Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to insure the equitable control over aliens resident in Japan by effecting the registration of such aliens for the purpose of clarifying the matters pertaining to residence and status of such aliens.

Article 2.　The term "Japan" as used in this Law shall be defined to mean Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu, and the outlying islands belonging thereto as prescribed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ordinance.

2　The term "alien" as used in this Law shall be defined to mean such of those not possessed of Japanese nationality as has not been granted permission for provisional landing, landing at port of call, landing in transit for sightseeing, landing for transfer, emergency landing and landing on account of disaster at sea under the Immigration Control Order (Cabinet Order No.319 of 1951).

3　Any person who has two or more nationalities other than that of Japan shall be regarded, in the application of this Law, as having the nationality of the country to which belongs the last issuing authority of his passport (this term shall mean a passport provided for in Article 2 item (5) of the Immigration Control Order;hereinafter the same).

Article 3.　Any alien residing in Japan shall apply for issuance of alien registation certificate (hereinafter referred to as "registration certificate" ) to the head of city, town, or village (the head of ward in the area having special wards in Tokyo-To, in Kyoto City, Osaka City, Nagoya City, Yokohama City, and Kobe City;hereinafter the same) submitting the documents and photographs specified in the following items, within sixty days after the date of his landing, in the case of his landing in Japan upon arrival therein, and within thirty days after the date of his becoming an alien. after the date of his birth, or after the date of occurrence of the other relevant cause, in the case of his becoming an alien, or in the case of his coming to reside in Japan without following the formal procedure for landing under Chapter III of the Immigration Control Order by reason of his birth or for any other relevant cause, respectively:

2　In the case of application under the preceding paragraph, any person under the age of fourteen years shall not be required to submit his photograph.

3　The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may, if, in the case of paragraph 1, he finds that there are unavoidable circumstances, extend the period mentioned in the same paragraph for a period not exceeding sixty days.

4　In case an alien has been born, the application mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be made by his father and, in case the father is prevented from making such application or in case his father is divorced from his mother before his birth, the application shall be made by his mother.

5　In case the person who shall make application under the provision of the preceding paragraph is unable to do so, the person under one of the following items shall make application in the order of enumeration of the item:

6　An alien who has made application under paragraph 1, shall not make an additional application under the same paragraph.

Article 4.　The head of city, town or village shall, in case an application has been made under paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, prepare the alien registration card (hereinafter referred to as "registration card" ) in respect of the applicant alien containing the information under the following items and keep the same in the office of city, town or village:

2　The head of city, town or village shall, in case he prepares the registration card mentioned in the preceding paragraph, prepare two copies thereof and send one to the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture and the other to the Director of the Immigration Agency through the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

3　The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture shall classify and arrange in good order the copy of the registration card which has been sent to him.

4　The head of city, town or village shall not remove the registration card under paragraph 1 outside the office of city, town or village concerned except in cases where he is so approved by the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

5　The head of city, town or village may, where there is reasonable ground enough to suspect that the information made under the items of paragraph 1 is not true to fact in preparing a registration card under the same paragraph, cause the competent official of his office to inquire about the fact if order to ensure the corrcet enforcement of registration of aliens.

6　If it is necessary for the inquiry under the preceding paragraph, the competent official may question the persons concerned or request the presentation of documents by same.

7　The competent official shall carry with him an identification card to certify his official capacity, in performing an act under the preceding paragraph in a place other than the office of city, town or village, and present same to any person concerned upon request.

Article 5.　The head of city, town or village shall, in preparing the registration card mentioned in the preceding Article, prepare also the registration certificate containing the statement of matters specified in the items of Article 4 paragraph 1 in respect of the applicant alien and issue and deliver the same to the applicant concerned.

Article 6.　Any alien may, in case his registration certificate has been materially damaged or spoiled, apply for issuance of a new registration certificate in exchange attaching the same to the document and photographs under the following items to the head of city, town or village where he resides:

2　In the case of application under the preceding paragraph, any person under the age of fourteen years shall not be required to submit his photograph.

3　The head of city, town or village shall, in case the application is made under paragraph 1, if he finds that the registration certificate is materially damaged or spoiled, issue and deliver a registration certification anew in exchange for the damaged or spoiled registration certificate.

4　The head of city, town or village may request any alien who carries a materially damaged or spoiled registration certificate to return the same and make application under paragraph 1.

5　The date of issuance of the registration certificate issued under the provision of paragraph 3 shall be that of issuance of the damaged or spoiled registration certificate.

6　The head of city, town or village who has issued a new registration certificate under the provision of paragraph 3 shall transmit to the Director of the Immigration Agency the damaged or spoiled registration certificate through the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture concerned.

