Abstract. We present a type system for checking object immutability, read-only references, and class immutability in an open or closed world. To allow object initialization outside object constructors (which is often needed in practice), im mutable objects are initialized in lexically scoped regions. The system is simple and direct; its only type qualifiers specify immutability properties. No auxiliary annotations, e.g., ownership types, are needed, yet good support for deep im mutability is provided. To express object confinement, as required for class im mutability in an open world, we use qualifier polymorphism. The system has two versions: one with explicit specification commands that delimit the object initialization phase, and one where such commands are im plicit and inferred. In the latter version, all annotations are compatible with Java's extended annotation syntax, as proposed in JSR 308.