Japan extends travel restrictions and tightens quarantine measures

Feb 04, 2021 | News On Japan

Feb 04, 2021 (Japan Times) - With the latest extension of the state of emergency, foreign travelers looking to enter Japan will have to wait at least another month, as a total ban on new entries will remain in place through March 7.

Following Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s announcement Tuesday of the extension of the emergency, which now covers 10 prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka, the government also revised quarantine rules for citizens and residents returning from countries that have reported new coronavirus variants believed to be more transmissible than the original strains of SARS-CoV-2. With the most recent changes, set to take effect on Friday, people returning to Japan from Ireland, Israel and parts of Brazil will be covered by stricter quarantine measures.

Under the current policy that bans new arrivals, only citizens and residents with valid statuses are allowed to re-enter the country. The policy may be relaxed prior to March 7 depending on how the situation evolves.

The ban applies to all new visa applicants, including student and dependent visas, as well as business travelers under a program that was introduced last year allowing for travel between Japan and specific countries. Japan has signed such agreements with 11 countries including South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, nations where the spread of the virus is relatively under control.

The restrictions also apply to those who had obtained confirmation they are eligible for new visas. Usually, such confirmation comes in the form of what’s called a Certificate of Eligibility.

According to the Foreign Ministry, however, exceptions to the travel ban can be made for people seeking entry in cases of emergency.

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