Passport Act
(Purpose)
Article 1  The purpose of this Act is to provide for the issuance, validity, and other necessary matters concerning passports.
(Definitions)
Article 2  In this Act, the meanings of the terms stated in the following items are as prescribed respectively in those items:
(i) the term "official passport" means a passport issued to a person who travels to a foreign country to engage in the official duties of the national government, and their spouse, children, or employees whom the person accompanies when they travel abroad, or who are summoned to their location after they go abroad;
(ii) the term "ordinary passport" means a passport other than an official passport;
(iii) the term "heads of each ministry and agency" means the President of the House of Representatives, the President of the House of Councilors, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the Board of Audit, and the Prime Minister and the Ministers of each ministry, who are the heads of each ministry and agency (meaning the House of Representatives, the House of Councillors, the court, the Board of Audit, the Cabinet (excluding the Cabinet Office and the Digital Agency), the Cabinet Office, the Digital Agency, and each ministry; the same applies below) to which the person who travels from Japan to a foreign country using an official passport belongs (when the person is a person accompanied by or is summoned as a spouse, child, or employee, the person who accompanies or summons that person); provided, however, that when the person does not belong to any ministry or agency, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is the head person;
(iv) the term "travel document" means a travel document prescribed in Article 19-3, paragraph (1);
(v) the term "prefecture" means the prefecture that has jurisdiction over the locality of the domicile or residence of a person who travels from Japan to a foreign country using an ordinary passport;
(vi) the term "prefectural governor" means the governor of a prefecture prescribed in the preceding item; and
(vii) the term "holder of a passport" means a person who has been issued with a passport.
(Application for Issuance of Ordinary Passports)
Article 3  (1) Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a person who seeks to obtain an ordinary passport (referred to as "applicant" below in this Article) must apply for the issuance of an ordinary passport to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through a prefectural governor when in Japan, and to a consular officer when abroad (including the head of an embassy or a legation which performs the duties of a consular officer, or a person who performs the affairs on behalf of the head person; the same applies below), by submitting the following documents and a photograph; provided, however, that when filing an application in Japan, if it is urgent and a prefectural governor or the Minister for Foreign Affairs finds it necessary, the applicant may appear directly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and submit the documents and the photograph to the Minister for Foreign Affairs:
(i) a written application for issuance of an ordinary passport;
(ii) a certified copy of family register;
(iii) a photograph of the applicant;
(iv) for a person who is required to attach a permit, certificate, written notice, or other documents concerning entry into a country issued by the government authorities of their destination to the written application, those documents;
(v) beyond what is provided for in the preceding items, documents particularly necessary depending on the destination and the purpose of travel; and
(vi) for a person who has other documents that may be used as reference, those documents.
(2) The document stated in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph is not required to be submitted for cases falling under any of the following items; provided, however, that this does not apply to cases falling under item (i) in which the prefectural governor (Minister for Foreign Affairs when submitting the documents directly to the Minister for Foreign Affairs; the same applies below in this Article) when in Japan or a consular officer when abroad, finds it particularly necessary in order to verify the facts concerning the social status of the applicant:
(i) when filing an application referred to in the preceding paragraph based on the provisions of Article 11; and
(ii) if the case falls under the cases specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a prefectural governor when in Japan or a consular officer when abroad, finds that the facts concerning the social status of the applicant are obvious.
(3) In accepting an application for the issuance of an ordinary passport, a prefectural governor is to verify the identity of the applicant and verify that the applicant resides in the domicile or residence stated in the written application for the issuance of an ordinary passport, and may request the applicant to present or submit documents proving the identity and residence for verification purposes, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(4) In receiving an application for the issuance of an ordinary passport, a consular officer is to verify the identity of the applicant, and may request the applicant to present or submit necessary documents for verification purposes.
(5) When an application for the issuance of an ordinary passport is filed under the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (1) or Article 11, a prefectural governor or a consular officer is to verify the ordinary passport which the applicant currently holds (referred to as "current passport" in Article 5, Article 8, and Article 14) pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(6) The documents and a photograph related to the application for issuance of an ordinary passport stated in paragraph (1) may be submitted through any of the following persons, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
(i) the spouse or a relative within the second degree of kinship with the applicant; or
(ii) beyond the persons stated in the preceding item, a person designated by the applicant (excluding those specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as persons who are not suitable for submitting documents and a photograph on behalf of the applicant).
