Point System Visa under Consideration

[Musouka]

外国人受け入れにポイント制、専門技術者ら優遇　法務省

　法務省は１９日、新たな出入国管理政策として、専門知識や技術を持つ外国人に資格や年収に応じた点数をつけ、高得点者を入国や永住許可で優遇する「ポイント制」を導入する方針を固めた。将来の人口減を見据え、研究者や医師といった専門家の受け入れを進めて経済成長力を維持するのが目的だ。

　一方で、最近の景気悪化で失業や生活苦が問題になっている出稼ぎ目的の日系人については、入国要件を厳しくする方向で制度を改める。

　法相の私的懇談会「第５次出入国管理政策懇談会」（座長＝木村孟・文部科学省顧問）が１９日、千葉景子法相に報告書を提出。これを受け、同省が出入国管理法や政令の見直しの検討に入った。早ければ来年の通常国会に入管法改正案を提出する。

　外国人のポイント制は英国、カナダ、オーストラリアなどが導入している。日本が対象として想定しているのは研究者や医師のほか、弁護士、技術者、企業経営者など。学歴や資格、職歴、年収などに応じて点数をつけ、一定水準を超えた人を「高度人材」と認定。在留期間を通常より長く認めたり、原則として滞在１０年で認める永住許可を５年で認めるなどの優遇措置を与える。

　日系人の入国、在留許可にあたっては、就職先が確保されているなどの「独立して生計を営む能力」を要件とする方向。また、将来的には検定試験などを整備した上で「一定の日本語能力」も課す方針だ。日系人の入国は１９９０年の入管法改正で急増し、現在はブラジル人とペルー人を合わせて約３６万人が滞在している。（延与光貞）

English version by FG:

Over the last few years, there have been a number of calls to simplify immigration procedures for foreigners with desirable skills. Discussions have been under way in several arenas and the local media is now reporting that a points system, similar to those used by Australia, Canada and Britain, is under review. It will consider an applicant's qualifications, expertise and income. A written proposal, based on the fifth meeting of a Ministry of Justice informal panel on immigration procedures (第５次出入国管理政策懇談会) chaired by Tsutomu Kimura, advisor to the Ministry of Education, was handed to the Justice Minister Keiko Chiba on Tuesday. The report recommends submitting appropriate legislation to the Diet next year. As well as simplifying immigration procedures and offering long stay visas, the panel also recommends offering a fast track route to permanent residency. This will likely be not less than five years residency but less than the 9 or 10 year requirement which many applicants currently face. The panel also discussed immigration requirements for Nikkeijin - of which group the largest populations are in Brazil and Peru. They propose looking at language ability, guarantee of employment and applicants' ability to provide for themselves, as conditions for granting visas.

[Quemaqua]

Very interesting. I remember recently reading an article about how the author felt things were a bit too tough and Japan was suffering by not offering more incentives to people who might bring something to the country.

[Musouka]

Japan, it seems, wants to keep its integrity as one ethnicity. Hence, the rigorous control of the percentage of the foreigners working in the country.

[Kinzokusei no Inu]

That thinking may have to change with the aging population.
A lot of old folks around here and the birth rate is likely not keeping up.

There was a thread about that somewhere on here too.

[Quemaqua]

They do seem to face some pretty weird social challenges that have them in a rather different position from most countries.

[Mrgantys11]

Japan does have some fierce economic and demographic problems that are coming in the near future...