Effective 11 October (00:00 am, JST), Japan will remove entry restrictions for foreign nationals. 1 After almost two and a half years of tight border restrictions due to COVID-19, Japan will finally open its borders to individual tourists, and visa exemption arrangements with 68 countries/regions2 will be resumed. The daily entry cap will be also removed, and the process of the ERFS (Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System) completed by the host entities in Japan will be no longer be required for new entry of foreign nationals into Japan. (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2022-160, 7 September 2022.)
WHY THIS MATTERS
Japan has gradually eased the strict border controls, but there were many obstacles in practice for those wishing to freely travel during their stay. Japan has been allowing foreign tourists since June, starting with guided tours only from the countries/regions categorized in “blue” for low risk of COVID-19, and on 7 September, the government allowed those on non-guided tours who had booked their flight and hotels through registered travel agencies.
Border Reopening on 11 October 2022
Effective 11 October (00:00 am, JST), Japan will restore individual tourism and visa waiver travel for ordinary passport holders of 68 countries and regions. If travellers are not from a country on the visa exemption list, a Temporary Visitor Visa is still required to obtain prior to enter Japan. In addition, the prescribed application in the ERFS (Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System) completed by the host entity is no longer required for those arriving on 11 October (00:00. at JST) onwards. The new entry measures also repeal the arrival PCR test, self-quarantine in own residence or accommodation, monitoring during self-quarantine, and refraining from use of public transportation, except for returnees or entrants with suspected infections.
Travellers are however still required to have either three doses of an approved COVID vaccine or submit the certificate of negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. 3 The entry will be rejected if the travellers hold neither of these certificates. The list of approved vaccines and the instructions for a sufficient vaccination certificate can be found on Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.4
FOOTNOTES
1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html .
2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs:: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html .
3 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html .
4 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/mesure_en.pdf .
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Japan.
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