(Request for Issuance of Official Passports)
Article 4  (1) The request for the issuance of an official passport is to be made by submitting the following documents and a photograph through the heads of each ministry or agency to the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the person seeking the issuance of an official passport (referred to as "requester" below in this Article) is in Japan, or through the heads of each ministry or agency to the Minister for Foreign Affairs or by the requester to a consular officer, when the requester is abroad:
(i) a written request for issuance of an official passport;
(ii) a photograph of the requester;
(iii) for an employee, a certified copy of family register; and
(iv) for a request made by the requester who is abroad, a document in support of the reasons for requiring an official passport.
(2) In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, when the requester wishes to make multiple round trips between Japan and a region other than one designated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the requester may request the issuance of a multiple journey official passport by stating that fact and the reason for it in a written request for issuance of an official passport.
(Prohibition of Receiving Dual Passports)
Article 4-2  A person who has been issued with a passport may not be issued with another passport for as long as that current passport is valid; provided, however, that this does not apply when the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer finds it particularly necessary to issue another passport for protecting the person or for the convenience of traveling abroad.
(Issuance of Ordinary Passports)
Article 5  (1) Based on an application for issuance under the provisions of Article 3, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer issues an ordinary passport, which states all regions other than the regions designated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (referred to as "designated regions" in paragraphs (3) and (4)) as the destination, with a validity period of 10 years for multiple journeys; provided, however, that if the person who applies for the issuance falls under any of the cases stated in the following items, the validity period is to be 5 years:
(i) if a person is a person that applies for a passport by stating that they seek to be issued an ordinary passport with a validity period of 5 years in the written application for issuance of an ordinary passport; or
(ii) if the applicant is under 18 years old.
(2) When the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer, in the case falling under the provisions of the proviso to the preceding Article, issues an ordinary passport, and issues an ordinary passport which is not recorded by electronic or magnetic means (meaning electronic means, magnetic means, or other means that cannot be perceived by human senses; the same applies below), or issues an ordinary passport to a person who falls under any of the items of Article 13, paragraph (1) (collectively referred to as "when there are grounds for limited issuance" in paragraph (5)), they may state the individually specified destinations in the ordinary passport referred to in the preceding paragraph, or may make the validity period less than ten years for that passport (when the person who applies for issuance of the ordinary passport falls under any of the items of that paragraph, less than five years).
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, when a person who seeks to travel to a designated region files an application for issuance of an ordinary passport under the provisions of Article 3, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer is to issue an ordinary passport which states the individually specified destinations with a validity period of ten years (when the person who applies for the issuance falls under the case stated in paragraph (1), item (ii), five years) for a single journey; provided, however, that when the Minister for Foreign Affairs finds it appropriate, the Minister may issue an ordinary passport for multiple journeys with a validity period of ten years or less (when the person who applies for the issuance falls under any of the cases stated in the items of that paragraph, five years or less), which states the individually specified destinations.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, when a person who applies for issuance of an ordinary passport under the provisions of Article 3 based on the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (1), or Article 11 (limited to the part related to item (ii)) states in the written application for issuance of an ordinary passport the fact that the person seeks to be issued an ordinary passport whose validity period is the same as the remaining validity period of the current passport (referred to as "passport with the same remaining validity period" in Article 14), the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer is to issue an ordinary passport whose validity period and type that are the same as the remaining validity period and the type of the current passport, and which states the destination specified in the following items in accordance with the category of the current passport stated in each of those items:
(i) the current passport other than the one stated in the following item and item (iii): all regions other than the designated regions;
(ii) the current passport stating the individually specified destinations based on the provisions of paragraph (2), this item, or the following paragraph: the same region as the one stated as the destination in the current passport (excluding designated regions);
(iii) the current passport stating the individually specified designations based on the provisions of the preceding paragraph or this item: the regions to be stated by individually specifying the destinations (including the designated regions stated as the destinations in the current passport, and excluding the designated regions that have not been stated as destinations, in the current passport).
