(Update on January 11, 2022: New border measures (19) released on November 5 2021 are suspended until February 28, 2022.)
Based on the New border measures (20) released on November 29 2021, the New border measures (19) released on November 8 2021 are suspended until February 28, 2022.
On November 5, 2021, the Government of Japan (GOJ) announced “Review on restrictions on new entry of foreign nationals and on restrictions on activities after entering into Japan for persons with a vaccination certificate of COVID-19” by New border measures (19) which will be implemented from November 8, 2021.
New entry of foreign nationals from all countries and regions is in principle suspended based on New border measures (4) 1 (December 26, 2020), unless they fall under special exceptional circumstances. Foreign nationals who apply for the new entry into Japan based on one of the categories (1)-(2) below, however, are allowed in principle to newly enter Japan, considering that they have special exceptional circumstances, under the following conditions. [The Categories of Foreign Nationals]
[Conditions]
Among cross-border travelers and returnees from designated countries/regions subject to 1(3) and 2 of New border measures (17) (September 17, 2021) or other than those subject to the measures (17), persons who possess a valid vaccination certificate of COVID-19 (validity of which is set forth in New border measures (18) (September 27, 2021)), are allowed to engage in activities in accordance with their activity plans (hereinafter referred to as “specific activities”) from the fourth day after their entry into Japan to the rest of their home quarantine period in places provided by receiving organizations or their own residence under the following conditions:
Furthermore, regarding relatives of the persons who are allowed to engage in the above-mentioned specific activities entering into Japan in the same itinerary with the said persons under the supervision of the same receiving organizations, the relatives are allowed to engage in the specific activities if they fulfill (ii) (iii) and (iv) of the abovementioned requirements. In such cases, the relatives do not need to fall under any one of categories (1)-(4) below.
In order to apply for the measures based on the aforementioned I. and II, receiving organizations need to submit designated application documents including a written pledge as well as an activity plan to a Ministry in charge of the business, in accordance with an implementation guideline formulated by the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and published afterwards, and to pass screening by the Ministry in charge of the business in advance.
The frameworks of Business Track / Residence Track with all countries /regions are suspended and the relaxation of 14-day quarantine for Japanese nationals and foreign nationals with the status of residence under Business Track is no longer permitted from January 14 for the time being.
Note: For entry into the countries/regions to be covered under this framework, the traveler must follow the procedures designated by the governments of those countries/regions. For detailed information, please contact Embassies or Consulates of those countries/regions in Japan.
Please refer to this page for further details for the holders of valid visas.
On June 18, 2020, the Government of Japan (GOJ) announced “Phased Measures for Resuming Cross-Border Travel” whereby it intends to establish a special quota pertaining to cross-border business travelers and others for entry into and departure from Japan, that operates separately from general procedures for cross-border travelers. While maintaining the current border control measures (Note 1), the GOJ will tentatively implement a special framework to facilitate cross-border business travelers and others on the condition of adopting additional quarantine measures (Note 2).
after entering to Japan etc. (if the traveler wishes to conduct limited business activities, additional measures are required such as submitting the “Schedule of Activities in Japan” (to declare the schedule of activities of the traveler such as accommodation and destinations)The following two frameworks (known as the “Business Track” and the “Residence Track”) are available.
This framework (Business Track and Residence Track) will become effective with regard to relevant countries/regions sequentially, one after another, once these arrangements are ready to be implemented after respective consultation. Countries/regions to be covered, for the moment, are Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Singapore, Republic of Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Laos, and Taiwan.
For countries and regions with which the GOJ has already started (/decided the starting date of) the framework, please refer to (4) Procedures for entry into/return to Japan below.
For now, cross-border travelers prescribed below to be covered under this framework(Business Track and Residence Track).
(Note 1: The scope of cross-border travelers to be permitted to newly enter Japan under the framework of Residence Track has been expanded to cover the holders of statuses of residence of “Student”, “Dependent” and others, in addition to cross-border business travelers, from October 1, 2020. For further details such as statuses of residence of foreign nationals covered under this framework, please see this page.)
(Note 2: Japanese nationals do not need to follow the procedures for “Residence Track” in case of return to Japan. In case Japanese nationals would like to conduct limited business activities during the 14 days after returning to Japan from countries/regions with which “Business Track” is effective, they need to follow the procedures for “Business Track”.)
