Border enforcement measures to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

1. Denial of permission to entry For the time being, foreign nationals categorized below are denied permission to enter Japan as ones who fall under the Article 5, paragraph (1), item (xiv) of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, unless special exceptional circumstances are found. The following 17 countries and regions have been newly added to (1) below based on the decision made by the National Security Council on July 22. Foreigners who have stayed in these countries and regions within 14 days prior to the application for landing will be denied landing into Japan. The measure is effective from 00:00am (JST) on July 24. Botswana, Comoros, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nepal, Palestine, Paraguay, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (1) Foreigners who have stayed in any of the following countries/regions within 14 days prior to the application for landing: Note that foreigners (including those from the countries and regions where the entry bans do not apply) who will arrive in Japan with a flight via any of those 146 countries or regions which are subject to denial of permission to entry, with a purpose of refueling or transit, will also be denied to enter Japan in principle. This will apply regardless of whether they have entered those countries or regions or not. Foreigners from the countries and regions, where visa restrictions (suspension of visa validity or suspension of visa exemption measures) do not apply, will also be subject to entry bans if transiting through the 146 countries or regions. Asia Bangladesh, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam Oceania Australia, New Zealand North America Canada, United States of America Latin America and the Caribbean Argentine, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela Europe Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican Middle East Afghanistan, Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates Africa Algeria, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central Africa, Comoros, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan (2) Foreigners who have Chinese passports issued in Hubei Province or Zhejiang Province of China (3) Foreigners who were on the cruise ship Westerdam, departed from Hong Kong Note: In case the foreigners with the status of residence of “Permanent Resident”, “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”, “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident” or “Long Term Resident” (note: “Long Term Resident” is a legal term for the status of residence. It should not be confused with other status of residence with long term stay permission.) are re-entering Japan, whether they will be treated as persons in special circumstances or not will depend on the day they have departed Japan with Re-entry Permission as well as the countries or regions they have visited as follows. In principle, those who are treated as persons in special circumstances could enter Japan, even if they are from the countries or regions subject to entry bans. 1. Foreigners with the aforementioned status of residence who have departed Japan with Re-entry Permission by April 2, 2020, are treated in principle as persons in special circumstances. 2. Foreigners with the aforementioned status of residence who had departed Japan with Re-entry Permission between April 3 and April 28, 2020, and then have stayed only in the following 14 countries added to the entry-ban measures on April 29, the 13 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 16, the 11 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 27, the 18 countries added to the entry-ban measures on July 1 or the 17 countries and regions added to the entry-ban measures on July24, are treated in principle as persons in special circumstances. (14 countries added to the entry-ban measures on April 29) Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belarus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Kuwait, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (13 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 16) Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Mexico, Sao Tome and Principe, Uruguay (11 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 27) Afghanistan, Argentine, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kyrgyz, Pakistan, South Africa, Tajikistan (18 countries added to the entry-ban measures on July 1) Algeria, Cameroon, Central Africa, Costa Rica, Cuba, Eswatini, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Iraq,　Jamaica, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal (17 countries and regions added to the entry-ban measures on July 24) Botswana, Comoros, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nepal, Palestine, Paraguay, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Uzbekistan, Venezuela Please note that foreigners who had left Japan during the said period, with a Re-entry Permission, who have also visited the remaining 73 countries and regions on top of the aforementioned countries are in principle subject to entry bans. 3. Foreigners with the aforementioned status of residence who had departed from Japan with Re-entry Permission between April 29 and May 15, 2020, and then have stayed only in the aforementioned 13 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 16, the aforementioned 11 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 27, the aforementioned 18 countries added to the entry-ban measures on July 1 or the aforementioned 17 countries and regions added to the entry-ban measures on July24, are treated in principle as persons in special circumstances. Please note that foreigners who had left Japan during the said period with a Re-entry Permission, and then have also visited the remaining 87 countries and regions (73 countries and regions and 14 countries added to the entry-ban measures on April 29) are in principle subject to entry bans. 4. Foreigners with the aforementioned status of residence who had departed from Japan with Re-entry Permission between May 16 and May 26, 2020, and then have stayed only in the aforementioned 11 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 27, the aforementioned 18 countries added to the entry-ban measures on July 1 or the aforementioned 16 countries and regions