(5) When there are grounds for limited issuance of passports, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer may individually state the specified destination or shorten the validity period to less than the remaining validity period of the current passport concerning the ordinary passport to be issued pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph for the current passport stated in item (i) or (ii) of that paragraph, and shorten the validity period of the ordinary passport to be issued pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph for the current passport stated in item (iii) of that paragraph to less than the remaining validity period of the current passport.
(Issuance of Official Passports)
Article 5-2  The Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer issues a single journey official passport with a validity period of five years based on a request for issuance of passports under the provisions of Article 4; provided, however, that when a request referred to in paragraph (2) of that Article has been made and the Minister finds it necessary to issue a multiple journey passport, the Minister may issue a multiple journey official passport with a validity period of five years or less.
(Matters to Be Entered in Passports)
Article 6  (1) The following matters are to be entered in a passport:
(i) the type, number, issuance date, and expiration date of the passport;
(ii) the name and date of birth of the holder of the passport;
(iii) the destination; and
(iv) beyond what is stated in the preceding three items, the matters specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(2) The scope of the regions when the destination referred to in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph is to be entered comprehensively by using the name of regions is as published in Official Gazette by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(Recording of Passport by Electronic or Magnetic Means)
Article 7  The Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer may record in a passport a photograph of the holder of the passport and part of the matters stated in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article which are specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by electronic or magnetic means.
(Delivery of Passports)
Article 8  (1) Pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an ordinary passport issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 is to be delivered to a person who has filed an application referred to in Article 3, paragraph (1) for the issuance of the ordinary passport (referred to as "applicant" below in this paragraph through paragraph (3)) by a prefectural governor when in Japan, or a consular officer when abroad, by requesting their appearance; provided, however, that if the person has filed an application directly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs pursuant to the provisions of the proviso to paragraph (1) of that Article, the Minister is to request the appearance of the applicant and deliver the passport to the applicant.
(2) When an application for the issuance of an ordinary passport referred to in the preceding paragraph has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 based on the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (1), or Article 11, the applicant must return their current passport at the time of delivery of the ordinary passport.
(3) In the case referred to in paragraph (1), when it is found that it would be difficult for the applicant to appear due to a disease, physical disability, difficult traffic situation, or other really unavoidable reasons, and, it is obvious that the applicant is the person concerned, a prefectural governor, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or a consular officer may deliver the ordinary passport by the method found to be most appropriate for the applicant to receive the passport for certain, without requesting the appearance of the applicant, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In such a case, when the applicant falls under the person who is required to return the current passport prescribed in the preceding paragraph, a prefectural governor, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or a consular officer is to accept the return of the current passport of the applicant pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(4) An official passport issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 5-2 is delivered to a person who is to be issued the official passport by the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the heads of each ministry and agency when in Japan, and by a consular officer when abroad.
(5) When the official passport referred to in the preceding paragraph is a passport whose issuance has been requested pursuant to the provisions of Article 4 based on the provisions of Article 10, paragraph (2), or Article 11, the person who will be issued that official passport must return the official passport they currently possess at the time of the delivery of that official passport.
(Addition of Destinations)
Article 9  (1) If the holder of an ordinary passport in which the individually specified destinations are stated based on the provisions of Article 5, paragraphs (2) through (5) seeks to travel to a region other than the destination stated by using the ordinary passport, they must apply for addition of destinations by submitting the ordinary passport and the following documents to the Minister for Foreign Affairs through a prefectural governor by appearing at a prefectural office when in Japan, or submitting them to a consular officer by appearing at a consulate (including an embassy and a legation; the same applies below) when abroad, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
(i) written application for addition of destinations in an ordinary passport; and
(ii) documents that are particularly necessary depending on the destination and the purpose of travel.
