A New Immigration System Planned for Japan Starting in 2012
Overview:
Japan's "Alien Registration System" amongst other things will be changing in July of 2012 in a large overhaul of the Immigration System. The main points in the changes are;
1. The introduction of a new "Resident Card" system for foreigners, which will basically take the "visa" out of your passport and put it in your wallet in the form of a ID card containing an IC chip.
2. The extension of periods of stay from 3 years to 5 years for most visa categories.
3. Exemption from needing a "Re-Entry Permit" if you are out of Japan for less than 12-months
Full Article
The new law has been passed by the diet, and although many of the details remain undecided, the new system is scheduled to be implemented in July of 2012. The biggest change is the abolishment of the Alien Registration Act(外国人登録法). From 2012, all information will be managed under the amended Immigration Act(入管法), which is administered by the Ministry of Justice.
The new “Residence Card” will replace the “status of residence” stamp in the passport. Because of this, there will be no need to have a status of residence stamp (sticker) changed from one passport to the other, as the Resident Card itself will replace this.
The maximum visa period of 3 years will be extended to 5 years for certain visa categories: which categories are still under consideration. The re-entry permit system will remain, but under the new system, leaving for Japan for periods of less than 12-months will not require a re-entry permit. However, leaving for Japan for longer than 12-months would automatically revoke residence status, regardless of the reason. The immigration bureau therefore recommends obtaining a re-entry permit for longer periods of time out of Japan.
Under the previous system could receive documents that recorded the details of their alien registration(記載自己証明書)but, they were not registered like Japanese under the Juminhyo(住民票)system. Under the new system, eligible residents (medium to long term foreign residents) will be able to apply for(住民票)like Japanese nationals do.
Even if you were an illegal immigrant, under the former system, you could apply for and receive an alien registration card. Under the new system, illegal immigrants will not be able to receive the new “Resident Card”, as it is basically the same as the stamp (sticker) in your passport. The new “Resident Card” will display fewer details than the current card, although details such as the name and address of your employer will be required.
Additionally, under the new system, people whose visa in their passport based on a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) will have their “Residence Card” issued at the airport. The COE holder will be given 14 days to report to their local authority (ward office, city or town hall) to register their new address in Japan.
Any changes made to your home address in Japan will need to be reported to local authorities within two weeks, as before. However, changes to name, date of birth, sex, nationality, and employer or their address will need to be reported to the Immigration Bureau. This means reporting in person, but whether proxy applications will be allowed or if reporting can be done by post or internet (etc.) is currently being considered.
Maximum fines for not reporting changes in details, reporting incorrect information, adjusting or falsifying a “Residence Card, etc. will be JPY 200,000. As there are no other authorities administering penalties other than the Japanese police and the regular judicial system things are unlikely to be much different from what they are now. It is highly unlikely that first offenders or minor offenders will be fined for such things as not renewing their details within 14 days of a change, etc.
Once the new system is implemented; there will be a 3-year grace period to change old alien registration cards to the new “Residence Card”. However, on the implementation of the new system, the alien registration act would be abolished, and therefore an “old registration card” would be treated the same as a new “Resident Card” in terms of immigration law.
Further information is available at the
Immigration Bureau of Japan's Website.