沖縄市

The Registration System for Foreign Residents Will Be Replaced on Monday, June 9, 2012.

"The law for partial amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, Inter Alia, Those who have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan" and "The partial amendment of the Basic Resident Registration Act" will come into effect on July 9, 2012. The new residence management system will begin as of this date, changing the registration method for foreign residents from the Alien Registration System to the Resident Registration System for Foreign Residents.

The New System of Residence Management

This system will allow the Minister of Justice to have a constant grasp of necessary information regarding foreign residents who reside in Japan and secure proper residency for them. This will also improve the convenience of foreign residents who are legally residing in Japan.

A "Residence Card" and a "Special Permanent Resident Certificate" Will Be Issued

The current Alien Registration Certificate will be replaced with the "Residence Card" (for those who have a medium to long-term resident status, including permanent residents) and a "Special Permanent Resident Certificate" (for special permanent residents). Complete the application process at the Immigration Bureau for the residence card, and at the city office for the special permanent resident certificate.

In addition, please continue to hold onto your current alien registration certificate, which will be deemed equivalent as the "Residence Card" and "Special Permanent Resident Certificate" until they are officially issued. (Please make sure that you renew your certificate to a "Residence Card" or "Special Permanent Resident Certificate" by the periods indicated below.)

Periods the "Alien Registration Certificate" Will Be Deemed Equivalent to the "Resident Card" and "Special Permanent Resident Certificate"

*Please note that the period may end before the next confirmation date written on your alien registration certificate.

The Period of Stay Will Be Extended to a Maximum of 5 Years.

The Re-entry Permit System Will Be Changed.

• A special re-entry permit system will be introduced to foreign nationals who apply to the following, making it unnecessary for them to apply for a re-entry permit.
  • A foreign national with a valid passport and residence card who express their intent of re-entry at the time of departure, and re-enter the country within a year after their departure.
  • A special permanent resident with a valid passport and special permanent residence certificate who express their intent of re-entry at the time of departure, and re-enter the country within 2 years after their departure.
    *Foreign nationals who have departed from Japan with a special re-entry permit will not be able to extend their permit while abroad. Please note that such foreign nationals will lose their resident status if they fail to re-enter Japan within 1 year (2 years for special permanent residents) of their departure.
    *If your period of stay expires within 1 year after your departure, please be sure to re-enter Japan before the expiration of your period of stay.
• After the new re-entry permit system begins, if you leave the country on a re-enter permit as it was previously done, the valid re-entry permit period will be extended to 5 years for medium to long-term residents and 6 years for special permanent residents.

The Alien Registration System Will Be Replaced with the Resident Registration System

The new system will enable foreign residents, along with Japanese residents, to receive a Residence Record (juminhyo).

Foreign Residents who are Eligible to Receive a Juminhyo

Foreign Nationals who are NOT Eligible to Receive a Juminhyo

Data described on the Juminhyo

The Notation for Names Will Change

The data described on the juminhyo is based on the information written on the Residence Card and Special Permanent Residence Certificate. In principle, names of individuals are written in the Latin alphabet, but Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean names of individuals will be written in kanji in addition to the alphabet. The simplified and traditional kanji characters will be replaced with orthographic characters designated by the government.

Do Not Forget to Submit an Alien Registration Notice by July 9th

The juminhyo under the new system will be created based on the information on the alien registration. If any changes occur, such as a change of your address, status, or expiration period, please notify the city hall as soon as the event occurs. If you do not notify the city hall of these changes, there is a possibility that your juminhyo can not be created.

The Process of Submitting Notifications for Foreign Nationals Will Change

Notices to Submit to the Local Government Office

- New address notices after you have entered the country, or moved within the country (within 14 days).

• Upon submitting the notice, please make sure you bring the residence card or special permanent resident certificate of all the members that apply to the matter of change.
• If you move to another city, please submit a “Change of Address Notice” at your previous local government office to receive a “Change of Address Certificate”. Bring this certificate to the government office where your new address is located to complete the notification process of moving in.

- Notices related to making changes regarding the special permanent resident, or when submitting an application to issue the special permanent residence certificate.

When to Submit a Notice to the Regional Immigration Bureau

- The name, DOB, gender, nationality and region of the individual has changed; when the kanji used in the name will change.

- When the status or period of residence needs to be updated.

-When applying to have the residence card issued.

Please visit the following websites for more information about the new system.

Concerning the new system of residence management [Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice Japan HP]

Mid to long-Term Residents　 http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/index.html

Special Permanent Residents http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_2/index.html

Concerning Resident Registration System for Foreign Residents [Ministry of Internal Affairs HP]

http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/c-gyousei/zairyu.html

Contact

Foreign Registration Administration

Residential Division

Okinawa City Hall

098-939-1212 (Ex. 3118)