Japan Immigration Policy Changes

Immigration policy is going through some changes in Japan. Within the next 3-years, we will supposedly see a change in the "Alien Registration" system. Details are still unclear, but it appears that a new card containing an "IC Chip" will be issued by the Immigration Bureau that will replace the current card, which is issued by your local city or town authority. Where you will go to do things is not yet clear, but at least under this new system the "Re-Entry Permit" will be abolished (well, effectively, it will be issued with your status of residence).

In the meantime, however, some changes have already been made. Were you aware of these 2 changes that have already taken effect??!!

1. Revision of Supporting Documentation for Visa Applications

Immigration forms required for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE), visa renewal, change of status and other visa related applications were revised last year, which in turn directly impacted the supporting documents requirements.

One of the more significant changes is that immigration bureau now requires the Japan office of large companies who pay 15,000,000 yen or more a year in income tax deductions from all its employees (foreign and Japanese nationals)to submit the official certificate of income tax deducted from all employees as a supporting document for the application of COE, visa renewals, etc.

Through this change, large companies who provide this tax statement will not have to provide company registration, profit/loss, organization charts, and other documents that have been required up to now. Additionally, the applicant will not have to provide his/her resume, employment contract, university diploma, assignment letter, etc.

The document requirments for applicants working for companies whose tax deductions are less than 15,000,000 yen per year, will have to provide most, but not all, of the supporting documents required prior to the policy change. One of the documents no longer required, in most cases, is the copy of the employment contract.

The above is good news for large Multi-National Companies, as this simplifies much of the application process for "intra-company" and "business manager" visas which make up the main stream of expatriate visa applications for working in Japan.

2. Additional Documenation Requirement for Company's not using "Gyosei-Shoshi"

Until recently, only the applicant’s and/or a company employee’s (usually human resource personel's) signature was required on immigration forms. ie. If you were an employee of the company, you could easily complete the visa application for another employee of your organization without question (third party applications can only / could only be made by legal scribes or "Gyosei-Shoshi). However, the new forms have an additional page that must be filled out by the President or top Human Resources Manager with the official company seal or stamp.

Most of the questions asked of the company on the application form is the same as the previous forms, but this change is obviously an inconvenience to HR administrators in Japan, as receiving the company stamp on forms usually is a time-taking process within large Japanese entities.

So, under these new implemented changes, large international companies have gained some convenience in terms of the required supporting documentation for applications, but have also lost some inconvenience in making those applications, as any old "Joe" from the company can no longer submit an application....... without the official stamp from the big boss upstairs!