2 Foreign nationals illegally overstaying

The number of foreign nationals considered to be illegally overstaying in Japan (estimated figures as of May 1 for 1996 and earlier and as of January 1 for 1997 and later) reached the record high level of 298,646 in 1993, but then turned to a decreasing trend. In accordance with the goal of “slashing the number of foreign nationals illegally overstaying in half by 2008” set at a Cabinet meeting on crime countermeasures held in December 2003, comprehensive measures such as stricter entry inspections and identifications have since been implemented in close cooperation with the relevant agencies. This resulted in the number having significantly decreased to 78,488 as of January 1, 2011 (down 14.5% from the same date the previous year), and 35.8% and 26.3% of that of 2004 and 1993, respectively. Examining the number of illegally overstaying foreign nationals as of January 1, 2011 revealed that, by nationality, etc., the largest number were from the Republic of Korea (24.6%), followed by China (13.2%), and the Philippines (11.9%) (Source: The Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice).