With this revision, people seeking asylum will now be given permission for a three-month provisional stay if they apply for refugee status within six months of entering Japan.

"The provisional stay permit will temporarily stabilize the legal status of asylum seekers," said an official of the Justice Ministry's Immigration Bureau. "This permit will prevent them from being detained or deported."

Until now, if people had illegally entered the country or overstayed their visas, deportation procedures were started immediately after they applied for refugee recognition.

The temporary permit can be renewed repeatedly until the justice minister hands down a final decision on whether to grant refugee status. All deportation procedures will be suspended until then.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 21, 2005
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