Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to provide for the necessary matters relating to passport including its issuance and delivery and validity.

Article 2.　In this Law the meaning of the terms mentioned under the following items shall be as defined under the respective items concerned:

Article 3.　A person desiring to have an ordinary passport issued and delivered to him (including child or children below 15 years of age, accompanying him) shall apply for the same in the case of within the country, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture by presenting himself at the To, Do, Fu or prefecture in person, or in the case of outside the country to the consular official (Chief of Consulate;hereinafter the same) by presenting himself at the Japanese Consulate (if there is no Consulate, Embassy or Legation;hereinafter the same) in person and submitting the papers and photograph mentioned under the following items;provided that in case of application within the country, if urgent and recognized as necessary by the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the applicant may directly go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and submit the papers to the Minister for Foreign Affairs:

2　The papers mentioned under items (2), (3), (5) and (6) of the preceding paragraph may be omitted if they fall under the cases specially designated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and if the facts are recognized to be satisfactory, in the case of within the country by the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture (by the Minister for Foreign Affairs if they are to be submitted to him directly), or in the case of outside the country by the consular official concerned, as to the personal status of applicant under items (2) and (3), his health under item (5), and his ability to pay travelling costs under item (6).

Article 4.　Request for an official passport shall be submitted in the case of within the country to the Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Head of the Ministry or Agency concerned, and in the case of outside the country to the consular official by applicant who shall present himself to the Consulate nearby, and by submitting the following papers and photograph as listed below:

Article 5.　Passports (official and ordinary;hereinafter the same) shall be issued in the case of within the country by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and in the case of outside the country by consular official in accordance with the application or request for issuance and delivery as provided for under Articles 3 and 4 above.

Article 6.　An ordinary passport issued under the provisions of preceding Article shall be delivered in the case of within the country by the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, and in the case of outside the country by the consular official to the applicant of the said passport who shall be required to appear in person. However, the delivery may be made in the case of within the country by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the name of the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, if deemed necessary by the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

2　An official passport issued under the provisions of the preceding Article shall be delivered to applicant in the case of within the country by the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the Head of the Ministry or Agency concerned, and in the case of outside the country by the consular official.

Article 7.　A person desiring to change either the purpose or destination of travel, prior to his departure from the country shall in the case of after the issuance of an ordinary passport (including issuance for revision or re-issuance;hereinafter the same through Article 10) return the said passport (in the case of after issuance but prior to the delivery of an ordinary passport (including derivery for revision or re-delivery;hereinafter the same through Article 10) return the same after delivery) and apply anew for issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport according to the provisions of Article 3.

2　In the case of change in travel purpose or destination of an official passport, the Head of the Ministry or Agency concerned shall request anew for issuance and delivery of an official passport according to the provisions of Article 4. In such case, if an official passport has already been delivered, the request shall be made after the return of such passport.

Article 8.　A person, desiring to make addition of destinations after having applied for issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport (including a person to whom it has been delivered) shall submit in the case of within the country to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture by presenting himself at the To, Do, Fu or prefecture in person, or in the case of outside the country of the consular official nearby by presenting himself at the Consulate, the following papers and apply for addition of travel destinations:

2　The provision of the proviso to Article 3 paragraph 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the papers to be submitted under the provisions of the preceding paragraph. In this case, "application" in the proviso to Article 3 paragraph 1 shall read "application for addition of destinations."

3　The document mentioned under paragraph 1 item (2) may be omitted in the cases specially designated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the fact of the applicant's ability to pay the travelling costs is recognized in the case of within the country by the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture (the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is to be submitted directly to him) or in the case of outside the country by the consular official concerned.

4　Request for Addition of Destinations for an Official Passport shall be made in the case of within the country to the Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Head of the Ministry or Agency concerned, and in the case of outside the country to the consular official nearby by applicant who shall present himself at the Consulate in person, by submitting one copy of Request for Addition of Destinations in an Official Passport and by returning, in the case of after delivery of the official passport, the said official passport.

Article 9.　A person who desires issuance and delivery for revision of an ordinary passport, because of a change occurring after the issuance thereof in its entries other than travel purpose and destinations, mentioned in the said passport, shall return the same (in the case of after issuance but prior to the delivery of an ordinary passport, return the same after delivery) and apply in the case of within the country to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, by presenting himself at the To, Do, Fu or prefecture in person, or in the case of outside the country to the consular official nearby by presenting himself at the Consulate, and by submitting the papers and photograph listed under the following items. However, for entering anew a child or children below 15 years of age, application for issuance and delivery for revision is not permissible:

2　The provision of the proviso to Article 3 paragraph 1, shall apply mutatis mutandis to the papers to be submitted under the provision of the principal clause of the preceding paragraph. In this case, "applications" in the proviso to Article 3 paragraph 1 shall read "application for issuance and delivery for revision" .

