On a day set by , no later than 31 March 2029. The exact day is not fixed yet.
The same amending law also changes
5 June 2026 — This law
5 June 2026 — Act on Special Measures concerning the Application for Landing by Foreign National in Possession of Passport specified in Article 2, Item (v), (b) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
52 provisions changed · 41 provisions added · 13 provisions removed · 8 provisions in the supplementary provisions · 2 articles renumbered · 11 provisions moved to another number
Each provision the amendment changes, as it will read: the words it adds are underlined, and a bar marks where it removes words. “Show removed words” strikes those through in place; “Before and after” sets the two wordings side by side. A provision that only moves to another number says the number it had. The Japanese is the law; the icon beside each English column says whose English it is. The 2 articles it renumbers are marked with the number each had before.
Article 56-3 · (Duty to Check Passports or Other Documents)第五十六条の三（旅券等の確認義務）
For the purpose of preventing foreign nationals from illegally entering Japan, the carrier who operates a vessel or aircraft entering Japan (or the captain of the vessel or aircraft in the absence of the carrier) must check the passports, crew member's pocket-ledgers or re-entry permits possessed by foreign nationals who seek to board the vessel or aircraft.
(Duty to Report) on Passengers, etc. of Vessels or Aircraft Entering Japan
本邦に入る船舶等に係る乗客等に関する報告の義務
ChangedArticle 57, paragraph (4)
If a person who has been granted permission pursuant to the provisions ofthe permission set forth in Article 14-2, paragraph (2) is on board a designated passenger ship, the captain of the designated passenger ship entering Japan must immediately report the name of the person and other particulars provided by Ministry of Justice Order to an immigration inspector at the port of entry or departure each time the designated passenger ship arrives at a port of entry or departure.
If a crew member who has been granted permission pursuant to the provisions ofthe permission set forth in Article 16, paragraph (2) is on board the vessel or aircraft entering Japan, the captain of the vessel or aircraft must immediately report the name of the crew member and other particulars provided by Ministry of Justice Order to an immigration inspector at the port of entry or departure each time the vessel or aircraft arrives at a port of entry or departure.
The captain of the designated passenger ship departing from a Japanese port of entry or departure must report, upon the request of an immigration inspector at the port of entry or departure, whether a person granted permission pursuant to the provisions ofthe permission set forth in Article 14-2, paragraph (1) or (2) has returned to the designated passenger ship.
At the request of an immigration inspector at the port of entry or departure from which the vessel or aircraft departs, the captain of the vessel or aircraft departing from Japan must report whether a person granted the permission for landing in transit pursuant to the provisions ofset forth in Article 15, paragraph (1) has returned to their vessel or aircraft, whether a person who was granted landing permission for crew members is aboard the vessel or aircraft, and whether a person seeking to depart Japan in violation of the provisions of Article 25, paragraph (2), or Article 60, paragraph (2) is aboard the vessel or aircraft.
If an immigration inspector finds it necessary in securing the enforcement of the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1) or other provisions of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognitionthis Act, they may request the carrier operating an aircraft entering Japan or any other person provided for by Ministry of Justice Order to give a report on the person who made the reservation on the aircraft (meaning the person who reserved the airline ticket; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph), the details of the reservation of the person who made the reservation, the baggage of the person and the particulars provided for in Ministry of Justice Order regarding the procedures for boarding the aircraft, before the aircraft arrives at the port of entry or departure.
A person who has been requested to give a report pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must give the report pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order. In this case, if this person takes the measures provided for in Ministry of Justice Order that make the information available in a manner that enables the immigration inspector to view the information using electronic or magnetic records in lieu of the report, the report is deemed to have been made.
excluding those persons prescribed in the preceding item, out of those who were deported within 5 years of their landing date for falling under any of the items of Article 24, the person whom the captain of the vessel or aircraft or the carrier who operated the vessel or aircraft at the time of their landing is found to have obviously known the existence of grounds for deportation.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, out of the expense and responsibility that should be borne by the captain of a vessel or aircraft or the carrier who operates the vessel or aircraft pursuant to those provisions, a supervising immigration inspector may exempt the captain or the carrier from all or part of the expenses and responsibility arising from keeping at a Departure Waiting Facility, limited to those pertaining to a foreign national who possesses a valid passport with a visa issued by a Japanese consular officer, etc.falls under any of the following items:
a person who possesses a valid passport with a visa;
有効な旅券で査証を受けたものを所持する者
AddedArticle 59, paragraph (3), item (ii)
beyond the persons set forth in the preceding item, a person who possesses a valid passport and has received the certification set forth in Article 7-2.
