups
separately in wider areas, and the number of those who are detected at one site has been
decreasing. Therefore, the bureau is working to promote efficient detection by making more
eective use of information provided on illegal residents.
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Part 2.
(2) Improvement of Environment for Voluntary Appearance

With the aim of encouraging illegal residents hiding in various parts of the country to appear
at the immigration oce voluntarily, the Immigration Bureau is taking the following measures:
(i) introduction of the departure order system; (ii) revision of the guidelines on special permission
to stay in Japan and publication of such cases; and (iii) public relations to encourage voluntary
appearance at the immigration oce.
The departure order system is a system under which overstayers satisfying certain
requirements, such as those who appear at the immigration oce voluntarily to swiftly leave
Japan, are allowed to leave Japan in accordance with simplified procedures without being
detained, as an exception to the preparatory detention policy. Approximately 5,000 people were
allowed to leave the country under this system in 2010 (see Item 5, Section 2, Chapter 2, Part I).
On the other hand,Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japanwhich were decided
and announced in 2006 were revised in July 2009 in order to increase the transparency of their
operation. The revised guidelines show that if illegal residents appear at the immigration oce
voluntarily, it is more likely that they will obtain special permission to stay.
The Immigration Bureau is also taking measures to publicize the system and the revised
guidelines on special permission to stay in Japan by conducting active public relations activities
regarding the departure order system, improving environment for voluntary appearance, and
aiming to encourage illegal residents to voluntarily appear at the immigration oce*.
Section 2 Implementation of Measures against False

Foreign Residents
Countermeasures against False Residents, etc.

The termfalse residentis referred to as foreign nationals who falsify their status of residence
and purpose of stay by forging or alternating documents or abusing fraudulent documents in the
form of fake marriages, fake college students, fake employment, etc., and disguise themselves as
falling under any of the legitimate statuses of residence to work illegally. Measures against them
have become an important issue in immigration control administration, as well as measures against
illegal residents. Although they practically appear to belegal residentsand precise data on their
actual number has not been obtained, there is concern over an increase of false residents who choose
to falsify themselves as a means to orchestrate entry and stay in Japan.
The existence of false residents abusing the status of residence system cannot be overlooked,
and may shake the foundation of immigration control administration in our country. Therefore,
the Immigration Bureau is striving to strengthen measures against them. The Immigration
*(Note) Examples of public relations activities:

(1) During theCampaign for Measures against Illegal Foreign Workersheld every June, public relations for prevention of
illegal employment are conducted.
(2) A page forProcedures for Voluntary Appearance at Immigration Ocewas created on the websites of the Ministry of
Justice and the Immigration Bureau in order to give clear explanations about the benets of appearance at an immigration
oce voluntarily, and the procedures after appearance, both to those who wish to return to their home countries and those
who wish to continue staying in Japan.
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Part 2.

Bureau makes eorts to strictly respond to foreign nationals falling under the category of grounds
of deportation, by revoking his or her status of residence and then making them undergo the
deportation procedures.
Crackdown on False Residents, etc.

(1) Reinforcement of Collection and Analysis of Information
In order to promote measures against false residents, it is important to carry out more
eective crackdown such as detections based on collected and analyzed information.
For that purpose, by making use of information obtained through information exchange with
relevant organizations, such as the police, and information about reports on employment of
foreign workers provided by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in addition to a lot of
information on illegal residents sent from the public as stated above, the Immigration Bureau is
working to nd and detect disguised residents, and deal with them strictly.
(2) Strengthened Detection of Those Engaged in Activities Other

than Those Permitted/Strict Response to Those Falling under
the Category of Revocation of the Statuses of Residence of False
Residents
When it is found that those who reside in Japan with a status of residence that has a limit
to activities, engage solely in work which does not fall under the scope of permitted status of
residence granted at the time of entry, they shall be considered to be engaged in activities other
than those permitted and are subject to deportation. Therefore, detection of such people has
been actively promoted.
The Immigration Bureau makes eorts to strengthen crackdown. For example, immigration
control ocers and immigration inspectors cooperate to conduct investigations to clear up the
actual situation. If a foreign national is found to fall under the category of revocation of the status
of residence, his or her status of residence will be revoked and then he or she will undergo the
deportation procedures.
Addition of Grounds for Deportation to Correctly Deal with

the Furtherance of Illegal Work etc.
The following grounds were newly added for the purpose of dealing with the furtherance of
illegal work in accordance with the revised Immigration Control Act promulgated in July 2009 and
enforced on July 1, 2010.
A. Inducement and accessoryship of behavior including forging or alteration of documents for the
purpose of illegal permissions of other foreign nationals
B. Furtherance of illegal work*
*(Note) The termfurtherance of illegal workmeans the following behaviors:

(A) the behavior to encourage foreign nationals to work illegally in terms of business activities,
(B) the behavior to have foreign nationals under control in order to make them work illegally,
(C) the behavior as a business to mediate the behavior to encourage foreign nationals to work illegally or the behavior to have
foreign nationals under control in order to make them work illegally.
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Part 2.
C. Imprisonment or severer punishment due to engagement in activities other than those

permitted by the status of residence granted to the foreign national
Section 3 Eorts toward Proper Treatment of Detainees
Activities, etc., of the Immigration Detention Facilities

Visiting Committee
There are 23 immigration detention centers and departure standby facilities, which should be
inspected by the Immigration Detention Facilities Visiting Committee. Duties to inspect such
facilities and interview detainees are shared by each committee established in the Tokyo Regional
Immigration Bureau and the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau. Based on the results, each
committee submits an opinion on the operations of those facilities to directors of detention centers
or director-generals of regional immigration bureaus (hereinafter referred to asdirectors, etc.),
and the directors, etc., promptly undertake reviews of the opinions submitted by each committee
and take appropriate action on them, starting with those which can be dealt with immediately. In
addition, the presidents have decided to act as an opinion submitted immediately by each committee
to take appropriate actions after examination.
Committee members are selected from personnel who have an excellent personality and deep
insight and who show enthusiasm for improving the operations of immigration detention centers, etc.,
and are appointed as part-time sta by the Minister of Justice. Specically, ten or less members are
appointed for each committee from intellectuals in diverse elds, including academic experts, legal
experts, medical experts, NGO workers, international organ workers, and representatives of local
communities.
Verication Regarding Provisional Release of Foreign

Nationals to be Detained in Accordance with Deportation
Order
The Immigration Bureau decided to make efforts to implement a more proper deportation
procedure for detained foreign nationals whose detainment continues for a signicant period after
issuance of deportation order, by periodically verifying and reviewing the necessity of provisional
release of the detained people for the future, utilizing the release system exibly in accordance with
individual reasons.
Under the Immigration Control Act, the foreign nationals whose deportation orders have been
issued shall be promptly sent to their home countries. If there are no places outside Japan to send
such people, they may be detained until they are able to be sent for the purpose of custody for
repatriation and prohibition of residence activities. In the case of lifting detention temporarily, on the
other hand, the provisional release system is used.
So far, individual regional immigration oces have made eorts to ensure fair application of the
provisional release system. In recent years, however, the number of people detained for a long term
has been increasing due to various reasons. The Immigration Bureau decided to make directors
of detention centers or director-generals of regional immigration bureaus verify and review the
98
Part 2.

necessity and reason of provisional release periodically for the detained foreign nationals to whom
deportation orders have been issued but who are detained for a signicant term, in consideration of
the provisional release system whether or not a provisional release is already applied for.
Based on the result of verification and review, the Immigration Bureau is making efforts to
implement a more proper deportation procedure by utilizing the provisional release system in
accordance with individual reasons and possibly avoiding longer detention.
The Agreement with the Japan Federation of Bar

Associations Concerning Immigration Control
Administration
The Immigration Bureau agreed with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations on September 9,
2010, to have opportunities to consult with each other on measures to implement more preferable
conditions concerning various issues of detention associated with immigration control association and,
as a part of the implementation of such measures, to promote eorts including legal consultation for
detained foreign nationals with attorneys.
In particular, in terms of legal consultation, the Immigration Bureau decided to provide legal
consultation in cooperation with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations through telephone
consultation and consultation with dispatched counselors held by bar associations. Individual bar
associations are supposed to improve the conditions of consultation, while cooperating with the
bureau on guidance for consultation and securing of places for interviews. In addition, specified
attorneys, who are representatives of detained foreign nationals, are notified of the time when
relevant foreign nationals are to be repatriated, in order for relevant information to contribute to
determination for activities including lawsuits.
The Immigration Bureau is supposed to continuously consult with the Federation to implement
more preferable conditions concerning various issues on detainment.
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Part 2.
Chapter 9 Appropriate Operation of

Special Permission to stay in Japan
Under the Immigration Control Act, the Minister of Justice is authorized to grant special
permission to stay to an oender against the law, and his decision shall be made individually with
respect to each case by comprehensively judging it from various factors, including the reason for
stay, family conditions, behavior, current situation both at home and abroad, need for humanitarian
considerations, and impact on other illegal residents.
The Immigration Bureau is taking various measures, including formulation and announcement
of theGuidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japanand announcement of theCases where
Special Permission to stay was granted and Cases where Special Permission to Stay in Japan was
denied,to enhance the transparency and predictability of special permission to stay.
Section 1 Application of Special Permission Based on the

Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay in
Japan
Whether or not to grant special permission to stay shall be decided by the Minister of Justice
based on comprehensive consideration of various factors with regard to each case, and general
criteria shall not be t for such permission. However, in order to further enhance the transparency
and fairness of the special permission to stay, theGuidelines on Special Permission to Stay in
Japan,has been decided and announced.
TheseGuidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japanprovides more details concerning
matters to be considered in judging whether to grant special permission to stay or not. It also
presents the concept for judgment. The guideline, therefore, is to be applied to judge whether to
grant special permission to stay or not.
Although only the Japanese Edition of the guideline had been published until May 2010, the
guideline was translated in multiple languages of English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and
Tagalog and posted on the websites.
Section 2 Enhancement of theCases where Special

Permission to Stay in Japan was Granted and
Cases where Special Permission to Stay in Japan
was Denied
The Immigration Bureau has made public, examples of those who are granted special permission
to stay and those who are not granted on the website of the Ministry of Justice since August 2004.
For the purpose of enhancing the transparency and fairness of the special permission to stay, the
bureau classied and organized such examples for better understanding and published them in a
table. In addition, the bureau also published new examples in the same form in April, 2011.
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Part 2.
Chapter10. Promotion of Appropriate and Prompt Refugee Protection

Chapter 10 Promotion of Appropriate and
Prompt Refugee Protection
Section 1 The Establishment and Publication of Targets

for the Handling Period of Refugee Recognition
Examinations
In July 2010, based on prolonged periods of refugee examination, the Immigration Bureau set
six months as the standard period to process one refugee application and decided to process all
applications within the period by the end of March 2011 in principle. In addition, the Immigration
Bureau decided to announce the average processing (examination) period for refugee applications on
a website of the Ministry of Justice on a quarter basis.
As of the end of June 2010 before establishment of the targets, there were 612 applications which
had not been processed for over six months since they applied for refugee status. Now, as of the end
of March, 2011, the number of unprocessed applications was reduced to 35. This gure shows that
our goal was nearly achieved.
In the future, the Immigration Bureau will promote more proper and prompt refugee examination
by collecting and organizing basic materials concerning information on the pending refugees
countries of origin and improving systems to improve expertise of sta members, and maintaining
the standard period of six months.
Section 2 Publication of Refugees

