​Cases of those who were granted or not granted permission to change status of residence from “spouse or child of Japanese national” or “spouse or child of permanent resident” to “long-term resident”

　With regard to foreign nationals who reside in Japan under a status of residence of “spouse or child of Japanese national” or “spouse or child of permanent resident” as a spouse of a long-term resident or special permanent resident, the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act enforced on July 9 (hereinafter referred to as “Immigration Control Act”) stipulates that when any of the facts listed in Article 22-4 (1) (vii) of the said Act (failure to engage in activities as a spouse for over 6 months while residing in Japan (except where there are any justifiable grounds for failure to engage in such activities while residing in Japan )) is found, the relevant foreign nationals shall be given an opportunity to apply for permission to change status of residence or permission for permanent residence before the procedures to revoke their status of residence are taken (refer to Article 22-5 of the Immigration Control Act).
In the light of the purpose, etc., of the above-mentioned Article 22-5 of the Immigration Control Act, with the aim of improving transparency in operations, the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice decided to publish the cases of those who were granted or not granted permission to change status of residence from “spouse or child of Japanese national” or “spouse or child of permanent resident” to “long-term resident” during the year of 2011, as shown in the attachment.
An application for permission to change status of residence shall be approved only when there are reasonable grounds to deem it appropriate to change the applicant’s status of residence (Article 20 of the Immigration Control Act), and the decision as to whether or not there are reasonable grounds shall be left to the discretion of the Minister of Justice or the director of a regional immigration office to whom authority has been delegated. However, such decision has been made totally in view of various factors, such as activities in which the relevant foreign national intends to engage, his/her residential status, and necessity to reside, and as a result, the decision may be different even in cases similar to those listed in the Attachment.