NHK has learned that Japan's Justice Ministry has compiled a draft of revised guidelines on special stay permission for foreign nationals who have been illegally staying in the country.

The ruling and opposition parties had pointed out that rules for the special permission are not clear under the Immigration Services Agency's existing guidelines. The permission is granted by the justice minister.

Ministry officials are considering allowing people with no residential status to stay if the parents integrate themselves into local communities and their children have been receiving education in Japan for a long time.

They are also planning to allow people who entered Japan with legitimate visa status to stay even after that status expires, if they have been active in society for an extended period.

The ministry is considering making ineligible for permission people who have gone missing while on parole after being detained at a government facility for illegal entry or other reasons, or those who have stayed illegally for a considerable period of time.