(2) A request for addition of destinations in an official passport is to be made by the head of each ministry or agency to the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the person seeking the addition of destinations (referred to as a "requester" below in this paragraph) is in Japan, or by the head of each ministry or agency to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or by the requester to a consular officer when the requester is abroad, by submitting a written request for addition of destinations in an official passport (for a request made by a requester abroad, including a document in support of the fact that a new reason for adding a destination has arisen, as specified by the Minister for Foreign Affairs) and by submitting the official passport after the delivery of an official passport.
(3) The provisions of the proviso to paragraph (1) of Article 3, paragraph (3), paragraph (4), and paragraph (6) of that Article apply mutatis mutandis to the case of application referred to in paragraph (1), and the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (4) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the delivery of a passport related to the application or the request referred to in the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the term "deliver the passport to the applicant" in paragraph (1) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "deliver the passport to the applicant or deliver the passport by requesting the appearance of the person designated by the applicant".
(Handling of Passports When Changes are Made to the Matters Entered)
Article 10  (1) A holder of an ordinary passport is to file an application for the issuance of an ordinary passport pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 without delay, if there are any changes to the matters entered in the ordinary passport (limited to the name of the holder of the passport and other matters specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
(2) If there are any changes to the matters entered in an official passport, the head of each ministry or agency or the holder of the official passport is to request the issuance of an official passport pursuant to the provisions of Article 4; provided, however, that this does not apply when the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply.
(3) When the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer has learned that there are changes to the matters entered in a passport, or that there are errors in the matters entered in a passport or matters recorded in a passport by electronic or magnetic means and finds it particularly necessary, the Minister or consular officer may issue a passport by making a request to the holder of the passport (for an official passport whose holder is in Japan, the heads of each ministry or agency) to return the passport without receiving an application or a request; provided, however, that when there is a change only to the destination among the matters entered in a passport, the Minister or a consular officer may request the submission of the passport and correct the destination, in lieu of issuing a passport.
(4) The provisions of Article 8, paragraph (1) apply mutatis mutandis to the delivery of an ordinary passport issued pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, and the provisions of paragraph (4) of that Article apply mutatis mutandis to the delivery of an official passport issued pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the term "deliver it to the applicant" in paragraph (1) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "deliver it to the applicant or deliver it by requesting the appearance of a person designated by the applicant".
(Applications Filed Within the Period of Validity)
Article 11  A holder of a passport (for an official passport, the head of each ministry or agency or a holder of the official passport) may apply for or request the issuance of a passport pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 or Article 4, even within the period of validity of the passport, if the case falls under any of the following items:
(i) the remaining validity period of the passport has become shorter than one year;
(ii) the blank space in the visa section of the passport has run out;
(iii) the passport has been considerably damaged; or
(iv) if the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer finds it particularly necessary for protecting the person or for the convenience of traveling abroad.
Article 12  Deleted
(Restrictions on Issuance of Ordinary Passports)
Article 13  (1) The Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer may choose not to issue an ordinary passport or add destinations to an ordinary passport, if the person who seeks to be issued an ordinary passport or have destinations added falls under any of the following items:
(i) a person who is not permitted to enter the country pursuant to the laws and regulations enforced in that country of destination;
(ii) a person who is being prosecuted for a crime punishable by the death penalty or a life imprisonment, or imprisonment for a term of 2 years or more, or a person for whom the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been notified of the fact that an arrest warrant, writ of physical escort, detention warrant, or writ of confinement for expert examination has been issued on suspicion of committing those crimes, by a relevant organ;
(iii) a person who has been sentenced to imprisonment without work or a heavier punishment and has not completed the sentence or to whom the sentence still applies;
(iv) a person who has been sentenced to a punishment pursuant to the provisions of Article 23;
(v) a person who has been sentenced to a punishment pursuant to the provisions of Article 155, paragraph (1) or Article 158 of the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907) for forging a passport or a travel document, or for using a document forged as a passport or a travel document, or for attempting to commit such an offence;
(vi) among the repatriates prescribed in Article 1 of the Act on the Duties of Consular Officers Related to Repatriates In Need of State's Aid (Act No. 236 of 1953), those who have become subject to the measures referred to in Article 2, paragraph (1) of that Act or those who have received loans under the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1) or Article 4 of that Act and are likely to become a public charge when they travel abroad; or
(vii) in addition to the persons stated in the preceding items, a person for whom the Minister for Foreign Affairs has adequate grounds sufficient to find that they are likely to commit an act that would considerably, and, directly harm the interests or public security of Japan.
