Regulation for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

The confirmation of return to Japan prescribed in Article 61 of the Act is to be made by affixing the seal of verification for return to Japan pursuant to the Appended Form No. 72 in the passport of the Japanese national; provided, however, that this confirmation is made by issuing a certificate of return to Japan pursuant to the Appended Form No. 73 with respect to a person who does not possess a passport.

If a Japanese national who seeks to receive the confirmation of return to Japan set forth in the preceding paragraph falls under either of the following items, an immigration inspector may record the Japanese national's name, date of birth, sex, date of landing, and the port of entry or departure at which the Japanese national lands on a file to be used as a record in lieu of the seal of verification for return to Japan kept on a computer as prescribed in Article 7, paragraph (4). In this case, notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the immigration inspector is not required to affix the seal of verification set forth in the same paragraph:

the Japanese national falls under both of the following sub-items (a) and (b):

the Japanese national is registered pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article; and

the Japanese national presented their passport and provided their fingerprints in an electronic or magnetic means at the time of confirmation of return to Japan;

the Japanese national presented their passport and provided their photograph in an electronic or magnetic means at the time of confirmation of return to Japan.

The provisions of Article 5, paragraph (9) apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which fingerprints are provided pursuant to the provisions of item (i), sub-item (b) of the preceding paragraph and the provisions of paragraph (10) of the same Article apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which a photograph is provided pursuant to the provisions of item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, respectively.

A person who wishes to have their information recorded pursuant to the provisions of Article 53, paragraph (2) or paragraph (2) of the preceding Article at the port of entry or departure at which that person seeks to land or from which they seek to depart wishes to have their information registered by the director with jurisdiction (hereinafter referred to as "user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals"), the Japanese national must appear at the immigration services office provided for in Article 7-2, paragraph (1) and apply for user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals by submitting a copy of the written application pursuant to the Appended Form No. 73-2 as well as present their passport.

The director with jurisdiction may make a user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals only in the event that they find the Japanese national set forth in the preceding paragraph to fall under all of the following items:

the Japanese national possesses a valid passport; and

the Japanese national has provided their fingerprints in an electronic or magnetic form.

The provisions of Article 7-2, paragraph (6) apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which fingerprints are provided pursuant to the provisions of item (ii) of the preceding paragraph.

If a Japanese national who underwent user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals falls under any of the following items, the director with jurisdiction must cancel the user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals and delete the fingerprint image information provided by the Japanese national pursuant to the provisions of Article 53, paragraph (3), paragraph (3) of the preceding Article and the preceding paragraph:

it is found that the Japanese national did not fall under either of the items of paragraph (2) at the time that person has undergone user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals;

the passport presented pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) has expired;

the Japanese national has submitted a written request to cancel the user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals; and

the director with jurisdiction finds that it is not appropriate to maintain the user registration of the Automated Gates for Japanese nationals due to the Japanese national's death or for any other grounds.

A foreign national who seeks to apply for recognition of refugee status pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2, paragraph (1) of the Act must appear at a regional immigration services bureau and submit a written application pursuant to the Appended Form No. 74 (Appended Form No. 74-2 when the foreign national has received a disposition of denial of recognition of refugee status or a disposition of denial of recognition as a person eligible for complementary protection in the past), a copy of each of the materials proving that they qualify for refugee status, and two photographs (three photographs for a foreign national without a status of residence prescribed in Article 61-2-2, paragraph (1) of the Act).

A foreign national who seeks to apply for recognition as a person eligible for complementary protection pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2, paragraph (2) of the Act must appear at a regional immigration services bureau and submit a written application pursuant to the Appended Form No. 74 (Appended Form No. 74-2 when the foreign national has received a disposition of denial of recognition of refugee status or a disposition of denial of recognition as a person eligible for complementary protection in the past), a copy of each of the materials proving that they qualify as a person eligible for complementary protection, and two photographs (three photographs for a foreign national without a status of residence prescribed in Article 61-2-2, paragraph (1) of the Act).

When filing the applications set forth in the preceding two paragraphs, the foreign national must present the documents listed in the following items. 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 reasons therefor:

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

passport and special permanent resident certificate in the case of a special permanent resident;

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

in the case of a foreign national who has been issued a landing permit as provided in Chapter III, Sections 3 and 4 of the Act, the permit.

A foreign national who seeks to file the application set forth in paragraph (1) or (2) and who is unable to prepare a written application due to illiteracy, physical disorder, or any other special circumstances may state the particulars to be entered in the written application in lieu of submitting the application.

In the case referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), when the foreign national is under 16 years of age or is unable to appear due to disease or for other grounds, the father, mother, spouse, child, or a relative of the foreign national may file the application on behalf of the foreign national.

The Minister of Justice is to make inquiries to the National Public Safety Commission as to whether the foreign national who has applied for recognition of refugee status pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2, paragraph (1) of the Act or the foreign national who has applied for recognition as a person eligible for complementary protection pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the same Article has committed any acts listed in Article 1, item F-(b) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

The format of the certificate of refugee status prescribed in Article 61-2, paragraph (4) of the Act is to follow that of the Appended Form No. 75.

The notice on the denial of recognition of refugee status pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2, paragraph (4) of the Act is to be made by the written notice pursuant to the Appended Form No. 76.

The format of the certificate of recognition as a person eligible for complementary protection prescribed in Article 61-2, paragraph (5) of the Act is to follow that of the Appended Form No. 76-2.

The notice on the denial of recognition as a person eligible for complementary protection pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2, paragraph (5) of the Act is to be made by the written notice pursuant to the Appended Form No. 76-2-2.

When permitting a foreign national the status of residence of "Long-Term Resident" pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-2, paragraph (1) of the Act (limited to cases provided for in paragraph (2), item (ii) of the same Article), a certificate of status of residence pursuant to the Appended Form No. 32 is to be issued with the seal of verification pursuant to the Appended Form No. 37 or No. 37-2.

The revocation of permission pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-2, paragraph (4) of the Act is to be made by a written notice of revocation pursuant to the Appended Form No. 76-3.

The format of the permit for provisional stay prescribed in Article 61-2-4, paragraph (2) of the Act is to follow that of the Appended Form No. 76-4.

The period of provisional stay prescribed in Article 61-2-4, paragraph (2) of the Act (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4) of that Article) is to be established for a period of time not exceeding 6 months.

The restrictions on residence and scope of activities, the obligation to appear upon receiving summons, and other conditions found to be necessary pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-4, paragraph (3) of the Act are to be pursuant to the following items:

the residence is designated by the Minister of Justice;

the scope of activities is to be within the prefecture where the designated residence is located, except for cases in which the Minister of Justice finds that there are special reasons and has decided otherwise;

a request for appearance is made with a designation of the time and date and place to appear; and

beyond what is provided for in the preceding items, other conditions may be imposed by the Minister of Justice as the minister finds specifically necessary.

A request for appearance made to a foreign national under an obligation to appear pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-4, paragraph (3) of the Act is made by a subpoena pursuant to the Appended Form No. 76-5.

The fingerprint form used for taking fingerprints pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-4, paragraph (3) of the Act, is to follow the format of the Appended Form No. 22.

A foreign national who seeks to apply for an extension of the period of provisional stay pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-4, paragraph (4) of the Act must appear at a regional immigration services bureau and submit a copy of the written application pursuant to the Appended Form No. 76-6 by the date of expiration of the period of provisional stay.

The provisions of Article 55, paragraph (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the application set forth in the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "paragraph (1) or (2)" in paragraph (5) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "paragraph (6)."

The decision on the permission for acquisition of status of residence prescribed in Article 61-2-5, paragraph (1) of the Act is to be made by a written decision pursuant to the Appended Form No. 76-6-2.

The entry of the new status of residence and period of stay in the passport or certificate of status of residence prescribed in Article 20, paragraph (4), items (ii) and (iii) of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 61-2-5, paragraph (3) of the Act is to be made by a seal of verification pursuant to the Appended Form No. 37 or No. 37-2.

The provisions of Article 20, paragraph (7) apply mutatis mutandis to the case of granting permission for acquisition of status of residence pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-5, paragraph (1) of the Act. In this case, the phrases "a change to ... (limited to ...)" and "a change to the status of residence" in Article 20, paragraph (7) are deemed to be replaced with "the acquisition of ... (limited to ...)" and "the acquisition of the status of residence", respectively.

The revocation of permission for provisional stay pursuant to the provisions of Article 61-2-6 of the Act is to be made by a written notice of revocation of permission for provisional stay pursuant to the Appended Form No. 76-7.