For those who wish to apply for this framework for entry into/return to Japan, please click the name of the country/region that you are traveling from to Japan to proceed to a page for the procedures to be followed and forms to be submitted. The forms may be amended as appropriate. Please be sure to use the latest version of each form which are available on the above-mentioned page. Residence Track:
Note: For travel from/to each of above-mentioned countries/regions using the “Residence Track”, please refer to this document (PDF) for detailed information. Business Track:
Note: For travel from/to Singapore, Republic of Korea and Vietnam using the “Business Track”, please refer to this document (PDF) for detailed information.
For entry into the countries/regions to be covered under this framework, the traveler must follow the procedures designated by the governments of those countries/regions. For detailed information, please refer to official websites of Embassies or Consulates of Japan in those countries/regions or diplomatic missions of those countries/regions in Japan. Thailand
Vietnam
Malaysia
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar Note: As the government of Myanmar currently suspends incoming international commercial flights, foreign nationals including Japanese nationals can enter Myanmar only in exceptional cases such as being permitted to come aboard a relief flight for Myanmar nationals residing abroad and returning Myanmar arranged by the government of Myanmar. Taiwan
Singapore
Note: For traveling from Japan to Singapore, travelers are required to take a COVID-19 RT-PCR conducted within 72 hours (from the sampling time to departure time of the flight) before the departure from Japan at a medical facility listed on “Resister of Medical Institutions providing COVID-19 Testing Certificates” (please see the list on this page) and to obtain a document certifying a negative result. For further details about requirements for the document, please see the official websites of the Government of the Republic of Singapore or the Embassy of Japan in Singapore and consult a medical facility about the sample and testing method in order to obtain an appropriate certificate. For travelers from Japan to Singapore for using the Residence Track, from November 23, they need to stay at dedicated facilities (hotels) assigned by Singapore Government for 14 days after entry (the place to stay for 14 days after entry is subject to be changed by the Singapore Government).（The schemes of Business Track and Residence Track are currently suspended.）
Republic of Korea
Brunei
China
Note: For the list of institutions where COVID-19 testing is available, please see this list published on the dedicated page to TeCOT (COVID-19 Testing Center for Overseas Travelers) on the official web site of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry : available only in Japanese. Please be sure to comply with the requirements mandated by the government of each country/regions (e.g. testing method, format for the certificate)
This framework is suspended for the time being.
（The outline of this framework）
On September 25, 2020, the GOJ announced that, in principle, the holders of statuses of residence of “Student”, “Dependent” and others, in addition to cross-border business travelers of all countries and regions will be incrementally permitted to enter Japan from October 1, 2020, under the condition that the person is hosted by a company/ entity that can assure observation of quarantine measures. However, the number of people to be permitted to enter Japan as provided in this paragraph will be restricted (suspended).
All foreign nationals residing in the country/region of departure are covered (including the holders of nationality of a third country) (suspended). For further information on the scope of cross-border travelers to be permitted to newly enter Japan by this decision (statuses of residence to be covered) and the application for Visa, please see this page.
Foreign nationals who are willing to enter Japan need to follow the procedures for Residence Track. Necessary procedures and forms may differ depending on whether the country/region of departure is subject to denial of permission to enter Japan or not. Please check whether your country/region of departure is subject to denial of permission to entry on this page (countries and regions listed in 1(1) are subject to denial of permission to entry) and click the appropriate entry below.
This framework is suspended for the time being.
(The outline of this framework) (Suspended)
The GOJ has started a framework for business persons residing in Japan (Japanese nationals and foreign nationals with the status of residence) which enables limited business activities during the 14-day stay at home period (partially relaxes restrictions on such activities) upon their return/ re-entry into Japan after short-term business trips, by following procedures for “Business Track”(suspended). Please check this document (PDF) published on the official web page of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for the details of this framework. (1) Countries/ regions to be covered under this framework This framework is applicable for return/ re-entry from all countries and regions. (2) Duration of stay at the destination country/region Duration of stay at the destination country/region must not exceed 7 days (excludes the stay-at-home/isolation period designated by the government of destination country/region). (3) Procedures to be followed and forms to be submitted For entry into the destination country/region, the traveler must follow the procedures designated by the governments of those countries/regions. For detailed information, please contact Embassies or Consulates of the country/region in Japan.
Necessary procedures and forms may differ depending on whether the country/region of departure is subject to denial of permission to enter Japan or not. Please check whether your country/region of departure is subject to denial of permission to entry on this page (countries and regions listed in 1(1) are subject to denial of permission to entry) and click the appropriate entry below.
[Documents to be submitted for entry/return to Japan]
” (updated on October 30) 1 copy” (updated on October 30) 1 copy[Procedures to be followed for entry/return to Japan]
(Inquiries about visa application in different countries and regions))” (available only in Japanese) on the official web page of the Organization for Technical Intern Training