Last edit by: CPH-Flyer
This thread is for discussion of the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Japan. Non-Japan-related discussion should be taken either to the most relevant forum, the Coronavirus and Travel forum, or the OMNI forums.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
- Group “Red”:On-arrival test is required. 3-day quarantine at a government-designated facility is required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate may have 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) instead.
- Group “Yellow”:On-arrival test and 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) are required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate are not required to have on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures.
- Group “Blue”:Regardless of the vaccination status of the entrants/returnees, on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures are not required.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
Coronavirus impact in Japan [consolidated]
#1981
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
In "normal" times a full re-entry permit is not required as long as you return within 1 year of leaving under the "Special Re-entry Permit".
If you intend to be away for longer than a year you need to get a full re-entry permit from immigration which is valid for 3 years. The special re-entry permit was brought in in response to complaints from gaijin residents about constantly have to pay a "gaijin" tax for the re-entry permits every 3 years and I guess it also cuts down on immigration work too for long term residents who only need to be out of the country for their annual 2 weeks trip home.
Maybe I'm wrong but as long as the country is not on the ban list then the usual rules would apply but if it's on the ban list and you're a long term resident / permanent resident then it would require some special permission / advance auth from immigration before attempting travel.
I was listening to the Japan Times deep dive and they implied that exceptions would be made for things like deaths / life and death medical emergencies but how one would get immigration to approve such a thing is anyones guess if Aininternational's case is anything to go by.
If you intend to be away for longer than a year you need to get a full re-entry permit from immigration which is valid for 3 years. The special re-entry permit was brought in in response to complaints from gaijin residents about constantly have to pay a "gaijin" tax for the re-entry permits every 3 years and I guess it also cuts down on immigration work too for long term residents who only need to be out of the country for their annual 2 weeks trip home.
Maybe I'm wrong but as long as the country is not on the ban list then the usual rules would apply but if it's on the ban list and you're a long term resident / permanent resident then it would require some special permission / advance auth from immigration before attempting travel.
I was listening to the Japan Times deep dive and they implied that exceptions would be made for things like deaths / life and death medical emergencies but how one would get immigration to approve such a thing is anyones guess if Aininternational's case is anything to go by.
#1982
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
Japan is considering allowing entry from Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand and Australia:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...a-new-zealand/
Yomiuri reports that Korea and China are unlikely to be in the first set of countries that Japan opens up to.
I can't find any mention of Taiwan, which has one of the best records for containing this virus. Political reasons, I guess.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...a-new-zealand/
Yomiuri reports that Korea and China are unlikely to be in the first set of countries that Japan opens up to.
I can't find any mention of Taiwan, which has one of the best records for containing this virus. Political reasons, I guess.
#1983
The re entry permit was the singular most irritating thing in Japan as a foreigner. Waiting in line for half a day for a stupid passport sticker.
#1985
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 1,659
I remember Osaka immigration being quite quick (10 years ago or so) but now it seems to be super slow. That is nothing compared to what I have heard about Shinagawa immigration though.
#1986
In Osaka, they would basically tell you to fill out the form for a multiple use reentry permit and submit it with your postcard for a visa renewal - I literally had the people at immigration ask me why I wasn't just getting it at the same time - I got the hint.
I remember Osaka immigration being quite quick (10 years ago or so) but now it seems to be super slow. That is nothing compared to what I have heard about Shinagawa immigration though.
I remember Osaka immigration being quite quick (10 years ago or so) but now it seems to be super slow. That is nothing compared to what I have heard about Shinagawa immigration though.
#1987
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: SAS Eurobonus - Blue / Emirates Skywards - Blue
Posts: 618
If you are going to be out of the country for more than 1 year a re-entry permit is still required.
Special Re-entry Permit | Immigration Bureau of Japan Website
When I return to the UK "temporarily" for my daughters primary school ( elementary) education i will need a full re-entry permit as there is no guarantee that I will be able to come back within the 1 year time period - the UK is strict about not going on holiday during term time + costs of holiday season flights etc...
#1988
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
If beyond that and up to a year one is required yes. Hardly applicable to the vast majority of people tough as long term absences from either work or family here are not common all.
More than a year is only possible for special permanent residents (mostly specific groups of Korean nationals).
In short if you go for more than a year you are in trouble to begin with.
#1989
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,437
What I heard on the news is that for Japanese government to re-open travel from other countries, it has to be reciprocal situation. If Taiwan is not considering re-opening of travel from Japan at this moment then likely Japanese government will not consider allowing travelers from Taiwan at this moment.
