IV. COUNTRY NOTES: RECENT CHANGES IN MIGRATION MOVEMENTS AND POLICIES

Inflows of foreign nationals reached 287 000 in 2010 fingerprinting since 2007. Although Japan does not (excluding temporary visitors), a decrease of almost offer regularisation, the Ministry of Justice issued 10 000 compared with 2009. The number of new more than 6 300 case-by-case special permissions to entrants with the status of residence for the purpose stay in 2010, a 37% increase compared with 2009. of work, declining since 2005, fell a further 8% in 2010, Measures to facilitate immigrants’ labour market to 52 500. The most important category of entry for integration were introduced in the context of the employment remained “entertainers” (28 600). Entries economic downturn. Since 2009, support measures of intra-company transferees remained at the same targeted at foreign residents of Japanese descent level as in 2009 (5 000), while the inflow of skilled include Japanese language courses aimed at workers decreased by 33%, to less than 4 000. facilitating the re-employment of unemployed International students account for many temporary foreigners of Japanese ancestry. The “Basic Policy on migrants, although fewer arrived in 2010 compared Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent”, with 2009 (–4% to 63 500). About 80% come from Asia, established in August 2010, was followed by the Action especially China and Korea. According to the Japan Plan in March 2011. Student Services Organization (JASSO), the total number The fourth Basic Plan for Control of foreign students in May 2011 was 138 000, a 3% approved in March 2010 includes strategies to favour decrease compared with the previous year. highly qualified . The New Growth The number of incoming trainees supported by the Strategy launched in June 2010 introduced a Japanese International Training Cooperation preferential immigration channel for highly skilled Organization peaked at more than 100 000 in 2007 foreigners through a points-based system, and the and 2008, before falling by 20% in 2009 and a further structure of the points-based system was announced in 36% in 2010, to 51 700 – roughly half the 2007 level – due early 2012. The Strategy also sets a target of doubling to the economic downturn. The number of status the number of foreign students in Japan, by facilitating changes from trainee to technical intern also decreased the application procedure and access to employment in 2010, to less than 50 000. In July 2010, the New during their studies and after graduation. International Technical Intern Training Programme was launched in graduates of vocational schools in Japan are now order to improve compliance with employment laws allowed to apply for a working visa in Japan even after and protect trainees from abuse. returning to their origin countries. Since October 2007, business owners must In November 2010 restrictions on working years provide notification of the employment situation of for foreign nurses and dentists holding Japanese foreign workers. According to the result of professional licenses were eliminated. A medical-care notification, there were 686 000 foreign workers in visa for foreign nationals is now available for visitors Japan at the end of October 2011, an increase of 22% receiving long-term medical treatment in Japan. The since October 2009. Almost half of them (around Basic Plan for Immigration Control also includes 320 000) were foreign nationals working in Japan with measures related to stricter border and residence the status of residence based on civil status or control. position. Total employment of this group increased 8% On 9 July 2012, the new system of residence from October 2010. On the other hand, employment of management enacted in July 2009 will be fully technical interns and trainees (about 130 000), and implemented, including the issuance of a residence students permitted to work part-time (93 000) was card to medium and long-term residents with resident slightly lower than one year earlier. status under the Immigration Control Act and the The number of resident foreigners declined by extension of the maximum length of residence status 2.4% in 2010 compared with the previous year, to from three to five years. 2 134 000, about 1.7% of the population. The largest are Chinese (32%), Koreans (27%) and Brazilians (11%). The number of fell by more than 14% in 2009 and a further 14% in 2010. For further information: The number of overstayers has been falling for www.immi-moj.go.jp/english almost two decades and in the course of 2010 fell by 15%, to 78 500. The government attributes part of this www.mhlw.go.jp/english/index.html decline to greater enforcement and border control www8.cao.go.jp/teiju-portal/eng/index.html.

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Recent trends in migrants’ flows and stocks JAPAN Migration flows (foreigners) Average Level (’000) 2000 2005 2009 2010 National definition 2001-05 2006-10 2010 Per 1000inhabitants Inflows 2.7 2.9 2.3 2.2 2.8 2.5 287.1 Outflows 1.7 2.3 2.1 1.9 2.1 1.8 242.6 Migration inflows (foreigners) by type Thousands % distribution Permit based statistics (standardised) 2009 2010 2009 2010 Inflows of top 10 nationalities Work 23.4 19.3 35.7 34.6 as a % of total inflows of foreigners Family (incl. accompanying family) 27.5 21.9 42.1 39.3 Humanitarian 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.7 Free movements ...... 2000-2009 annual average 2010

Others 14.1 14.1 21.5 25.4 China Total 65.5 55.7 100.0 100.0 Korea Average United States Temporary migration 2005 2009 2010 Philippines 2006-10 Viet Nam Thousands Thailand Indonesia International students 41.5 66.1 63.5 56.3 Chinese Taipei Trainees 83.3 80.5 51.7 85.8 India Working holiday makers 4.7 6.5 7.5 6.6 0 10 20 30 40 Seasonal workers ...... Intra-company transfers 4.2 5.2 5.8 6.2 Other temporary workers 110.2 41.6 38.4 46.9 Average Level Inflows of asylum seekers 2000 2005 2009 2010 2001-05 2006-10 2010 Per 1000inhabitants 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 203 Average Level (’000) Components of population growth 2000 2005 2009 2010 2001-05 2006-10 2010 Per 1000inhabitants Total 0.5 0.4 .. .. 0.8 .. .. Natural increase 1.8 0.0 .. .. 0.7 .. .. Net migration 0.3 0.0 .. .. –0.1 .. .. Average Level (’000) Stocks of immigrants 2000 2005 2009 2010 2001-05 2006-10 2010 Percentage of the total population Foreign-born population ...... Foreign population 1.3 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.5 1.7 2 133 Average Level Naturalisations 2000 2005 2009 2010 2001-05 2006-10 2010 Percentage of the foreign population 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.6 13 072 Average Labour market outcomes 2000 2005 2009 2010 2001-05 2006-10 Employment/population ratio Native-born men ...... Foreign-born men ...... Native-born women ...... Foreign-born women ...... Unemployment rate Native-born men ...... Foreign-born men ...... Native-born women ...... Foreign-born women ...... Average Level Macroeconomic indicators 2000 2005 2009 2010 2001-05 2006-10 2010 Annual growth in % Real GDP 2.9 1.9 –6.3 4.0 1.3 0.2 GDP/capita (level in USD) 2.7 1.9 –6.2 4.1 1.2 0.2 33 751 Employment (level in thousands) –0.2 0.4 –1.6 –0.4 –0.3 –0.3 62 564 Percentage of the labour force Unemployment 4.7 4.4 5.1 5.1 5.0 4.4 Notes and sources are at the end of the part. 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932616315

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