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]
#2131
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
The good news for him is that it appears that he was "denied entry" which is not the same as "deported." Unless I'm mistaken, he will be able to pull together the required paperwork in the US and attempt to enter the country again. I expect the airline will charge him quite a lot of money and he will probably have to write an apology, which may stick in the craw, but it's not the same as being deported, which would probably bar him from re-entry for a period.
See attached.
#2132
Join Date: May 2018
Programs: JMB
Posts: 132
"According to the F.A.Z., the 14 countries are: Algeria, Australia, Georgia, Japan, Canada, Morocco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. These countries meet all the conditions that the EU Commission has proposed. They have fewer or as many new corona infections as the EU as a whole; the trend is decreasing and the health system is sufficiently resilient;in return, they also allow all EU residents free entry. China is subject to reservations because it exempts some member states. In their final proposal, the Croatians want to take into account the opinion of the capitals, the majority of which reported back until Saturday."
I don't believe Japan will play this game and allows entry of EU citizens in two days. Maybe at the end of the year, if they want the Olympic Games to be seen by foreign fans. In that case they need some time to increase capacity and so on.
#2133
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
"We have a Mr. Crook here. He is carrying a letter on Mayo Clinic letterhead dated 05/15/2020 with your signature. Please could you confirm that you wrote this letter?"
"No. I have never heard of Mr. Crook."
"Would you like us to send you a copy of the letter so that you can be sure?"
"No need. I am absolutely certain that I've never had any dealings with this fellow."
"Thank you for your time."
"Well Mr. Crook, I have good news and bad news for you. Which do you want first?"
"Um. The good news?"
"The good news is that the tragic events described in your letter did not happen. The bad news is that you're being deported."
#2134
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,432
I have a sad face on now. My DH and I were supposed to be landing in Hakodate now.
I watched a program on NHK on how restaurants in Tokyo are handling service for dining in. Really interesting.
Really looking forward to getting back there again.
I watched a program on NHK on how restaurants in Tokyo are handling service for dining in. Really interesting.
Really looking forward to getting back there again.
#2135
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
I was thinking about the “proof” needed to renter Japan as a permanent resident. In the case of a terminally ill relative in the US, I imagine the doctor or hospital could write some kind of note. How would HIPPA laws apply in this situation? (Medical Information Privacy Laws)
The hospital gets a call from “Japanese immigrations” checking on the status of a patient. I’m inclined to believe the hospital would refuse to release any information. Would immigrations ask for visual proof?
The hospital gets a call from “Japanese immigrations” checking on the status of a patient. I’m inclined to believe the hospital would refuse to release any information. Would immigrations ask for visual proof?
#2136
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,142
#2137
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,438
If the authority really mean as deportation then will Japanese immigration agency rule going to apply? If Departure Order (出国命令) was issued then a person cannot return to Japan for one year. If Deportation Order (退去強制) was issued then a person cannot return to Japan for five years.
Are we saying that the guy from the U.S. next to ainternational refused entry to Japan at NRT will not allowed back to Japan for 1 - 5 years depending on the situation? I hope not...
#2138
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: BA Silver, ANA Mileage Club
Posts: 155
I'm in a similar position as "ainternational" - I am long-term resident of Japan (with a residence, zairyu, card) stuck in America.
My visa is valid until 2022 however it is a "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities" and not a Permanent Residency or Spouses visa.
I have documentation of a personal reason I had to return to America - I left Japan on 20 November last year but have been unable to get back since the March travel restrictions. I only planned to be gone for 2-3 months and told the immigration officer as much when I departed (via HND), and he gave me the customary disembarkation card stapled to my passport's visa page..
Can I get in with the revised MoJ guidelines?
I've contacted the US Embassy in Tokyo as well as the State Dept in DC but I haven't heard back from either.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
My visa is valid until 2022 however it is a "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities" and not a Permanent Residency or Spouses visa.
I have documentation of a personal reason I had to return to America - I left Japan on 20 November last year but have been unable to get back since the March travel restrictions. I only planned to be gone for 2-3 months and told the immigration officer as much when I departed (via HND), and he gave me the customary disembarkation card stapled to my passport's visa page..