#1990
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
What I heard on the news is that for Japanese government to re-open travel from other countries, it has to be reciprocal situation. If Taiwan is not considering re-opening of travel from Japan at this moment then likely Japanese government will not consider allowing travelers from Taiwan at this moment.
#1991
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: SAS Eurobonus - Blue / Emirates Skywards - Blue
Posts: 618
According to that website the maximum period for which no extra permit is required is 3 months actually.
If beyond that and up to a year one is required yes. Hardly applicable to the vast majority of people tough as long term absences from either work or family here are not common all.
More than a year is only possible for special permanent residents (mostly specific groups of Korean nationals).
In short if you go for more than a year you are in trouble to begin with.
If beyond that and up to a year one is required yes. Hardly applicable to the vast majority of people tough as long term absences from either work or family here are not common all.
More than a year is only possible for special permanent residents (mostly specific groups of Korean nationals).
In short if you go for more than a year you are in trouble to begin with.
Full Re-entry Permit (that has a passport vignette) is 5 years from date of issue (it was 3 before the Residence card system was introduce)
The aim being that only people who REALLY needed a re-entry permit (like me) would get one - 90% of residents who were just going home for 2 weeks every year would fall automatically under the special re-entry permit system.
#1992
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Between Seas
Posts: 4,746
There is this site showing an ICAO-source list which shows Japan opening up international travel by June 15.
Has anyone confirmed this?
Has anyone confirmed this?
Last edited by FlitBen; Jun 3, 2020 at 1:04 am
#1993
This list is a bit odd, I didn't realise Qatar was closed? And "Germany"? I think at least the major airports are open right now? I know someone flying to DUS or FRA in a couple of days, so they can't be closed.
#1994
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Special Re-entry is 1 year from date of departure from Japan - no vignette required apart from the tick on the re-entry departure card.
Full Re-entry Permit (that has a passport vignette) is 5 years from date of issue (it was 3 before the Residence card system was introduce)
The aim being that only people who REALLY needed a re-entry permit (like me) would get one - 90% of residents who were just going home for 2 weeks every year would fall automatically under the special re-entry permit system.
Full Re-entry Permit (that has a passport vignette) is 5 years from date of issue (it was 3 before the Residence card system was introduce)
The aim being that only people who REALLY needed a re-entry permit (like me) would get one - 90% of residents who were just going home for 2 weeks every year would fall automatically under the special re-entry permit system.
The above-linked page is not as accurate as the following link:
To all foreign nationals residing in Japan?Beginning on Monday, July 9, 2012,?Start of a new residency management system!???Point 3 The re-entry permit system will be changed/ Point 4 The alien registration system will be abolished
Being gone for close to 5 years seems a worthy reason for the government to seek to document things more strictly if one is not a local passport holder.
Curious why the UK passport holder would not be able to come back for a short trip prior to a year having elapsed though. Term time (i.e. I assume you mean during the school year) would seem to apply only to a student if such restrictions could be placed at all by the government there. Is the child not a Japanese passport holder?
#1995
Yes the period for no permit is one year, I mistyped the 3-month period. And no "stamp" is required. Vignettes are a UK thing.
The above-linked page is not as accurate as the following link:
To all foreign nationals residing in Japan?Beginning on Monday, July 9, 2012,?Start of a new residency management system!???Point 3 The re-entry permit system will be changed/ Point 4 The alien registration system will be abolished
Being gone for close to 5 years seems a worthy reason for the government to seek to document things more strictly if one is not a local passport holder.
Curious why the UK passport holder would not be able to come back for a short trip prior to a year having elapsed though. Term time (i.e. I assume you mean during the school year) would seem to apply only to a student if such restrictions could be placed at all by the government there. Is the child not a Japanese passport holder?
The above-linked page is not as accurate as the following link:
To all foreign nationals residing in Japan?Beginning on Monday, July 9, 2012,?Start of a new residency management system!???Point 3 The re-entry permit system will be changed/ Point 4 The alien registration system will be abolished
Being gone for close to 5 years seems a worthy reason for the government to seek to document things more strictly if one is not a local passport holder.
Curious why the UK passport holder would not be able to come back for a short trip prior to a year having elapsed though. Term time (i.e. I assume you mean during the school year) would seem to apply only to a student if such restrictions could be placed at all by the government there. Is the child not a Japanese passport holder?