If necessary, the Minister of Justice or the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency may have an immigration inspector inquire into facts in order to conduct dispositions regarding the certification under Article 4, Article 7-2 or Article 15-2, the issuance of a certificate of eligibility, the registration pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (8) or Article 19-23, paragraph (1) (in the case of the registration pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (8), limited to those pertaining to persons that fall under item (i), sub-item (c) of the same paragraph), permission pursuant to the provisions of Article 12, paragraph (1), Article 19, paragraph (2), the main clause of Article 20, paragraph (3) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 22-2, paragraph (3) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 22-3)), Article 21, paragraph (3), Article 22, paragraph (2) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 22-2, paragraph (4) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 22-3)), Article 26, paragraph (1), Article 61-2-5, paragraph (1), or Article 61-2-14, or cancellation of registration pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-32, paragraph (1), or have an immigration inspector or immigration control officer inquire into the facts in order to conduct dispositions regarding revocation of the status of residence pursuant to the provisions of Article 22-4, paragraph (1) or dispositions regarding permission pursuant to the provisions of Article 50, paragraph (1).
the foreign national has been granted permission for landing at a port of call, landing permission for cruise ship tourists, permission for landing in transit, landing permission for crew members, permission for emergency landing or landing permission due to distress, etc., and has not stayed in Japan beyond the period stated in their passport or permit;
A foreign national who is issued a registered user card pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-2, paragraph (1) or (8), or a certificate of authorization for employment pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-2, paragraph (1) or a residence card pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-10, paragraph (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 19-13, paragraph (4) based on the application pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (1) of the same Article must pay a fee in an amount separately provided by Cabinet Order in consideration of actual expenses.
If a foreign national seeks to receive the certification set forth in Article 4, Article 7-2 or Article 15-2, the foreign national must pay, at the time of providing information pursuant to those provisions, a fee in an amount provided by Cabinet Order in consideration of actual expenses.
A foreign national who receives the certification set forth in Article 7-2 or Article 15-2, or who receives the registration set forth in Article 9, paragraph (8) as a person falling under item (i), sub-item (c) of the same paragraph, must pay a fee in an amount provided by Cabinet Order in consideration of actual expenses and the amount of the costs required for the fair control of entry, departure and residence of foreign nationals who receive such certification or registration, and other circumstances.
The authority of the Minister of Justice provided for by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognitionthis Act may be delegated to the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order; provided however, that this does not apply to the authority prescribed in Article 2-3, paragraphs (3) through (5) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (6) of the same Article), Article 2-4, paragraph (1), paragraphs (3) through (5) of the same Article (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (6) of the same Article) and Article 7-27-3, paragraph (3) and paragraph (4) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of the same Article).
The authority of the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency (including the authority delegated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph) provided for by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognitionthis Act may be delegated to the director of the regional immigration services bureau, pursuant to Ministry of Justice Order.
a person who enters Japan in violation of the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1) (limited to the part pertaining to items (i) and (ii));
第三条第一項（第一号及び第二号に係る部分に限る。）の規定に違反して本邦に入つた者
ChangedArticle 70, paragraph (1), item (vii)
a person who is granted permission for landing at a port of call, landing permission for cruise ship tourists, permission for landing in transit, landing permission for crew members, permission for emergency landing, landing permission due to distress, etc. or landing permission for temporary refuge, who remains in Japan beyond the period entered in their passport or permit;
a person who fails to report or falsely reports in violation of the provisions of Article 56-2, paragraph (1) or (5);
第五十六条の二第一項又は第五項の規定に違反して報告をせず、又は虚偽の報告をした者
AddedArticle 77, paragraph (1), item (i-3)
a person who has allowed a person to whom the notice pertains to enter Japan aboard the vessel, etc. in violation of the provisions of Article 56-2, paragraph (4);
第五十六条の二第四項の規定に違反して当該通知に係る者を当該船舶等に乗せて本邦に入らせた者
ChangedArticle 77, paragraph (1), item (i-4)
a person who has allowed foreign nationals to enter Japan without checking their passports, crew member's pocket-ledgers, or re-entry permits, in violation of the provisions of Article 56-256-3;
a person who fails to report, or falsely reports in violation of the provisions of Article 57, paragraph (1) or (2), fails to report in violation of the provisions of paragraph (3) of the same Article, or fails to report or falsely reports in violation of the provisions of paragraphs (4) through (7) or the first sentence of paragraph (9) of the same Article;
(6 rows this amendment leaves as they were are not shown)
(2)
Status of Residence
Authorized Activities in Japan
(14 rows this amendment leaves as they were are not shown)
(3)
Status of Residence
Authorized Activities in Japan
Cultural Activities
Academic or artistic activities that do not involve any income, or activities conducted to acquire culture or arts and crafts peculiar to Japan by conducting specialized research or through the guidance of experts (except for activities listed in the right-hand column of the "Student" through "Trainee" sections in Table (4)).
Temporary Visitor
Activities for sightseeing, recreation, sports, visiting relatives, tour of facilities, participating in lectures or meetings, business liaison or other similar activities during a short stay in Japan.
(4)
Status of Residence
Authorized Activities in Japan
(3 rows this amendment leaves as they were are not shown)
(5)
Status of Residence
Authorized Activities in Japan
Designated Activities
Activities which are specifically designated by the Minister of Justice for individual foreign nationals.