Can I get in with the revised MoJ guidelines?
I've contacted the US Embassy in Tokyo as well as the State Dept in DC but I haven't heard back from either.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
#2139
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: SAS Eurobonus - Blue / Emirates Skywards - Blue
Posts: 618
Thanks for the report ainternational on your experience of leaving and returning to Japan.
It's certainly gladdening that if you've got a good reason to leave the country that you can now definitely return but by heck are they following the documentation rules to the letter. You'd better make sure you got your proof in triplicate before attempting this.
Even with 6 years of living in Japan I'd be scared at going to secondary
It's certainly gladdening that if you've got a good reason to leave the country that you can now definitely return but by heck are they following the documentation rules to the letter. You'd better make sure you got your proof in triplicate before attempting this.
Even with 6 years of living in Japan I'd be scared at going to secondary
#2140
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,632
I hope it is misuse of the terminology, and actually it is not deportation. First, at the airport facing immigration officer at the passport control, a traveler has not officially admitted to Japan yet. If a person is not officially admitted to Japan then how Japanese authority can deport the person? Alright, this is more of technicality.
If the authority really mean as deportation then will Japanese immigration agency rule going to apply? If Departure Order (出国命令) was issued then a person cannot return to Japan for one year. If Deportation Order (退去強制) was issued then a person cannot return to Japan for five years.
Are we saying that the guy from the U.S. next to ainternational refused entry to Japan at NRT will not allowed back to Japan for 1 - 5 years depending on the situation? I hope not...
If the authority really mean as deportation then will Japanese immigration agency rule going to apply? If Departure Order (出国命令) was issued then a person cannot return to Japan for one year. If Deportation Order (退去強制) was issued then a person cannot return to Japan for five years.
Are we saying that the guy from the U.S. next to ainternational refused entry to Japan at NRT will not allowed back to Japan for 1 - 5 years depending on the situation? I hope not...
I'm curious about what this "deported" really entails. I assume that the person who was denied entry is required to purchase a ticket out of Japan. For a US citizen in the current situation, that probably means having to purchase a flight back to the US. I assume that the airline that carried the person is responsible for transporting them if they have insufficient funds to purchase a ticket. And I assume that the person will be held overnight if they have missed the last flight that day. But what happens if they refuse to board a flight? Can they be forced to do so, even though they have not been "deported"? Could they choose to wait in the airport like those stateless individuals who can't cross international borders and wait for the entry requirements to change?
#2141
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
I'm in a similar position as "ainternational" - I am long-term resident of Japan (with a residence, zairyu, card) stuck in America.
My visa is valid until 2022 however it is a "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities" and not a Permanent Residency or Spouses visa.
I have documentation of a personal reason I had to return to America - I left Japan on 20 November last year but have been unable to get back since the March travel restrictions. I only planned to be gone for 2-3 months and told the immigration officer as much when I departed (via HND), and he gave me the customary disembarkation card stapled to my passport's visa page..
Can I get in with the revised MoJ guidelines?
I've contacted the US Embassy in Tokyo as well as the State Dept in DC but I haven't heard back from either.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
My visa is valid until 2022 however it is a "Engineer / Specialist in Humanities" and not a Permanent Residency or Spouses visa.
I have documentation of a personal reason I had to return to America - I left Japan on 20 November last year but have been unable to get back since the March travel restrictions. I only planned to be gone for 2-3 months and told the immigration officer as much when I departed (via HND), and he gave me the customary disembarkation card stapled to my passport's visa page..
Can I get in with the revised MoJ guidelines?
I've contacted the US Embassy in Tokyo as well as the State Dept in DC but I haven't heard back from either.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Do you fall under any of the named circumstances in the latest release?
http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001321982.pdf
If not, do you have an employer sponsor that could inquire on your behalf? Failing that, there is a contact number at the bottom of the pdf.
Good luck!
#2142
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: BA Silver, ANA Mileage Club
Posts: 155
Since you left before restrictions were imposed, it appears to be slightly more lenient.
Do you fall under any of the named circumstances in the latest release?
http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001321982.pdf
If not, do you have an employer sponsor that could inquire on your behalf? Failing that, there is a contact number at the bottom of the pdf.
