Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

A registered support organization is to report to the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency the particulars listed in the right-hand column of the Appended Table III (6), in accordance with the categories of cases listed in the left-hand column of that Table, within 14 days from the date on which it came to fall under a case listed in the left-hand column of that Table.

The report pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to be made by the registered support organization that seeks to make the report submitting to the regional immigration services bureau a document stating the name, date of birth, sex, nationality or region, and residence card number of the specified skilled worker pertaining to the report, and the particulars prescribed in that paragraph.

The provisions of Article 19-15, paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to cases of submitting the documents prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

If an immigration inspector or immigration control officer has required persons concerned to appear and answer questions pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-37, paragraph (2) of the Act, they may prepare a written evidence that recorded the statement of the person concerned.

If an immigration inspector or immigration control officer has prepared the written evidence set forth in the preceding paragraph, they must have the person concerned inspect the written evidence or reading it aloud to the person to have the person confirm that the recorded content is correct and have the person sign it, and affix their own signature thereto. In this case, if the person concerned is unable to sign or has refused to sign the written evidence, the immigration inspector or immigration control officer must make an additional entry to that effect in the written evidence.

A foreign national who seeks to file an application for the change of status of residence pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a copy of the written application pursuant to the Appended Form No. 30.

In filing the application set forth in the preceding paragraph, the foreign national must submit a photograph, a copy of each of the materials listed in the right-hand column of the Appended Table III in accordance with the status of residence listed in the left-hand column of the same Table, and a copy of each of any other materials to be used as a reference; provided, however, that this does not apply if the director of the regional immigration services bureau finds that there is no risk of causing hindrance if submission of all or some of the materials are omitted.

The submission of a photograph is not required if the application set forth in paragraph (1) pertains to the following persons, notwithstanding the provisions of the main clause of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this does not apply to cases where the director of a regional immigration services bureau requires its submission:

a person who is under one year of age;

a person who wishes to be subject to a decision for a period of stay of three months or less;

a person who wishes to change their status of residence to that of "Temporary Visitor";

a person who wishes to change their status of residence to that of "Diplomat" or "Official"; or

a person who wishes to change their status of residence to that of "Designated Activities" and wishes the designation of any of the following activities as activities that are specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for individual foreign nationals:

activities as a staff member of the Japanese office of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association or as a family member thereof who belongs to the same household; or.

activities as a staff member of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan or as a family member thereof who belongs to the same household.

activities, based on an employment contract with a corporation established in accordance with the laws and regulations of a foreign country or any other foreign organization, of engaging in Japan in work at a business office of the organization located in a foreign country by using information and communications technology, or activities of providing services for a fee or selling, etc. goods, etc. to a person located in a foreign country by using information and communications technology (excluding those that cannot be provided or sold, etc. without entering Japan); or

daily activities as a spouse or child supported by a person residing with the activities listed in sub-item (c) designated.

The foreign national must present the documents listed in the following items when filing the application set forth in paragraph (1). In this case, a foreign national who is unable to present their passport or certificate of status of residence must submit a copy of the document stating the reason therefor:

the passport and residence card in the case of a mid- to long-term resident;

the passport or certificate of status of residence in the case of persons other than mid- to long-term residents; and

the permit to engage in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted in the case of persons who have been issued with a permit to engage in an activity other than that permitted under the status of residence previously granted pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, paragraph (4).

If a mid- to long-term resident has filed the application set forth in paragraph (1), an indication is to be made to the effect that an application has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (2) of the Act on the residence card which the mid- to long-term resident possesses.

The entry of a new status of residence and period of stay in the passport or the certificate of status of residence as prescribed in Article 20, paragraph (4), items (ii) and (iii) of the Act is to be made by affixing the seal of verification pursuant to the Appended Form No. 31 or No. 31-2.

In permitting a change of the status of residence pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (3) of the Act, if permission is granted for a change to the status of residence of "Highly Skilled Professional" (limited to those pertaining to item (i), sub-items (a) through (c) of the right-hand column under "Highly Skilled Professional" of the Appended Table I (2)), a certificate of designation pursuant to the Appended Form No. 31-3 stating the public or private organization in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice is to be delivered, if permission is granted for a change to the status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker", a certification of designation pursuant to the Appended Form No. 31-4 which states the public and private organizations and the specified industrial fields in Japan designated by the Minister of Justice is to be delivered, and if permission is granted for a change to the status of residence for "Designated Activities," a certificate of designation pursuant to the Appended Form No. 7-4 stating the activities specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for individual foreign nationals is to be delivered.

If a disposition is rendered not to grant permission for the application set forth in paragraph (1) filed by a mid- to long-term resident or the application is withdrawn, the indication made on the residence card pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5) is to be deleted.

In the case of applying for a change to the status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker" pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (2) of the Act (limited to those pertaining to item (i) of the right-hand column corresponding to "Specified Skilled Worker" of Appended Table I (2) of the Act; the same applies in this Article and Article 21-2), in which the applicant has previously resided in Japan with the same status of residence, if the period of stay with the status of residence (excluding any period during which the applicant was unable to engage in work due to pregnancy, childbirth, childcare or any other unavoidable circumstances) has reached a cumulative total of five years (six years if there are reasonable grounds for staying for more than five years with the status of residence), the reasonable grounds under Article 20, paragraph (3) of the Act is considered not to exist.

A foreign national who seeks to apply for an extension of the period of stay pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a copy of the written application pursuant to the Appended Form No. 30-2 by the date of expiration of the period of stay.

When filing the application set forth in the preceding paragraph, the foreign national must submit a photograph and a copy of each of the materials listed in the right-hand column of Appended Table III (7) in accordance with the status of residence pertaining to the application listed in the left-hand column of the same Table, and a copy of each of any other materials to be used as reference; provided, however, that this does not apply if the director of the regional immigration services bureau finds that there is no risk of causing hindrance if submission of all or some of the materials is omitted.

The submission of a photograph is not required if the application set forth in paragraph (1) is an application pertaining to the following persons, notwithstanding the provisions of the main clause of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this does not apply to cases in which the director of the regional immigration services bureau requires its submission:

a person who is under one year of age;

a person who is not a mid- to long-term resident; and

a person who wishes to be subject to a decision for a period of stay of three months or less.

The provisions of paragraphs (4), (5) and (9) of Article 20 apply mutatis mutandis to the application set forth in paragraph (1). In this case, the term "paragraph (5)" in paragraph (9) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 20, paragraph (5), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21, paragraph (4)."

The entry of a new period of stay in the passport or the certificate of status of residence as prescribed in Article 20, paragraph (4), items (ii) and (iii), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21, paragraph (4) of the Act is to be made by affixing the seal of verification pursuant to the Appended Form No. 33 or No. 33-2.

In the case an application filed for extension of the period of stay pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2) of the Act, if the period of stay of the applicant residing in Japan with the status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker" (excluding any period during which the applicant was unable to engage in work due to pregnancy, childbirth, childcare or any other unavoidable circumstances) has reached a cumulative total of five years (six years if there are reasonable grounds for staying for more than five years with the status of residence), the reasonable grounds under paragraph (3) of the same Article is considered not to exist.

If a foreign national who has filed the application set forth in Article 20, paragraph (1) seeks to propose changing the application to an application for the extension of period of stay, they must appear at a regional immigration services bureau and submit a copy of the written proposal pursuant to the Appended Form No. 30-3.

If the proposal set forth in the preceding paragraph is made, the application set forth in Article 21, paragraph (1) is deemed to have been filed on the day on which the application set forth in Article 20, paragraph (1) related to the proposal was filed.

If the director of the regional immigration services bureau who has received the proposal set forth in paragraph (1) finds it necessary, the director may request the foreign national to submit a photograph and a copy of each of the materials listed in the right-hand column of Appended Table III (7) in accordance with the status of residence pertaining to the application listed in the left-hand column of the same Table, and a copy of each of any other materials to be used as reference.

The provisions of Article 19, paragraph (3), Article 20, paragraph (4) and the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the proposal set forth in paragraph (1). In this case, the term "paragraph (1)" in Article 19, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "Article 21-3, paragraph (1)" and the term "and carry out the procedures provided for in the preceding paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "submit the materials provided for in Article 21-3, paragraph (3) and the procedures provided for in Article 20, paragraph (4), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-3, paragraph (4)," respectively.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), when the foreign national is unable to appear in person due to disease or for other grounds, the foreign national is not required to appear at the regional immigration services bureau. In this case, a relative of the foreign national, a person living with the foreign national, or an equivalent person whom the director of the regional immigration services bureau finds appropriate may submit the written proposal provided for in paragraph (1) and the materials provided for in paragraph (3), and carry out the procedures provided for in Article 20, paragraph (4), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4) of this Article on behalf of the foreign national staying in Japan.

If a mid- to long-term resident has made the proposal set forth in paragraph (1), the indication made on the residence card pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (5) is to be deleted, and an indication is to be made on the residence card to the effect that the application pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2) of the Act has been filed.

If a foreign national who has filed the application set forth in Article 21, paragraph (1) seeks to propose changing the application to an application for a change of the status of residence, the foreign national must appear at the regional immigration services bureau and submit a copy of the written request pursuant to the Appended Form No. 30-3.

If the proposal set forth in the preceding paragraph is made, the application referred to in Article 20, paragraph (1) is deemed to have been filed on the day on which the application referred to in Article 21, paragraph (1) pertaining to the proposal was filed.

The provisions of Article 19, paragraph (3), Article 20, paragraph (4), Article 20-2 and paragraphs (3) and (5) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the proposal set forth in paragraph (1). In this case, the term "paragraph (1)" in Article 19, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "Article 21-4, paragraph (1)", the term "and carry out the procedures provided for in the preceding paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "and the procedures provided for in Article 20, paragraph (4), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-4, paragraph (3) and submit the materials provided for in Article 21-3, paragraph (3)", the term "Appended Table III (7)" in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "Appended Table III", the term "paragraph (1)" in paragraph (5) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 21-4, paragraph (1)", the term "and the materials provided for in paragraph (3) and carry out the procedures provided for in Article 20, paragraph (4), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4)" is deemed to be replaced with "and submit the materials provided for in Article 21-3, paragraph (3), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-4, paragraph (3) and the procedures provided for in Article 20, paragraph (4)," respectively.

If a mid- to long-term resident has made the proposal set forth in paragraph (1), the indication made on the residence card pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (5), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21, paragraph (4) is to be deleted, and an indication is to be made on the residence card to the effect that the application pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (2) of the Act has been filed.