Countries of Origins
After the Japan Federation of Bar Associations proposed to enrich materials by establishing a data
center concerning information on refugees
countries of origins so that applicants can browse and use
them, the Immigration Bureau has posted information concerning refugees
countries of origins and
international aairs since November 2010 on websites of the Ministry of Justice (In particular, reports
of the United Kingdom Home Oce and the United States Department of State are translated in
Japanese and introduced on the websites.)
Section 3 Acceptance of Refugees through Resettlement

to a Third Country
Resettlement to a third country is intended to transfer and resettle refugees who have evacuated
from their countries of origins are temporarily taking shelter in a refugee camp in a neighboring
country etc., to another country which agrees to accept such refugees from the countries where they
were originally taken under protection. Resettlement to a third country is deemed to be one of the
permanent solutions for refugee problems, as well asvoluntary repatriationandresettlement to
the rst countries of asylum.
The UNHCR encourages each country to accept refugees based on resettlement to a third country
101
Part 2.
from the standpoint of proper sharing of burdens in relation to refugee problems in the international
community.
Until now, Japan has also taken measures to support resettlement of those recognized as
Indochinese refugees and other refugees. To cope with various problems relating to refugees in
the Asian region, the government reached a Cabinet understanding on the introduction of the
third country resettlement system Concerning
( the Implementation of Pilot Cases relating to the
Acceptance of Refugees by Resettlement to a Third Country) on December 16, 2008.
In accordance with the content of the said Cabinet understanding and theDetailed Measures
for Implementing Pilot Cases relating to the Acceptance of Refugees by Resettlement to a Third
Country(Decision by the Liaison and Coordination Conference for Countermeasures for Refugees
on December 19, 2008), relevant administrative authorities were to accept approximately 30 refugees
from Myanmar, who were staying in the Mela Camp in Thailand, and support their resettlement, on
an annual basis as a pilot case since FY 2010 in mutual cooperation. In the future, the pilot case will
be investigated and reviewed from a variety of angles. Based on the investigation and review, such
administrative authorities will further consider their future acceptance systems. In FY 2010, five
families (27 people) came to Japan as the rst group in 2010.
The Immigration Bureau mainly took charge of screening procedures for refugees to be accepted,
and conducted an on-site interview survey at the camp by refugee inquirers in February 2011. The
bureau will continue to make efforts for smooth acceptance of refugees by resettlement to third
countries in cooperation with related organizations.
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Part 2.

Chapter 11 Addressing the Global Community
Section 1 Treaties and International Conventions
Negotiations on Treaties
(1) AddressingBasic Policy on Comprehensive Economic
Partnerships
Under theBasic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnershipsdecided by the Cabinet
on November 9, 2010, the Government of Japan will consider measures to address the issues
relating to the movement of natural persons from abroad, such as nurses and certified care
workers, on the basis of its eorts to promote theemployment and human resources strategies
described in itsNew Growth Strategy
, and it will do so with due attention to future domestic
demographic trends, the possible eect of such movement on employment in Japan, requests
from other countries, as well as securing Japan
s economic growth and social stabilization.
Based on theBasic Policy on Comprehensive Economic Partnerships
, a group to studythe
movement of natural personswas established under the Minister of State for National Policy.
The Immigration Bureau participated in the group from the aspect of immigration control. As
a result of the study the Cabinet decided on the extension of period of stay for Indonesian and
Filipino candidates for nurse and certified care workers based on the Economic Partnership
Agreement on March 11, 2011*.
(2) Major Actions for Negotiations on Conclusion of EPAs with other

Countries
An Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) aims to promote liberalization and facilitation
of trade between signatory nations, as well as coordination of policies, relaxation of regulations,
and cooperation in various economic areas, including tariffs, trade in services, investment,
intellectual property, and personal exchanges. The Immigration Bureau has been actively
involved in negotiations on conclusion of each EPA with various countries: Singapore (eective
date: November 2002 (the effective date is stated similarly hereinafter)), Mexico (April 2005),
Malaysia (July 2006), Chile (September 2007), Thailand (November 2007), Indonesia (July 2008), the
Philippines (December 2008), Switzerland (September 2009), Viet Nam (October 2009), India (signed
in February 2011 and enforced in August 2011), and Peru (signed in May 2011) etc. In these
negotiations, the bureau has oered explanations of the immigration control system in relation to
themovement of natural personsetc.
*(Note) Based on Economic Partnership Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines, the Indonesian and Filipino candidates
for nurses and certied care workers entering and residing in Japan shall return to their home countries, if they cannot
obtain relevant national licenses during their periods of stay in accordance with the Agreements. The number of people who
obtained relevant licenses, however, was very limited. The relevant canditates for nurses and certied care workers, who
entered Japan in FY 2008 and 2009 before 2010 when the Government s support measures were launched in earnest, were
decided to be covered by permission of extension of period of stay for an additional year so that they could have one more
chance to take the relevant examination.
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Part 2.
As of May 2011, the Immigration Bureau has been mainly involved in negotiations on
conclusion of the EPA with Australia.
(3) Reports and Examinations in Accordance with Human Rights

Treaties/Covenants
Japan is a signatory nation to various treaties, including the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the Convention against
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). With regard
to government reports on the status of implementation of those treaties, the Immigration Bureau
is involved in the drafting of reports, review of governmental reports, and follow-up thereof from
the perspective of immigration control administration. In this context, meetings to review the
third governmental report on the CRC and the rst governmental report on the CRC
s Optional
Protocols (concerning the involvement of children in armed conflict, the sale of children, etc.)
were held in May 2010, and the Immigration Bureau was involved in the reviews relating to
immigration control administration.
International Conventions
(1) G8 Rome/Lyon Group Migration Experts Sub-Group Meeting
The Migration Experts Sub-Group Meeting, one of the sub groups of the G8 Rome/Lyon
Group, which is a working experts
group to discuss measures against international terrorism and
transnational organized crime at the G8 level, is discussing measures that the G8 members can
take cooperatively in the area of illegal immigration and the forging or alteration of documents.
In 2010, three meetings in total were held in Canada. Ocials from the Immigration Bureau
attended all three meetings to exchange information and opinions with their counterparts in
other countries.
(2) Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Conference of Directors-General of

Immigration
This meeting has been held every year since 2002 as a place where immigration ocials from
Asian and European countries can gather and discuss issues such as illegal entry and stay. It
provides participants with opportunities to exchange and collect opinions and information that
are useful in considering measures against issues such as illegal immigration. For this reason,
the Immigration Bureau sends its ocials to participate in opinion and information exchange of
opinions and information. In 2010, the ninth meeting was held in Brussels (Belgium) to discuss
policies toward legal and illegal immigrants.
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Part 2.

(3) Other International Conventions
In addition to the international meetings mentioned above, the Immigration Bureau sends
ocials to attend consultation meetings on bilateral economic partnership agreement, counter-
terrorism measures and on consular services etc., with the aim of actively explaining Japan
s
position and building cooperative relations with other countries. The bureau also sends ocials
to participate in meetings intended for information sharing and exchange of opinions, such as the
International Air Transport Association (IATA)/Control Authorities Working Group (CAWG).
Section 2 Holding of Seminars on Immigration Control
Since FY 1987, the Immigration Bureau has been inviting executive ocers of the immigration
control authorities of Asian countries and regions to seminars every year to exchange opinions and
information on immigration control aairs in Asia. These constructive exchanges have helped the
participating countries to eectively design and implement immigration control measures.
The 24th seminar was held in December 2010. The seminar was attended by the immigration
authorities of 19 countries and regions in Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Rim, etc. (Australia,
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, China, China (Hong Kong), Indonesia, R.O. Korea, Laos, China (Macao),
Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the U.S., and Viet
Nam), and by responsible persons from three international organizations: The European Union
(EU), the IOM, and the UNHCR as observers. They actively exchanged opinions on the topics:the
developments over the past year in the immigration control administration of each participating
country (region),Eective utilization of various information for appropriate boarder inspection and
residence examination,andcountermeasures against illegal residents.
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Part 2.
Chapter 12 Improvement of Public Relations

and Administrative Services
Section 1 Promotion of Public Relations
Recognizing that public relations and enlightenment activities inside and outside the country
play a great role in the smooth implementation of immigration control, the Immigration Bureau has
promoted more active public relations activities than ever before.
Main public relations activities include conducting press releases of statistics concerning
immigration control administration such as the numbers of those entering or leaving Japan and
of overstayers and posting and disseminating such information through websites of the Ministry
of Justice. In addition, the Immigration Bureau publishes information including cases of special
Front page of the leaet for the Illegal Work

Prevention Campaign
Scene from the Illegal Work Prevention Campaign Request for employersassociations to take countermeasures
against illegal foreign workers by the National Police Agency,
the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and
106 Welfare
Part 2.

permission to stay in Japan and the standard processing period of examination, so that a wide
variety of people can understand immigration control administration.
Moreover, for the purpose of preventing illegal work through appropriate employment of foreign
nationals, the Immigration Bureau holds theIllegal Work Prevention Campaignas part of the
campaign forForeign Labor Problem Awareness Monthconducted by the government every
June, so that the general public, companies hiring foreign nationals, relevant organizations and
governments in other countries can correctly understand these issues and cooperate with the
bureau. In 2010, the bureau conducted enlightenment activities for prevention of illegal employment
by distributing leaets in cooperation with relevant ministries and local authorities etc.
Section 2 Improvement of administrative services
Facilitating the Landing Examination Procedures

The Immigration Bureau has made eorts to facilitate the landing examinations at airports and
seaports, but foreign nationals who visit Japan through airports have pointed out that they have to
wait in line for a long time for the landing examination. In response to this complaint, measures have
been taken at the immigration counters at large scale airports to resolve this problem, by assigning
some immigration inspectors in charge of examining Japanese nationals to the examination of foreign
nationals, and transferring immigration inspectors between immigration counters depending on the
degree of congestion. In addition, the expected waiting time for examination of foreign nationals is
indicated and priority lanes for the elderly, the disabled and pregnant women have been established.
Thus, the Immigration Bureau has made additional efforts to facilitate procedures and improve
administrative services.
In addition, the bureau has made eorts for smoother immigration procedures by shortening the
waiting time for examination, while sometimes asking airlines for cooperation in view of the actual
situation of each airport. Specifically, the bureau does not adopt an approach which lets arriving
passengers to stand in lines in front of respective booths but a fork line approach which allows
arriving passengers to stand in a single line and to proceed one by one to the next available booth,
increases the number of immigration inspectors when the airport becomes congested, allocates booth
concierges, broadcasts a guidance video explaining how to provide personal identication information,
and displays an information board that illustrates how to ll in an ED card.
Moreover, in order to promote user registration at automated gates thus facilitating smooth
immigration examination, the bureau has striven to improve administrative services for those who
wish to use automatic gates by introducing amobile on-site user registration at automatic gates
system to send sta to companies, etc., and provide registration services.
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Part 2.
Indication of waiting time for examination Priority lanes
Information Services for Foreign Nationals

The Immigration Bureau has been tackling theComfortable Administrative Services Campaign
for the purpose of realizing a friendly and caring administration, but there is a demand from some
applicants for reduction of the waiting time for application and provision of detailed and clear
guidance on various procedures.
To meet such a demand, regional immigration bureaus have continuously made eorts to improve
sta attitudes towards administrative services and their reception manners by holding seminars on
reception attitudes, and strived to improve the environment of the reception counters or various
information services.
Furthermore, there are quite a few foreign nationals who are unfamiliar with procedures
relating to the entry and residence procedures as well as Japanese laws and social systems due to
their differences in life-style, manners and customs, and languages. For the purpose of providing
consultation services and information to such foreign nationals, immigration information centers
have been established. These centers provide information on various procedures related to entry,
residence and alien registration and how to ll out application forms on the entry and residence of
nationals.
These information centers were established in the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau and
its Yokohama District Immigration Office, the
Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau, the Osaka
Regional Immigration Bureau and its Kobe District
Immigration Office, the Hiroshima Regional
Immigration Bureau, the Fukuoka Regional
Immigration Bureau, and the Sendai Regional
Immigration Bureau. They provide consultations on
procedures for the entry and residence of foreign
nationals in various languages, such as English,
Korean, Chinese and Spanish. At the Sapporo
Regional Immigration Bureau, the Takamatsu
The Immigration Information Center
Regional Immigration Bureau, and the Naha (Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau)
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Part 2.

