Eligibility Quiz
Documents Required
Gather and prepare the following documents before applying:
Identity and Residence Documents
- Passport, travel document, or certificate of status of residence (if you have one)
- Residence Card (Zairyu Card) (if you have one)
- Permission Statement for Provisional Release (Kari Houmen) (if applicable)
- Permission Statement for Monitoring Measures (if applicable)
- Landing Permission such as Landing Permission for Temporary Refuge (Ichiji Higo Joriku Kyoka) (if applicable)
- One photograph (4 cm × 3 cm, without a hat, front view, taken within the last six months)
Application Materials
- Completed Application Form for Recognition of Refugee Status / Eligibility for Complementary Protection (8 pages, Size A4) — available in multiple languages from the Immigration Services Agency
- Personal statement (not mandatory, but critical to your case) — a detailed, chronological account of your circumstances, starting from birth to the present. This should explain:
- The specific persecution or harm you face
- Why you are at risk (the reason, which must fall outside the five Convention grounds)
- Whether your government can or will protect you
- Your current situation and why you cannot return
- Any changes in your circumstances since leaving your country
The personal statement should be as detailed as possible. Vague statements that "the government violates human rights" or "the situation is unstable" will not be sufficient. You must explain your specific case.
Supporting Evidence
Gather any documents that prove your eligibility for complementary protection:
- Newspaper or magazine articles about the conflict, violence, or persecution in your country
- Documents expressing intent to persecute you (letters, official notices, arrest warrants, etc.)
- Proof of membership in organizations relevant to your claim (membership cards, certificates, etc.)
- Identification documents related to your claim (e.g., documents showing your ethnicity, religion, or status)
- Reports from governments, international agencies, or human rights organizations about the situation in your country or region
- Medical records or certificates documenting torture, injury, or psychological trauma
- Witness statements from people who can corroborate your account
- Correspondence (emails, messages, letters) showing threats or evidence of persecution
- Photographs or videos documenting conditions in your country or evidence of harm
Translation Requirements
You are responsible for translating all documents into Japanese. The Immigration Services Agency takes the position that applicants must provide Japanese translations of every document submitted. While the government may translate some critical English-language documents themselves, there is no guarantee they will read materials in other languages. Professional translation can be expensive, so budget accordingly.
All translations must be accurate and complete. Consider hiring a professional translator certified in Japanese to ensure quality.