Immigration update: Japan to halt new entry of foreign nationals over new virus strain
Starting from 26 December 2020, denial of entry to new visitors from various countries added to the ‘denial of permission’ list (excluding Japanese Nationals) will not be allowed to enter Japan.
Who will be affected?
All foreign nationals’ entry into Japan from various countries.
Impact
All nationals arriving from the countries listed in ‘denial of permission’ to entry, including Australia (from 26 December onwards) or stayed in these countries within 14 days prior to their application for landing in Japan are subject to conducting a COVID-19 tests upon arrival.
All nationals arriving from these countries are required to stay 14 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief (own residence etc.) and to refrain from using public transportation until further notice.
Japanese nationals arriving from the designated countries (as of 25 December 2020, incl. the UK and South Africa) are required to obtain the certificate of negative test result of pre-entry testing conducted within 72 hours of the departure time of the flight from 27 December (UK) and from 29 December (South Africa) until further notice. Otherwise, they are called upon to self-isolate for 14 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief (only at the accommodations booked by the quarantine station).
From 26 December, Japanese nationals arriving from the UK and South Africa are required to self-quarantine for 3 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief (only at the accommodations booked by the quarantine office). On the third day they are required to take the COVID-19 test again. Those who have negative result in this test are still required to self-quarantine at home as a substitute for the accommodations booked by the quarantine office till passing 14 days after entering Japan.
In addition, those arriving after 24 December (from the UK) and after 26 December (from South Africa) until further notice are required to pledge to keep the location information and installing a COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application (COCOA) when entering Japan.
From 26 December, the holders of status of residence arriving from the UK and South Africa are required to self-quarantine for 3 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief (only at the accommodations booked by the quarantine office). On the third day they are required to take the COVID-19 test again. Those who have negative result in this test are still required to self-quarantine at home as a substitute for the accommodations booked by the quarantine office till passing 14 days after entering Japan.
The holders of status of residence arriving from the designated countries/regions (as of 25 December 2020, from the UK and South Africa) are required to pledge to keep the location information and installing a COVID-19 Contact-Confirming Application from 24 December (UK) and 26 December (South Africa) until further notice. The certificate of negative test result of pre-entry testing is still needed.
Starting from 30 December 2020 until end of January 2021, foreign national and Japanese citizens, who enter from a country whose authorities have announced the confirmation of domestic infection of new variant of Coronavirus within their countries and regions (except for those who enter or return to Japan under the framework of “Business Track” and “Residence Track”), will be asked to submit a negative COVID-19 testing result conducted within 72 hours (from the sampling time to departure time of the flight) to an immigration officer and a COVID-19 testing will be conducted at airport quarantine stations upon entry into Japan. Those who cannot submit the negative COVID-19 testing result mentioned above will be requested to stay at specific facilities designated by the Chief of the Quarantine Station (limited to accommodation facilities designated by the Quarantine Station) for 14 days after arrival.
Foreign nationals with a CoE in hand may be allowed to enter Japan if the arrival date is before 3 January 2021.
If the arrival date is planned later in January then we highly recommend to check asap with your local Japanese embassy. Arrival date may need to be postponed to February 2021
For above info, please kindly refer to MOFA website at below:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/index.html
Santa Fe Analysis
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.
Santa Fe Relocation will monitor the situation closely and provide updated information once available.
Should you have any questions, please contact the following:
Aimee Qu
Immigration Services
Santa Fe Relocation
Tokyo, Japan.
E: aimee.qu@santaferelo.com
D +(81-3) 3589 4029
Robert Day
Group Head of Immigration Operation
Santa Fe Relocation
London, UK
E: Robert.Day@santaferelo.com
D: +44 7990 021125
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