Japan – COVID-19: Easing Border Controls, Travel Restrictions from 1 March

In principle, the self-quarantine period and the inability to use using public transportation remains in place for seven days; however, the period can be eased by fulfilling certain conditions.

1.       Individuals travelling from the designated countries/regions and who haven’t received a booster dose, are required to stay at a government-designated hotel for three days upon arrival.  If the result of the PCR test was “negative” for COVID-19 on the third day from an individual’s arrival, that person will no longer be required to continue the rest of his/her self-isolation at home.

2.       Those who are travelling from the designated countries/regions and who hold a valid vaccination certificate evidencing their booster dose are required to complete seven days of self-isolation at home in principle, but if the traveller takes a PCR test on the third day from his/her arrival day and receives a “negative” test result, he/she can end the self-isolation at home.

3.       Those who are travelling from non-designated countries/regions who haven’t received a booster dose are required to complete seven days of self-quarantine at home; but if the traveller takes a PCR test on the third day from his/her arrival day and receives a “negative” test result, he/she can end the self-isolation at home.

4.       Those who are travelling from non-designated countries/regions and hold a valid vaccination certificate of a booster dose are no longer required to self-quarantine upon arrival.

^{Source: KPMG in Japan}

[Approved types of vaccination fo entry]

•  1st and 2nd dose
  • COMIRNATY – Pfizer
  • Vaxzervia – AstraZeneca
  • COVID- Vaccine Moderna – Moderna
  • Janssen COVID- Vaccine – Johnson & Johnson
• 3rd dose onwards
  • COMIRNATY – Pfizer
  • COVID- Vaccine Moderna – Moderna

※     Vaccination Certificate must be issued by an official body such as a government of the countries/regions and must be written in either the Japanese or English language.  The certificate must clearly state the traveller’s name, date of birth, vaccine name or manufacturer, vaccination date, and number of doses.

※     List of designated countries/regions are regularly updated.  Travellers should check the latest information and follow the applicable rules. 

Entry will be denied if arrivals lack any of the below³:

1.  Certificate of negative test result of COVID-19

• ALL entrants regardless of nationality or countries/regions of departure must present a certificate of pre-entry PCR test within 72 hours prior to departure and certified as “negative” by the local medical institution.

2.  PCR test at the arrival airport and quarantine at home or in the hotel designated by the government

• Follow the rule explained the above [New quarantine rule] in accordance with one’s departure country/region.

3.  Submit Written Pledge

• ALL entrants regardless of nationality or countries/regions of departure must submit a written pledge.  The format is available from: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000863646.pdf .
• Violation of the quarantine rules is subject to publication of the name of the foreign national/violator and his/her host entity’s/organisation’s name, as well as details of the violation on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website.  In addition, the foreign resident/violator may also have to forfeit his/her immigration status in Japan depending on the gravity of the violation.

4.  Install mobile applications⁴

• Health and Location Monitoring ALL (MySoS)
• Location Information App (Google Maps)
• COCOA (COVID-19 Contact Confirmation App). 

5.  Questionnaire⁵

Complete before arrival from your smartphone or PC:

https://arqs-qa.followup.mhlw.go.jp

6.  Vaccination Certificate (not mandatory).