Article 7.　Any alien shall, in case he has lost his registration certificate owing to the loss, theft, robbery, or destruction thereof, apply for re-issuance of a registration certificate by submitting the documents and photographs under the following items to the head of city, town or village where he resides, within fourteen days from the date he becomes aware of the fact:

2　In the case of the preceding paragraph, any person under the age of fourteen years shall not be required to submit his photograph.

3　The head of city, town or village shall, in case application has been made under paragraph 1, only when he finds that the registration certificate has been lost, stolen, robbed or destroyed, re-issue a registration certificate, with the approval of the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

4　In case a registration certificate is re-issued pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, the registration certificate which has ceased to be possessed by loss, theft, robbery or destruction shall cease to be effective.

5　Any alien shall, in the case where he is reissued a registration certificate, if he comes to regain the registration certificate which has ceased to be possessed by loss or theft or robbery, return the same without delay to the head of city, town or village where he resides.

6　The head of city, town or village shall transmit to the Director of the Immigration Agency the registration certificate returned to him under the provision of the preceding paragraph through the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

7　The date of issuance of registration certificate to be re-issued under the provision of paragraph 3 shall be that of the issuance of the registration certificate which has ceased to be possessed by loss, theft, robbery or destruction.

Article 8.　Any alien shall, in case he desires to change his place of residence, submit to the head of city, town or village where he resides a written notification of change of place of residence and request a document certifying to the submission of such notification.

2　Any alien shall, within fourteen days from the date of his submitting the notification under the preceding paragraph, apply to the head of city, town or village where he desires to reside for alteration of entry in his registration certificate in respect of his place of residence, by submitting an application for alteration of entry in respect of his place of residence accompanied by the registration certificate and the document under the preceding paragraph.

3　The head of city, town or village who has received the application under the preceding paragraph, shall alter the entry in respect of place of residence in the registration certificate of the alien concerned and request without delay the head of city, town or village who has issued the document under paragraph 1 to send the registration card concerning the alien.

4　The head of city, town or village to whom the registration card has been sent under the provision of the preceding paragraph, shall alter the entry made therein in respect of place of residence.

5　The head of city, town or village may, if he finds, in the case of the application under paragraph 2, that there are unavoidable circumstances, extend the period under the same paragraph for a period not exceeding fourteen days.

6　Any alien shall, in case he has changed his place of residence in the administrative limit of a city, town or village, apply to the head of city, town or village for alteration of entry in the registration certificate by submitting the application for alteration of entry in respect of place of residence accompanied by the registration certificate, within fourteen days from the date of such alteration.

7　The head of city, town or village who has received the application under the preceding paragraph, shall alter without delay the entry made in the registration certificate and in the registration card concerning the alien in respect of his place of residence.

Article 9.　Any alien shall, in case there occurs a change in the city, town or village to which he belongs owing to the abolition, establishment, division or amalgamation or alteration of the boundary of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or city, town or village to which his place of residence belongs or in case there occurs a change in the name of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, or city, town or village to which his place of residence belongs, apply without delay for alteration of entry in the registration certificate in respect of place of residence by submitting the application for alteration of entry in respect of place of residence accompanied by the registration certificate.

2　The head of city, town or village who has received the application under the preceding paragraph shall alter without delay the entry in respect of place of residence in the registration certificate and the registration card concerning the alien.

Article 10.　Any alien shall, in case there has occurred a change in any, of matters entered in the registration certificate except for place of residence, apply for alteration of entry in respect of the matter by submitting to the head of city, town or village where he resides an application for such alteration accompanied by the registration certificate, within fourteen days from the date of occurrence of the cause of the alteration.

2　The head of city, town or village who has received the application under the preceding paragraph shall alter without delay the entry made in the registration certificate and the registration card concerning the alien.

3　In the case of the preceding paragraph, the head of city, town or village may, if he finds it necessary, request the alien concerned to submit the document certifying the alteration of entry.

4　The provision of Article 8 paragraph 5 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the case of the application under paragraph 1. In this case, "paragraph 2" in Article 8 paragraph 5 shall read "Article 10 paragraph 1" .

Article 11.　The registration certificate shallbe valid for two years from the date of its issuance.

2　Any alien shall return his registration certificate to the head of city, town or village where he resides and apply for issuance of a new registration certificate by submitting the documents and photograph, under the items of Article 3 paragraph 1, within thirty days prior to the expiration of the period under the preceding paragraph.

3　In the case of the application under the preceding paragraph, any person under the age of fourteen years shall not be required to submit his photograph.

4　The head of city, town or village shall, in case application has been made under paragraph, 2, issue without delay a new registration certificate.

5　The provision of Article 3 paragraph 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the case of the application under paragraph 2. In this case, "paragraph 1" in Article 3 paragraph 6 shall read "Article 11 paragraph 2" .