District Immigration Oce of the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau, counseling sta members
have been allocated to provide the same service as the above information centers.
In addition to the above, in cooperation with local authorities where many foreign long-term
residents cluster to live, one-stop consultation centers, which provide counsultations and information
on administrative procedures for the entry and residence as well as on daily life, and were set up
and have been operated in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture since April 2009, in Saitama City,
Saitama Prefecture since August 2009, and in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Prefecture since November
2009.
Immigration Bureau Website

In March 2002, the Immigration Bureau established its own website separately from the website
of the Ministry of Justice. Through this site (http://www.immi-moj.go.jp), the Immigration Bureau
publishes questions and answers on the entry and residence procedures as well as the addresses,
contacts and opening hours of the immigration offices for the convenience of applicants. Since
February 2004, the Immigration Bureau has been receiving information about foreign nationals who
may be staying illegally by e-mail.
Moreover, to improve information services for foreign nationals, the Immigration Bureau opened
a website in English at the end of FY 2005, and multi-lingual websites in Chinese, Korean and
Portuguese at the end of FY 2006to make its website more convenient for foreign nationals.
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Part 2.
The introduction of Market Testing

Market Testing system is based on the Act on Reform of Public Services by Introduction of
Competitive Bidding law (hereinafter called the Reform Act). The Reform Act has been implemented
since 2006. Its purpose is to realize better and more inexpensive administration services provided
by National or local governments by properly reflecting the originality and ingenuity of private
companies, through the utilization of competitive bidding between public and private sectors or
among private sectors.
As a result of formulation of Basic Policy concerning Public Service Reform (decided by the
Cabinet in July, 2009), some services provided by the Immigration Bureau became subjects to
marketing test based on the Reform Act. Target services include operation services of immigration
information centers implemented by regional immigration oces and reception work for procedures
of immigration and permission of stay implemented by regional immigration bureaus.
As a result, the Immigration Bureau performed procedures for introduction of market testing
for the indispensability for introduction of market testing based on the Reform Act during FY
2010. In particular, after the Immigration Bureau asked public opinion throughpublic comment
concerning introduction of market testing by the end of 2010, competitive bids among private sectors
for services, of which term of contract would be three years from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2014,
were solicited in the immigration oces subject to market testing by the end of 2010, and the oces
entered into commission contracts *.
After these tenders, private companies have conducted operation services of immigration
information centers and reception work for immigration and permission-of-state procedures in the
target regional immigration bureaus for introduction of market testing since April 1, 2011.
*(Note)The target regional immigration bureaus for bidding are the four immigration bureaus, which are the Tokyo Regional
Immigration Bureau, the Yokohama District Immigration Oce, the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau, and the Osaka
Regional Immigration Bureau.
110
Data Section
Data Section
Data Section 1 Major Developments since

April 1, 2010
(Since FY 2010)
Date Developments Contents
Apr.1, 2010. Establishment of the The Haneda Airport Branch Oce was abolished and the Haneda
Haneda Airport District Airport District Immigration Oce was established.
Immigration Oce of
the Tokyo Regional
Immigration Bureau
Mar.24 - Establishment of a period Due to the holding of 2010 Japan APEC Meetings, the Immigration
-Nov. 15 for stepped-up landing Bureau implemented the prompt immigration procedure for APEC
examination ocials. Meanwhile, the bureau established a period for stepped-up
landing examination for airports and seaports in Japan for the purpose
of prevention of activities of terrorists and anti-globalism groups in the
nation. Furthermore, the Immigration Bureau implemented thorough
and strict immigration examination through the utilization of personal
identication information in close cooperation with relevant organizations.
Jun. 1 - Implementation of the Appealing to foreign nationals, employers, local authorities, foreign
-Jun. 30 Illegal Work Prevention embassies in Japan, etc. for understanding and cooperating of prevention
Campaign of illegal employment
Jul. 1 New establishment of the The Immigration Bureau newly established the East Japan Immigration
Immigration Detention Detention Facilities Visiting Committee in the Tokyo Regional
Facilities Visiting Immigration Bureau and the West Japan Immigration Detention
Committee Facilities Visiting Committee in the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau
respectively.
Review of training and The Immigration Bureau newly created a status of residence ofTechnical
technical intern training Intern Trainingand required interns to conduct skill acquirement
programs activities in accordance with their contracts of employment in principle
when interns take practical training, while the bureau ensured that
technical interns could enjoy the protection under labor-related laws
including the Labor Standards Act and the Minimum Wages Act.
Integration of the two In order for international students to stably reside in Japan, the
categories of status of distinction of two categories of status of residence betweenCollege
residence,College studentStudentandPre-college Studentwere obliterated and integrated into
andPre-college Student one category asStudent.
Creation of special In case an application is made before the expiry date of period of stay,
exception to period of stay foreign nationals are permitted to reside in Japan under the relevant
status of residence by the earlier date of either when he or she is forced
by legal action, or when two months pass from the expiration date of
stay previously determined, even after the termination of period of stay,
provided that the decision of his/her application has not been handled by
the expiry date of period of stay.
Creation of special Even if relevant foreign nationals fall under one of the reasons for denial
provisions to denial of of landing in case the Minister of Justice nds it reasonable enough, the
landing newly-created special provisions permits immigration inspectors to stamp
a seal for verication of landing, without repeating the special procedure
for landing through three steps processed respectively by immigration
inspectors, special inquiry ocers, and the Minister of Justice.
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Data Section
Data Section . Major Developments after April 1,2010

Date Developments Contents
Nov. 30 Enforcement of the Limitations, including the length of working years of medical foreign
Ministerial Ordinance workers, are eliminated (such workers are those who have national
to amend a part of the licenses approved in Japan including foreign dentists and nurses).
Ministerial Ordinance
to Provide for Criteria
Pursuant to Article 7,
Paragraph (1), Item (ii) of
the Immigration Control
and Refugee Recognition
Act
Dec. 7 - Holding of the 24th The Ministry of Justice held theImmigration Control Seminar,
-Dec. 8 Immigration Control inviting ocials from 19 countries and regions in the Pacic Rim area
Seminar and 3 international organizations to exchange information and views on
immigration control administration.
Dec. 17 Enforcement of partial Activities listed in the lower eld in the Appendix Table 1-5 in the
amendment ofactivities Article 7, Paragraph (1), Item (ii) of the Immigration Control and Refugee
listed in the lower eld in Recognition Act (limited to the parts involved in the paragraph (d)),
the Appendix Table 1-5 in were amended in accordance with the same item (the Notication
the Article 7, Paragraph (1), from the Ministry of Justice No. 131 in 1990). As a result, the following
Item (ii) of the Immigration activities were provided asDesignated Activities:an activity by the
Control and Refugee foreign patients who reside in Japan for a signicant long term and
Recognition Act (limited are admitted to hospitals for medical treatment; and an activity by the
to the parts involved in foreign caretakers who care for relevant patients. Furthermore, the
the paragraph (d)),in Appendix Table 4 in the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Immigration
accordance with the same Control Act (the Notication from the Minister of Justice No. 54 in 1981)
item. was revised so that sta members in a hospital, where the relevant
patient and its family or relative are admitted, can apply for issuance of
their certicates of eligibility instead of them. In addition, an ordinance
of designation by the Minister of Justice as those with the status of
residence ofDesignated Activitiesin accordance with the Item (iv) in
the lower eld of activities (Designated Activities) is listed in the lower
elds of the Appendix Table 4 and Appendix Table 1-5 in the Ordinance
for Enforcement of the Immigration Control Act.
since Mar. Response to the For the purpose of landing examination of rescue teams, the Immigration
11, 2011. Great East Japan Bureau used simple and prompt methods, including no requirement of
Earthquake landing permission stamp on their passports by issuing temporal landing
permission cards prepared by immigration inspectors in advance.
The Immigration Bureau took measures for extension of expiry date

of stay by August 31, 2011, without special procedures, uniformly to
foreign nationals subject to the notication from the Ministry of Justice
(Notication No. 123 issued in March 16, 2011), based on Article 3-2 of the
Act on Special Measures concerning Preservation of Rights and Interests
of Victims of Specied Disaster (1996 Act No. 85).
After the Immigration Bureau consulted with the Ministry of Foreign

Aairs, the bureau decided to permit the college students and the
training and technical interns, who left Japan without permission of re-
entry, to enter the nation following a simple set of procedures.
Apr. 1 Establishment of the In the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau, the Survey and Record
Management and Department was abolished, while the Management and Investigation
Investigation Department Department and the Survey Department were established.
and the Survey Department
in the Nagoya Regional
Immigration Bureau.
113
Data Section
Data Section 2. Statistics

Changes in the Number of New Arrivals and Alien Registration of
Main Status of Residence by Nationality (Place of Origin)
1-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofInvestor/Business Managerby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Nationality(Place of Origin)
Total 777 918 919 857 896
R.O. Korea 170 248 216 228 210
China 61 65 98 114 167
United States of America 134 139 121 110 118
France 47 63 42 19 50
China (Taiwan) 44 69 65 48 42
United Kingdom 57 39 42 34 37
Pakistan 31 36 49 48 33
Australia 40 27 22 30 31
Germany 26 26 28 24 20
Sri Lanka 14 20 14 35 18
Others 153 186 222 167 170
1-2 Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofInvestor/Business Managerby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 7,342 7,916 8,895 9,840 10,908
China 1,553 1,729 2,096 2,555 3,300
Korea 1,609 1,900 2,249 2,492 2,723
United States of America 1,160 1,108 1,044 990 918
Pakistan 334 383 456 526 571
Nepal 46 72 151 271 373
United Kingdom 443 401 384 374 334
India 271 282 307 319 319
France 321 343 334 297 281
Sri Lanka 94 119 147 199 234
Australia 205 204 196 216 228
Others 1,306 1,375 1,531 1,601 1,627
2-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofEngineerby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 7,715 10,959 9,212 3,363 2,852
China 3,546 5,403 4,571 1,404 983
India 519 960 714 296 384
R.O. Korea 1,474 1,999 1,292 439 302
Philippines 558 598 576 252 226
Viet Nam 396 799 837 273 213
France 155 146 140 62 95
China (Taiwan) 67 56 86 46 75
United Kingdom 93 54 70 55 54
Malaysia 58 49 57 38 45
Others 697 726 701 397 352
2-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofEngineerby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 35,135 44,684 52,273 50,493 46,592
China 17,634 23,247 27,665 27,166 25,105
Korea 6,176 7,733 8,647 8,015 7,050
India 3,279 3,893 4,268 3,925 3,515
Viet Nam 790 1,536 2,229 2,188 2,183
Philippines 1,579 2,004 2,276 2,118 1,968
Malaysia 425 489 570 610 595
France 542 631 706 621 588
Bangladesh 299 393 470 472 466
Indonesia 311 371 436 455 437
Others 3,395 3,627 4,083 4,090 3,896
114
Data Section

3-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofSpecialist in Humanities/International Servicesby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 7,614 7,426 5,690 4,167 4,113
United States of America 2,131 2,044 1,274 945 986
China 602 768 778 553 592
R.O. Korea 547 700 771 570 552
United Kingdom 1,138 846 463 347 286
Canada 796 607 317 203 209
China (Taiwan) 133 199 272 166 186
Australia 733 555 263 210 175
Pakistan 76 84 121 106 124
France 200 233 158 118 102
India 124 139 122 70 97
Others 1,134 1,251 1,151 879 804
3-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofSpecialist in Humanities/International Services People

Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 57,323 61,763 67,291 69,395 68,467
China 21,883 26,692 31,824 34,210 34,433
Korea 5,919 6,926 8,118 8,962 9,233
United States of America 8,165 7,706 7,241 6,710 6,313
United Kingdom 4,582 4,040 3,532 3,176 2,785
Canada 3,731 3,128 2,690 2,329 1,980
Australia 3,586 2,935 2,420 2,079 1,713
Sri Lanka 424 530 705 873 972
France 912 1,024 1,079 1,026 964
Philippines 757 825 895 951 940
Pakistan 433 516 646 728 836
Others 6,931 7,441 8,141 8,351 8,298
4-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofIntra-company Transfereeby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 5,564 7,170 7,307 5,245 5,826
China 1,535 2,639 2,570 1,858 1,937
India 380 608 626 433 520
R.O. Korea 675 745 649 592 505
Philippines 375 417 495 397 498
Viet Nam 35 57 137 81 231
Thailand 141 238 260 235 222
China (Taiwan) 214 233 243 218 211
Germany 225 207 199 137 155
United Kingdom 288 204 187 107 142
Others 1,086 1,239 1,268 816 877
4-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofIntra-company Transfereeby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 14,014 16,111 17,798 16,786 16,140
China 4,147 5,712 6,557 6,307 6,238
Korea 2,092 2,181 2,265 2,242 2,079
India 1,357 1,411 1,709 1,731 1,610
Philippines 702 709 826 782 777
Germany 566 589 615 538 505
United Kingdom 712 651 615 511 450
Thailand 223 325 388 430 430
France 538 529 553 467 414
Viet Nam 65 97 184 157 287
Others 2,143 2,439 2,503 2,257 2,064
115
Data Section
5-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofEntertainerby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 48,249 38,855 34,994 31,170 28,612
United Kingdom 2,712 2,500 2,908 2,575 3,009
Philippines 8,608 5,533 3,185 1,873 1,506
R.O. Korea 1,674 1,553 1,329 1,173 1,450
Russia 3,454 2,562 2,249 2,467 1,432
China 4,978 3,156 1,820 1,694 1,386
Germany 1,868 2,052 1,682 1,601 1,241
France 1,150 1,417 1,605 1,246 1,116
Italy 1,867 1,575 1,130 1,325 1,105
Austria 868 644 1,160 759 826
Others 14,298 11,788 11,273 9,169 8,756
5-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofEntertainerby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 21,062 15,728 13,031 10,966 9,247
Philippines 14,149 11,065 9,199 7,465 6,319
China 2,153 1,193 907 778 671
Korea 450 441 398 363 374
Russia 767 504 393 333 268
Indonesia 787 430 264 218 203
Brazil 230 228 211 197 159
Thailand 215 176 145 174 136
Romania 580 312 238 181 121
Australia 119 124 109 111 88
Others 1,328 950 841 836 590
6-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofSkilled Laborby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 4,239 5,315 6,799 5,384 3,588
China 2,325 2,903 3,270 2,495 1,924
Nepal 452 919 1,749 1,356 563
India 348 509 620 666 451
Thailand 191 156 179 192 134
R.O. Korea 269 158 132 157 90
Australia 30 25 32 30 45
Viet Nam 61 58 60 30 39
Philippines 62 68 59 52 36
Indonesia 59 67 64 47 31
Sri Lanka 27 41 49 29 26
Others 415 411 585 330 249
6-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofSkilled Laborby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 17,869 21,261 25,863 29,030 30,142
China 9,807 11,766 14,142 15,595 16,350
Nepal 1,388 2,213 3,791 4,970 5,283
India 1,938 2,302 2,756 3,224 3,465
Korea 1,617 1,620 1,587 1,592 1,510
Thailand 749 830 900 994 1,021
Bangladesh 274 375 433 418 367
Philippines 236 268 268 278 283
Indonesia 167 200 229 203 193
Viet Nam 168 194 192 175 183
Sri Lanka 133 162 188 195 181
Others 1,392 1,331 1,377 1,386 1,306
116
Data Section

7-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofThechnical Intern Training (1)by Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 26,002
China 20,133
Viet Nam 2,184
Indonesia 1,454
Philippines 1,212
Thailand 641
Cambodia 68
Laos 58
Mongolia 48
Nepal 40
Myanmar 24
Others 140
*The number of new arrivals includes Technical Intern Training 1-(a) and 1-(b).
7-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofThechnical Intern Training (1)by Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 50,423
China 39,341
Viet Nam 4,096
Philippines 2,773
Indonesia 2,568
Thailand 1,091
Cambodia 151
Mongolia 108
Laos 87
Nepal 60
Myanmar 46
Others 102
*The number of alien registrations includes Technical Intern Training 1-(a) and 1-(b).
8Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofThechnical Intern Training (2)by Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 49,585
China 38,983
Viet Nam 3,826
Philippines 2,827
Indonesia 2,775
Thailand 741
Mongolia 108
Laos 101
Myanmar 95
Cambodia 62
Sri Lanka 35
Others 32
*The number of alien registrations includes Technical Intern Training 2-(a) and 2-(b).
117
Data Section
9-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofCollege Studentby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 26,637 28,779 34,005 37,871 48,706
China 9,154 10,272 14,342 16,839 22,752
R.O. Korea 4,849 5,301 5,516 5,487 7,271
China (Taiwan) 1,682 1,842 1,944 2,030 2,709
Viet Nam 532 636 643 821 1,302
Thailand 766 690 747 859 1,062
Indonesia 430 529 685 772 878
France 449 484 545 652 797
Germany 527 539 513 618 761
Malaysia 489 511 648 639 612
Others 5,206 5,289 5,569 6,166 7,400
9-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofCollege Studentby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 131,789 132,460 138,514 145,909 201,511
China 88,074 85,905 88,812 94,355 134,483
Korea 17,097 17,902 19,441 19,807 27,066
Viet Nam 2,472 2,930 3,202 3,552 5,147
Thailand 2,203 2,361 2,502 2,656 3,542
Nepal 1,138 1,398 1,554 1,681 3,022
Indonesia 1,710 1,869 2,112 2,349 2,725
Malaysia 2,211 2,234 2,377 2,492 2,676
Bangladesh 1,665 1,684 1,873 1,797 1,715
Myanmar 871 970 1,022 1,114 1,684
Others 12,328 13,063 13,343 13,794 16,791
10Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofPre-college Studentby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 19,135 19,160 24,111 28,278 14,772
China 9,543 8,987 12,566 18,053 8,819
R.O. Korea 4,673 5,586 6,171 4,516 2,774
China (Taiwan) 956 1,206 1,434 1,311 633
Viet Nam 346 252 313 479 359
Thailand 406 409 489 522 315
Nepal 288 260 384 546 298
Myanmar 123 154 163 233 166
China (Hong Kong) 72 116 240 188 118
Australia 189 167 169 150 114
Sweden 109 136 156 197 105
Others 2,430 1,887 2,026 2,083 1,071
118
Data Section

11-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofTraineeby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 92,846 102,018 101,879 80,480 51,725
China 61,963 68,188 68,860 53,876 28,964
Philippines 4,941 5,843 5,678 4,726 3,211
Viet Nam 5,744 6,605 7,124 4,890 3,150
Indonesia 5,695 5,924 6,213 3,980 2,970
Thailand 3,776 4,022 3,704 2,698 2,386
India 687 635 774 760 892
Malaysia 808 900 881 776 718
Cambodia 343 468 355 436 470
Laos 345 329 396 374 377
Brazil 280 311 229 250 369
Others 8,264 8,793 7,665 7,714 8,218
11-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofTraineeby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 70,519 88,086 86,826 65,209 9,343
China 52,901 66,576 65,716 50,487 5,602
Indonesia 4,407 5,069 5,085 3,053 743
Philippines 3,738 4,919 4,938 3,970 730
Viet Nam 5,148 6,704 6,763 4,355 663
Thailand 2,121 2,583 2,324 1,725 587
India 142 143 150 159 184
Malaysia 230 254 257 132 124
Korea 139 133 147 94 82
Brazil 99 94 82 70 68
Sri Lanka 178 142 119 113 63
Others 1,416 1,469 1,245 1,051 497
12Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofDesignated activities (technical intern training)by Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 73,580 89,033 104,990 109,793 50,080

China 58,690 69,894 80,838 84,813 38,616
Viet Nam 5,220 6,900 8,860 9,197 4,292
Indonesia 5,537 6,160 7,074 6,725 2,891
Philippines 2,894 3,956 5,297 5,964 2,814
Thailand 746 1,318 1,956 2,057 956
Others 493 805 965 1,037 511
13Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofPermanent Residentby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 394,477 439,757 492,056 533,472 565,089
China 117,329 128,501 142,469 156,295 169,484
Brazil 78,523 94,358 110,267 116,228 117,760
Philippines 60,225 67,131 75,806 84,407 92,754
Korea 47,679 49,914 53,106 56,171 58,082
Peru 25,132 27,570 29,976 31,711 32,416
Thailand 9,815 11,107 12,519 13,883 15,055
Viet Nam 7,462 7,930 8,494 9,187 9,602
United Kingdom 3,081 3,301 3,563 3,899 4,147
Indonesia 2,034 2,436 2,967 3,462 3,894
Others 32,685 36,384 41,075 45,521 48,830
119
Data Section
14-1 Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofSpouse or Child of Japanese Nationalby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 26,087 24,421 19,975 14,951 11,452
China 5,399 6,602 6,552 6,251 4,099
Philippines 8,257 6,687 5,133 3,308 2,384
Brazil 6,745 5,146 2,895 483 921
R.O. Korea 891 904 873 852 565
Thailand 695 807 743 706 510
China (Taiwan) 257 293 293 257 211
Indonesia 288 344 253 267 205
United Kingdom 248 206 237 173 201
Viet Nam 177 167 194 210 155
Others 2,400 2,549 2,072 1,743 1,566
14-2 Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofSpouse or Child of Japanese Nationalby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 260,955 256,980 245,497 221,923 196,248
China 55,860 56,990 57,336 56,510 53,697
Philippines 49,195 51,076 49,980 46,027 41,255
Brazil 74,001 67,472 58,445 43,443 30,003
Korea 22,429 22,340 21,990 21,052 19,761
Thailand 10,405 9,997 9,588 9,113 8,651
Peru 6,430 5,928 5,278 4,418 3,423
United Kingdom 2,533 2,624 2,748 2,740 2,658
Indonesia 3,009 3,129 3,028 2,854 2,657
Viet Nam 1,431 1,602 1,764 1,827 1,819
Others 26,586 26,691 26,055 24,799 23,476
15-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals ofLong-Term Residentby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 28,001 27,326 20,123 9,946 8,178
Brazil 18,342 15,976 9,635 1,037 2,246
Philippines 3,410 4,068 3,811 2,854 2,195
China 3,437 3,853 3,646 3,520 2,097
Peru 1,346 1,700 1,119 655 660
Viet Nam 239 205 438 672 189
R.O. Korea 151 160 151 160 124
Indonesia 133 161 132 134 85
Thailand 140 190 168 144 80
Bolivia 129 243 195 35 56
Others 614 701 763 654 390
15-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations ofLong-Term Residentby Nationality (Place of Origin) People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total 268,836 268,604 258,498 221,771 194,602
Brazil 153,141 148,528 137,005 101,250 77,359
Philippines 29,907 33,332 35,717 37,131 37,870
China 33,305 33,816 33,600 33,651 32,048
Peru 20,612 20,255 18,969 16,695 14,849
Korea 8,891 8,803 8,722 8,622 8,374
Viet Nam 5,236 5,342 5,526 5,847 5,771
Thailand 3,015 3,265 3,388 3,532 3,641
Bolivia 3,092 3,087 2,938 2,539 2,219
Indonesia 1,588 1,691 1,755 1,774 1,735
Others 8,462 8,880 9,308 9,212 9,266
120
Data Section

