Japan will enforce new refugee screening rules in June, making those who seek asylum more than two times subject to deportation.
The government decided at a Cabinet meeting on Friday to put the revised immigration law into effect on June 10.
In the original law, a provision shields asylum seekers from deportation while their applications for refugee status are being processed. Authorities say some people have filed repeat applications only to avoid deportation.
Under the revised law, those filing asylum bids for the third time or more will face deportation, unless they present compelling reasons.
Those facing deportation have until now been incarcerated in principle. But the revised law allows them to stay out of detention facilities and live under the supervision of authorized supporters.
Justice Minister Koizumi Ryuji told reporters that authorities will closely monitor how the new rules will be enforced, as they have sparked debate and raised certain concerns.