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What is the Refugees Recognition System?
I am working in Osaka as a volunteer supporting foreigners. I heard that it is very difficult for foreigners to be accepted as refugees in Japan. Will you please tell me how foreigners can be recognized as refugees in Japan?
On May 16, 2005, the revised Immigration Law was implemented which bought about, among other things, significant changes to the refugee recognition system. Applicants should be foreigners who want to be recognized as refugees. Interested persons should ask for an application form from their nearest Immigration office. The documents required are as follows: Application form, data certifying that you are a refugee (on a written satatement), photo, passport (or Certificate of Eligibility), Certificate of Alien Registration (if you possess one), temporary landing permission. There is no time limit for applying.
A foreigner who is currently living in Japan, under fear they will be persecuted in his or her home country because of race, religion, nationality, etc., can apply under this system. However, most refugees come to Japan with no belongings, so it is very difficult for them to prove that they are refugees. Also, it is pointed out that Japan has accepted an extremely small number of refugees compared to western countries, which led to this latest revision of the law.
The following are characteristics of the revised law besides the above mentioned points.
1) The examiner for refugees is to work with the aim of recognizing refugees, but the regulations for examining refugees are quite elaborated.
2) Eligibility for residence is to be given to the foreigners who are recognized as refugees.
3) Also, other new systems including temporary stay system and refugee councilor system have been newly established.
Advisor: MIYAKE Takeshi (Administrative scrivener)
