I took a look through the draft text of the proposed revisions on PR revocation that has been in the news recently to see mechanically how the changes would work out. I of course think the whole idea is silly and can’t imagine that the number of pension dodgers they catch will be worth the negative optics for Japan as it tries to attract more skilled immigration, but figure it’s always good to get familiar with whatever new rules are being made.
Summary of proposed changes (2024 March 15): [https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001415008.pdf](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001415008.pdf)
Proposed statute revision markup (2024 March 15): [https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001415011.pdf](https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001415011.pdf)
Provisions of note:
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（永住許可）
第二十二条（略）
２ 前項の申請があつた場合には、法務大臣は、その者が次の各号のいずれにも適合し、かつ、**この法律に規定する義務の遵守、公租公課の支払等**その者の永住が日本国の利益に合すると認めたときに限り、これを許可することができる。ただし、その者が日本人、永住許可を受けている者又は特別永住者の配偶者又は子である場合においては、次の各号に適合することを要しない。
一 素行が善良であること。
二 独立の生計を営むに足りる資産又は技能を有す
The added language clearly is meant to emphasize the target of their enforcement, but it’s been clear for a while now that the Immigration Services Agency generally has considered payment of public obligations to fall under this 利益に合する requirement, and indeed this clause is what is generally quoted for applications that are denied on the basis of a missed pension or health insurance payment of the applicant or their spouse. As for the この法律に規定する義務の遵守 part, this feels kind of like a given but maybe there is a specific immigration violation they’re looking to crack down on.
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（在留資格の取消し）
第二十二条の四
八 永住者の在留資格をもつて在留する者が、この法律に規定する義務 を遵守せず（第十一号及び第十二号に掲げる事実に該当する場合を除く。）、又は故意に公租公課の支払をしないこと。
One of the newly proposed PR revocation conditions. The language tracks the wording of the addition to the PR approval conditions quoted previously. Fairly broad wording but the payment of public obligations portion is qualified by 故意に so it does seem at least like they are specifically wanting to target flagrant violators rather than people who fumbled a payment when transitioning to maternity leave or changing jobs or whatnot.
九 永住者の在留資格をもつて在留する者が、刑法第二編第十二章、第 十六章から第十九章まで、第二十三章、第二十六章、第二十七章、第 三十一章、第三十三章、第三十六章、第三十七章若しくは第三十九章 の罪、暴力行為等処罰に関する法律第一条、第一条ノ二若しくは第一 条ノ三（刑法第二百二十二条又は第二百六十一条に係る部分を除く。 ）の罪、盗犯等の防止及び処分に関する法律の罪、特殊開錠用具の所 持の禁止等に関する法律第十五条若しくは第十六条の罪又は自動車の 運転により人を死傷させる行為等の処罰に関する法律第二条若しくは 第六条第一項の罪により拘禁刑に処せられたこと。
Another of the newly proposed PR revocation conditions. The crimes listed are identical to those listed in article 24, No. 4-2 as one of the deportation conditions for Table 1 visa holders specifically. I expect that this part is not particularly controversial to most people
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（在留資格の取消しに係る通報）
第六十二条の二 国又は地方公共団体の職員は、その職務を遂行するに当たつて第二十二条の四第一項各号のいずれかに該当すると思料する外国 人を知つたときは、その旨を通報することができる。
２ 前条第五項の規定は、前項の通報について準用する。
This newly added article does not look particularly consequential because it just seems to establish an optional protocol for government workers to report gaijins in breach of a status of residence revocation condition (are they currently unable to do so?)
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二 本邦に本店、支店その他の事業所のある公私の機 関（当該機関の事業の規模、本邦の事業所における受入れ体制等が技能、技術又は知識（以下この号及び四の表の研修の項の下欄において「技能等」とい う。）を適正に修得させることができるものとして 法務省令で定める基準に適合するものに限る。）の 外国にある事業所の職員が、技能等を修得するため 、本邦にある事業所に期間を定めて転勤して当該事 業所において講習を受け、及び技能等に係る業務に 従事する活動（前号に掲げる活動及びこの表の育成 就労の項の下欄に掲げる活動を除く。）
Unrelated to the PR revocation business, but including as a bonus. This provision adds a new sub-category to the Intra-company Transferee visa status, effectively allowing multinational companies to bring over workers for training even if they are not engaged in skilled white collar work (previously, the Intra-company Transferee status was restricted to roles with the same work activities as Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services). This new Intra-company Transferee No. 2 visa type would not allow sponsoring of dependents (unlike the standard Intra-company Transferee status). I think that this has been in the works for a while now, since there has been some demand from companies for this and I have been told by people in the immigration business that immigration had signalled they were receptive to the idea of expanding Intra-company Transferee activities beyond the existing Eng./Sp./Intl. limit
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Finally, another big change is that the much criticized 技能実習 (Technical Intern Trainee) scheme is being scrapped and replaced with a new scheme called “育成就労” which will have more regulatory oversight. This part I did not read through so thoroughly but I am curious how this renamed scheme will try to be different from its predecessor, since the previous overhauls didn’t seem to deliver very significant results
by nyang-a-chi