Changes in the Number of New Arrivals and Alien Registration of
Main NationalitiesPlace of Originby Status of Residence
1-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals of R.O. Korean Nationals by Status of Residence People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 1,997,459 2,472,620 2,248,645 1,451,174 2,303,161
Diplomat 1,013 976 1,388 1,191 1,218
Ocial 2,127 2,439 4,499 3,578 3,675
Professor 190 170 172 219 170
Artist 8 15 8 2 -
Journalist 11 22 17 10 14
Legal/Accounting Services - - - 1 -
Medical Services - - - - -
Researcher 49 46 46 37 36
Engineer 1,474 1,999 1,292 439 302
Specialist in Humanities/International Services 547 700 771 570 552
Intra-company Transferee 675 745 649 592 505
Entertainer 1,674 1,553 1,329 1,173 1,450
Skilled Labor 269 158 132 157 90
Technical Intern Training 1-(a) 13
Technical Intern Training 1-(b) -
Cultural Activities 356 466 388 466 332
Temporary Visitor 1,972,745 2,444,529 2,218,602 1,424,195 2,275,293
College Student 4,849 5,301 5,516 5,487 7,271
Trainee 257 237 219 89 163
Dependent 2,579 2,766 2,618 2,376 2,257
Spouse or Child of Japanese National 891 904 873 852 565
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident 79 84 81 96 54
Long-Term Resident 151 160 151 160 124
1-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations of Korean Nationals by Status of Residence People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 598,219 593,489 589,239 578,495 565,989
Professor 996 965 1,006 1,025 1,009
Artist 43 37 36 43 46
Religious Activities 1,032 1,047 1,049 1,049 1,011
Researcher 261 269 258 258 232
Engineer 6,176 7,733 8,647 8,015 7,050
Intra-company/Transferee 2,092 2,181 2,265 2,242 2,079
Entertainer 450 441 398 363 374
Skilled Labor 1,617 1,620 1,587 1,592 1,510
Technical Intern Training 2-(a) -
College Student 17,097 17,902 19,441 19,807 27,066
Trainee 139 133 147 94 82
Dependent 17,070 17,859 18,484 18,533 18,026
Temporary Refuge - - - - -
Others 2,194 2,109 1,875 1,288 730
121
Data Section
2-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals of Chinese National by Status of Residence People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 589,066 714,791 769,691 753,606 1,140,579
Diplomat 324 462 594 517 684
Ocial 738 1,160 2,135 2,337 3,097
Professor 494 492 539 496 464
Artist 9 12 4 7 2
Journalist - - - - 2
Legal/Accounting Services - 2 - - -
Medical Services - - - 3 -
Researcher 139 132 130 150 115
Engineer 3,546 5,403 4,571 1,404 983
Entertainer 4,978 3,156 1,820 1,694 1,386
Skilled Labor 2,325 2,903 3,270 2,495 1,924
Cultural Activities 1,077 913 788 792 773
Temporary Visitor 476,534 589,453 635,513 632,379 1,032,649
College Student 9,154 10,272 14,342 16,839 22,752
Trainee 61,963 68,188 68,860 53,876 28,964
Dependent 6,280 8,277 9,685 9,174 8,218
Designated Activities 283 215 194 124 146
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident 615 809 1,011 945 560
2-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations of Chinese Nationals by Status of Residence People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 560,741 606,889 655,377 680,518 687,156
Professor 2,507 2,453 2,476 2,440 2,339
Artist 128 129 119 117 108
Researcher 951 901 904 936 894
Instructor 109 101 99 104 101
Engineer 17,634 23,247 27,665 27,166 25,105
Intra-company/Transferee 4,147 5,712 6,557 6,307 6,238
Entertainer 2,153 1,193 907 778 671
Skilled Labor 9,807 11,766 14,142 15,595 16,350
Cultural Activities 1,148 1,122 939 923 902
College Student 88,074 85,905 88,812 94,355 134,483
Trainee 52,901 66,576 65,716 50,487 5,602
Dependent 39,478 43,592 49,776 55,640 59,567
Others 1,744 1,836 1,706 1,402 800
122
Data Section

3-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals of Philippine Nationals by Status of Residence People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 91,474 84,198 75,651 61,100 66,120
Diplomat 149 147 119 216 175
Ocial 342 412 476 541 641
Professor 21 15 20 25 12
Artist 1 - - - -
Journalist - 1 1 - -
Legal/Accounting Services - - - - -
Engineer 558 598 576 252 226
Entertainer 8,608 5,533 3,185 1,873 1,506
Technical Intern Training 1-(b) 951
College Student 226 242 254 245 258
Pre-college Student 101 45 60 59 36
Trainee 4,941 5,843 5,678 4,726 3,211
Dependent 377 487 462 379 352
3-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations of Philippine Nationals by Status of Residence People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 193,488 202,592 210,617 211,716 210,181
Professor 69 73 77 81 76
Artist 5 3 3 3 2
Journalist - 1 1 1 1
Instructor 67 88 117 117 159
Engineer 1,579 2,004 2,276 2,118 1,968
Intra-company/Transferee 702 709 826 782 777
Entertainer 14,149 11,065 9,199 7,465 6,319
Skilled Labor 236 268 268 278 283
Pre-college Student 199 171 144 133
Trainee 3,738 4,919 4,938 3,970 730
Dependent 1,590 1,801 2,047 2,134 2,197
Special Permanent Resident 39 42 42 45 45
Others 6,181 5,801 5,443 4,258 2,289
123
Data Section
4-1Changes in the Number of New Arrivals of Brazilian Nationals by Status of Residence People
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Status of Residence
Total 40,897 37,527 31,002 15,874 22,210
Diplomat 70 63 136 84 100
Ocial 94 83 261 154 212
Professor 5 9 6 11 17
Artist 5 6 3 2 4
Investor/Business Manager 4 - 3 2 2
Engineer 8 5 7 3 6
Entertainer 760 658 656 515 382
Pre-college Student 29 28 34 28 15
Trainee 280 311 229 250 369
Dependent 179 159 108 109 105
Spouse or Child of Japanese National 6,745 5,146 2,895 483 921
4-2Changes in the Number of Alien Registrations of Brazilian Nationals by Status of Residence People
Year 18 19 20 21 22
Status of Residence
Total 312,979 316,967 312,582 267,456 230,552
Professor 30 36 38 37 35
Artist 15 12 13 12 11
Engineer 54 53 57 54 47
Intra-company/Transferee 80 93 108 94 73
Entertainer 230 228 211 197 159
Temporary Visitor 836 809 681 588 510
Pre-college Student 61 53 53 51
Trainee 99 94 82 70 68
Dependent 492 497 480 451 368
Special Permanent Resident 23 24 26 22 20
Others 176 133 126 90 31
124
Data Section

The Status of Implementation of Immigration Examination Using
Personal Identication Information2010
Number of the implementation of expulsion order

Nationality AirportPort
R.O.Korea 332 Narita Airport 372
China 108 Kansai Airport 134
Philippines 40 Chubu Airport 54
Others 247 Others 167
Total 727 Total 727
Number of the implementation of deportation procedures

Nationality AirportPort
Philippines 12 Narita Airport 30
China 7 Chubu Airport 2
Sri Lanka 5 Fukuoka Airport 2
Others 14 Others 4
Total 38 Total 38
Changes in the Number of Cases of Detection of Forged or Altered

Documents
Cases
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Passport 647 539 275 131 120
Landing Others 1,369 824 321 103 108
Total 2,016 1,363 596 234 228
Passport 70 71 26 28 12
Departure Others 43 25 7 10 2
Total 113 96 33 38 14
Passport 717 610 301 159 132
Total Others 1,412 849 328 113 110
Total 2,129 1,459 629 272 242
125
126
Data Section
New Residence Management System (for foreign nationals with the status of residence for a medium to long term)
Limitation to
The Minister of Justice
necessary information (Immigration Bureau)
Municipalities
in accordance with
statuses of residence
Necessary information for Provision of correct

Basic Residents' RegistrationSystem
Provision of information at the residence management information timely (foreign residents)
request of the Minister of Justice - Name, date of birth, gender, and appropriately
nationality, address, etc. City A City
- Basic items for status of
residence Residence Residence
cards cards
(organizations and social status)

the Minister of
Health, Labour, and
Integrated and

Welfare continuous requirements
Notification Address
Notification in information
accordance with
the Employment Apply for permission New address notification
(notification of moving in) (Notification (Notificatio
Measures Act Organizations concerning entry of moving out) n of moving
(reflected on residence Provisions of
and stay in Japan cards) in)
administrative service
in accordance with the
Issuance of residence cards basic residence system
involving landing/stay Notification of change of address for foreign nationals
permission
System
(reflected on residence cards) reflecting correct

- Notification of change of name, information:
date of birth, gender, and More satisfied service for
nationality (reflected on Medium to long-term residents foreign nationals legally
residence cards) residing in Japan, because
- Notification of change of Residence cards individual procedures
organizations and social status implemented by
Name, date of birth,
Investigation of the facts notified gender, nationality, municipalities are smoothly
address, status of processed, including school
- Appearance request to persons concerned, inquiry, attendance notification and
requestfor presentation of necessary documents residence, period of
affairs of national health
- Inquiry to public offices or public/private stay, etc. insurance and child
organizations allowance
Improvement of Revocation System of the Statuses of Residence

- As reasons for revocation, the following items are added: Extension of upper limit for period of stay
(i) Notification of false address,
Five
(ii) residing in Japan without continuous activities - Three years Five years More convenient
Three years
for over six months as a person having a spouse
years for foreign
- Improvement of provisions concerning delivery of Revoke
documents in the revocation procedures nationals
d
legally
Easing of re-entry permission
Measures to protect social confidence of residence cards residing in
- The foreign nationals with valid passports and residence cards
-Improvement of punishments against criminal Japan!
do not have to apply for permission of re-entry if they return
behaviors including forgery of residence cards.
- Addition of criminal behaviors including forgery
to Japan within one year in principle (deemed re-entry permission)
of residence cards to the reasons for deportation - Even if they leave Japan for a long period, they are required
- Improvement of punishments againstencouragement to apply for permission of re-entry in Japan, but their permitted
of illegal work valid period of re-entry is extended from three to five years.
Data Section 3. New Residence Management
System for special permanent residents
the Ministry of Justice
Immigration Bureau) Municipalities
Providing necessary Basic Residents' Registration

Information necessary
for management of information System(foreign residents)
residence City A City B
name, date of birth,
gender, nationality,
address

