# Article 18, paragraph (1), its wordings — Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/immigration-control-act/history/art-18/par-1. Every law, and how to address a provision: https://japanlaw.org/llms.txt. The same laws as MCP tools (no sign-in): https://japanlaw.org/mcp.

How the wording of Article 18, paragraph (1) (第十八条第一項) changed with each amendment, and how it will change.

- Law: Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (出入国管理及び難民認定法) — https://japanlaw.org/en/immigration-control-act
- Provision: Article 18, paragraph (1) (第十八条第一項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/immigration-control-act/art-18/par-1 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/immigration-control-act/art-18/par-1)
- The law's amendments: https://japanlaw.org/en/immigration-control-act/amendments
- 2 wordings, oldest first.

## 1. Before Act No. 32 of 2026

- State: In force

Japanese:

> 入国審査官は、遭難船舶等がある場合において、当該船舶等に乗つていた外国人の救護のためその他緊急の必要があると認めたときは、水難救護法（明治三十二年法律第九十五号）の規定による救護事務を行う市町村長、当該外国人を救護した船舶等の長、当該遭難船舶等の長又は当該遭難船舶等に係る運送業者の申請に基づき、当該外国人に対し遭難による上陸を許可することができる。

English (Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice):

> If a vessel or aircraft is in distress and an immigration inspector finds it necessary for the rescue and protection of foreign national on board the vessel or aircraft or for any other urgent necessity, the inspector may grant the foreign national, landing permission due to distress based on an application by the mayor of the city, town or village who gives aid to the victims pursuant to the provisions of the Sea Casualties Rescue Act (Act No. 95 of 1899), on an application by the captain of a vessel or aircraft who gave aid to the foreign national, or the captain of the vessel or aircraft in distress or the carrier who operates the vessel or aircraft.

## 2. By 31 March 2029 — Act No. 32 of 2026

- State: Not yet in force
- Takes effect: By 31 March 2029
- The amendment: Reworded (Act No. 32 of 2026) — https://japanlaw.org/en/immigration-control-act/amendments/20290331_508AC0000000032

Japanese:

> 入国審査官は、遭難その他航行上の支障（以下「遭難等」という。）により航行することができなくなつた船舶等（以下この項において「遭難等船舶等」という。）がある場合において、当該遭難等船舶等に乗つていた外国人の救護のためその他緊急の必要があると認めたときは、水難救護法（明治三十二年法律第九十五号）の規定による救護事務を行う市町村長、当該外国人を救護した船舶等の長、当該遭難等船舶等の長又は当該遭難等船舶等に係る運送業者の申請に基づき、当該外国人に対し遭難等による上陸の許可をすることができる。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> If a vessel or aircraft has become unable to navigate due to distress or any other impediment to navigation (hereinafter referred to as "distress, etc.") (such a vessel or aircraft is hereinafter referred to as a "vessel or aircraft in distress, etc." in this paragraph) and an immigration inspector finds it necessary for the rescue and protection of foreign national on board the vessel or aircraft in distress, etc. or for any other urgent necessity, the inspector may grant the foreign national, landing permission due to distress, etc. based on an application by the mayor of the city, town or village who gives aid to the victims pursuant to the provisions of the Sea Casualties Rescue Act (Act No. 95 of 1899), on an application by the captain of a vessel or aircraft who gave aid to the foreign national, or the captain of the vessel or aircraft in distress, etc. or the carrier who operates the vessel or aircraft.

---

## Sources

- The dates and the amending laws: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319)
- English name of the law: Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3624/tb)
- English titles of the amending laws: Written for this site with AI
- The Japanese text before: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319/20281031_508AC0000000032)
- The Japanese text after: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319/20290331_508AC0000000032)