(2) When making the acknowledgment referred to in item (vii) of the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Foreign Affairs must deliberate with the Minister of Justice in advance.
(Notice of Non-Issuance of Ordinary Passports)
Article 14  When the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer has decided not to issue an ordinary passport or not to add destinations to an ordinary passport based on the provisions of the preceding Article, or has decided to state individually specified destinations or to make the validity period shorter than ten years (shorter than five years when a person who applies for issuance of an ordinary passport falls under any of the cases stated in the items of paragraph (1) of Article 5, paragraph (1), or shorter than the remaining validity period of the current passport when a person applies for issuance of a passport with the same validity period) based on the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (2) or (5) (excluding the case when an ordinary passport is issued for a case falling under the provisions of the proviso to Article 4-2), the Minister or a consular officer must promptly notify the person who has applied for issuance of an ordinary passport or the addition of destinations of that fact using a document to which the reason is attached.
(Signature)
Article 15  A person who seeks to be issued a passport (referred to as "applicant for issuance" below in this Article) must sign their name in the designated space on the passport or submit the signature of the applicant for issuance pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; provided, however, that if the applicant for issuance is a person who is specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a person who has difficulty in signing their name, the name of the applicant for issuance written by a third party or their stamped name may substitute for the signature, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Notification of Staying Abroad)
Article 16  A holder of a passport who stays abroad for three months or more after having determined their domicile or residence must file a notification with the consular officer in that region, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Notification of Loss or Destruction by Fire of Passport)
Article 17  (1) If an ordinary passport has become lost or was destroyed by fire, the holder of an ordinary passport must notify the Minister for Foreign Affairs through a prefectural governor when in Japan, or a consular officer when abroad of that fact, without delay, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; provided, however, that when giving a notification in Japan, if it is urgent and a prefectural governor or the Minister for Foreign Affairs finds it necessary, the holder may appear directly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and notify the Minister for Foreign Affairs of that fact.
(2) In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, if it is found to be difficult for the holder of an ordinary passport to personally give the notification due to a disease, physical disability, difficult traffic situation, or other really unavoidable reasons, the notification may be given by any of the following persons, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
(i) the spouse or a relative within the second degree of kinship with the holder of an ordinary passport; or
(ii) in addition to the persons stated in the preceding item, a person designated by the holder of an ordinary passport (excluding a person specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a person who is not suitable for giving a notification on behalf of the holder of the ordinary passport).
(3) In accepting the notification of loss or destruction by fire of an ordinary passport referred to in paragraph (1), a prefectural governor (Minister for Foreign Affairs, when notifying the Minister for Foreign Affairs directly) is to verify the identity of the notifier, verify that the notifier resides in the domicile or residence stated in the written notification of the lost passport, and verify the fact that the ordinary passport has been lost or was destroyed by fire, and may request the notifier to present or submit documents in support of those facts pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purpose of verification.
(4) In accepting the notification of loss or destruction by fire of an ordinary passport referred to in paragraph (1), a consular officer is to verify the identity of the notifier and the fact that the ordinary passport has been lost or was destroyed by fire, and may request the notifier to present or submit necessary documents for the purpose of verification.
(5) If an official passport has been lost or was destroyed by fire, the holder of an official passport must notify the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the head of each ministry and agency when in Japan, or the Minister for Foreign Affairs through the head of each ministry and agency, or a consular officer when abroad, without delay, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(6) In accepting the notification of loss or destruction by fire of an official passport referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer is to verify the identity of the notifier and the fact that the official passport has been lost or was destroyed by fire, and may request the notifier to present or submit necessary documents for the purpose of verification.