Conventionally the Computer
Information on Statutory Computer
same and recording recording
maintained through address entrusted function
municipalities
* Applicationfor special Notification of change of name,
permanent residence date of birth, gender,
nationality, and application for Notification Notification
extension of valid period of moving of moving in
* Permission of (reflected on special permanent out
special residence resident certificate)
Special permanent
Provision of
resident certificate administrative services
based of Basic Residents'
Registration System
- Residence-related
Notification of change of address attestation
(reflected on special permanent resident certificate) - National health insurance
*As necessary, regional immigration bureaus -Care insurance
may receive applications and permit special - National pension
permanent. - Child allowance
- School admission notification
Substantial reduction of the number of entries for certification Alleviation of re-entry permission
- Number -- If special permanent residents left Japan
- Name provided that they re-enter the nation within
- Date of Birth two years, they do not have to apply for
- Gender permission of re-entry
- Nationality/address or whereabouts in - Number
-- If they do not return to Japan for a long
the country where the applicant is from - Name
- Date of Birth
period, re-entry permission is required, but
- Place of Birth
- Gender the valid period will be extended (from four
- Passport number and its date of issue
- Status of residence - Nationality to six years)
- Current address - Address
- Name of head of household/relationship - Date of issue
to the householder - Expiration date of valid
registration
- Issued date period
Special permanent
- Photograph
resident certificate
Certificate of Alien
- Next application period for
confirmation/renewal period
- Photograph
- Signature
Data Section
127
Data Section . Outline of New System of Residence Management
Data Section
Data Section 4 Immigration Litigation
Section 1 Summary
Most administrative litigation, etc. relating to the Immigration Bureau (hereinafter referred to as
Immigration Litigation) are litigations demanding nullication of a issuance of written deportation
order issued to foreign nationals illegally residing in Japan, or those demanding reversal of non-
recognition as a refugee. The number of litigation cases, which were led and allowed in 2010, was
268 in the merit of the case (last year: 240). Looking at yearly changes from 2006 to 2010, the number
of litigation cases, which were newly allowed, was consistently increasing until 2008, although the
number decreased in 2009, it began to rise again in 2010. Also, the number of completed litigations
by year was, in the merit of the case, 190 cases in 2006, 250 cases in 2007, 355 cases in 2008, 310 cases
in 2009, and 288 cases in 2010, thus it still remains at high levels. (Table 52)
As a background to recent increases, the reform of the judicial system can be cited to aim to
ensure more prompt proceedings through proper and sucient procedures. In particular, theAct
for Partial Amendment of the Administrative Litigation Actwas put into force on April 1, 2005.
This aimed to dene a more eective remedial procedure for the rights and interests of people in
connection with administrative litigations, the amendment of which involved the establishment of
a system of provision (suggestion) of information on the statute of limitations, etc., extension of the
statute of limitations, simplied and more easy-to-understand eligibility for defendants in nullication
litigation, etc. and so on. Such amendments can be regarded as the background to the increase in the
number of newly led cases. Also, eorts are being made to further accelerate court proceedings as
a whole due to theAct for Prompt Proceedingswhich was promulgated and came into force in
July 2003, and which can be regarded as the background to the increase in the number of completed
cases.
The Immigration Litigation of recent years also observes new types of ling for litigation, such as
obligating special permission for residence, provisionally obligating provisional release permission,
issuance of detention orders and their injunction or provisional injunction. The circumstances
in which obligating litigation and injunction litigation were made statutory and a provisional
remedy system prior to judgment on merit was dened by theAct for Partial Amendment of the
Administrative Litigation Act, where litigation systems of these types were actively utilized, can be
regarded as the background.
128
Data Section

table 52: Trend in the number of led cases of Immigration Litigation (the merit of case)
Cases
Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Division
Procedures for deportation concerned 164 158 234 162 172
(Demand for canceling;conrmation of invalidity,etc.)
Status of residence examinations concerned(Demand
for canceling disposition of disapproval;conrmation 21 17 17 16 21
Administrative case
of invalidity,etc.)
Certicate of eligibility(Demand for canceling
disposition of 6 18 8 10 15
non-issuance;conrmation of invalidity,etc.)
Procedures for refugee status concerned 59 82 72 50 55
(Demand for canceling;conrmation of invalidity,etc.)
Others 2 3 4 1 5
Sub-Total 252 278 335 239 268
Civil case 11 2 1 1 0
Claim of the protection of personal liberty 0 0 0 0 0
Total 263 280 336 240 268
Completed litigations 190 250 355 310 288
Section 2 Major Court Cases
Court case 1: [Discretionary powers of the Minister of Justice and

other
authorities in accordance with the revised notication to
long-term residents and with the decision of extension of
period]
Considering that one of the purposes of the Immigration Control Act is to maintain security,
the rationality of revision of the notication to long-term residents cannot be denied in the light
of intent and purpose of the Immigration Control Act, because the revisionin the 2006 Ministry
of Justice Notication No. 172of that is directed to consideration of security in Japan by adding
the requirement of good behavior and conduct, while retaining the policy judgment of oering
preferential treatment to Japanese ancestries and their family. In addition, the revised public
notice to long-term residents does not set out the requirement of good behavior and conduct
(the notification to long-term residents after the revision) to encumbrances of refugees from
Indochina and Viet Nam or Japanese residing in China with their dependants. This is understood
as a result of intent to offer preferential treatment particularly to those people based on
various reasons including international aairs and backgrounds concerning those countries, and
relationship with Japan. Such political judgment, therefore, does not lack rationality.
The requirement of good behavior and conduct in the revised public notice to long-term
residents does not directly require a history report of any criminal punishment but requires
129
Data Section
relevant applicants to behave well just at the time of permission of extension of stay. Although
the adoption of requiring a history report of any criminal punishment in a certain period before
relevant permission of extension of stay is a factor to decide whether applicants will behave well
or not, it should be understood that such punishment has nature to characteristically show bad
behavior at the time of relevant permission of extension of stay. Furthermore, in consideration
of the status oflong-term residentsin the Immigration Control Law described before and the
nature of the public notice to long-term residents, it is natural to think that the public notice
to long-term residents should be revised in accordance with various factors. A wide range of
discretionary powers are given to the Minister of Justice and other authorities in terms of the
way to decide on the public notice to long-term residents and the decision whether to permit
extension of stay or not. The way and decision should be precisely judged in a timely fashion
based on various reasons including public safety which is one of the purposes of immigration
control. The Minister of Justice and other authorities, therefore, cannot be determined to
have abused their discretionary powers, even if the adequateness of the status oflong-term
residenceis denied due to the history of criminal punishment or other reasons, and extension of
stay is not permitted.
Requiring a history report of any criminal punishment within a certain period prior to
the extension of period of stay and other relevant factors are criteria for the requirement of
good behavior and conduct, because such factors are distinctive characteristics which show
the relevant applicant may not behave well at the time of extension of piriod of stay. Even
if his/her suspended period is expired, or even if the course of probation is good, the nature
as characteristics including any such history of criminal punishment is not lost immediately.
If relevant authorities use the history of criminal punishment and other relevant factors as
criterion of the requirement of good behavior and conduct, it cannot be determined that they
abused their discretionary powers.
[Osaka District Court judgment on February 10, 2010]
Court case 2: [Factors to be considered in the event children of an

appellant are to be deported to their home countries
(continuous guarantee of rights to receive education in
Japan)]
The appellants insist that the appellants
children should be considered for continuous
guarantee to receive education which the children currently enjoy but not for the possibility for
the children to be familiar with the life environment in their home countries, if the children are
deported to the home countries, when the legality of issuance of written deportation order issued
to foreign nationals illegally residing in Japan is judged.
However, when considering the legality of the deportation order, it is signiticantly important to
review whether the children of appellants can be suciently familiar with the life environment
in their countries (the children can adapt to education on the premise that the children will grow
up in their home countries), from the standpoint of the respect of family life.
On the other hand, the issue of whether the right for the children to receive education in
130
Data Section

Japan should be continuously guaranteed on the premise that the children grow up in Japan,
is not always out of consideration for discretionary judgment, since the issue is a policy matter.
However, it should not be appropriate to focus on the issue.
Thus, the appellants
claim cannot be legally accepted for the case.
[Tokyo High Court Judgment on April 19, 2010]
Court case 3: [The necessity of legal protection regarding a legally

unmarried couple without living together.
In view of the fact that the appellant resided in Japan without proper status, long-term
residence means that the appellant
s illegal behavior of illegal stay continued for a long period
and became aggravated. Upon the judgment of special permission of stay, long-term existense
is not always considered as an advantage to the appellant. In particular, when considering the
permission if the overstay involves unauthorized work, such existense should be considered as a
negative factor.
As for the partnership between the appellant and his Japanese wife, she just registered
their marriage right after the appellant was arrested. Although there was a glimpse of
close relationship, the appellant did not live with his Japanese wife, while the appellant sent
remittances to his brother living in his home country. In addition, the appellant and his Japanese
wife individually earned their livings, and there were no economic ties such that the appellant
regularly gave her living expenses. Furthermore, the appellant received certificates of legal
capacity to contract marriage twice in 2006, but the appellant didn
t submit the marriage
notication to prove he married his Japanese wife. It is impossible to say that the appellant and
she lived together like a married couple. Their nominal relationship merely continued for a long
period. The domestic relationship with the substance meeting the essence of marriage is hard to
be accepted.
In the first place, where the appellant met his Japanese wife, the date of stay had been
expired for over seven years. At the time when the appellant and she established the nominal
relationship, over ten years had passed since the expiration. There is no choice but to assess that
their relationship was developed under the illegal condition of continuous overstay. Therefore, it
is very hard to nd any necessity for the partnership.
As a conclusion, at that time when this case was decided, it was determined that the
partnership between the appellant and his Japanese wife should be considered unacceptable to
such a degree that the relationship must be estimated as worthwhile to legally protect on the
judgment of special permission of status.
[Tokyo High Court Judgment on Aug 24, 2010]
Court case 4:
[ Persecutionunder the Refugee Convention]
Persecutionunder the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees should be interpreted
as an infringement oflife or libertyor oppression.
In addition, as the contents of thislibertyare not always clear from a standpoint of the
Convention, in the common sense, it is possible to define it as a concept including mental
131
Data Section
liberty and economic liberty. Considering that people can be designated asrefugeesif they
have fear when they face a situation that they might be persecuted (see Article 1-A-(2) of the
Refugee Convention), withlibertyandlifetreated equally, thelibertywhich opposes to
infringement or other illegal actions corresponding topersecutioncan be rationally interpreted
as the liberty mainly concerning life activities, that is physical activities (personal liberty). In
addition, regarding refugee
s fundamental rights such as Self-employment including industry,
handicrafts and commerce (Article 18), Liberal professions(Article 19)and education other than
elementary education (Article 22-2)the Refugee Convention stipulates that the contracting
states shallaccord to a refugee lawfully in their territory treatment as favourable as possible
but notin any event, not less favourable than that accorded to aliens generally in the same
circumstances. As a result, when saidlibertygenerally includes economic liberty, and the
infringement against such liberty corresponds topersecution, although a host country in
accordance with the Refugee Convention designates a person as a refugee due to infringement
against a right in his/her home country, the person may obtain fewer rights from the host
country compared with those given by the home country. Thelibertyof which counterpart
is infringement or other relevant actions corresponding topersecutionshould be interpreted
as the liberty which does not cover economic activities in principle. In this context, it should be
interpreted thatpersecutioncorresponds to attack or oppression that causes suering which
general people cannot tolerate, and means infringement or suppression against life or physical
health or comparably serious infringement or suppression against liberty. In addition, if a person
wants to justify that he or she hasowes to well-founded fear of being persecuted, it should be
understood to be not only a subjective reason that he or she has fear of being persecuted but
also an objective reason such that if a general person is in the same situation, the person also
feel fear of being persecuted.
[Tokyo District Court Judgment on February 4, 2011]
Court case 5: [Recognition of Nationality in the deportation procedure]

The deportation procedure for foreign nationals is to order the relevant foreign national to
leave Japan in accordance with the national power. The recognition of the nationality of the
relevant foreign nationals during the deportation procedure set forth in the Immigration Control
Act in Japan should be referred to as one exclusively belonging to the Governmental power in
Japan.
Supervising immigration inspectors should judge whether the relevant person, who is forced
to leave Japan, has a nationality in a country, in the light of laws and regulations set forth
concerning the requirement of nationality by the relevant country.
At the time of enforcement of issuance of written deportation order in this case, it is dicult
to say that the plainti was not be able to be deported to the home country and there was no
fact that the plainti desired to be deported to a country other than the plainti
s home country.
In addition, under the Immigration Act, Supervising immigration inspectors are not required
to confirm the host countrieswillingness to accept the deportees as destination for the
deportation, when a Supervising immigration inspectors designates a destination for deportation.
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Data Section

