行政書士髙久みどり法務事務所は外国人の方々の日本滞在をサポートします

新しい在留管理制度とは？

新しい在留管理制度は，外国人の適正な在留の確保に資するため，法務大臣が，我が国に在留資格をもって中長期間在留する外国人を対象として，その在留状況を継続的に把握する制度です。

この制度の対象者には，氏名等の基本的身分事項や在留資格，在留期間が記載され，顔写真が貼付された在留カードが交付されます。

また，この制度の導入により在留状況をこれまで以上に正確に把握できるようになりますので，在留期間の上限をこれまでの３年から最長５年とすることや，出国の日から１年以内に再入国する場合の再入国許可手続を原則として不要とするみなし再入国許可制度の導入など適法に在留する外国人の方々に対する利便性を向上する措置も可能になります。

なお，新しい在留管理制度の導入に伴って外国人登録制度は廃止されます。

「新しい在留管理制度」の対象者は？

新しい在留管理制度の対象となるのは，入管法上の在留資格をもって我が国に中長期間在留する外国人（以下「中長期在留者」といいます。）で，具体的には次の①～⑥のいずれにもあてはまらない人です。

1. ① 「３月」以下の在留期間が決定された人
2. ② 「短期滞在」の在留資格が決定された人
3. ③ 「外交」又は「公用」の在留資格が決定された人
4. ④ ①から③の外国人に準じるものとして法務省令で定める人 （注１）
5. ⑤ 特別永住者
6. ⑥ 在留資格を有しない人 （注２）

この制度の対象となる中長期在留者は，例えば，日本人と結婚している方や日系人の方（在留資格が「日本人の配偶者等」や「定住者」），企業等にお勤めの方（在留資格が「技術」や「人文知識・国際業務」など），技能実習生，留学生や永住者の方であり，観光目的で我が国に短期間滞在する方は対象となりません。

（注１） 法務省令には，「特定活動」の在留資格が決定された，亜東関係協会の本邦の事務所若しくは駐日パレスチナ総代表部の職員又はその家族の方が定められています。

（注２） 外国人登録制度においては，不法滞在者についても登録の対象となっていましたが，新しい在留管理制度においては対象とはなりません。不法滞在の状態にある外国人の方は，速やかに最寄りの入国管理官署に出頭して手続を受けてください。なお，詳しくは，入国管理局ホームページに掲載している「出頭申告のご案内～不法滞在で悩んでいる外国人の方へ～」を御覧ください。

以下の取消し事由、退去強制事由、罰則事由にご注意ください！

What exactly is the new residency management system?

The aim of the new residency management system is to enable the Ministry of Justice to continuously keep information necessary for managing the residency of foreign nationals residing in Japan for the mid-to long-term with resident status, and ensure greater convenience for those foreign nationals.

The system will issue qualifying foreign nationals a resident card containing a portrait photo of the individual, basic personal information such as his/her name, his/her resident status and his/her currently allowed period of stay.

Moreover, because the new system will allow authorities to more accurately track resident status than with the previous system, it makes it possible to introduce measures that will improve the convenience of foreign nationals who legally reside in Japan, such as a maximum period of stay of five years instead of the previous three years, and a new reentry permit system that waives reentry permit formalities for foreign nationals who leave and reenter Japan within one year of the date of their original departure.

The current alien registration system will be abolished with the start of the new residency management system.

The new residency management system will be applied to all foreign nationals residing legally in Japan for the mid- to long-term with resident status under the Immigration Control Act (hereinafter referred to as "mid- to long-term residents") and, moreover, foreign nationals who do not come under any of the following 1 through to 6.

1. (1) Persons granted permission to stay for less than 3 months
2. (2) Persons granted "Temporary Visitor" status
3. (3) Persons granted "Diplomat" or "Official" status
4. (4) Persons recognized by Ministry of Justice ordinance as equivalent to the foreign nationals in the aforementioned (1) to (3)*
5. (5) Special permanent residents
6. (6) Persons with no resident status**

This new system will apply to mid- to long-term residents in Japan, such as those married to a Japanese national as well as Japanese descendants ("nikkei"), whose status of residence is "Spouse or Child of Japanese National," "Long Term Resident," etc., those working for an employer in Japan, whose status is "Engineer," "Specialist in Humanities/International Services," etc., as well as technical interns, students, and permanent residents. It will not apply to those visiting Japan for a short period of time as a tourist.

* The Ministry of Justice ordinance specifies staff of the Japanese office of the Association of East Asian Relations and the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan who have "Designated Activities" status, and their families.

** While illegal residents can be registered under the present alien registration system, they cannot be registered under the new residency management system. Any foreign national illegally staying in Japan is advised to immediately visit the nearest Regional Immigration Office and follow the necessary procedures. For more details, please see the "Information on Procedures to Follow at Immigration Offices" on the Immigration Bureau of Japan's website.

Please take note of the following!

In line with the introduction of the new residency management system, the following grounds have been established for revocation of resident status, deportation and penalties. Regarding the penalty on promoting illegal work prescribed in Article 73-2 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, if an employer does not know by negligence that the employed person works illegally, the employer will be punished.