(Expiration of Passports)
Article 18  (1) A passport expires in cases falling under any of the following items:
(i) the holder of the passport has died, or has lost Japanese nationality;
(ii) when the person who has applied for or requested the issuance of a passport does not receive the passport within six months from the date of issuance of the passport, when those six months have passed (for an ordinary passport issued abroad, excluding the cases when the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer finds that there are unavoidable circumstances for the person who has applied for the issuance of the ordinary passport to be unable to receive the ordinary passport within six months from the date of issuance of the ordinary passport);
(iii) if the holder of a single journey passport does not depart Japan within six months from the date of issuance of the passport, when those six months have passed;
(iv) when the validity period of the passport has expired;
(v) when the holder of a single journey passport has returned to Japan;
(vi) for a passport that has been returned pursuant to the provisions of Article 8, paragraph (2), paragraph (3), or paragraph (5), or Article 10, paragraph (3), when a passport that substitutes for the returned passport has been issued;
(vii) when the notification under the provisions of paragraph (1) or (5) of the preceding Article has been given (excluding the case when as a result of the verification pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3), paragraph (4), or paragraph (6) of that Article, it was not possible to verify the fact of loss or destruction by fire of passport, and notifying the person who has given the notification to that effect); or
(viii) when the passport ordered to be returned pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article is not returned within the period referred to in that paragraph, or when the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer finds it appropriate for the returned passport to expire.
(2) If a passport has expired due to falling under item (vii) or (viii) of the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Foreign Affairs must publish that fact in an Official Gazette without delay.
(Return of Passports)
Article 19  (1) In the following cases, when the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer finds it necessary to have a passport returned, they may order the holder of the passport to return the passport by setting a deadline:
(i) if it is discovered that the holder of an ordinary passport falls under any of the items of Article 13, paragraph (1) after the delivery of the ordinary passport;
(ii) if the holder of an ordinary passport has come to fall under any of the items of Article 13, paragraph (1) after the delivery of the ordinary passport;
(iii) when a passport is issued or destinations are added based on a mistake, or through negligence;
(iv) when it is found necessary to cancel the travel to abroad in order to protect the life, body, or property of the holder of a passport; or
(v) if it is found necessary to have the holder of an ordinary passport to suspend the travel to abroad and return to Japan because the holder's stay in the destination seriously harms the overall reputation or interests of the Japanese people in that destination.
(2) The provisions of Article 13, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to the case referred to in item (i) or (ii) of the preceding paragraph in which the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer seeks to determine whether the holder of an ordinary passport falls under Article 13, paragraph (1), item (vii).
(3) The provisions of Chapter III of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993) do not apply to the order to return an ordinary passport issued based on the provisions of paragraph (1) in the case referred to in item (i) or (ii) of that paragraph (excluding an order issued to a person that falls under Article 13, paragraph (1), item (i) or (vi)).
(4) When the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer has decided to order the return of an ordinary passport based on the provisions of paragraph (1), the Minister or the consular officer must promptly notify the holder of the ordinary passport of that fact using a document to which the reason is attached.
(5) When a passport currently possessed by the holder has expired due to falling under any of the cases referred to in paragraph (1), item (i), items (iii) through (v), or item (vii) of the preceding Article, and in the case of an official passport, when the official duties of the national government related to the issuance of that passport has ceased to exist or has finished, when in Japan for an ordinary passport, the holder must return the passport to the prefectural governor or the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and for an official passport, the head of each ministry or agency must return the passport to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Japan, and when abroad, the holder of the passport must return the passport to a consular officer, without delay.
(6) When the holder of a passport required to be returned (excluding a passport ordered to be returned based on the provisions of paragraph (1)) wishes to possess the passport, a prefectural governor, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, or a consular officer who has received the return of the passport may put a void mark on the passport and give it back to the holder of the passport, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Public Notice of Return of Passports)
Article 19-2  (1) If the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer issues a notice ordering the return of an ordinary passport pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article ( referred to as "notice" below in this Article), and the whereabouts of the holder of the ordinary passport is unknown or the document that should be sent cannot be sent for other unavoidable circumstances, the Minister for Foreign Affairs may publish the content of the notice in Official Gazette in lieu of issuing the notice.
(2) In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, the notice is deemed to have reached the holder of the ordinary passport on the day on which twenty days have passed commencing from the day on which the Minister for Foreign Affairs published the content of the notice in an Official Gazette.