3　Request for issuance and delivery for revision of an official passport shall be made in the case of within the country to the Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Head of the Ministry or Agency concerned, and in the case of outside the country to the consular official nearby by applicant who shall present himself at the Consulate in person and submit the following papers and photograph. However, for entering anew a child or children below 15 years of age, request for issuance and delivery for revision is not permissible:

4　In the case under the provisions of the principal clause of the preceding paragraph and if the said official passport has already been delivered, request for issuance and delivery for revision of an official passport shall be made after the return of such passport.

5　The provisions of Articles 5 and 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the issuance and delivery for revision under the provisions of paragraph 1 or 3. In this case, "Articles 3 and 4 above" in Article 5 shall read "Article 9 paragraph 1 or 3" , "for issuance and delivery" in the same Article and Article 6 shall read "for issuance and delivery for revision" , "issued" in the same Articles shall read "issued for revision" , and "delivered" in Article 6 shall read "delivered for revision" .

Article 10.　A person who, after having been delivered an ordinary passport, desires a reissuance and delivery because the said passport has been lost, burnt, or badly damaged, or in the case of outside the country the space for receiving visa has been used up, shall apply for re-issuance and delivery in the case of within the country to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture by presenting himself at the To, Do, Fu or prefecture in person, and in the case of outside the country to the consular official nearby by presenting himself at the Consulate in person, and by submitting one copy of Application for Re-issuance and Delivery of Ordinary Passport and two copies of applicant's photograph. In this case, a person who desires a re-issuance and delivery of the ordinary passport because it has been badly damaged, or the space for receiving visa has been used up, shall return the same and apply for re-issuance and delivery.

2　The provision of the proviso to Article 3 paragraph 1 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the papers to be submitted under the provisions of the preceding paragraph. In this case, "application" in the proviso to Article 3 paragraph 1, shall read "application for re-issuance and delivery."

3　Request for re-issuance and delivery of an official passport shall be made in the case of within the country to the Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Head of the Ministry or Agency concerned, and in the case of outside the country to the consular official nearby by applicant by presenting himself at the Consulate in person, and by submitting one copy of Request for Re-Issuance and Delivery of Official Passport and two copies of applicant's photograph. In this case, if the request for re-issuance and delivery of an official passport is made because the said passport has been badly damaged or the space of visa has been used up, the request shall be made after the return of such passport.

4　The provisions of Articles 5 and 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the re-issuance and delivery of passport under the provisions of paragraph 1 or 3. In this case, "Articles 3 and 4 above" in Article 5 shall read "Article 10 paragraph 1 or 3" , "for issuance and delivery" in the same Article and Article 6 shall read "for re-issuance and delivery" , "issued" in the same Articles shall read "re-issued" and "delivered" in Article 6 shall read "re-delivered."

Article 11.　An applicant for passport, if accompanied by a child or children below 15 years of age, may enter the fact in his Application for Issuance and Delivery of Ordinary Passport or Request for Issuance and Delivery of Official Passport, and apply or request for joint entry. However, the number of children for joint entry is limited to three for one passport.

Article 12.　A person within the country applying for issuance and delivery of a passport who is obliged to make repeated round trips between Japan and one or more other countries on a special business designated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs may, with his approval, have a multiple passport issued and delivered.

2　A person, desiring the issuance and delivery of a multiple passport, shall enter the fact and the reason thereof in his Application for Issuance and Delivery of Ordinary Passport or Request for Issuance and Delivery of Official Passport.

Article 13.　The Minister for Foreign Affairs or consular official may refuse the application for issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport or for addition of destinations in case the applicant falls under any one of the following items:

2　When deciding upon a case mentioned under item (5) of the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall consult the Attorney-General in advance.

Article 14.　When the Minister for Foreign Affairs or consular official has decided to refuse issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport or addition of destinations thereof in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article, he shall forthwith notify the applicant who has applied issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport or addition of destinations thereof by letter, stating the reasons therefor.

Article 15.　An applicant for issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport or addition of destinations thereof, who has received a notification under the preceding Article, may file a protest in the case of a person notified by the Minister for Foreign Affairs with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or in the case of a person notified by a consular official with the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the said consular official.

2　The filing of a protest mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be made by submitting a letter stating the reasons for objection.

3　The Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon receipt of a letter of protest, shall determine whether or not the said protest is warranted.

4　In case it has been decided according to the provisions of the preceding paragraph that the protest is warranted, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall, in case a person who has filed a protest (hereinafter referred to as "the protester" ) is within the country, grant him forthwith the issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport or addition of destinations, thereof, or in case the protester is outside the country, notify him to that effect through the consular official of the Consulate having jurisdiction over the place of his residence.

