Japanese child-parent separation cases Effectiveness and evaluation

Question

What criteria or framework does DFAT use to assess whether the passport eligibility letter pathway is effective? Has DFAT ever evaluated the passport eligibility letter pathway? If yes, please provide the date, scope, and conclusions of that evaluation. Where DFAT has indicated that welfare or safety information depends on custodial-parent consent, does DFAT classify that barrier as a legal prohibition, a third-party consent dependency, an operational constraint, or a DFAT policy choice? Has DFAT undertaken any policy, program, or effectiveness review of whether the passport eligibility letter pathway is adequate for legacy cases predating Japan's 2026 joint-custody reforms?

Answer

Please see attached answer

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• 148.pdf (opens in a new tab)