added to the entry-ban measures on July 24, are treated in principle as persons in special circumstances. Please note that foreigners who had left Japan during the said period with a Re-entry Permission, and then have also visited the remaining 100 countries and regions (87 countries and regions above and 13 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May16) are in principle subject to entry bans. 5. Foreigners with the aforementioned status of residence who had departed from Japan with Re-entry Permission between May 27 and June 30, 2020, and then have stayed only in the aforementioned 18 countries added to the entry-ban measures on July 1 or the aforementioned 17 countries and regions added to the entry-ban measures on July 24, are treated in principle as persons in special circumstances. Please note that foreigners who had left Japan during the said period with a Re-entry Permission, and then have also visited the remaining 111 countries and regions (100 countries and regions above and 11 countries added to the entry-ban measures on May 27) are in principle subject to entry bans. 6. Foreigners with the aforementioned status of residence who had departed from Japan with Re-entry Permission between July 1and July 23, 2020, and then have stayed only in the aforementioned 17 countries and regions newly added to the entry-ban measures on July 24, are treated in principle as persons in special circumstances. Please note that foreigners who had left Japan during the said period with a Re-entry Permission, and then have also visited the remaining 129 countries and regions (111 countries and regions above and 18 countries added to the entry-ban measures on July 1) are in principle subject to entry bans. 7. Foreigners with the aforementioned status of residence who had departed Japan with Re-entry Permission on or after July 24 in principle will NOT be treated as persons in special circumstances and be subject to entry-bans. For further information, please see the following website (Ministry of Justice) Open a New Window 2. Quarantine measures (1) All nationals arriving from the countries and regions listed in paragraph 1 above within 14 days prior to their application for landing into Japan are subject to conducting of PCR tests for the time being (2) All nationals arriving from all regions are called upon to wait 14 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief and to refrain from using public transportation until the last day of August. (The period may be renewed.) Note: Alternative testing method might be introduced in lieu of PCR tests in the future when it is established. For further information, please see the following website (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)Open a New Window 3. Suspension of visa validity Validity of visas listed below are suspended until the last day of August (The period may be renewed.). (1) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 8th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies or Consulates General in China (including Hong Kong and Macau) and Republic of Korea (2) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 20th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries Europe Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican Middle East Iran Africa Egypt (3) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by March 27th, 2020 by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General in the following countries Asia Brunei, Indonesia (note), Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate” Middle East Bahrain, Israel, Qatar Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo (4) Single and multiple-entry visas issued by April 2nd, 2020, by Japanese Embassies and Consulates General located in or accredited to the following countries and regions Asia Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste Oceania Cook, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Latin America and the Caribbean Antigua and Barbuda, Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela Europe Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Middle East Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates (note), Yemen Note: including seal of “visa wavier registration certificate” Africa Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles , Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe 4. Suspension of visa exemption measures As visa exemption measures with the countries and regions listed below are temporarily suspended, those who fall under the measures are required to obtain visas before visiting Japan. The measures will be in place until the last day of August (The period may be renewed.). (1) Visa exemption measures agreed with Japan and the following countries and regions Asia Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam Oceania Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Latin America and the Caribbean Argentine, Bahamas, Barbados, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay Europe Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican Middle East Israel, Iran, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates Africa Lesotho, Tunisia (2) The effect of Pre-Clearances (i.e. visa exemptions) granted by the Japanese Government to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) issued by the following countries and regions is also suspended. Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam 5. Restrictions on airport/ports for arrival (1) The Government of Japan restricts arrival airports for passenger flights from China or Republic of Korea to Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport only and requests the airlines concerned to conform this restriction. (2) The Government of Japan suspends passenger transportation departing from China or Republic of Korea by vessels and requests related companies to conform this suspension. (3) Requesting airlines concerned to curb the number of arrival passengers to Japan by such measures as reducing the number of passenger arrival flights in order to ensure the appropriate implementation of quarantine measures. In order to securing smooth return to Japan of Japanese citizens or overseas travelers wishing to return, a proper care, including providing information and sending advisories, will be taken. (4) The measures will be in place until the last day of August (The period may be renewed.).