The government of Japan imposed new significant measures to expand to 73 countries and regions in total its entry ban on foreign nationals.  (For prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2020- 129, 30 March 2020.)  As a consequence, flight restrictions and route cancellations are happening on a daily basis to curb the number of arriving passengers to Japan in order to foster the effective implementation of quarantine measures.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is regularly providing appropriate information and advisories to promptly respond to the urgent needs of those Japanese nationals or overseas travelers wishing to return to Japan.  

The information provided in this article will be updated periodically upon new announcements by the Japanese government.  Due to the restrictions on entry, those foreign nationals with a valid residence status in Japan including expatriates on international assignment who temporarily departed from Japan to the below-listed countries with the Re-Entry Permission are no longer able to return to Japan until further notice.  Japanese nationals and the “Special” Permanent Residence Permit holders are exempt from the entry ban.

Effective from 3 April at 0:00 (JST), foreign nationals who have been physically present in the countries or regions listed below within the 14 days prior to their arrival in Japan are not permitted to land in Japan.¹  Japanese nationals who have physically been in any of these countries or regions within the14 days prior to their arrival in Japan are not included in the scope of the entry ban, but are required to be in self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

• Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) applications already filed for foreigners in the above listed countries will be suspended and any new applications will not be accepted until further notice.
• Visa applications at the embassies/consulate of Japan in the above listed countries will not be accepted. Visa applicants in other countries are required to fill in and submit a questionnaire on whether or not they have (or will have) travelled to the countries listed above within the 14 days before arriving in Japan.
• Those foreign nationals who hold a valid entry visa for Japan (whether short/long or single/multiple-entry) will not be considered an exception to the refusal of entry.
• Foreign nationals with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident,” “Spouse or Child of Japanese National,” “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” or “Long Term Resident” have temporarily left Japan with Re-Entry Permission after 3 April are also subject to the denied entry. The “Special Permanent Resident” is not in the scope of the entry ban.²
• All travelers entering from abroad including Japanese nationals are strictly required to self-quarantine for 14 days after their arrival regardless of whether they show any signs of symptoms.  They must take PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests in Japan upon arrival at the airport and are strictly asked to refrain from using public transportation (e.g., rail, bus, taxi, domestic flight).  They should secure accommodations in Japan where can stay for 14 days and private transportation from the airport to the destination before their arrival. They are not allowed to leave the airport unless the quarantine officer confirms the accommodation address and the means of transportation.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has raised its travel alert for Japanese nationals to travel to the above listed 73 countries to “Level 3” – Avoid All Travel, to urge Japanese nationals to avoid all travel to the countries/regions regardless of the purpose.  Japanese residents in the countries/regions may be advised to consider or prepare for an evacuation.  All the rest of world is raised to “Level 2” – Avoid Non-Essential Travel.³

* 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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