A foreign national residing in Japan must carry their passport with them at all times (for a foreign national set forth in any of the following items, the document specified in the respective items; the same applies in paragraph (3) and Article 76, item (ii)); provided, however, that this does not apply if the foreign national carries the residence card as provided for in the following paragraph:
Removed by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person for whom a decision has been made on the status of residence of "Temporary Visitor" and the period of stay pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (5):registered user card;
Moves to item (i) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted permission for provisional landing:provisional landing permit;
仮上陸の許可を受けた者 仮上陸許可書
Moves to item (ii) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted landing permission for cruise ship tourists:landing permit for cruise ship tourists;
船舶観光上陸の許可を受けた者 船舶観光上陸許可書
Moves to item (iii) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted landing permission for crew members:crew member's landing permit and passport or crew member's pocket-ledger;
Moves to item (iv) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted permission for emergency landing:emergency landing permit;
緊急上陸の許可を受けた者 緊急上陸許可書
Changes and moves to item (v) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted landing permission due to distress:landing permit due to distress;
遭難による上陸の許可を受けた者 遭難による上陸許可書
Moves to item (vi) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted landing permission for temporary refuge:landing permit for temporary refuge; or
一時庇護のための上陸の許可を受けた者 一時庇護許可書
Moves to item (vii) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person under supervision measures as prescribed in Article 44-2, paragraph (7):written notice of the decision on supervision measures set forth in the same paragraph;
第四十四条の二第七項に規定する被監理者 同項の監理措置決定通知書
Moves to item (viii) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person under supervision measures as prescribed in Article 52-2, paragraph (6):written notice of the decision on supervision measures set forth in the same paragraph;
第五十二条の二第六項に規定する被監理者 同項の監理措置決定通知書
Moves to item (ix) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person released pursuant to the provisions of Article 52, paragraph (10):special release permit;
第五十二条第十項の規定により放免された者 特別放免許可書
Moves to item (x) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted provisional release:written permission for provisional release;
仮放免の許可を受けた者 仮放免許可書
Moves to item (xi) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person who has been granted permission for provisional stay:permit for provisional stay.
仮滞在の許可を受けた者 仮滞在許可書
Moves to item (xii) by (Act No. 32 of 2026)
a person subject to departure restrictions prescribed in Article 63-2, paragraph (1):written designation of conditions for a person subject to departure restrictions set forth in the same paragraph.
第六十三条の二第一項に規定する出国制限対象者 同項の出国制限対象者条件指定書
A mid- to long-term resident is to receive a residence card which has been issued by the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency or returned by the head of municipalities, and must carry it with them at all times.
中長期在留者は、出入国在留管理庁長官が交付し、又は市町村の長が返還する在留カードを受領し、常にこれを携帯していなければならない。
The foreign national set forth in the preceding two paragraphs must comply with a request for the presentation of their passport or residence card as set forth in these provisions (hereinafter referred to as "passport, etc." in this Article) (in the case of a residence card, including undergoing the measures necessary to confirm the contents of the residence card electronic or magnetic record) made by an immigration inspector, immigration control officer, police officer, coast guard officer or any other official of a state or local government as provided for by Ministry of Justice Order in executing their duties.
In requesting persons to present their passport, etc., the official prescribed in the preceding paragraph must carry with them an identification card showing their official status and present it upon request if asked to do so.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the main clause of paragraphs (1) and paragraph (2), a foreign national who is under 16 years of age is not required to carry their passport, etc. with them.
Read this with the articles around it
foreign national
「外国人」
Anyone who does not hold Japanese nationality.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (i)· applies throughout the law
passport
「旅券」
A passport, refugee travel document or other document in place of a passport (including a travel certificate from a Japanese consular officer) issued by the Japanese government, a foreign government Japan recognizes or a competent international organization, or an equivalent document from a competent authority of a region designated by Cabinet Order.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (v)· applies throughout the law
crew member's pocket-ledger
「乗員手帳」
A seafarer's identity book issued by a competent authority, or a similar document for crew members.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (vi)· applies throughout the law
immigration inspector
「入国審査官」
The immigration official provided for in Article 61-3, who examines people landing in Japan and cases for deportation, among other duties.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (x)· applies throughout the law
immigration control officer
「入国警備官」
The immigration official provided for in Article 61-3-2, who investigates violations and detains, escorts and removes people, among other duties.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xiii)· applies throughout the law
period of staymachine translation
「在留期間」
How long a foreign national may stay in Japan under a status of residence; the lengths are set by Ministry of Justice Order and, for most statuses, cannot exceed five years.
Short name set inArticle 2-2, paragraph (3)
mid- to long-term residents
「中長期在留者」
A foreign national residing in Japan with a status of residence who is issued a residence card: everyone except those granted a stay of three months or less, Temporary Visitors, holders of Diplomat or Official status, and others specified by Ministry of Justice Order.
Short name set inArticle 19-3, paragraph (1)
residence card electronic or magnetic recordmachine translation
「在留カード電磁的記録」
The information recorded electronically on a residence card under Article 19-4(5).
Short name set inArticle 19-13, paragraph (1)
passport, etc.machine translation
「旅券等」
The passport or residence card a foreign national must show when an immigration officer, police officer or other authorized official asks for it.
Short name set inArticle 23, paragraph (3)· applies only in this article
person under supervision measuresmachine translation
「被監理者」
A foreign national placed under supervision measures, living outside detention under the oversight of a supervisor (監理人).
Defined inArticle 44-2, paragraph (7)· applies from here on, except in Chapter 5, Section 4
person under supervision measuresmachine translation
「被監理者」
A foreign national placed under supervision measures, living outside detention under the oversight of a supervisor (監理人).
Defined inArticle 52-2, paragraph (6)· applies only in this section
person subject to departure restrictionsmachine translation
「出国制限対象者」
A foreign national, not held in custody under the Code of Criminal Procedure, whose deportation order is on hold while they are barred from leaving Japan.
Short name set inArticle 63-2, paragraph (1)· applies only in this article