Japan to Set Up Immigration Agency Next April

August 9, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese government plans to upgrade the immigration bureau of the Justice Ministry to an agency in April next year, in preparation for accepting more foreign workers in Japan, informed sources said Wednesday.

The government will beef up immigration controls along with the introduction of a new resident status to allow foreigners to work in various industries in the country, the sources said.

The envisaged immigration control agency will have enhanced policy-planning capabilities and assume a command center role in implementing policy measures with other ministries and agencies, they said.

Immigration officers and guards will be increased from the current numbers of 3,140 and 1,440, respectively.

The ministry plans to include costs for setting up the agency and increasing personnel in its budget request for fiscal 2019.

The government is examining the idea of accepting foreign workers with the new resident status in more than 15 industries, including construction, nursing care and fisheries. Jiji Press