Complementary Protection Status

Complementary protection status is a form of international protection introduced in Japan on December 1, 2023. It is designed for people who face serious harm — such as torture, inhumane treatment, or indiscriminate violence from armed conflict — but do not qualify as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention because the persecution they face is not based on one of the five Convention grounds: race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

In other words, complementary protection fills a gap: you may have a well-founded fear of persecution, but if the reason for that fear falls outside the five Convention categories, you cannot be a refugee. Complementary protection offers an alternative pathway to safety and legal status in Japan.

This is a relatively new system. In its first full year (2024), Japan recognized 1,661 people as eligible for complementary protection — far more than the 190 people granted refugee status that same year. However, the vast majority of complementary protection recipients have been Ukrainian nationals (over 90% in both 2023 and 2024), and applicants from other countries have faced much lower acceptance rates.

How Complementary Protection Differs from Refugee Status

Both pathways grant the same residence status ("Long-Term Resident") and similar rights. The key difference is the reason for protection. Refugees are persecuted because of who they are or what they believe (race, religion, nationality, social group, political opinion). Complementary protection applicants face serious harm for other reasons — such as being caught in indiscriminate violence during armed conflict, or facing torture or inhumane treatment that does not fit the Convention's categories.

In June 2024, Japan amended its immigration law in ways that affect complementary protection applicants:

Deportation after repeated denials: If your complementary protection application has been denied twice, you can be deported unless you submit new materials showing reasonable grounds for complementary protection eligibility in your next application.

Deportation after three applications: If you apply for complementary protection three or more times, you can be deported while your application is pending unless you submit materials showing reasonable grounds for eligibility.

Criminal conviction restriction: If you have been sentenced to imprisonment for life or for three years or more in Japan, you can be deported while your complementary protection application is pending.

These changes mean that the stakes are higher for repeat applicants. If your first application is denied, you should carefully gather additional evidence before applying again. A third application without strong supporting documentation may result in deportation.

Once you are recognized as eligible for complementary protection, you receive the following rights and benefits:

• Residence status: You are granted "Long-Term Resident" (Teijūsha) status, the same status granted to convention refugees. This status is typically valid for up to five years and can be renewed.

• Work rights: You can work in Japan without significant restrictions. Your Long-Term Resident status allows you to engage in any lawful employment.

• Protection against refoulement: You cannot be sent back to your country of origin or to any country where your life or freedom would be at risk.

• Access to social security and benefits: You have access to social security, healthcare, and other government assistance programs available to Long-Term Residents, allowing you to live in conditions similar to those of recognized refugees.

• Path to permanent residence: You may be eligible to apply for permanent residence (Eijūken) under relaxed conditions. Unlike other foreign residents, you may be exempt from the requirement to demonstrate adequate assets or skills for self-sufficiency, subject to the Minister of Justice's discretion.

• Family reunification: You may be able to sponsor family members to join you in Japan, though specific eligibility depends on your family relationship and their circumstances.

• Certificate of Complementary Protection Status: You receive an official certificate documenting your status, which you can use to prove your legal right to reside and work in Japan.

• Travel documents: You may be eligible to obtain a travel document (Kaigai Ryōkō Kyoka) to travel outside Japan and return, though this is subject to approval.

• Access to support services: You can access legal and social counseling from Japanese NGOs such as the Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) and from the Refugee Assistance Headquarters (RHQ), which may provide limited financial assistance for food, shelter, and medical costs, as well as accommodation support.