トップページ > For Refugees (難民の方へ) > Social services
For Refugees (難民の方へ) − Social services
★ provided by the government
● provided by NGOs and private sector groups
Legal status
| Asylum seekers | Convention refugees Those granted residence on the basis of humanitarian circumstances |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| who apply for refugee status while they hold an immigration permit | who apply for refugee status after their immigration permit has expired | ||
| Legal status | Permit periodically renewed until initial decision on refugee status is made. | No permit granted until recognised as a refugee or granted residence on the basis of humanitarian circumstances. | Generally granted a long-term (1 year) residence permit. |
| Alien registration | Required to apply for alien registration. | ||
Medical care
| Asylum seekers | Convention refugees Those granted residence on the basis of humanitarian circumstances |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| who apply for refugee status while they hold an immigration permit | who apply for refugee status after their immigration permit has expired | ||
| ★National Health Insurance | Although there are some exceptions, most local governments will only allow those who hold immigration permits of at least one year to enrol for National Health Insurance. | Eligible to enrol.（*） | |
| Medical checks | ●Free medical checks are held 6 times a year in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa. | ||
| ●Hospital-based childbirth scheme (free or cheap childbirth at some designated hospitals) |
Available to those who meet the "economic hardship" condition, whether or not they hold an immigration permit. | ||
*
Warning: as enrolment is compulsory from the date of the grant of a long-term residence permit, if you try to enrol in National Health Insurance at a future date, you will be required to back pay insurance fees from the date you were granted that permit.
Education
| Asylum seekers | Convention refugees Those granted residence on the basis of humanitarian circumstances |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| who apply for refugee status while they hold an immigration permit | who apply for refugee status after their immigration permit has expired | ||
| Japanese language education | ●Free Japanese language classes available in each region. | ||
| ★Junior high school (night school) | ●Enrolment permitted as required. It is not questioned whether or not an immigration permit is held. Applicants must not have received junior high school level education in the past. | ||
| ★Education for children (public primary and junior high school) |
To enrol in a public school it is generally necessary to submit an application to the local government. | ||
Employment
| Asylum seekers | Convention refugees Those granted residence on the basis of humanitarian circumstances |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| who apply for refugee status while they hold an immigration permit | who apply for refugee status after their immigration permit has expired | ||
| Employment permit | On application for permission to carry out activities outside your permit, you may work legally until the initial decision on refugee status is made. | Employment not allowed. | An employment permit may be granted. |
| ★Use of public employment offices (Hello Work) | If permission to carry out activities outside your permit is granted, can seek assistance from Hello Work. | Not permitted. | Permitted. |
Housing
| Asylum seekers | Convention refugees Those granted residence on the basis of humanitarian circumstances |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| who apply for refugee status while they hold an immigration permit | who apply for refugee status after their immigration permit has expired | ||
| ●Shelters | Accommodation in shelters is available. (However, as there are only a few shelters available in the metropolitan area, the number of people who can be accommodated is limited.) | ||
| ●Guesthouses | Available. | Available (although some guesthouses require presentation of passport and immigration permit) |
Available. |
| ●Apartment | Renting apartments is possible. (However many apartments refuse to rent to foreigners.) | ||
| ★Public housing | Although the conditions for each public housing complex vary, in general it is difficult for people without a residence permit to access public housing. | ||
Financial assistance
| Asylum seekers | Convention refugees Those granted residence on the basis of humanitarian circumstances |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| who apply for refugee status while they hold an immigration permit | who apply for refugee status after their immigration permit has expired | ||
| ●Japan Association for Refugees emergency fund | Available. | ||
| ★Social security | Not available. | Available. | |