Good luck!
Do you fall under any of the named circumstances in the latest release?
http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001321982.pdf
If not, do you have an employer sponsor that could inquire on your behalf? Failing that, there is a contact number at the bottom of the pdf.
Good luck!
However, I left in November just to visit family (not her in particular) and she was admitted to hospital in February or March, so I'm not sure how they'd view that...
My employer doesn't have the resources to inquire - both they and I have called that contact number (and extension) but, even in Japanese, have barely been able to get any answers. They just seem to repeat the same thing over and over, and don't even acknowledge that we have asked the same question 2-3x...
#2143
That's the document I've been re-reading since it came out. I think I fall under the "○ I had to depart from Japan in order to visit a relative who was in critical condition abroad or to attend the funeral of a deceased relative."
However, I left in November just to visit family (not her in particular) and she was admitted to hospital in February or March, so I'm not sure how they'd view that...
My employer doesn't have the resources to inquire - both they and I have called that contact number (and extension) but, even in Japanese, have barely been able to get any answers. They just seem to repeat the same thing over and over, and don't even acknowledge that we have asked the same question 2-3x...
However, I left in November just to visit family (not her in particular) and she was admitted to hospital in February or March, so I'm not sure how they'd view that...
My employer doesn't have the resources to inquire - both they and I have called that contact number (and extension) but, even in Japanese, have barely been able to get any answers. They just seem to repeat the same thing over and over, and don't even acknowledge that we have asked the same question 2-3x...
But I have a very different risk tolerance from most people, so I guess it's a decision you need to take
#2144
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
That's the document I've been re-reading since it came out. I think I fall under the "○ I had to depart from Japan in order to visit a relative who was in critical condition abroad or to attend the funeral of a deceased relative."
However, I left in November just to visit family (not her in particular) and she was admitted to hospital in February or March, so I'm not sure how they'd view that...
My employer doesn't have the resources to inquire - both they and I have called that contact number (and extension) but, even in Japanese, have barely been able to get any answers. They just seem to repeat the same thing over and over, and don't even acknowledge that we have asked the same question 2-3x...
However, I left in November just to visit family (not her in particular) and she was admitted to hospital in February or March, so I'm not sure how they'd view that...
My employer doesn't have the resources to inquire - both they and I have called that contact number (and extension) but, even in Japanese, have barely been able to get any answers. They just seem to repeat the same thing over and over, and don't even acknowledge that we have asked the same question 2-3x...
Best if they can provide a short letter that addresses the stated phrases I would think (relationship to you, critical hospitalization status). Perhaps provide a suggested draft to the hospital/doctors office for them to use.
#2145
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: BA Silver, ANA Mileage Club
Posts: 155
I don't think the Japanese are insane - they may be strict and protective of their borders, but they aren't inhuman. If I had a very clear timeline of what happened (I mean, it wasn't unreasonable to go visit family in November, and it's also not unreasonable to choose to stay in February, when the borders weren't even closed!), I would just go back and return now (assuming you need to return, ie your job / family / etc are in Japan, which is just extra weight to your argument). I would document everything that happened, have hospital proof, be prepared to bow and apologise (though in this particular case, there may not be much of an apology needed, considering you didn't break any rules yet when you left, and it's not like you'd have dropped everything and returned back), and just go. Your situation is radically different from the person who got deported in the earlier posts, imho, since you left before the restrictions were in place, and the current restrictions explicitly state that people who left before have different treatment (AND you had a good reason, which is a bonus).
But I have a very different risk tolerance from most people, so I guess it's a decision you need to take
But I have a very different risk tolerance from most people, so I guess it's a decision you need to take
(1) I don't have a "Permanent Resident" "Spouse" or "Long Term Resident" visa. Although I've lived in Japan since 2013, I have a work (Specialist - Humanities) visa and not a LTR visa...
(2) I'm not sure what documentation is necessary from the hospital. I'm sure I can get some documents from the physician (there was only one) but I'm not sure what documents they will accept from the hospital. There are bills but I don't think I'm not sure if I can take those.. maybe a copy?