(3) In the case referred to in paragraph (1), the Minister for Foreign Affairs is to notify the consular officer in the region where the Minister finds it necessary of the fact that the content of the notice has been published in an Official Gazette without delay, and the consular officer who has been notified is to post the content of the notification in an appropriate place of the consulate to which they belong.
(Travel Documents for Returning to Japan)
Article 19-3  (1) The Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer may issue a travel document in lieu of a passport to a Japanese national in a foreign country who falls under any of the following items and wishes to return to Japan, based on their application when the Minister or the consular officer finds this to be necessary:
(i) a person who does not possess a passport and urgently needs to return to Japan, and, who has no time to wait for the issuance of a passport;
(ii) a person who is unable to be issued a passport; or
(iii) a person who has returned their passport based on an order to return the passport under the provisions of Article 19, paragraph (1).
(2) A person who seeks to be issued a travel document is to apply for the issuance of a travel document by submitting a written application for issuance of a travel document, other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a photograph to a consular officer. In such a case, if a consulate has not been established in the region where the person currently resides or if the person cannot file the application due to unavoidable circumstances, the person's relative or other persons concerned specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to file the application with the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer.
(3) The travel document issued based on the application referred to in the preceding paragraph is to be delivered by the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer to the person who applied for the issuance of the travel document by requesting the person's appearance.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, when the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer finds it particularly necessary for the person who falls under any of the items of paragraph (1) to return to Japan, the Minister or the consular officer may issue a travel document not based on an application, or deliver a travel document by the most appropriate method found for the person to surely receive the travel document without requesting their appearance.
(5) when issuing a travel document based on the provisions of paragraph (1) or the preceding paragraph, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or a consular officer may designate the validity period of the travel document and the transit point for returning to Japan.
(Fees in Japan)
Article 20  (1) A person who files an application for the dispositions stated in the following items in Japan must pay the national government the amount of fees specified in each of those items, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order:
(i) issuance of an ordinary passport referred to in the main clause of Article 5, paragraph (1): 14,000 yen;
(ii) issuance of an ordinary passport referred to in the proviso to Article 5, paragraph (1): 9,000 yen (if the person applying for the disposition is under 12 years old, 4,000 yen);
(iii) issuance of an ordinary passport other than one stated in the preceding two items: 4,000 yen;
(iv) addition of destination to an ordinary passport: 1,300 yen; and
(v) issuance of a travel document: 2,500 yen.
(2) If a person who has filed an application for the issuance of an ordinary passport that has expired pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph (1) (limited to the part related to item (ii)) files an application for dispositions stated in items (i) through (iii) of the preceding paragraph for the first time within five years commencing from the date on which the ordinary passport expired, the person must pay the national government the amount of fees obtained by adding 4,000 yen to the amount specified in each of those items, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
(3) Pursuant to the provisions of Prefectural Ordinance, a prefecture may collect fees from a person who files an application for the disposition stated in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iv) in Japan. In such a case, the prefecture must determine the amount of the fees on the basis of the amount specified by Cabinet Order in consideration of the actual costs required for conducting the affairs in the prefecture.
(4) If a person filing an application for the disposition stated in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iv) files the application directly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs pursuant to the provisions of the proviso to Article 3, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 9, paragraph (3)), the person must pay the national government the amount of fees obtained by adding the amount specified by Cabinet Order to the amount specified in each of those items (if the provisions of paragraph (2) apply, the amount specified in that paragraph).
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraphs, if the cause for requiring the issuance of an ordinary passport has occurred due to the negligence of a relevant government agency, the person is not required to pay the fee.
(6) If the Minister for Foreign Affairs finds it particularly necessary for reducing the economic burden on applicants at the time of a large-scale disaster, the fees to be paid to the national government under the provisions of paragraph (1), paragraph (2), and paragraph (4) may be reduced or exempted, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
(Fees Outside of Japan)
Article 20-2  (1) Pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, a person filing an application for the disposition stated in the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article outside of Japan must pay the national government the amount of fees specified by Cabinet Order as being equivalent to the amount obtained by adding the amount specified by Cabinet Order referred to in paragraph (4) of that Article to the amount specified in each of those items.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to a person who files an application for the disposition stated in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iii) of the preceding Article outside of Japan. In such a case, the terms "to the amount specified by Cabinet Order" and "by adding" in paragraph (2) of that Article are deemed to be replaced with "the amount specified by Cabinet Order referred to in paragraph (4) to the amount specified" and "the amount specified by Cabinet Order as being equivalent to the amount obtained by adding", respectively.
