Japan: Officials to end entry ban for select entrants from 106 countries from April 8 /update 79

Event

Japanese authorities will lift an entry ban on travelers from 106 countries, including Canada, much of western Europe, and the US, from April 8. However, the government will continue to require visas for travel, and tourist travel remains banned. Despite the official reduction in border controls, the decision effectively does not alter Japan's border measures. A list of permitted locations is available here. The government will also raise the daily limit on international arrivals to 10,000 from April 11.

Domestic Measures
Officials allow up to 50-percent capacity at sports and entertainment venues. Companies must adhere to social distancing protocols. Some organizations have reduced capacity at facilities, established temperature checks, or encouraged telecommuting for employees. Sporadic rail and flight disruptions remain possible nationwide amid generally reduced demand. Physical distancing requirements are in place on most long-distance transport services. However, officials have advised individuals to take antigen tests before large gatherings or travel across prefecture borders.

International Travel Restrictions
Japan allows citizens, permanent residents, foreign residents, diplomats, and people with humanitarian reasons to enter the country. International students and business travelers to enter Japan. Tourist travel remains banned. Permitted entrants must present negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure. The government does not permit people who cannot undergo testing to board flights or enter Japan. Exceptions may be possible in some circumstances; however, affected passengers must contact their local Japanese diplomatic mission before departure.

The government has adjusted quarantine requirements for permitted entrants based on vaccination status and departure location, with reduced quarantine times for travelers that have received a booster vaccine dose. Authorities maintain enhanced quarantine requirements for designated high-risk countries, including Pakistan, South Korea, and Vietnam, due to COVID-19 variants. Entrants that are not fully vaccinated from these locations must undergo institutional quarantine for three days; individuals that test negative for COVID-19 on day 3 can exit quarantine. Fully vaccinated passengers from high-risk countries and travelers that are not fully vaccinated from low-risk places can self-quarantine for seven days; travelers that undergo testing on day 3 and receive a negative result can exit quarantine. Fully vaccinated travelers from designated low-risk locations can forego self-quarantine with a negative on-arrival COVID-19 test result. A complete list of affected locations and quarantine requirements is available here.

Arrivals must complete a pledge to abide by quarantine orders, maintain location data on their mobile phones, and refrain from using public transport for the first seven days in the country. Entrants must also download the OSSMA, Skype, and COVID-19 Contact Confirming Application (COCOA) mobile applications. People who refuse may have to quarantine at designated facilities. Officials could publicly name citizens and foreign residents who violate quarantine orders; foreign nationals could also lose their residence status.

Flights from South Korea and China are only authorized to land at Narita International Airport (NRT) and Kansai International Airport (KIX). Transit flights for foreign nationals are only allowed through NRT. International passenger ferry services remain suspended.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Confirm international flight reservations. Closely monitor national travel advisories, as additional restrictions to and from Japan are possible.

Resources

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Japan National Tourism Organization