Article 12.　Any alien shall, in leaving Japan, return his registration certificate to the immigration inspector (this term shall mean the immigration inspector under the Immigration Agency Establishment Order (Cabinet Order No.320 of 1951);hereinafter the same) at the port of entry or departure where he departs from Japan.

2　Any alien shall, in case he has ceased to be an alien, return his registration certificate to the head of city, town or village where he resides, within fourteen days after the occurrence of such cause.

3　In case an alien has died, each person under one of the items of Article 15 shall, in the order of enumeration of the item, return the registration certificate of the deceased alien to the head of city, town or village where the deceased alien resided, within fourteen days after the date of death of such alien. However, in case the place of residence of the alien is different from the place of death of same, the registration certificate may be returned to the head of city, town or village of the place of residence through the head of city, town or village to which the place of death belongs.

4　The head of city, town or village to whom the registration certificate has been returned under the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, shall return the registration certificate to the Director of the Immigration Agency through the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

Article 13.　Any alien shall carry at all times with him his registration certificate.

2　Any alien shall present his registration certificate to the immigration inspector, immigration control officer (this term refers to the immigration control officer provided for in the Immigration Agency Establishment Order), official of the National Rural Police or Municipal Police, maritime safety official, railway security official or any other official of the Government or local public entity as prescribed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ordinance, if so requested by the latter in the performance of his duties.

3　The official under the preceding paragraph shall, in case he requests the presentation of the registration certificate in a place other than his office, carry with him the identification card showing his official capacity and present it upon request.

4　The provision of paragraph 1 shall not apply to alien under fourteen years of age.

Article 14.　Any alien shall, in case he makes the application under Article 3 paragraph 1, Article 6 paragraph 1, Article 7 paragraph 1 or Article 11 paragraph 2, have his fingerprints taken on the registration card, registration certificate, application for issuance of registration certificate, application for issuance of registration certificate in exchange, application for re-issuance of registration certificate or fingerimpression card respectively, as prescribed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ordinance.

Article 15.　In case an alien is under the age of fourteen years or in case he is unable to make application, notification or return himself by reason of illness or other physical defect, each of the persons living with the alien who is mentioned in one of the following items shall, in the order of enumeration of the item, make on behalf of the alien the application, notification or return under Article 3 paragraph 1, Article 7 paragraph 1 or paragraph 5, Article 8 paragraph 1, paragraph 2 or paragraph 6, Article 10 paragraph 1, Article 11 paragraph 2 or Article 12 paragraph 1 or paragraph 2:

Article 16.　The head of city, town or village shall, in case he has altered the entry in the registration card under the provision of Article 8 paragraph 4 or paragraph 7, Article 9 paragraph 2 or Article 10 paragraph 2, notify to that effcet to the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture and the Director of the Immigration Agency thereof through the Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

2　The Governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture shall, in case he has received the notification under the preceding paragraph, accordingly alter the entry in the copy of the registration card.

Article 17.　The procedures for application for issuance, issuance in exchange, re-issuance of, and alteration of entry in a registration certificate, issuance, issuance in exchange, and re-issuance of same, the making of return of same, and notification of change of place of residence, as well as the forms of application for issuance of a registration certificate, registration card, copy of same, registration certificate, application for issuance of a registration certificate in exchange, warrant for returning the registration certificate, application for re-issuance of same, statement of reasons for applying for re-issuance, statement notifying a change of place of residence, application for alteration of entry in respect of place of residence, application for alteration of entry, and an identification card showing the official capacity of an official of a local public entity under Article 4 paragraph 7 and Article 13 paragraph 3, shall be prescribed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ordinance respectively.

Article 18.　Any person who comes under one of the following items shall be punished with penal servitude or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or with a fine not exceeding thirty thousand yen:

2　Any person who has committed any of the offences under the preceding paragraph may be punished with both penal servitude or imprisonment and a fine.

Article 19.　In the case of Article 15, if one of the persons under each item of paragraph 1 of the same Article has failed to apply for issuance or re-issuance of a registration certificate or alteration of entry therein in violation of the provisions of Article 3 paragraph 1, Article 7 paragraph 1, Article 8 paragraph 2 or paragraph 6, Article 10 paragraph 1 or Article 11 paragraph 2, or to make return in violation of the provisions of Article 7 paragraph 5 or Article 12 paragraph 1 or paragraph 2, shall be punished with a non-penal fine not exceeding five thousand yen. The same shall apply to the father or mother who has failed to apply in violation of the provision of Article 3 paragraph 4;any person who has failed to apply in violation of the provision of paragraph 5 of the same Article, and any person who has failed to make return in violation of the provision of the main sentence of Article 12 paragraph 3.

Article 20.　Decision upon the imposition of a non-penal fine shall be made by the summary court.