The Immigration Control Act should be interpreted that the deportation order is supposed
to be issued, even if the deportee cannot be physically deported. If the deportation to the
designated country has been eventually impossible, the order in which the relevant country is
designated as the destination for deportation is not to be immediately considered as illegal due to
such impossibility.
[Tokyo District Court Judgment on November 19, 2011]
133
Data Section
Data Section 5 Organizational and Personnel

Expansion
Given the signicant changes in the circumstances aecting immigration control in recent years,
and in response to an increase in the quantity and in the complexity of immigration duties, measures
have been taken to improve and expand the organization and sta for immigration control.
At the end of FY 2010, immigration control administration work was carried out by about 3,700
ocials at the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice and regional immigration bureaus. Due
to an array of problems in immigration control policy and legal enforcements, further improvement
and expansion of the organization and sta are still needed.
Section 1 Organizations
Outline of the Organization of the Immigration Control

Authority
The organization that is responsible for immigration control duties is the Immigration Bureau,
which is designated as an internal bureau of the Ministry of Justice. There are eight regional
jurisdictions, each of which has a regional immigration bureau as a policy-implementing local branch
immigration oce of the Ministry of Justice. Each regional immigration bureau manages the district
immigration oces and branch oces (including branch oces within the district immigration oces)
under its jurisdiction. The Ministry of Justice also maintains three immigration centers as detention
facilities. The organization as a whole performs various duties associated with immigration control
such as immigration examinations, residence examinations, deportation procedures, and refugee
recognition procedures in accordance with the Immigration Control Act and relevant laws.
The Immigration Bureau, regional immigration bureaus, district immigration oces, branch oces,
and immigration centers are collectively referred to as theimmigration control oces. (Charts 24
and 25)
Chart 24: Immigration Bureau organizational chart
As of April , 2011
Detention facilities
Immigration Centers
Higashi-Nihon Immigration Center Regional Immigration Bureaus
District Immigration Oces
Nishi-Nihon Immigration Center
Branch Oces
Omura Immigration Center
Regional Immigration Bureau and District Immigration Oces
Sapporo Regional Immigration Bureau 5 Branch Oces
Sendai Regional Immigration Bureau 6 Branch Oces
Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau 11 Branch Oces
ImmigrationBureau,
Ministry of Justice Narita Airport District Immigration Oce
Haneda Airport District Immigration Oce
Yokohama District Immigration Oce 1 Branch Oce
Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau 8 Branch Oces
Chubu Airport District Immigration Oce
Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau Branch Oces
Kansai Airport District Immigration Oce
Kobe District Immigration Oce 1 Branch Oce
Hiroshima Regional Immigration Bureau 7 Branch Oces
Takamatsu Regional Immigration Bureau 3 Branch Oces
Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau 10 Branch Oces
Naha District Immigration Oce 4 Branch Oces
134
Data Section
Data Section . Organizational Expansion and Sta Enhancement

Chart 25: Responsibilities of the Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice
Assignment and discipline of immigration inspectors and

General Affairs Division immigration control officers
Organization and management of the regional immigration
bureaus
Preparation of bills concerning immigration control
Matters for which no specific division is responsible
Refugee Landing permission for temporary refuge

Recognition Office Recognition of refugee status and revocation of refugee status
Issuance of refugee travel documents and return of refugee
travel documents
Immigration
Information Management Maintenance of information support systems for immigration
Development Office control
Immigration Planning the Basic Plan for Immigration Control

Policy Planner Planning overall immigration control policies
Immigiration Intelligence activities for immigration control

Information Analyzer
Immigiration Specific matters of general affairs requiring coordination

Policy Coordinator
Landing examination and permission for foreign nationals

Director- Residence status examination and permission for foreign
General Entry and Status Division nationals
Permission for re-entry of foreign nationals
Departure of foreign nationals, departure and return of Japanese
nationals
Senior Assistant for Matters on the responsibility of captains of vessels and carriers
Examination Supervision immigration control
Violation examinations
Adjudication Division Hearings and objections concerning the landing and deportation
of foreign nationals
Issuance of detention orders and deportation orders
Departure orders
Filing of objections concerning denial of recognition of refugee
status and revocation of refugee status
Violation investigations
Enforcement Division Execution of detention orders and deportation orders
Security of detention facilities, provisional release of detainees,
Senior Assistant and treatment of detainees
for Enforcement Affairs
Registration Division Registration of foreign nationals
Counselor The drafting of legislation and the planning of other important

policies of the Immigration Bureau
* Other than the positions mentioned above, one Assistant Deputy Vice-Minister of Justice and three
Attorneys legal specialists are assigned to the Immigration Bureau.
135
Data Section
Review of the organizational structure of the Immigration

Control Oces
With respect to the expansion and extension of the Bureau
s organization in FY 2011, the Tokyo
Regional Immigration Bureau has assigned one additional supervising inspector responsible for
permanent residency for the purpose of prompt and accurate permission processing of permanent
residence application, because the number of such application has been steadily increasing in
recent years. The bureau also assigned one additional supervising inspector responsible for refugee
adjudication in the Adjudication Department to respond to refugees
ling objections, the number of
which has been remarkably increasing.
In addition, the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau assigned one additional chief inspector to
appropriately respond to the enhancement of the organizational size associated with the increased
amount of operations and increasingly sophisticated false residence cases. The Nagoya bureau
abolished the Inspection and Record-Control Department, while newly establishing the Inspection
Coordination Department and the Verification Department. Thereafter the bureau assigned two
additional supervising inspectors respectively: one is responsible for Inspection Coordination and
immigration procedure, and the other is responsible for Second Verication.
Furthermore, the Nagoya bureau assigned one additional supervising immigration control ocer
responsible for detection planning within the First Investigation Department. As a result, a system
was set up to strengthen crackdown the illegal residents who tend to exist in smaller groups and
geogracally spreading in wider areas.
Most branch oces (including branch oces of district immigration oces) of regional immigration
bureaus were located within the area of seaports, based on the historical background that they were
originally established for immigration examination of crew members and passengers on ocean-going
vessels. Now, as the primary means of international transportation shifted from vessels to aircraft,
immigration examination at airports became the main service, and as foreigners residing in Japan for
a long time increased, the Ministry has proceeded to reorganize, integrate or scrap branch oces at
seaports to respond to the foregoing change in administrative needs, and made eorts to re-allocate
branch oces by establishing them at local airports where many international carriers arrive, places
where prefectural oces are located, and other major cities. (Table 53)
As a result, the number of branch offices established in the country through reorganization of
regional immigration oces into regional immigration bureaus, which was 103 as of April 1, 1981, is
61 as of April 1, 2011. The establishment of at least one regional immigration bureau or oce in each
prefecture has achieved, while branch oces have decreased by about 40% compare to the statistics
in 1981.
Those branch offices should not only improve convenience of foreign nationals who come for
submission of various applications or reports but also enhance close cooperation with related local
organizations, such as police, in gathering information on illegal and disguised residents. With a
view to enhancing cooperation with local authorities and related organization which accept foreign
nationals who intend to reside in Japan for a medium and long term, it is necessary to continue
rationalizing and streamlining the organizational structure, with the aim of ensuring smoother
and more proper processing, including immigration examination, residence examination, and
136
Data Section

collection of information on oenders against the Immigration Control Act, and establishing a more
comprehensive framework for branch oces. In FY 2011, one supervising inspector was posted in
each of seven branches, where immigration inspectors equal to or of a higher level than supervising
inspectors had not been posted as the branch directors.
Table 53: Reorganization, abolition or establishment of branch oces of regional immigration bureaus
As of April 1,2011
Division Abolition Establishment
Fiscal Year Name Location Name Location
2000 Amagasaki Port Branch Oce Amagasaki City Saga Branch Oce Saga City
Kure Port Branch Oce Kure City
Karatsu Port Branch Oce Karatsu City
Imari Port Branch Oce Imari City
2001 Yokosuka Port Branch Oce Yokosuka City Shizuoka Branch Oce Shizuoka City
Kagoshima Airport Branch Oce Mizobe-cho Aira-gun
Shimizu Port Branch Oce Shimizu City
Tagonoura Port Branch Oce Fuji City
2002 Iwakuni Port Branch Oce Iwakuni City Kofu Branch Oce Kofu City
Yatsushiro Port Branch Oce Yatsushiro City Gifu Branch Oce Gifu City
Hitachi Port Branch Oce Hitachi City Otsu Branch Oce Otsu City
Kashima Port Branch Oce Kamisu-cho Kashima-gun Mito Branch Oce Mito City
2003 Tokyo Port Branch Oce Koto-ku Tokyo Shinjyuku Branch Oce Shinjyuku-ku Tokyo
Shibuya Branch Oce Shibuya-ku Tokyo Morioka Branch Oce Morioka City
Muroran Port Branch Oce Muroran City
Miyako Port Branch Oce Miyako City
Ofunato Port Branch Oce Ofunato City
Ishinomaki Port Branch Oce Ishinomaki City
Sasebo Port Branch Oce Sasebo City
Naha Port Branch Oce Naha City
2004 Aomori Port Branch Oce Aomori City Aomori Branch Oce Aomori City
Hachinohe Port Branch Oce Hachinohe City
Yokohama Port Branch Oce Yokohama City
Nagoya Port Branch Oce Nagoya City
Nagoya Airport Branch Oce Toyoyama-cho Nishikasugai-gun Aichi
Sakai Port Branch Oce Sakai City
Kobe Port Branch Oce Kobe City
Mizushima Port Branch Oce Kurashiki City
Shibushi Branch Oce Shibushi-cho Soo-gun Kagoshima
2005 Naoetsu Port Branch Oce Joetsu City
2007 Osaka Port Branch Oce Osaka City Tobu Branch Oce Edogawa-ku Tokyo
Tennoji Branch Oce Osaka City
2010 Haneda Airport Branch Oce Ota-ku Tokyo
(*) The abolition of Haneda Airport Branch Office in FY2010 is due to the establishment of Haneda Airport District
Immigration Oce
Section 2 Sta of the

Immigration Bureau
Immigration Control Sta

In immigration centers and regional
immigration bureaus, immigration inspectors and
immigration control ocers are assigned as sta
who are engaged in immigration control duties. In
addition, ocers of legal aairs engage in general
administrative duties and specialists of legal Immigration Control Sta
137
Data Section
aairs, including doctors, are also assigned.