5　Upon receipt of the notification mentioned in the preceding paragraph the consular official shall forthwith grant issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport or addition of destinations thereof.

6　In case it has been decided that the protest in question is unwarranted, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall forthwith notify the protester to that effect.

Article 16.　An applicant for issuance and delivery, issuance and delivery for revision or re-issuance and delivery of a passport, shall, upon receipt of the same delivered, delivered for revision or re-delivered, sign his name at the designated place in the passport.

Article 17.　A person who has obtained a passport, newly issued and delivered, received an addition of destinations, issued and delivered for revision, or re-issued and delivered (hereinafter referred to as "the bearer of a passport" ), shall, in case of its loss or destruction by fire, report without delay, in the case of within the country to the delivering office, or to the Minister for Foreign Affairs;and in the case of outside the country to the consular official concerned. In case the passport has been discovered, it shall be reported likewise.

Article 18.　A passport shall be invalidated in the case falling under any one of the following items;

2　When a passport has been invalidated as under item (5) or (6) of the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall without delay make an announcement thereof in the Official Gazette.

Article 19.　The Minister for Foreign Affairs or consular official may, if deemed necessary, order the bearer of a passport to return it within a specified period in any of the following cases:

2　The provisions of Article 13 paragraph 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis when making a decision whether or not a bearer of ordinary passport falls under Article 13 paragraph 1, item (5), according to the provisions of item (1) or (2) of the preceding paragraph.

3　The provisions of Articles 14 and 15 shall apply mutatis mutandis when ordering a bearer of ordinary passport to return his passport under the provisions of paragraph 1 item (1) or (2). In this case, "the preceding Article" shall read "Article 19 paragraph 1," and "refuse issuance and delivery or addition of destinations" in Article 14, shall read "order the return" , "an applicant for issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport or addition of destinations" in Article 14 and Article 15 paragraph 1, shall read "a bearer of passport" ;also, "grant him the issuance of an ordinary passport or addition of destinations" in Article 15 paragraphs 4 and 5, shall read "cancel the order for the return of passport."

4　An ordinary passport to be returned upon application for issuance and delivery, issuance and delivery for revision or re-issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport, shall be returned in the case of within the country to the delivering office or to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and in the case of outside the country to the consular official concerned.

5　The bearer of a passport, when the passport in his possession has been invalidated under any one of the provisions of paragraph 1 items (1) to (5) inclusive of the preceding Article, shall return the same in the case of an ordinary passport to the delivering office or to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and in the case of an official passport to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the Head of the Ministry or Agency concerned.

6　An official passport returned on request for issuance and delivery, issuance and delivery for revision or re-issuance and delivery of an official passport or a passport returned under the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, may be given back to the original bearer, if he so desires, by the delivering office, Minister for Foreign Affairs, or consular official after cancelling the same with a stamp.

Article 20.　A person applying within the country for the issuance and delivery of an ordinary passport, addition of destinations, issuance and delivery for revision, or re-issuance, and delivery shall, upon receipt of the same, delivered, added the destinations, delivered for revision or re-delivered, pay a fee to the State according to the following classification:

2　The fees mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be paid by affixing a revenue stamp on the Passport Receipt.

3　As for the passport fees abroad, they shall be fixed by Cabinet Order.

4　In case the necessity for issuance and delivery for revision has arisen through official error, no fee need be paid notwithstanding the provisions of thee preceding three paragraphs.

5　In case a person is proceeding to a foreign country for permanent settlement, or in other special circumstances, the fees mentioned in paragraph 1 may be reduced, as provided for by Cabinet Order.

Article 21.　A person going to a country which requires visa on passports, shall obtain the necessary visa from the authorities of the said country.

Article 22.　Forms of Application for Issuance and Delivery of Ordinary Passport, Statement of Personal Status, Request for Issuance and Delivery of Official Passport, Application for Addition of Destinations in Ordinary Passport, Request for Addition of Destinations in Official Passport, Application for Issuance and Delivery for Revision of Ordinary Passport, Request for Issuance and Delivery for Revision of Official Passport, Application for Re-Issuance and Delivery of Ordinary Passport, Request for Re-Issuance and Delivery of Official Passport, and Passport Receipt shall be fixed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ordinance.

2　The kinds of papers for proving the ability to pay travelling costs, and documents specially required according to travel destination or purpose shall be announced in the Official Gazette by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Article 23.　A person coming under any one of the following items shall be liable to penal servitude for a term not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding 30,000 yen:

Article 24.　The provisions of the preceding Article shall apply to a person guilty of any one of the offenses enumerated in the same Article.

Article 25.　A passport held by a person falling under any one of the items of Article 23 may be confiscated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.