NYCBunny

Hey all,

I'm got my visa issued and I'm prepping for my first trip back to Japan since 2019. I feel up to date on everything that I need to do with the exception of one thing, this MYSOS app.

My understanding was originally it was for quarantining and to give the government a way to track you/be in contact with you during quarantine. But I'm wondering now with the lifting of many restrictions how the app works now. I haven't really seen any updated info about the app on the government's site.

For reference purposes, I'm a vaccinated and boosted US citizen travelling on a US passport. Per the latest that I read, I don't need to either test or quarantine. So what am I using the app for and what should I expect to happen?

Thanks for any experience/advice you can give.

jib71

MySOS allows you to upload documentation and submit forms in advance of arrival. If everything is approved you get a blue screen that gets you through the arrivals process faster.
https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/fasttrack/en/

NYCBunny

Thank you, do you still need to use it for monitoring and checking in? Or is more used now for entering your information pre departure?

jib71

You can find terms of use / service in the app itself. They describe a lot of functions of the application, from providing information about defibrillators to managing quarantines. For people arriving from countries that are not subject to quarantine, I think it's main use is to facilitate pre-arrival document checks and make the process at the airport simpler / faster.

RDUflyer2

Wasn't sure if this is the right place but when I was filling out the passport section of the mysos web version, it would complain if I had my first and middle name entered with a space in between. I went ahead and just entered my first name rather than smushing my first and middle name together.
The passport upload scan/picture was approved so I assume this isn't a problem.

Any experience or advice from others?

(Moderator if this needs to go elsewhere that is fine with me. It seems that we are going to start seeing more questions about mysos registration so maybe need a general thread for that?)

izzik

I have a flight to Japan this week and I was initially put off by the "blue is good" screen color.. normally, you'd expect green.
Anyway, I wonder if anyone is bothering with the COCOA app? Per JAL website, it says to install both MySOS and COCOA apps, but I know someone who skipped COCOA and it was fine.

mongobot

That's pretty old info (from JAL) and the app hasn't had any real application for quite some time if you're from a "blue" country.
The government recently announced it's discontinuation as well: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/09/13/national/covid-app-end

Pamyurin

Would anyone happen to know what the "P" stands for next to Blue and 青? This is for my travel partner who isn't a U.S. citizen. I'm a U.S. citizen and mine doesn't have this P. Perhaps it's because the passport scanning tool 5 attempts before finally registering?

Tofino87

So I downloaded the app yesterday. It asked basic information like:

1) are you using the app for entry to Japan
2) passport number
3) first and last names
4) date of birth.

I’ve now got the screen below… with no option to actually upload my vaccine certs… what have I done wrong??

xiphoid76

That red screen above is what we constantly get too. It thinks we are in Japan instead of the USA. Have deleted and re-downloaded the app numerous times and can get no further than that screen. I tried google and it says you should be able to upload your passport photo and answer a questionnaire and then upload your vaccine information; but I don't see how. Further sites on google say you need this app to work on your phone or you need to rent a phone in Japan to show this app? Frustrated as we are boosted and have our visas and are ready to go. Maybe we can just show our information to the airline when we board, but don't want any hiccups on the way. We are tech savvy (at least my husband is) and can't figure out this app!

freakazoid

Did you guys use the QR as instructed here? https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/fasttrack/en/

xiphoid76

We have this too, I don’t have a P but my husband does. Not sure what it means?

xiphoid76

we ended up deleting the app, then going on the web log in and we’re able to register there on the iPad. Screen then turned blue and we reloaded the app on the iPhone and then it worked and all is blue. Only difference is I don’t have P on the upper left screen and my husband does - not sure what that means but at least blue is good

od_sf

QQ: submitting my info to MySOS via their web interface ahead of my October 7th departure date. Made it through to the final step (submitting proof of vaccination), but I've been stuck at this screen with the spinning round thing for about 2 hours now. Normal and they're just busy, or an issue?

FlyingFrZ

I seem to have the P as well and I am a US Citizen :/