Immigration inspectors are responsible for (i) examinations and hearings on landing and
deportation, (ii) issuance of written detention orders and written deportation orders, (iii) provisional
release, and (iv) investigation of recognition of refugees and statuses of residence. They are also
engaged in examining statuses of residence as assistants for the Minister of Justice.
Immigration control officers are responsible for (i) investigation of violations concerning entry,
landing or residence in Japan, (ii) detention, transportation and deportation of foreign nationals
in order to execute written detention orders or written deportation orders, and (iii) treatment of
inmates in immigration centers and detention facilities and guards of these detention facilities. They
fall under police personnel in terms of the National Civil Service Law, while falling under public
security service sta in terms of the Law Concerning Salaries for General Service Personnel, because
they are often involved in dangerous tasks.
Immigration control officers are divided into seven ranks (Superintendent Superviser, Chief
Superintendent, Superintendent, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, and Ocer, in order of descending
superiority) in order to clarify the chain of command for group operations for detection.
Individual immigration inspectors and immigration control officers perform their duties
independently as specialists in immigration control and therefore, the specialist system was
introduced. These ocials are required to have legal knowledge necessary for their duties as well
as a balanced point of view from an international perspective and the ability to interact with foreign
nationals exibly while giving consideration to their diverse cultures, customs and religions and their
human rights.
Personnel Reinforcement
The number of immigration control sta was 3,823 in FY 2011, up about 23% (703) from FY 2006
(3,120), ve years ago. During this period, the number of cases handled by immigration control oces
remained at a high level, and the immigration control duties have been getting more complicated
and difficult due to the necessity of implementing stricter immigration examinations to prevent
terrorism and illegal entry, coping with forged or altered documents that have become increasingly
more sophisticated, strengthening residence management related to foreign residents after entry,
enforcing strengthened detection of illegal foreign residents, some of whom are potential criminals,
and implementing measures against foreign residents disguised as legal residents. (Chart 26, Table
54)
138
Data Section

Chart 26: Changes in the number of immigration control oce personnel

Table 54: Changes in the number of immigration control oce personnel

People
Division Secretaries in Regional Immigration Bureaus
the Ministry Total
Fiscal Year of Justice Secretaries Inspector Control ocer Others Sub-Total
1985 169 155 703 658 55 1,571 1,740
1990 166 154 777 673 46 1,650 1,816
1995 163 165 1,152 869 38 2,224 2,387
2000 157 164 1,196 998 26 2,384 2,541
2001 156 155 1,211 1,017 26 2,409 2,565
2002 154 146 1,268 1,070 25 2,509 2,663
2003 152 144 1,272 1,101 24 2,541 2,693
2004 142 142 1,343 1,183 23 2,691 2,833
2005 131 122 1,433 1,266 20 2,841 2,972
2006 129 122 1,494 1,367 8 2,991 3,120
2007 128 121 1,580 1,431 8 3,140 3,268
2008 127 129 1,626 1,523 8 3,286 3,413
2009 126 130 1,737 1,564 8 3,439 3,565
2010 126 135 1,881 1,564 8 3,588 3,714
2011 126 139 1,979 1,571 8 3,697 3,823
In FY 2011, 167 persons were additionally assigned as immigration inspectors and immigration
control ocers. An outline of the sta increase is as follows:
139
Data Section
(1) Strengthened Immigration Control of the Regional Immigration

Bureaus such as the Narita Airport District Immigration Oce
TheBasic Act for Promoting a Tourism-Oriented Countrywas put into force in January
2007 and theBasic Plan for Promoting a Tourism-Oriented Countrywas decided by the
Cabinet in June of year 2007. In June 2010,the New Growth Strategyaiming toincrease
the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan to 25 million by 2020was determined by the
Cabinet. In theNew Growth Strategy and Plans,Eorts to increase visitors from chinaand
The reduction of waiting time required for immigration inspection, and other objectives were
specified. Under such circumstances, the number of foreign nationals entering Japan, which
decreased temporarily due to global economic recession and other inuences in Japan, tended
toward recovery due to economic recovery in Asian regions and the easing of visa requirements
for Chinese tourists. As a result, the number of non-Japanese visitors entering the nation
reached a record number of approximately 9.44 million in 2010. It is necessary to make eorts
to shorten the waiting time for examination at individual airports and seaports including Narita
Airport of which landing slots will increase to 250,000 in order to promote the implementation of
a tourism-oriented country, and at the same time, to implement strict immigration examination
as countermeasures against terrorism and illegal residents.
For this purpose, 113 additional immigration inspectors were allocated to individual bureaus
and branch oces, mainly focused on the Narita Regional Immigration Bureau.
(2) Strengthened Residence Management System of the Regional

Immigration Bureaus such as the Nagoya Regional Immigration
Bureau
In the light of the circumstances under which the number of foreigners residing in Japan
increases year by year, theThree-year Program for Promoting Deregulation (revised)decided
by the Cabinet in March 2008 mentioned the need for an overall review of the alien registration
system and the residence management system to reinforce the checking system for foreign
nationals after entering Japan. And accordingly the revised Immigration Control Act was
enacted and promulgated in July 2009. In addition, the Action Plan of Measures to Combat
Tracking in Persons in 2009, which was formulated by the Ministerial Meeting on Anti-Crime
Measures in December of the same year, requiresthe prevention of tracking crimes involving
false/illegal residence through the strict residence management
.
Meanwhile, a system for more appropriate management of applications became necessary, due
to the enforcement of provisions concerningspecial exception on the period of stay for those
who have filed applications such as application for extension of the period of stayset forth
in said revised Immigration Control Act, so that the permission could be decided within two
months after the expiration following the reception of applications.
As one of the measures to reinforce the checking system for foreign nationals after entering
Japan, the Immigration Bureau receives the information concerning the current employment
situation of foreign nationals from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (public
employment security oces) and analyze the situation of residence of foreign nationals, while
140
Data Section

arranging the specialist staff to investigate violations and detect false residents involved in
criminal groups in the Kanto Region where most of such false residents are presumed to be
hidden. In addition, similar countermeasures are urgently required to be taken in other regions
where a number of foreign residents reside.
For such measures, three immigration inspectors and sixteen immigration control officers
were additionally posted in the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau, while eight immigration
inspectors and 11 immigration control ocers were additionally posted in bureaus and branches
including the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.
(3)Strengthened Refugee Adjudication System of the Regional

Immigration Bureaus such as the Tokyo Regional Immigration
Bureau
The introduction of the refugee examination counselors system in 2005 enhanced the equity
and neutrality of the refugee recognition procedures, but the number of applications for refugee
status (primary examination) increased to 1,599 in 2008, almost quadrupling from 384 in 2005.
The number of applications has remained at a high level, standing at 1,388 in 2009 and 1,202 in
2010.
Given the situation, the Immigration Bureau announced to make eorts to process all refugee
recognition applications within six months, for the purpose of earlier acquisition of legal status
as refugee of the people who should be recognized as refugees, in consideration of longer
examination periods for refugee recognition applications. For the purpose of prompt processing
in the primary examination, fifteen refugee examiners were posted in the Tokyo Regional
Immigration Bureau and one in the Nagoya Regional Immigration Bureau.
Sta Training
As the number of foreign nationals entering and departing from Japan has been increasing year by
year and the types of residence have diversied, the volume of immigration services has increased
and the contents of routine duties to be performed by immigration inspectors and immigration
control ocers have become more complicated and dicult. It is therefore indispensable to enhance
the skills and abilities of the ocers of the Immigration Bureau, and so we are in the process of
enriching and reinforcing our training program targeted for those ocers.
In addition to systematic training for newly
employed persons, mid-career persons and
managers implemented by the Research and
Training Institute of the Ministry of Justice,
which is a training organization of the Ministry
of Justice, the Immigration Bureau implements
various kinds of training programs by not only
the sta with expertise but also experts outside
the Bureau invited to give a lecture for the
purpose of enhancing the professional knowledge Training
141
Data Section
of sta. There are several sorts of sta training such as training for persons engaged in the detection
of document forgery, training for persons engaged in entry and residence examination work, training
for persons engaged in refugee recognition work, training for persons engaged in information system
operation, and training for human rights and mental health.
Also, as the work of the Immigration Bureau is mainly concerned with international people, the
Bureau makes efforts to improve language skills necessary for the work by arranging language
classes for sta.
142
Data Section
Data Section . Budget

Data Section 6 Budget
Section 1 Budgets
Chart 26 shows the trends in budgets for immigration control administration. Despite severe
scal and administrative limitations in recent years, the scal authorities approved the Immigration
Bureau
s expenses to implement necessary immigration control duties and related policy projects
leading to improvement and enhancement of immigration control administrative capabilities.
For the budget about computer operation, the cost of adapting to the new system of residence
management was approved in the budget of FY 2011 in succession to the approval of the budget in
2010. (Charts 27 and 28).
Chart 27: Changes in the budget for immigration control administration
143
Data Section
Chart 28: Changes in the major computer-related budget amount

Section 2 Facilities
As of March 31, 2011, eight regional immigration bureaus in the nation are housing in an
independent oce of the Ministry of Justice (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka), a joint oce of the Ministry of
Justice (Sendai, Takamatsu), an administrative joint oce (Sapporo, Hiroshima), and a private facility
(Fukuoka) respectively.
Three Immigration centers existing in the nation were completed after the year 1993, which are
maintained as independent oces of the Ministry of Justice (Omura) and the general oce of the
Ministry of Justice (East Japan, West Japan).
Under globalization, more and more foreign nationals are entering and staying in Japan. In line
with the internationalization and re-expansion of the Haneda Airport, the Haneda Airport District
Immigration Oce of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau was established in 2010.
The Immigration Bureau will continue to upgrade its immigration control facilities as needed for
the purpose of ensuring proper implementation of immigration control policy. (Table 55)
Table 55: Changes in the capacity for detention
People
Fiscal Year
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Division
Total 3,848 3,848 3,998 3,998 4,010
Immigration Centers 1,800 1,800 1,800 1,800 1,800
Regional Immigration Bureaus 2,048 2,048 2,198 2,198 2,210
As of every March 31the number for 2011 is an estimate.
144
2011 Immigration Control
November 2011
Immgration Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Japan

100-89771-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
146

Immigration Control 2011

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Immigration Control 2011

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2011

Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport)

Points on2011 Immigration Control

Part 1 Immigration Control in Recent Years

Part 2 Major Policies Related to Immigration Control

so that vocational/technical school graduates given diploma calledSenmonshiwhich is

Addressing the global community

Part 1. Immigration Control in Recent Years

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

Chapter . Deportation Procedures for Foreign Nationals

Chapter . Recognition of Refugee Status

Chapter . Alien Registration Process

Section . Promotion of International Medical Interaction 70

Chapter . Eorts for Smooth Introduction of the New System of

Chapter . Smooth and Strict Implementation of Immigration

Chapter . The Launch of the New Technical Intern Training Programs

Chapter . Establishment of an Special Exception to the Period of

Chapter . Eorts of the Immigration Bureau Concerning the

Chapter . Appropriate Operation of Special Permission to stay in

Chapter11. Addressing the Global Community

Chapter12. Improvement Public Relations and Administrative Services

Data Section . Statistics

Data Section . Outline of New System of Residence Management 126

Data Section . Litigation Relating to Immigration Control

Data Section . Organizational and Personnel Expansion

Data Section . Budget

Chart 1 : Changes in the number of foreign nationals entering Japan 2

Table 1 : Changes in the number of new arrivals by status of residence 5

Photograph 1: Haneda Airport Introduction

Chapter 1 Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in

Section 1 Foreign Nationals Entering and Leaving Japan

Changes in the Number of Foreign Nationals Entering and

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

B. The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Nationality (Place of Origin)

C. The Number of Foreign Nationals Entering Japan by Gender and Age

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

(A) Temporary Visitors

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

a.Engineer,Specialist in Humanities/International Services,Intra-company

b.Skilled Labor(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 6-1)

c.Entertainer(Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 5-1)

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

(2) Special Cases of Landing (except for Landing Permission for

received permission for landing at a port of call of 24,355 (1.2%). (Table 2)

The following are permission for special cases of landing by category.

APermission for landing at a port of call

BPermission for landing in transit

CLanding permission for crew members

DPermission for emergency landing

ELanding permission due to distress

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan

Judgment for Landing

Foreign Nationals Who Desire to Enter Japan

Landing examination by immigration inspectors

Provision of personal identification information or that No provision of personal identification

Conforming to the Hearing for landing by special inquiry officers (examination

Provision of personal identification No provision of personal

Not Conforming to the conditions

With reasons Without reasons

With reasons to permit Without reasons to

Chapter . Foreign Nationals Entering and Residing in Japan