The Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency is to issue a residence card to foreign nationals who are residing with a status of residence in Japan (hereinafter referred to as "mid- to long-term residents"), which by definition does not include:
出入国在留管理庁長官は、本邦に在留資格をもつて在留する外国人のうち、次に掲げる者以外の者（以下「中長期在留者」という。）に対し、在留カードを交付するものとする。
a person who has been granted a period of stay of not more than 3 months;
三月以下の在留期間が決定された者
a person who has been granted the status of residence of "Temporary Visitor";
短期滞在の在留資格が決定された者
a person who has been granted the status of residence of "Diplomat" or "Official"; or
外交又は公用の在留資格が決定された者
a person provided for by Ministry of Justice Order as equivalent to a person set forth in any of the preceding three items.
前三号に準ずる者として法務省令で定めるもの