(3) The provisions of paragraphs (5) and (6) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to a person who files an application for the disposition stated in the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article outside of Japan. In such a case, the term "the preceding paragraphs" in paragraph (5) of that Article and the term "paragraph (1), paragraph (2), and paragraph (4)" in paragraph (6) of that Article are deemed to be replaced with "paragraphs (1) and (2) of the following Article".
(Delegation of Affairs)
Article 21  The Minister for Foreign Affairs may delegate the affairs related to the delivery of documents concerning the notice under the provisions of Article 19, paragraph (4) to an immigration inspector.
(Affairs to be Handled by Prefectures)
Article 21-2  A part of the affairs of the Minister for Foreign Affairs concerning ordinary passports prescribed in this Act may be handled by the prefectural governor pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
(Category of Affairs)
Article 21-3  The affairs to be handled by prefectures pursuant to the provisions of Article 3, paragraphs (1) through (3), paragraph (5) and paragraph (6), Article 8, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3), Article 9, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3), Article 10, paragraph (4), Article 17, paragraphs (1) through (3), and Article 19, paragraph (5) and paragraph (6) is to be item (i) statutory entrusted functions as defined in Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947).
(Instructions of the Minister for Foreign Affairs)
Article 21-4  When the Minister for Foreign Affairs finds it necessary due to abrupt changes in the state of affairs in Japan or abroad, humanitarian grounds, or other grounds, the Minister may give necessary instructions to the prefectural governor concerning the affairs to be conducted by the prefectural governor pursuant to the provisions of this Act or Cabinet Order based on this Act.
(Delegation to Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Article 22  The procedures for implementing this Act and other necessary matters for its enforcement are specified by Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Penal Provisions)
Article 23  (1) A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment with work for not more than five years, a fine of not more than three million yen, or both:
(i) a person who has been delivered a passport or travel document by entering a false statement in the documents concerning an application or request based on this Act, or by other wrongful acts;
(ii) a person who uses a passport or travel document under another person's name;
(iii) a person who transfers or lends a passport or travel document under their name to another person for the purpose of using it;
(iv) a person who transfers or lends, acquires or borrows, or carries a passport or travel document under another person's name for the purpose of using it;
(v) a person who transfers or lends, acquires or borrows, or carries a document that has been forged as a passport or travel document for the purpose of using it;
(vi) a person who has been ordered to return their passport pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, paragraph (1), and has failed to return it within the period provided for in that paragraph; or
(vii) a person who uses a passport or travel document that has expired.
(2) A person who commits an offense referred to in item (i), item (iv), or item (v) of the preceding paragraph for profit is punished by imprisonment with work for not more than seven years, a fine of not more than five million yen, or both.
(3) An attempt to commit the offense referred to in paragraph (1) (excluding the part related to possession referred to in item (iv) and item (v), and excluding item (vi)) and the preceding paragraph (excluding the part related to possession referred to in paragraph (1), item (iv) and item (v)) is punished.
(4) A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by a fine of not more than 300 thousand yen:
(i) a person who has travelled to a region other than the destination stated in the ordinary passport; or
(ii) in the case the transit point for returning to Japan has been designated, a person who has traveled to a region other than that transit point.
(Crimes Committed Outside of Japan)
Article 24  The provisions of the preceding Article also apply to a person who commits the offense stated in that Article outside of Japan.
(Confiscation)
Article 25  The Minister for Foreign Affairs may confiscate the passport or travel document of a person who has committed an offense referred to in Article 23 (excluding an attempted offense referred to in paragraph (1), item (i)), or a document that has been forged as a passport or travel document.
Supplementary Provisions
Omitted