Japan Eases Resident Status Requirements for Foreigners

Tokyo, April 13 (Jiji Press)--Japan has eased resident status requirements for foreigners who engage in the management of Japanese companies, based on revisions to the immigration control and refugee recognition law that took effect this month. Under the revised law, requirements for short-term resident status for foreigners who plan to start businesses in Japan were also relaxed. The steps are intended to revive Japan's economy by encouraging foreigners with high levels of expertise and skills to work and settle in the country. Until March, only foreigners who ran businesses or were in charge of management or administrative duties at foreign companies in Japan could gain the resident status of "investor or business manager." The revised law allowed foreigners who engage in business management at Japanese companies to hold the status of resident, changing the name of the status of "investor or business manager" to "business manager." Before the law revision, foreigners who aimed to start businesses in Japan were not allowed to gain resident status unless they registered a company in advance. Such foreigners thus needed to ask partners in Japan to file company registrations. Under the revised law, the status of four-month resident for a business manager will be granted even without advance company registration if the authorities approve documents such as articles of incorporation and business plans. A longer resident status will be given if company registration filing is completed during the four months. Also starting April, Japan created a new status of resident, named "highly skilled professional." The status of "highly skilled professional (i)" is for foreign workers with advanced and specialized skills, such as researchers and engineers. Under the new status, such skilled workers are allowed to run businesses and bring their parents to Japan for help with child-rearing. Those who stay in Japan for three years under the new status can obtain the status of "highly skilled professional (ii)," under which they are able to live in the country without further limits. END