一
在留資格
本邦において行うことができる活動
(6 rows this amendment leaves as they were are not shown)
二
在留資格
本邦において行うことができる活動
(14 rows this amendment leaves as they were are not shown)
The provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1) of the New Immigration Control Act (limited to the part concerning item (iv)) do not apply, until the day on which six months have elapsed from the Effective Date, to foreign nationals specified by Ministry of Justice Order as those found unlikely to harm the fair control of entry and exit and residence.
The provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1) of the New Immigration Control Act (limited to the part concerning item (v)) do not apply, until the day on which six months have elapsed from the Effective Date, to foreign nationals specified by the Ministry of Justice Order referred to in the preceding paragraph who fall under any of the following items:
a visa-exempt person prescribed in Article 6, paragraph (1) of the New Immigration Control Act who seeks to engage in the activities listed in the right-hand column of the Temporary Visitor row of Appended Table I (3) of the Immigration Control Act in Japan;
With regard to permission for landing at a port of call, permission for landing for cruise ship tourists, and permission for landing in transit for foreign nationals specified by the Ministry of Justice Order referred to in paragraph (1), until the day on which six months have elapsed from the Effective Date, the provisions then in force continue to govern, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 14, paragraph (1), Article 14-2, paragraphs (1) and (2), and Article 15, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the New Immigration Control Act.
In establishing the Ministry of Justice Order referred to in paragraph (1), consideration is to be given to the country of nationality of foreign nationals who reside or have resided in Japan or the region specified by the Cabinet Order referred to in Article 2, item (v), (b) of the Immigration Control Act, the number of foreign nationals holding the nationality of that country or region who have been ordered to leave Japan pursuant to the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (7) or (11), or Article 11, paragraph (6) of the Immigration Control Act and have not left Japan without delay and of those who remain in Japan beyond their period of stay, and other circumstances.
The provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1) of the New Immigration Control Act (limited to the part concerning item (v)) apply to applications for landing under Article 6, paragraph (2) of the Immigration Control Act made on or after the Effective Date, and with regard to the conditions for landing pertaining to applications for landing under that paragraph made before the Effective Date, the provisions then in force continue to govern.
With regard to the application of penal provisions to acts committed before the Effective Date, the provisions then in force continue to govern.
施行日前にした行為に対する罰則の適用については、なお従前の例による。
Amendment改正
A change to a law's text. It is made by a separate law or order — the amending act — usually written as instructions to replace, delete or add words. An Act amending part of another Act is usually titled 〇〇法の一部を改正する法律, "act amending part of…", or 〇〇法等の一部を改正する法律 when it amends three or more.
The day a law or an amendment starts to apply. It is often months or years after promulgation, so that people have time to prepare. The Ministry of Justice's English usually says a law "comes into force" or "comes into effect", and sometimes calls the day its "enforcement date". Its "enforcement" more often means the word's other sense, carrying a law out, as in an Order for Enforcement (施行令), the Cabinet Order (政令) that sets out the details for carrying out an Act.
Rules made by the Cabinet to carry out the Constitution and Acts. A Cabinet Order cannot impose duties, restrict rights or set penalties unless an Act delegates that to it.
The official identifier a law receives when it is published: the year, the kind of law, and a serial number within that year. Titles can repeat over the decades; numbers never do.
The official publication of a law or amendment once it has been made, in the Official Gazette (官報), so that anyone can know what it says. A law cannot bind anyone before it is promulgated, and it usually starts to apply on a later enforcement date.
An amending law usually leaves every article's number alone: a new article takes a branch number such as Article 32-2, and a repealed one leaves 削除 (Deleted) at its number. Sometimes it moves a run of articles to new numbers instead — 繰下げ (moving them down) to make room, or 繰上げ (moving them up) to close a gap. The words of a moved article need not change, but books, court decisions and contracts written before cite it by its old number. This site marks a moved article with the number it had before the amendment: Act No. 53 of 2023 (令和五年法律第五十三号) makes Article 55 of the Act on Land and Building Leases (借地借家法) Article 58.
The Ministry of Justice's English of this passage has a slip, so the English shown is this site's correction of it. The Ministry printed:
If a crew member who has been granted the permission set forth in Article 16, paragraph (2) is on board the vessel or aircraft entering Japan, the captain of the vessel or aircraft must immediately report the name of the crew member and other particulars provided by Ministry of Justice Order to an immigration inspector each time the vessel or aircraft arrives at a port of entry or departure.
Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice
Translates the law as amended by Act No. 63 of 2019 (令和元年法律第六十三号)
An amending law usually leaves every article's number alone: a new article takes a branch number such as Article 32-2, and a repealed one leaves 削除 (Deleted) at its number. Sometimes it moves a run of articles to new numbers instead — 繰下げ (moving them down) to make room, or 繰上げ (moving them up) to close a gap. The words of a moved article need not change, but books, court decisions and contracts written before cite it by its old number. This site marks a moved article with the number it had before the amendment: Act No. 53 of 2023 (令和五年法律第五十三号) makes Article 55 of the Act on Land and Building Leases (借地借家法) Article 58.
The part after a law's main provisions (本則) that deals with matters incidental to them: when the law takes effect, how the change from old rules to new ones is handled, and sometimes temporary exceptions to the main text. Every amending law has its own, printed after the original law's.